Saturday, October 1, 2005

October 2005


October 2, 2005 - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission in Cambodia
Dear Family and Friends,

Can you believe that September has come and gone.  You are all looking toward cooler weather and we are still cooking.  We have noticed the humidity more lately because of all the rain we have been having.  At least it cools things down just a bit for a short time, which we are thankful for.  Everything is beautiful and green and won't start drying up for a few more months.  We are still very busily engaged in the Lord's work and wish all of you could have the experiences we are having and the opportunity of serving a mission.  We love you all very much and appreciate hearing from you.  Keep up the good work back home.
Love, Elder and Sister Dickson

October 5, 2005
Well, here is a little news from our family. (Letter written to cousin Stephen Tonks)

Roger is still working for Wonder Bread in Ogden.  He is shipping supervisor over Ogden, Salt Lake and Twin Falls Bakery.  He doesn't enjoy his job, as it is quite stressful, but that's life I guess.  I'm still working for the county as the assessor.  I'll run for my 4th term next year, November 2006.  There is alot of growth going on in Morgan, and it's getting pretty stressful (my job).  Our oldest daughter, Amanda is living with us after living in Arizona for 7 years.  She has a little girl Camryn (17 months) who we enjoy VERY MUCH !!  Amanda is working for a plastic surgeon at Alpine Plastic Surgery in McKay Dee Hospital.  She handles all of the insurance, billing, etc.  They will probably be with us for a few more months before getting out on their own.  Zac married Christel Jo Matthews 2 years ago, and they bought a home in Morgan and just had a baby boy, Treyson Lee, that I mentioned in my email to you.  Zac works as a plumber for Durrant/Slate Plumbing (remember Dave Durrant?)  Christel is a pharmacy tech, and will go back to work part time in a few weeks.  Landon, our youngest is a senior at Morgan High this year.  He is involved in football right now, and is one of the team captains, and we are 7-0 going into our Homecoming Game this Friday.  After football he will wrestle, and then in the spring, he'll catch for the baseball team.  That is his greatest love, baseball, and he hopes to get a scholarship.  We'll have to see what happens.  He's also taking a bunch of college classes, and hopes to have his associates degree by the time he graduates, again, we'll have to see what happens along that line.  He is planning on a mission in July 2007. 

Erika and her family still live in West Valley City, and she teaches kindergarten at Monroe Elementary.  She told me the other day that she has only 9 more years until she retires !!  Then they''ll probably move to Morgan.  They have four kids, Tiana 13, Lance 11, Brian 8, and Colton 7?  At least I think that is their ages, I can't keep them straight for sure.  Erika's husband Aaron works for the State of Utah as a social worker. 

Mark and Carrie and their three boys, Jaden (14), Devin (11), and Dallin (9) are living in Morgan.  Mark commutes to SLC to his Subway store.  They are WAY into sports, mostly football (this time of year) and BASEBALL!!  Mark is really involved with the local WBBA, and is working on upgrades at the city park, etc. 


October 7, 2005 - Letter to Mom and Dad on their mission in Cambodia

Just a quick update.
Homecoming is tonight, and if we win we will be 8-0 !!  Keep your fingers crossed.
Treyson (this is the correct spelling) is having problems with Jaundice.  He came home with a billi-blanket (lights in blanket) but it's still not coming down.  CJ is supposed to quit nursing for 24 hours (this aggravates it) and they have ordered up a suitcase/bed with lights for him to lay in at home.  This is a worry of course, but nothing life threatening.  CJ and Zac are doing okay, just the usual new nervous, excited, worried, etc. parent stuff you go through.  Amanda is loving her job, and is doing great at it.  I stayed home with Camryn yesterday, because there was flu at her babysitter's home.  Well, better go !!  Sorry I can't write more now.  It's getting colder here  - we'll have to bundle up for the game tonight!!
LOVE GWEN and all

PS here are pics of Treyson under the billi lights at the hospital and also, Camryn out in the yard helping me get my flower bed cleaned out

October 8, 2005
We won Homecoming last night.  Score was 31 to 7.  The boys all played great, all through the game.  Probably the best game they have played as a whole.  Today Landon and all of the Senior boys got together for their Homecoming date.  They all went up to Logan to a “Fun Park” and bowled, lazer tagged, and a lot of other fun things.  They ate at McDonald’s then came home about 2:30 p.m., and now are headed back out to get their dates and bring them up to the Porterville Church house for a dutch oven dinner, supplied and cooked by the parents.  Then they will head to the Homecoming dance for pictures, etc.  There are 40 total in their group, with only 2 boys opting not to go.  20 x 2 = 40. 

It’s raining today a little bit, and is supposed to get worse tonight.   Tomorrow I get to teach the lesson in YW.  Hope all goes well.  Lynelle’s mom, Loraine Smith is very sick, hope she soon gets better.  They don’t know what it is for sure.  Manda went down and got groceries this morning and picked up Landon’s corsage for Bri.

October 9, 2005 - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission in Cambodia

Dear Family and Friends,
Here we are once again.  Everything is going well and we hope they will continue that way.  We think of it getting colder back home and have decided that the hot weather isn't so bad after all.  However, we really know it is hot when the natives start complaining about the heat and they have done that a few times.  We are enjoying our time here and the experiences we are having.  The other senior couples are great and we have enjoyed getting together with them.  Lee and I hope all is well back in Zion and that you are all strong in the gospel and actively doing your part.  We send our love.  Elder and Sister Dickson

Our pictures this time are:
100_2082 -- A casino under construction here in Phnom Penh, don't know when it is scheduled for completion.
100_2085 -- Ferris wheel by a small amusement park near the river.
100_2095 -- A ferry for carrying cars, people, trucks and cargo across the river.
100-2108 -- Linda Voan and Veloy.  She is so small I make two of her.
100_2112 -- Anyone for a pair of levis?  I don't know what they do when it rains as they always seem to be there.
100_2134 -- This is how they bring urns and vases to market to sell.
 
October 12, 2005 - Letter to Mom and Dad on their mission in Cambodia
Well, I got a call from Ken Walden last night, and they want me to speak
in YOUR ward, Morgan 8th this Sunday @ 2:45 concerning adversity, and tell some of things concerning your mission as far as, I guess any adversity you might have faced, and any adversity you
have seen the church members over there face.  I was going to go back through your journal and pick out different things that I thought would fit in with this.  If you have anything specify your DO or Don't want me to touch on, please let me know.
Gwen:
I'm sure you'll do great...I might even be there in attendance!

Do you want to put everything away on Saturday morning like the picnic tables and planters, BBQ, etc?  Is 9 am ok?  I've asked Zac to help me with a project at the park and we're shooting for 11 am.  We're trying to get about 3 people with chain saws and 10-15 bodies together to take down a tree to a stump.  Zac's going to help with one of the saws. 

Let me know and good luck with the talk.

Mark

October 13, 2005
To Gwen from Mark:

Here is what I wrote to Dad & Mom regarding hunting this year.  I didn't write specifically to address this issue, but this was what was part of a recent letter to them:

I hate to bother you with this and I was not even going to mention it, but I figured you'd want me to be honest and let you know what happened and how I feel about the situation with Bruce up in Round Valley.  I've been out there helping on some projects and the last time out he confronted me with "So where's Richard Brown?  You know, he really should be up here working if he's planning on hunting!"  He was dead serious, a little ornery, and trying to prove a point I guess.  I bit my tongue and refrained from turning it into a confrontation, shrugged my shoulders, and just kept working even though I was pretty upset.  Well, I had already decided that I wouldn't be buying a tag this year for myself, as we're going to be in the middle of the building at the park and there's a possibility that we might be going out of town during the hunt anyways.  Jason has already bought a tag though, so we'll go out a few times in the evenings and get through with this year and be done hunting in Round Valley permanently.  I promise that I'm not acting immature and purposely doing this to prove my own point in order to cause a situation or to have you intervene, it's just not worth the crap I've gotten the past few years.  It's very evident that he has a problem with me personally, or that he is bothered with me bringing in a couple of friends to hunt.  Who knows? I've stood back and honestly evaluated my reaction, and I'm confident that this isn't a situation where I'm being thin-skinned or overly defensive.  There really is a double standard though with how guests are handled on Tonks property.  Does he ask Frank's side of the family for permission to bring a guest?  Does he make sure that all of his guests earn their keep and perform a few chores?  Are we ever allowed to trade hunting privileges for personal favors?  Oh well, I guess things in life aren't always fair.   

Gwen, I've talked to them a couple of times on the phone and have had several emails from them since, and the only thing they ever mentioned regarding it was an email that said something like "Bruce must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed that day."  Even if they were upset, they wouldn't say a word to Bruce, just like how they deal with the situations with Floyd next door.   

Here is how I think we should handle the situation.  I don't think that you (or Zac) should ask for permission, or go through Mom and Dad and then have them ask.  You or I should email Bruce and let him know that from our side of the family there will be Mark and Jason, and Zac and his friend, and that they'll be accompanied by us at all times, and that we may or may not be together as a foursome.  We simply tell him what the plan is.  Period.  He can then reply or call us with any provisions about where people where be hunting or where we should go.  He may be upset, but oh well.  Taking one friend up is no big deal, and if it is I'd enjoy discussing it with him.

Mark

October 11, 2005 (Landon's note to his college teacher)
 
Hi this is Landon Rich from Morgan High School. I am in your Chemistry 1010 class. I am loving it by the way. Today you mentioned to think of an alternative way for fuel. Well here is my idea. We could run our cars and vehicles of solar power during the day and fuel at night. That way the gas prices would go down because we are not buying gas all the time. Now I understand that there are some cloudy days and the sun isn't out all the time. This is the time to use our fuel.

Well that is  my idea and if we to write a paper on this I would go into more detail.

Thanks for a great class experience. See you tomorrow.
Landon Lee Rich

Reply
Landon,  I am very happy to see that you are thinking about the problem. 
That is creativity.  Keep it up.  You need to calculate the amount of power
the motors need.  Then calculate the amount of power that the solar cells
can product.  That will give some indication of how long the power will
last.  Also, you need to know what batteries and motors are most efficient. 
  Write again.  Prof. Maxfield


October 14, 2005
Dear Sister Tanner, Sister Beck, and Sister Dalton

I am writing to offer a "pre" invitation to our Evening of Excellence.  I am
the YW president of the Morgan 6th Ward, Morgan Utah Stake.  Our presidency
was able to attend your workshops and presentations a week or so ago, and
enjoyed them very much.  After listening to you tell about the different YW
events you had all attended, I was wondering...  How do THOSE YW
organizations get the YW general presidency to attend THEIR functions....
The answer came, they probably ask them !!  So we wanted to let you know of
our Young Women Evening of Excellence, which is to be held on November 13,
2005 at 7 p.m. in our church located at 2700 S. Morgan Valley Drive, Morgan
Utah.  We will be sending you an actual invitation as we get closer, but I
wanted to let you know as soon as possible, so that if you can find time in
your busy schedules, and I and only imagine how busy they are, you might be
able to squeeze us in.  We will be presenting a "reader's theatre" on the
life of Joseph Smith, spotlighting people who actually knew him, and wrote
about him in their journals.  We have asked the Young Men, and other ward
members to help us out in this endeavor, and we feel it will be a wonderful
experience for all.

Thank you for your time, and for all you do for us and the young women of
the church.  May our Heavenly Father's blessings rest upon you.

Sincerely,

Gwen D. Rich
Morgan 6th Ward
Young Women's President

email:  sled4fun@juno.com
cell phone:  801-821-0669

I have to give a talk in mom and dad's ward on Sunday.  It is on adversity, and what they have experienced on their mission, and also the people they work with.  Even with all of the journals that have been sent, whenever people ask me what they are doing over there, the only thing that pops into my head is......... teaching English.  So I asked them to give me an overview of just what they have been doing on their mission.  Thought you might be interested too.


October 14, 2005

We taught English classes at the Learning Center for a few months after arriving in Cambodia.  It was operated by Latter-day Saint Charities the Humanitarian arm of the Church.  We taught mostly teenagers and young adults.  We were not allowed to do anything that could be considered as proselyting so we didn't know which of our students were members and which were non-members.  The Learning Center was shut down the end of March.

We are presently teaching English to about twenty staff members at an Orphanage four days a week.  We are still unable to proselyte but wear our names tags and they refer to us as Elder and Sister Dickson.  Once in a while they even call Dad, Brother Dickson.

We have gone with the Country Director from time to time and helped with humanitarian distributions of food, clothing, wheelchairs, toys, etc.

We were asked to manage for the Cambodia Mission what was referred to as "The Lost Sheep" project.  This was an area initiative that was to locate members of the church whose addresses were unknown.  The actual search was done by the full time missionaries.  Along with this we also helped the Branches determine the status of all members within their boundary enabling the branches to more effectively work with the members.

We are assigned to help the leadership in a Vietnamese Branch.  We have been going out visiting members of the branch with the missionaries and branch leaders.  The journal has discussed that.

When the Learning Center was shut down we were assigned to work with the Employment people half of the time.  This consisted of conducting Career Workshops for Cambodian members of the church and missionaries who are finishing their missions to better prepare them to find employment when returning home.  We also updated a guide to Vocational Schools to help those seeking more education and training.

Dad was given the assignment from the Mission President to take care of the Public Affairs for the mission.  This would include publicity for visiting authorities, ground breaking and open houses.

I have been given the assignment to work in the Family History Center.  This requires compiling family records of members going to the temple and making sure the paperwork is properly prepared and taken care of.

We personally have not encountered much adversity, but the church as a whole has a number of problems.  Because it is so new here in Cambodia the leaders don't know how to carry out the programs of the church.  Another problem, the members don't have well defined addresses making it hard to do Visiting Teaching and Home Teaching.  There is no mail delivery and everything we do is done by cell phone and e-mail.  In the case of the Vietnamese people, many of them live far from the church and have only bicycles and motos to get their families to and from church, either that or pay for a ride which they can't afford.  Generally speaking the members of the church here in Cambodia are extremely poor and are struggling with the principles of tithing and fast offerings.  The future of the church in Cambodia lies with the young adults who are serving missions and will in the future make great leaders.

Good luck, I hope this helps.  Wish we could be there.
Love, Mom and Dad


October 17, 2005
Friday night at the football game Morgan won Judge Memorial, 31 to 21.  It was pretty exciting at times.  It was Senior Night, and the seniors were honored.  The last time Judge played here was in 1962, and we lost 41 to 0.  Landon had a great game, and ran the ball quite a bit.  The coaches just love him, Kovi Christiansen and Coach Hoopes went on and on about how great of a kid he is……At one point, Landon had made a run that got us close to the goal, they gave it to him another time to try and get him the touchdown, but  they were gunning for him and they finally gave it to someone else to make the touchdown.  He told the coach later, “Hey, it’s a team thing, I don’t care who gets the job done – let’s just get it done”.  Landon had an excellent game.  Jared Olsen was hurt, and so only played defense, and they rotated Landon, Michael Rose, and Chase Kimbal in on offense, and it worked great.  Roger hopes they will keep this up.   This coming week we go to Wasatch to play on Thursday the 20th.  If we win, we will have gone 9-0 in our regular season.  We are Region 10 champs for sure, as of this last win.  We will have home field play-off on October 28th, with either Carbon or Emory (4th place team in their region).  Then if we win that one, we’ll play the quarter finals on our field.  Semi’s and championship games are at the U of U, but we aren’t looking that far yet !!

My talk yesterday in the 8th ward went well.  Erika, Tiana and Brian came up to support me and it was really appreciated !!  Landon came also, in his new suit looking like a missionary !!  I was the last to speak on the program, and actually had to cut it short.  I told them when I went back through your journals to pick out things that I thought would be interesting, etc.  I came up with 16 pages of things !!  I told them the last time I spoke in their ward was 18 years ago at Mark’s mission farewell---------- and that I would mind if it was another 18 years before I was asked again.  Pete Larsen and his wife also spoke, and they gave wonderful talks. 

I wanted to write about an experience I had last week.  I need a new Laurel President, and have been thinking, and pondering, and praying about certain girls.  I asked Heavenly Father over and over, praying and studying the scriptures, etc.  if one certain girl I was praying about was the right one.  She had previously not been too active, but now consistently comes on Sunday.  On Tuesday nights she has to work sometimes.  She is kind of a loner, is very very cute, and doesn’t really relate to the other girls sometimes.  I think she puts a protective shell about her.  Anyway, on Wednesday night in a Stake YW meeting, President Bohman spoke very briefly on personal revelation (as he has done before).  He asked us if we REALLY believed that WE could receive personal revelation,  and at the moment in the meeting, the spirit bore witness to me that this girl was the one.  It was a very powerful witness to me, and I tingled all over and became very emotional.  I am so thankful that Heavenly Father “speaks” to me, revealing his will……  I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost in my life.  What would I do without him??

Oct 19, 2005
Gwen, your last e-mail was very special and made your Dad and I so very proud of you and what you are doing.  It is wonderful when your children excel and are much stronger in the gospel than you are.  We are glad you are doing such a tremendous job and magnifying your calling in the Young Women's program.  I know things haven't always been easy for you but just like Landon, the Lord knows your worth and what you are capable of becoming.  I'll bet our little Ambure is watching over her Mom too.

Tell Landon that we are so excited about his outstanding performances in sports.  We didn't stop to think of all the things we would be missing while on our mission but I'm sure this is where we are to be at this time.  Just let Landon know that we are thinking about him and are very pleased with what he is doing in his life.  Wish him good luck on the upcoming games.  I'm sure Roger is really enjoying all of this and it is probably bringing back a lot of good memories to him. 

Thanks for the pictures and photo show.  We really enjoy them.  Tell Zac and CJ their family picture was great.  Treyson is a handsome little guy. 

We are so glad that Amanda is enjoying her new job and that Diane is working out so well with Camryn.  They are both in our prayers as you all are.

Erika dropped us a line and said how good your talk was.  How about giving our report when we get home?  You do such a good job at speaking.

Well, I had better close.  I have just finished typing some songs for our English class to learn and need to prepare the lesson for tomorrow.  I also need to get thirteen letters typed inviting the missionaries that will be returning home in November to our Employment Workshop.  The new director and his wife arrive this Friday but they will have their hands full just getting settled in and these letters need to go out by Monday.

We send our love,
Mom and Dad


Mark, this is what I was going to send to Bruce - Please add anything you think would be appropriate and send it back to me and I'll forward it on to him.  Thanks  Gwen

Bruce,

Just wanted to let you know that from our side of the family (Veloy's)  there will be Mark and Jason (his brother-in-law), and Zac and his friend (Roger is unable to hike because of his knees).    Mark and Zac will be with their partners at all time, and they may or may not be together as a foursome.  If you have any instructions about where people will be hunting or where we should go, just let us know.

Mark wrote back

Gwen,
Sounds good.  Sorry I didn't call you about the kids....we will all be staying in Park City for the UEA weekend and not coming home, so we won't need you to give them a ride.  Thanks for saying "yes" though.  See you at the game.
Mark

 
10/21/05
Dear Family and Friends,
We are still having great experiences here in Cambodia and loving the people.  It is wonderful being involved in the Lord's work and knowing that you might be doing a little good and maybe making a difference in someone's life.  The time is going fast and before we know it or even be prepared it will all be over.  We are grateful to all of you back home and know that you are taking good care of things until we return.  We love and miss you all and remember you in our prayers.
Love, Elder and Sister Dickson

100_2239 -- Elder Meas and Elder Lu (native missionaries in the 6th Branch - Vietnamese)
100_2241 -- Elders Tervort, Loomis and Mumford, Sisters Vo and Frisby (all working with the Vietnamese Branches)
100_2248 -- Here I am at the Family History Center.  This is my home away from our apartment.
100_2279 -- Students in our English class - Sok Bol, Sotikun and Srey Peo
100_2280 -- Students in our English class - Chantha, Srey Mom and Channy
100_2281 -- Students in our English class - Sok An and Danith (his English name is Adore)


October 24, 2005 (almost – it’s 11:42 p.m. (23rd) and will probably be the 24th before I’m done.

I can’t sleep.  Too much running through my head I guess.  This YW Evening of Excellence we have planned is soooooooooooooo much work, and I sometimes wish we had not bitten off this big of a chunk………..  but I know it will be worth it when it is done. 

We lost the football game Friday night to Wasatch.  Don’t know WHAT happened.  We just couldn’t stop them in the second half, and our offense couldn’t do anything !!! Final score was 20-14.  I guess it was an eye opener, and hopefully we’ll come out this Friday against Emery and do better, because if we don’t, we are done !!!

I got to tend Treyson on Friday night and again tonight while Zac and CJ went to Ogden to dinner, and then tonight they went out in the hills to hunt.  Manda cooked us a good dinner today, dear roast and twice baked potatoes and beans.  It was really really good.  Cody Watkins farewell was today.  He looked great.  He is the first of many of Landon’s really good friends that is going on a mission.  He and his family were sealed together in the temple last week.  Collette Rich (Ivan and Dena’s daughter) is the mom, and she married Shayne Watkins (you wouldn’t know him)  They have Cody (19)  Kale (15-16) and a younger girl that is about 11-12 or so.  All of Cody’s friends sat in the front 3-4 rows of the chapel, and they had Cody’s ward’s young men come up front and sing Called to Serve, and out of the blue, all of the young men in the front few rows starting singing along with them.  It was great.   Cody ended up coming home from his mission about a week into the MTC – he was too homesick.  How sad that he will miss this growing experience in his life. 

Landon took the ACT test again on Saturday, hope he did well.  He’ s doing pretty good on his EDNET classes, and A in Business English (online) and an A in English 1010, but a “D” in Chemistry 1010, hopefully that will improve……………..  All of his other high school classes are A’s of course.  Zac’s detached garage foundation is getting poured tomorrow, along with Mark’s WBBA stand over at the park.  Bret Kendell is doing it for them.  Hopefully Zac will be able to get the floor poured before if snows. 

Zac and Roger went up Saturday morning for the hunt, and saw a couple of spikes and a little two point but didn’t shoot.  Buck (Jason) got a small spike the first night (Saturday).  Zac went back up Saturday night and met Michael Tonks, and again Sunday morning and met Michael again.  Didn’t shoot anything though.  Then he and CJ went up Sunday night and saw a few, but didn’t shoot.  He said the Troy had a chance to get a monster, and took a bunch of shots but missed and it ran down over the hill and some girl (first time out) shot it.  (She was with Bell’s).  I guess Zac will go back up at night this week.

Diane Clark is taking 3 days off this week, so we have to find other baby sitters.   LuAnn is watching Camryn on Tuesday, and hopefully Rog can take off on Wed. and me on Thurs.  I wish you were here mom, cuz I know you would like to help out too………  just wait till you get home !!!

Bruce, and Darrin and Todd and Linda have been camping out in our barnyard during the hunt.  They have been going up on Pentz’s hill in North Morgan, and then onto state ground.  It’s pretty rough terrain. 

Well, better go and get to bed  - sorry we didn’t get the phone answered the other night.  I guess we were in bed.  We went to bed early that night. 
Love Gwen and family

Oct 24, 2005
Dear Gwen and family,
So sorry that they lost the football game, I know it would have meant so much to them to have had a season with no losses.  Tell Landon we wish them well against Emery.  I'm glad he is having good experiences with his friends in the church.  Just thinking about all those guys singing gives me goosebumps.  These are things he'll remember all his life that are good and positive. 

I'm glad Roger was able to get out deer hunting with Zac and hope it didn't bother his leg too much.  Everybody seems to be just as busy as ever and I'll bet you are rally enjoying your grandchildren.  It's okay that I'm a great grandparent but it seems odd to think that you are a grandmother.  Grandmothers are suppose to be old, or anyway older than me because my grandmothers were.  I can hardly wait to get home to help tend those little ones. 

It sounds like Amanda is handy to have around, especially if she fixes meals like you described.  My mouth is just watering.

Good luck on your Young Women's Evening.  You will have too let us know all about it. 

Tell Zac we wish we were home to help him with his garage.  He is such a hard worker.  How is CJ doing now, is she completely recovered from her C-section?

Well guess I had better close.  It's not late at night but early in the morning and I have to get ready to leave for our workshop.  The new couple are really nice people and we are busy getting them settled in and up to date on everything.

October 25, 2005
Grandma and Grandpa
I am so glad you are having the time of your life over there. I can hardly wait for my turn. I need some help on my midterm paper for my English 1010 class. I need to interview people on the subject  I am writing on. This class is very opinionated and at sometimes against certain beliefs that certain religions have. This class really makes you think. Throughout this class we have written six essays that vary in topic from "Does God have a Future", "Terror in the Mind of God", and so on. All these essays are written by people with their own opinions about different religions. There are some that made me angry with what they said but its their opinion and their beliefs. I am writing my paper on the question "Does God have a Future?". I need your input, beliefs and experience in this topic. If you would explain what our religion believes and how we know the things we do. That is all I need from you guys. If you can't elaborate on it for various reasons or anything like that, it is perfectly ok. Thank you so much for the example you are to me. I miss you so much and cant wait to see you soon. Keep up your hard work and do your best in everything you do. I love you two so much.

                Sincerely, Your Grandson,  Landon Lee Rich

October 26, 2005
Dear Landon,

Does God have a future?  He certainly does!  We believe that God has created innumerable worlds and that His future lays in populating them and carrying out with His children on those worlds, the same things that He is doing for us.  Some may say that this is impossible but with God all things are possible. 

On the other hand, if we think of the future as being things that are yet to happen, we believe that all things past, present and future are continually before God.  In that sense, there is no future for God because everything is continually before Him and the future is His present.  Confusing??

It would be hard to face the things in life that happen to us, such as deaths of our loved ones if we didn’t believe or know because of our beliefs that we would one day be reunited with them again. 

Since we believe that we can eventually become as God is and that he was once as we are now, He must have passed through the same experiences we are having.  Eventually, future generations will also experiences the same concerns and problems and everything will continue on. 

God in his infinite wisdom has given us all a chance to continue in the eternities so there definitely is a future for God.


How do we know these things.  Through the scriptures and the words of our prophets.  How do we know the truthfulness of the scriptures and the teaching of the prophets?  Only by having witness born to us by the Holy Ghost of their truthfulness

Good luck on your paper.
Love Grandma and Grandpa.

A few scriptures that relate are given below.

Moses 1:33
 33 And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.


Moses 1:35
 35 But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them.

 26 But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.


Mark 9:23
 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth.


Mark 10:27
 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men [it is] impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.


D&C 130:6
 6 The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth;

D&C 130:7
 7 But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord.

Abraham 2:8
 8 My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning; therefore my hand shall be over thee.


October 26, 2005
Woke up at 4 a.m. this morning.  Couldn’t sleep all of sudden.  I’m having a dream about my weight, which is UP 20 pounds from  where I was 8 months ago.  Depressing.  I need to get back in the exercise mode again.  I had a really fun day yesterday with Camryn, we went to Ogden, and went to Quality Quick Print, Sam’s, Walmart, Office Depot, Deseret Book, Teriyaki Stix (for lunch), Seagull Book, and Jorgensen’s.  She was a really good girl, and it really was fun, but tiring.  I bought a book, The Peacegiver, which I read in it’s entirety last night.  I was really good, and brought up points about the atonement, and forgiving others, etc. that I hadn’t considered before.  

I also bought a frame and pictures of Joseph Smith, by Liz Lemon Swindle, for a gift for Lynelle for all of the work she had put into this “The Excellence of One Man” YW Evening of Excellence production that is coming up on November 13th.  I put it together last night, and I really think she will like it a lot !!  She had invited us and Camryn to her pumpkin carving party this Saturday after the football game.  

Zac took Bruce Frost up Tonks’ last night and Bruce got a deer.  Darrin got one last weekend up there.  It’s funny, they come up and park in our barnyard (which was really fun to have them) and go and hunt over on Pentz hill, and on the state ground which is totally up and down, really rough terrain.  Zac feels so bad for them, that he invites them to come up on Tonks, and we are hoping Bruce Tonks doesn’t freak out.  Which Bruce T. didn’t see them last weekend (with Darrin) but did talk to them last night (with Bruce F.) and Bruce T. didn’t seem upset.  Today I’ll stay at home with Camryn again, and I think it’s going to be a lazy day……………  I think I might be coming down with something.  And just yesterday I was thinking (smugly to myself) that I hadn’t been sick at all………………  Leslie Hyde, from work, announced that she’s pregnant with her second child yesterday.  That is neat. 


10/28/05
I'm writing this from work, because I won't have time at home.  Treyson has had some small bumps, something like zits/boils? on his bottom, and they keep getting worse, and CJ called the doctor and he wanted to see him, and when he saw them, he popped them, and the fluid was clear, and he sent samples down to the lab, and he wants to do a spinal tap, to rule out viral infection of some kind?  It's kind of wait and see, they are keeping him overnight and putting him on IV's and antibodies.  He has been cross and not sleeping for a while......  we are concerned, and just wanted to let you
know, please pray for him.  We'll let you know
Love Gwen


10/29/05 (morning)
Treyson has had some little spots/zits/ etc. in his diaper region, and CJ took him down for the doctor to take a look and he lanced them and has taken samples of the fluid to the lab. It will take 2-3 days for the results, they also did a spinal tap (3 pokes) to check the fluid there.  They are worried about the herpes virus, which can be very very serious.  His billi-rubin count is back up to 16, so they are thinking he has a different type of jaundice (not the normal kind)  they had taken blood, and are doing checks on that also.  CJ has to stop nursing for 48 hours (because the breast milk may be aggravating this) We are in a wait and see mode, they are giving him anti-biotics (in case it is the herpes virus), but if it turns out NOT to be the virus, then it's no big deal........... just a weird diaper rash.  They don't want to tell people it's the "herpes" virus, because of all the negative connotations that go along with it........ so we are just saying virus/rash..............neither Zac or CJ have genital herpes (of course) and he was born C-section.......... so they don't have any idea how he could have contacted it (if in fact that is what it is).  I guess we all have the herpes virus inside us, and I told the doctor about how Zac has had horrible cold sores all his life, but he hasn't had any since the baby was born.  He's a month old today !! Bless his little heart.............  If it is the herpes virus, it is very very serious, and he will be in the hospital for quite awhile.  He's really not manifesting any illness, no fever, pain, etc.........  It is a worry until we know what is going on. 

On another note.  Morgan's volleyball team took state last night at UVSC, we played our arch rival Bear River !! and smacked them down in 3 games !!!  It was exciting.  Annette's, Karly is on the team, but as a freshman she didn't get any playing time - just wait until next year!!

We play Emery High today at 1 p.m. in the first round of the football playoffs...........  hopefully things go good, or we are finished for the year.  It has been a fun year.  Mike Rose's back in hurting him quite badly, and we are hoping he lasts the season. 

Take care, we love you - Don't worry........... maybe I shouldn't have told you until this was all over, but I wanted your prayers

See you later :)
Gwen 

10/29/05(night)
All of the tests so far have come back NEGATIVE for the virus !!! Thank goodness...........also, his bilirubin has come down.  As of right now, they think he will be able to come home tomorrow.
Thanks for your prayers.  We love you !!

 We just got home from the football game, where Morgan beat Emery, 40 to 7 !!.  Landon got the first touchdown of the game, and played a really good game.

We play Grantsville (whom we beat earlier in the year) next Saturday, at Morgan. 
See you later :)
Gwen  



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