July 1987 - from my journal

July

3 - Buy Suzuki Samauri

6 - Tonks reunion

7 - dentist (I think this is when Roger got dentures)

8 - ball game

9 - visit teach

11 - primary party

13 - Dr. Paulos (Roger's knee)

14 - Lagoon day

July 19, 1987(postcard from Erika)

Dear Mandy and Zac, Boy, I sure am enjoying myself.  Here is a picture for you. (It's a picture of Jesus holding a little child in the pageant)  We start tour guiding on Friday, and we get to go to the Sacred Grove on your Daddy's birthday!  I sure wish you were here to climb the Hill with me.  Please write back!  Love, Erika

(Summer 1987 - letter from Linda in Okinawa)

Dear Rog, Gwen, Mandy and Zac, so how are you all doing?  We are all fine, it's good to be home again.  Things are finally back to normal, jet lag is all gone.  I guess they aren't quite normal, it's really different without Terri.  We all really miss her.  It's sure hard letting go of our kids.  But, I know she'll be happy with Pat.  How are Rog's teeth coming along, and also his knee?  He's is trouble!  Joni said he played ball.  I'll have to work him over when we get back!  Boy, how is it to be rich?  Sounds like your new vehicle (Suzuki) is really nice.  Write and tell us about it.  How is your yard coming along?  Listen, you can get that pine tree down home if you ever want it.  Jeanne (Bruce's mom) knows you might come to get it.  It's hard to believe we only have a year left.  Unless we extend -  money wise we might.  If it wasn't for that darn old hunting business.  Well, I know this is short, but kiss those kids for me.  We love and miss you all!  Love, Linda

July 23, 1987

I leave allot to be desired when it comes to writing faithfully in my journal.  I need 2 books like the Book of Mormon.  One for historical day to day happenings, and one to express my feelings.  I've finally figured it out.  If I want to be happy, really happy, I need to do what my Heavenly Father wants me to do.  You know it's hard.  But if I get up early and exercise and run and read the Book of Mormon and sincerely pray to my Father in Heaven, I feel better all day.  My body needs spiritual and physical fitness.  Right now I'm doing all of the above and I feel great.  And at night I can eagerly and confidently kneel and talk to Heavenly Father.  But sometimes I can get in a rut and be so miserable and not exercise or keep the house clean.  I just lay in bed till the absolute last minute.  Watch a bunch of TV, and not read the scriptures.  And at night I don't like to pray because I feel I have failed and it's no use.  I feel so rotten.  But do you think I can pull myself out of this rut easily?  NO.  It's hard to get back on track again.  I keep having these ups and downs.  It seems when things get going great, I forget to keep Heavenly Father a personal part of my life, and that is what lets me down.  I'm kinda like the Nephites, I forget my Father when things are going great, and I think I can do it all on my own.  And then when things fall apart and I am brought down to misery, I seek out my Father more humbly and sincerely.  Maybe that's why I've had some of the trials I've had in my life.  To humble me.  I used to blame allot of things on Heavenly Father because I felt he was punishing me for having to get married.  Such as having to have Ambure C-section, and her little hips not being right, and then her dying, and any other thing that didn't work out just right.  But I know I was wrong.  The Lord knows what is best for me, and I need to look beyond this moment at the whole eternal plan.  I hope by writing this that I can help someone.  I'm a weak person and I need to be stronger and keep on the right path.  I want to be a good example for my kids.  I love them allot.  Amanda is so much like me.  Sometimes I don't like myself very much, and I hate to see her inheriting some of my traits.  Such as giving dirty looks and having no patience.  Zachary has a temper like me too.  I hope Roger and I can raise them up to be good people and to love the Lord.  We have family prayer, and they say their prayers at night.  But I really think we are too casual about it all. Oh how I wish my testimony were stronger.  Roger went to a Dr. Lonnie Paulos at Salt Lake City Knee and Sports Medicine.  He was told that 2 of his knee ligaments are torn, and he needs them replaced and also a new knee cap. (The anterior cruciate was torn, and he didn't need a new knee cap) This will be a 4-5 hour operation, and he will be in the L.D.S. hospital for 4 days, and off work for 6-8 weeks.  Surgery is scheduled for September 16, 1987.  We are waiting to get a second opinion,  although we feel Dr. Paulos knows what he's talking about. (He's one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the state.  He operates on and advises members of the Jazz team)   Rog had to get a brace which cost $300.00.  We bought us a Suzuki Samauri on July 3, 1987.  It is like a little jeep.  It's pretty cute.  It cost $9,100.00, and we paid off the car also, so now our payments are $228.00 a month for 5 years.  We really needed something to get up the hill in the winter. It's 4WD.  I have been back to school shopping already and am going again tomorrow.  School starts in 5 weeks.  I wrote a letter to the school requesting that Amanda NOT be placed in a certain class.  The teacher I didn't want,  isn't the best teacher as far as motivation and fun, and she's burned out.  We would like to get pregnant in September, but with Roger's leg, we are still debating.  We probably will though.  Roger's birthday is in an few days.  I have something really special for him.  I'm so excited.  He will absolutely love it.  Everyone's in bed now, but I can't sleep. I like my job in the primary presidency. I gave two good sharing times this past month.  We finally got rain gutters installed.  We will have to go for wood all the time now so we will have it all done by September 16th.  Mark went through the temple today in Salt Lake. I'm so proud of him.  His farewell is the 9th of August, and he leaves the 14th for the M.T.C.  He will be there two months learning the language, and then on to Toyko, Japan.  Well, I will stop for now.  Hope I can keep this up, HAHA

July 25, 1987(postcard from Dawna)

Both Erika and I are doing fine and really enjoying ourselves.  We are in the same study group, and rooming right next door to each other.  We usually go to breakfast together, because our companions would rather sleep.  We are both in the Nephi scene, Lamanite scene, and Yearning scene.  We have one costume change.  We both love our companions.  The pageant is great, our study group is great.  It's a great experience.  Love, Dawna

July 25, 1987

We got wood today up in the Uinta's at Carter Creek.  We took Bruce's trailer.  Just me and Rog and the kids went.  Then we came home about 3 p.m. and unloaded and went down to Uncle Don's and the kids rode Rebena, and Rog and Uncle Don moved some hay. The kids found 2 little kittens.  I think Duchess might be their dad.  They are so tame.  One has long hair and one short.  One had a cold in it's eye.  LuAnn and Ben, Joni and Kerry and kids, and Layne and Susan and kids are all up to Jackson Hole this weekend.  Mark asked me to talk at his farewell.  I'm nervous.  Mom and Tonya and me and the kids went to Ogden yesterday.  I got a few more school clothes bought.

Amanda:                               Zac:

White shoes                     Yellow shirt

Yellow gloves                  Red, White and Blue shirt

Socks                               Hawaiian Shirt

Underwear                       Purple Sweat shirt

Red pants                         Grey toughskins

Lavender pants                Plain toughskins

Pastel pants                      Lee's

Yellow striped shirt          Underwear

White shirt

Dark Royal blue shirt

Erika and Dawna are back in Palmyra at the Hill Cumorah Pageant.  Erika lost all her dresses, or I should say the airline did.  She is wearing everyone else's dresses, but she is so hard to fit.  Everyone has gone somewhere over the 24th it seems.  Both Wilkinson's and Birt's and Joan and Chet are gone.  Joni and Kerry got a new Dodge Caravan.  It's really nice.  I wish we could have something that big with 4WD.  Oh well, we love our Samurai.  LuAnn got some packages from Okinawa.  It seems we are left out.  The kids never write us.  Darrin wrote LuAnn, and I know Brenda wrote Joni.  Also, Terri finally wrote LuAnn.  I'm gonna copy her address and get a letter off to her real quick.

July 28, 1987 - Letter from Linda

Dear Rog and Gwen,  What's new with the Rich gang?  How is everyone doing?  Rog, how is your teeth?  And your knee?  I guess you are getting wood already for the winter.  I can't believe it's almost fall there, and yet it seems like it was ages since we were home.  But only 11 more months to go.  We all still miss Terri.  I guess that just takes time.  But I shed tears everyday.  18 years is a long time to have someone, and then suddenly they are gone.  I know how  Bruce feels about his dad.  Some days, he still gets blue though.  So much has happened to us in the last year.  It's hard to believe.  You must be rolling in the dough with Rog working 14 hour days.  I bet your about beat doing that and taking care of Uncle Don's place too.  We appreciate all you help when we were home, your support too. Did you get the video yet?  I hope you like it.  We have one like it.  Let me know if you want any videos.  We have a pretty good selection now, about 100.  We have been sponsoring a new family the last couple of weeks.  So we've been busy getting them settled in.  All of our kids have become good friends.  I'm glad, because Darrin doesn't make friends easy.  Speaking of him, he's still growing.  I can't believe it.  When we get home, he'll be able to help you out Rog.  I guess you two won't know what to do when both the kids got to school huh?  Guess you better add to the family?  We need another new baby in the family, but not from my daughter yet.  I’m not ready for Grandmother hood!  Well, I’ll go for now!  Take care, we love and miss you guys!  Linda

July 28, 1987 - letter from Linda

Hi Amanda, I hope you can read my writing, it's kind of sloppy.  Are you just about ready for school?  Have you got some new clothes yet?  We still have to go shopping.  The kids had to have a bunch of shots to start school.  Todd got four, and he was sick.  How is your yard coming along.?  You sure have a pretty house.  I'd love to live up there.  Good luck in school.  Write soon, Love your Aunt Linda

July 28, 1987 - letter from Linda
Dear Zac,  I am so glad you wrote to me.  I really miss you.  And love you too.  I guess you are getting ready for school now.  Are you excited?  How are you all feeling?  Did your dad get some more teeth pulled?  I hope his knee gets better soon.  Did you have fun up to Joni's cabin?  Darrin and Todd can't wait to come home and go hunting with you.  Write to me soon.  Love your Aunt Linda.

July 29, 1987

Today is Rog and Dad's birthdays.  Last night we had a family party at LuAnn's for Roger's and Layne's and Kelly's birthdays.  It was really fun.  We went and got wood yesterday again, and got a big nice load.  Ben about got hit by a tree, and it was really scary!  We might go up Friday night and sleep over and get another big load.  I gave Roger a guitar for his birthday.  He was really excited.  I like playing it too.  I have to work all day today and tomorrow.  Amanda went to a slumber birthday party at Julia Wiscombe's last night.  It's kinda overcast today.  I'd like to stay home and clean my house.  Well, I'd better get ready for work.