June - July 2003

June 5 – Tiana play   - King and I ??

June 7 – Landon plays baseball at Lindquist Field

June 9 – Email from Shirlee to Gwen

If  9 pm is not too late tonight lets shoot for that.  CJ gets off at

about 7:30 so she should be home.  she will probably be ornery but what

is new....I have 5 peach dresses and I will bring them also to see if

what I am thinking is totally out of the question..... 

 We talked with Mark and Carrie on Sat and told them that we

would be glad to help with anything for their yard that they need.  I

know how stressful it can be when it is your yard.  I had my wedding at

my sisters (Claudia) and they really had to jump through hoops to get

everything ready.....it is coming fast.  I need to get her committed to

the decorations as I can.  We just need to sit and talk about things

together so we all know what is happening.....I wonder if Robyn does

decorating also or just flowers.....you really don't need much

decoration with an outdoor wedding....I also know of a lady in North

Ogden I can call...oh well let me know about tonight. Thanks a lot

see ya  Shirlee

June 10 – Email from Gwen To Shirlee

How's work today??  Those were cute Mothers Day/Father's day gifts, huh? What's your schedule for going to Lynelle's and having her look at that wedding dress?  Lynelle had mentioned that Monday or Tuesday of this week  was good for her. I know CJ has to work till later, and I've got baseball EVERY night this week, but tonight we might be home by 9 -  I can call Lynelle.  Just let me know.  Also - what about the peach dresses?  How many do you have now??

Gwen

June 12 – Hydroseed at property and our back yard

June 17, 2003

Landon leaves on the Stake Trek tomorrow.  He is happy and excited to go.  I hope all goes well, and that he gains a greater testimony of the gospel and Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  We talked about attitude, and how that will make or break the experience. I want to write him a little note and put inside an envelope that he can read when things get tough. 

Dear Landon,

What words of encouragement can I offer you?  PRAY PRAY PRAY.  Our Heavenly Father will NEVER forsake you, and is there to lift you up when you are down.  Don’t be afraid to say a silent prayer to him and ask for help.

I could say – “Hang in there” – “It’s always darkest before the dawn” “Remember ATTITUDE !!! it makes the difference”, but I think Heavenly Father said it best to our prophet Joseph Smith when he was imprisoned in Liberty Jail, and called out to the Lord in prayer, “Why hath thou forsaken me?”  (see – prophets have problems too) and the Lord replied, “Be patient in thine afflictions my son, they should be but for a small moment, and if you endure them well you will receive all that I have”. 

Be patient Landon, be a leader, be an example, be your usual happy self, and lift others up when they are down.  Help the ones who are weaker than you (in strength).  Use your hard working abilities you have learned through sports and work (mink farm) to physically help others along that aren’t as strong as you – girls and boys as well.  Help others who are “weaker” than you in Spirit.  Encourage them, joke with them, SING with them, be a “brother” and “son” that everyone would like to have. 

Remember we talked about the two kind of people that would be on the trek, and the one that you would want to be remembered for.  Now at this point, don’t say, “But it’s too hard”, or “I didn’t think it would be like this!”, or “I just can’t do it !!”.  I KNOW you CAN do it !!  You are one of the choicest people I know !!  And it’s not just because you are my son.  There really is something special about you.  I KNOW you are a chosen son of God.  It has been demonstrated to me SO MANY TIMES.  I kneel and thank my Heavenly Father EVERY night for sending such a wonderful, valiant, strong, happy, loving, fun, son to me.  You are the light of our family’s life, and you can be this same light to your TREK family.

We love you so much, and are praying for you as you are on this TREK.  With Heavenly Father’s help, you can accomplish ANYTHING !!! 

Love mom

June 19, 2003

I prayed yesterday more than I have ever in my life.  I don’t know why I was so nervous, anxious, and concerned about Landon on the hike.  It seemed like I was saying a small “Heavenly Father please bless my boy” prayer probably like 20-30 times.  Well now at least the “hard” day is over.  Now all I have to worry about is getting him picked up at the right spot on Saturday morning at 6 am.  Just call me Grandma Dickson !!!

30^th – Landon goes to Sting game with Jake Blomquist – Did this happen?

July

July 7, 2003

Landon’s 15^th birthday was Saturday and we went boating on East Canyon in Mark’s boat.  Landon invited four of his friends, Cody Watkins, Kaycee Wall, Mitch Clark, and Mike Eddy.  They had a FANTASTIC time. 

I wanted to write down my feelings about the sacrament.  I have tried really had to listed to the prayers, and think about Jesus during this sacred time.  I think of the atonement, and how he suffered for my sins, so that if I repent, mercy will be given to me, and I won’t have to pay the price of justice.  I am so grateful that I can go every week and partake of this special remembrance of my savior.  I want to remember him, and I think of things I need to work on, and pledge to do better in the coming week.  

I am working on my Young Woman’s Personal Progress.  It helps me grow and be stronger in learning the principles of the gospel.  I love the gospel, and feel so fortunate to have had the ancestors that accepted it many years ago in England, and came to America.  I know I am so blessed to have been born into the church.  I pray that my children will ALL come to realize the important of this in their lives.  I haven’t done my job as a mother and parent during their formative years, especially Mandy and Zac.  This is something I will always regret.  My only hope is that they, especially Manda, will somehow come to the knowledge of the truthfulness of the gospel, and the love that Heavenly Father and Jesus have for her.  I love her so much, and the thought of her not being with our family forever is so sad and empty feeling.  I worry about her children, and the fact that they won’t be brought up in the true gospel.  It makes me so scared.  It was up to me and Roger, and we have failed miserably in this respect.  The only thing I can do now is go on.  My Patriarchal blessing states that my journal will be a road map for my posterity to follow to bring them back to the presence of our Heavenly Father.  This is my hope and prayer.  I know that gospel, our gospel, the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the ONLY true church upon the face of the earth today.  We have the ONLY living prophet, and Gordon B. Hinckley, is just as real as Noah, Moses, Adam, Enoch, and Joseph Smith were in earlier days.  I know he speaks with God directly, and receives revelation from him.  I know this.  I believe this with every fiber of my being.  I am so grateful for my membership in this great gospel.  I am so thankful to Pacome and Landon’s Sunday School class for bringing Landon and I back into the fold.  May God’s choicest blessings be we them for all time.  I hope and pray that I can remain strong and moving forward in my testimony.

July 11, 2003 (Friday) or should I say Saturday morning (12^th) at 1 a.m. ????

Well another week is done.  I love the weekends, but they go too fast.  I will be giving the lesson on Sunday in Young Women’s.  It is on the Sabbath Day.  Tomorrow afternoon and evening we will be baseballing it again, after almost a week and a half of no baseball.  It either pours (12 games in 10 days) or drought !!!  Landon is at scout camp, but he’ll be back tomorrow morning early. On the way up there with the Bishop, he called and said that the Bishop had shanghaied him to Paris!!!  I knew he was kidding, but he swore it was true.  I finally realized that he meant, Paris, IDAHO !!!  What a kid.  Roger and I went down to the Pizzeria tonight.  My stomach is upset now, so I got back up and am scrap booking, trying to get caught up.  I’m pretty close !! Just need to get Landon’s St. Joe baseball put together.  Zac and Roger worked on the bridge for the wedding today, and I finished sewing the beads back on CJ’s wedding dress.  Zac and CJ went to the drive in movie tonight.  They aren’t home yet.  It’s almost 1 a.m.  Didn’t read the scriptures today, and I can tell a difference.  I need to try harder.  I’ll just keep on going.  I love my Heavenly Father and I know he loves me. 

July 30 – CJ Shower

June 2003 - Gwen's Patriarchal Blessing

Patriarchal Blessing

Given by Patriarch Keith R. Little

June 1, 2003

Sister Gwen Dickson Rich, in humility with a prayer in my heart and as an ordained Patriarch in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I place my hands upon your head this beautiful Sabbath morning, to pronounce a Patriarchal blessing.

            I bless you Sister Gwen that you will truly know and understand who you really are, that you are a daughter of a loving, living Father in Heaven.  May it bring comfort, joy and security to realize that you once lived with your Father in Heaven in the spirit world, before you came into mortality.  You felt His arms around you, you even knew those things that might be a part of your life here upon the earth.  Because of His love for you and because of your worthiness there, the privilege has been yours to be placed upon the earth at this special time.  A time appointed by our Father in Heaven for you, a time when it is a glorious time to be here when the fullness of the Gospel is here for you to enjoy.  It is also a time Sister Gwen, when there is much unrest, anxiety, and even lack of respect for life itself for some, but also a world of joy and happiness for those who are seeking for the finer things of life.  I bless you that this might always be your goal.

           

            Thou art of Israel, of the family of Abraham.  Thy blessings shall come through Ephraim.  I seal all those blessings upon your head this day that were promised by our Father in Heaven to those who are a part of that posterity.  I promise you, they can all be yours if you live worthy to receive them.

            May you realize the special gift our Father in Heaven has given to you, this earthly body.  A sacred gift.  Take care of it Gwen, respect it, protect it from harm or accident, never allow anything evil to enter your mind or your body.  Always clothe it properly that it might be respected wherever you go or whatever you might be a part of.  Remember, as you sojourn here upon the earth, that one day you will be called upon to return this gift to your Father in Heaven and report your stewardship to Him.

            Our Father in Heaven has endowed you with special talents.  Special abilities, with ambition, a keen mind, a strong body, with a very pleasant outgoing personality.  All these are gifts from our Father in Heaven that must be magnified and used not only to bring joy into your life, but to bring joy and happiness into the lives of those you will associate with.   May you realize the high and noble calling our Father in Heaven has given to you, as you share with God in bringing forth life here upon the earth.  You became a Mother in Zion.  Many opportunities will be yours to serve your Father in Heaven, but I say to you this day, this is your mission above all other things, to raise up a righteous family unto our Father in Heaven, a family that might enjoy the eternities together.

            I promise you, if you will humble yourself on your knees in sincere and pleading prayer to your Father in Heaven, answers to all your questions will come in due time.  Peace will come into your heart.  If you will place your trust in your Father in Heaven and have faith, and do that which you are directed to do from the promptings that will come, that goal that you have set for yourself will become a reality.  Unity will come into your family, the Patriarch of your family will realize the responsibility that is his.  Through your love and patience, and his love for you and his family, understanding will come and you will be able to share together the eternities to come.  I bless you with patience to wait for those things you have a desire to be a part of your life.

            I bless you that you will be able to forgive all people Gwen, even those who might seem unkind to you or even transgress against you, reach out a hand of friendship and love and forgiveness to them and you will be able to touch their hearts.

            Share what you have with others, those who are less fortunate, reach out to the poor and the sick, whether it is in body or mind.  Those who might need help, if you will share what you have willingly and anxiously I promise you, your table will never be empty.  You will always have a roof over your head, clothes upon your back, and be surrounded by those who love and sustain you.

            You are going to have some special opportunities to serve.  You will find joy and happiness in the Temple.  You will feel a peace there that you cannot find any other way, as you realize each time you enter that special place you are opening up the doors for others who cannot attend.  If you are true and faithful, if you will stay close to your Father in Heaven, while you are there you will feel the closeness of those choice people in your heart as they say “thank you” for that which you are doing for them.

            Now, you are going to find peace and comfort as you study the scriptures, as you pray for understanding, your life will take on greater meaning than ever before.

            You have been placed upon the earth to have joy, joy according to God’s plan, listen to the promptings that will come, have faith, and those desires you have will become a part of your life.

            Prepare a journal Gwen, a special document.  Make an entry into this journal each and every day, and I promise you this document will not only become valuable to you, but it will be a road map for those of your posterity who will follow, and it will help them know the way back into the presence of our Father in Heaven.

            Gwen, you will see the fulfillment of prophecy while you sojourn here upon the earth.  You will see the Gospel grow to all corners of the world, and your family will be a part of that growth.  As you read this blessing in years to come, may you remember this choice son that shared this day with you, and realize the joy and happiness he will bring into your life.  For there is a special blessing for him as well.  As you share this blessing with him, he will realize the responsibility that he has to never let you be lonely or go without.  May he take care of you and return unto you, the many, many things you have given to him. 

            Now Gwen, there is nothing in this life you cannot accomplish if you place your trust in your Father in Heaven, if it be His will and you are willing to work for it.

            Be aware of the adversary, he is strong, he is clever and he will try to present himself in your life in ways that will almost look right, but if you will find yourself on your knees in sincere and humble prayer you need not fear the adversary.  He will not be able to tempt you beyond that which you will be able to overcome.  If you will reach out your hand to your Father in Heaven you need never walk alone, He will walk with you wherever you go.

            Now, Gwen may you realize just how special you are, there is no one upon the face of the earth that is just like you.  Your Father in Heaven knows who you are. He can call you by name.  If you will invite Him into your life, He will help guide your footsteps and actions, and help you to realize the goals you have for yourself.

            Take joy in each day that you live, realize the blessings that can be yours.  May you remember the special role that you are called to fulfill as a Mother and Grandmother, the example you will set for those who will follow you.  I promise you, every righteous desire you have in your heart can be yours if it be the will of our Father in Heaven.  I bless you that your life will be full, even your later years will be productive and useful if you will obey God’s laws of health, and take care of your body.  Make yourself available to your Father in Heaven, and much joy and happiness will be yours.

            These blessings I seal upon you, and seal you up to come forth on the morning of the first resurrection, crowned a princess and a queen to live eternally with our Father in Heaven.  This I do through the power of the Priesthood, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

16^th  Orson 20  bales, Dickson 50 bales, Rich 19 bales

June 1, 2003

Today I received my patriarchal blessing.  It was so special.  Before we even got there, the devil was trying to bring us down.  Landon accidentally knocked the furnace control off of the wall, and it broke and the furnace turned on and wouldn’t turn off. Then he sat down on our broken chair, and ripped his new pants.  We were not in very good moods as we set off toward Patriarch Keith Little’s home.  But I asked Heavenly Father to please let us be calm and everything was okay.  When we got there, he invited us in and talked to me for a little bit.  He inquired of my family, and my life, why I wanted a blessing, and what my goals were.  I told him how Landon and I have become active this past year and a half, and how I now am worthy to go to the temple, and of Roger’s inactivity, and how I had hope that one day he would realize the importance of the gospel.  I told him I wanted a blessing to give me guidance, hope, and promises for the future, and I told him my goal was to continue for the rest of my life to be close to my Heavenly Father, and not to fall into inactivity again.   We knelt in prayer, all three of us, and then he had me sit in a chair to give me my patriarchal blessing.  It was beautiful, and I was emotional through it.  He mentioned Heavenly Father’s arms around me, he mentioned that I would be a grandmother, he mentioned that I need to keep a journal, and that it would help my posterity be close to the Lord.  Landon was mentioned in the blessing.  President Little told me that he would be a comfort to me, and a protection to me, and that my posterity would be instrumental in taking the gospel to all the world.  I took this that Landon would fulfill a mission.  I am looking so forward to getting a copy of my blessing so that I might re-read it again, and refer to it often.