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