December 2005

On 12/11/05,

Dear Loved Ones,

Just a note to let you know that everything is fine.  Dad hasn't been improving like we hoped he would so we made another trip to Bangkok.  This time he ended up having two MRI's - one on his lower back and one on his neck.  As expected they found nothing wrong but it did relieve us to know there was nothing serious wrong like a tumor or something.  He still continues to have burning pain in his groin and legs but has put up with that for just about a year now.  Some days are better than others but he plans on just enduring it for six more months until we get home.  I know he would enjoy our mission more if he felt better.  Take good care of each other and have a wonderful and exciting holiday season.  We love you all and miss you terribly.  

Love, Mom and Dad (Grandma and Grandpa)

12/12/05

 Letter written from Mark to mom and dad

Dad & Mom:

For some reason, I've suspected there was still a problem all along, and I've stated such to Gwen frequently.  That was the very first thought that I had when you mentioned in Carrie's Happy Birthday email that you had been in Bangkok without letting us know about it previously.  Anyway, I felt the same way months ago and I feel the same way now.  May I please be honest and direct with you about how I feel?  I really am quite concerned that you are making a huge mistake not doing whatever it takes to solve Dad's health problem.  If he has some issues that are unknown, you need to deal with them head on and not cut any corners due to your circumstances.

Your eternal salvation does not depend on you finishing your mission.  Period.  Yes, it may show determination.  Yes, in some way you may think it shows obedience.  Yes, you would be finishing what you started.  But is it worth it and does it pass the common sense test?  There is nothing wrong with dealing with a health problem during your mission.  I hope you're not using flawed reasoning by not dealing with it completely, just because you are on a mission and on the Lord's errand.  Think of how silly people think it is for a Jehovah's Witness to not get a blood transfusion, even when it could save their life.  It just doesn't make sense.  I also don't believe that you are being "tested" to see how you react to this trial.  God doesn't work that way in my opinion.  Although some people say that in order to explain trials in their life, I think that we'll eventually find out that God doesn't work that way.  (Just my two cents).

I know it would be expensive, but you are financially secure and able to return home, deal with it completely and thoroughly, and then return to Cambodia and finish.  Another option would be to come home, deal with it, and then go on another mission to another place.  Why not?  To live in constant pain and discomfort, and to be miserable due to circumstances beyond your control (that could potentially be solved if you were in the United States where you could undergo thorough, extensive testing) is a mistake in my opinion.  What if it has a long term effect on your health in the future?  There are a lot of what ifs with an unknown condition like this.  Perhaps it's nothing?  At least you would know and could move forward. 

We would be happy for you to come to our home and stay as long as you like, as I know that you would be concerned about upsetting the current arrangement with Jason and Shelly.  Please don't let that be a concern.  Jason and Shelly would completely understand if you needed and wanted to come home permanently to your own home, and are in a situation that they could move out immediately if needed.  We love you and want you to be happy. 

Love,  Mark

December 12, 2005

Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written.  It seems I get behind, and then it’s a pain to catch up, but I’ll try………….  

Roger is still loving (haha) his work.  Seriously the highest point in his life is probably Camryn, who absolutely loves her papa, and watching Landon wrestle.  We (Rog and I) went Christmas shopping last Saturday, and it was a good day.  He is looking forward to going to ASU this weekend for the baseball camp for Landon also.  We leave Thursday, the camp is Friday/Saturday, and we come home Sunday.  Mark and his family will be in Las Vegas to a baseball camp and the BYU bowl game, so we will try and connect for a little bit on Sunday.

I am trying to get a chest cold, but am feeling somewhat better tonight.  I came home from work today and rested.  We got the Christmas tree up, and all of the stuff on there cannot be broken, so Camryn can mess with it all she wants.  YW is going good. I’m on schedule to finish the Book of Mormon, just like the prophet has asked us to.  I haven’t been eating right or exercising, which I know I should, and I feel lousy.  I need to do better.

Manda is enjoying her job, but not all of the drama and social interactions with 15 women at work.  Her boss Carol is demanding, and sometimes onry, but Amanda handles it okay.  It is hard to be a working mom, and come home to a independent and sometimes onry 19 month old daughter.  Her breast reduction went very well, and she looks great.  One of the perks of the job – a $11,000 procedure, absolutely free!! 

Camryn is such a joy to have around, even when she is a pain…………… kind of an oxymoron I guess.  She enjoys going to Diane’s and playing with the kids.  She is very independent – wonder where she gets that?!??!  She can say quite a few words, and is beginning to talk in small sentences.  Manda said she told her to, “Leave me alone” the other day when she (Camryn) was in the tub, and didn’t want to get out.   And also, “Where’s papa?” is heard about 20 million times a day also.  We are going to miss her when they go to Arizona over the Christmas holiday.  We will be going to Pinedale for a few days, so that is good to take our minds off of her being gone. She and Manda fly out the Friday before Christmas, and Manda comes back the day after Christmas, and Jim will fly back with Camryn on the Friday after Christmas.  Hope all goes well…  Camryn knows who Santa is, and says HOHOHO when you ask her what does Santa say??  She saw him for real in Walmart last Saturday (he came up to her in the cart) and she didn’t cry, but she didn’t know for sure about him.  Then after he left, all we heard was, “Where’s Santa?”  about a million times !!   We are truly glad to have them here with us, and are usually just one big happy family.

Zac is “putting up” with his work.  When you ask him how work is, he just says, “Work”.  He has applied at HAFB, but I can’t imagine he’ll be happy there either.  Wish he could find something he enjoys.  His garage is coming along nicely.  It is  99% framed, with only the framing around the garage door opening left to do.  He is getting the tar paper and shingles delivered this week hopefully.  I think he’s planning on waiting till spring to do the siding.  It is really nice, and I hope to send you a picture of it soon. 

CJ has gone back to work part-time (Monday-Wednesday)  (started last week on the 5^th)  McKenzie is watching Treyson on Mondays, me and Carrie are switching off on Tuesdays and her friend Lindsey Wardell is watching him on Wednesdays.  This will carry on until mid January, when Diane will take him also.  Seems to be working out so far.  Treyson is a cutie, but I don’t get to see him as much as I’d like to.  He’s starting to smile and goo now. 

Last Tuesday, CJ started from home from SLC at 5 pm, and at 8pm she hadn’t even reached Centerville………..  This was the night of the BIG STORM.  We had planned on going to Temple Square with the YM and YW, but had to cancel because of it.  It’s been really really cold lately too – 15 and 20 below zero at nights, and in the teens during the day.  The last couple of days it’s warmed up to 30’s in the day.

Let’s talk about my favorite subject – Landon of course.  My other kids would probably say I love him best, which IS NOT the case, but I do love that boy a lot !!  He finished his first trimester, and pulled all A’s (even his two English college classes) and a C in Chemistry (college).  I was pretty proud of him.  Now he has a college history class and an online college science class.  Hope they work out well for him too.  He will start Math 1050 in mid January.  Kinda worried about that !??!  If he can’t hack it, he’ll have to pull out and take in again in the summer, with you DAD, as tutor.   Landon is such a good kid. He’s ALWAYS pleasant to be around, and hardly gets out of sorts, except when I nag him (which I’m trying not to do) or pick his zits, which he has gotten quite a bad case of.  We are getting him into the dermatologist on the 29^th of this month.  I’m worried about scaring if we don’t get something done.  He is so good to help out when asked to do anything, and is very good to help out Manda and me with Camryn.  The other day (last Tuesday) he had all the driveway and sidewalk shoveled and pushed the road with the 4-wheeler before his dad even got home from work.  His wrestling is going great !!  He placed 2^nd in the Evanston Tournament (wrestled a kid from Union in the championship round and lost).  He’ll wrestled this kid, Cael Cook 4 more times before State.  The second time he wrestled him (last Friday) we went to the Friday Night Duels at Roosevelt.  Landon wrestled 5 times, and went 4 and 1, losing to the same kid again.  This time he was totally screwed by the referee, and Hoopes actually got thrown out of the gym over the controversy.  We KNOW he can beat this kid, and look forward to the Bobcat Brawls, the regular region duel, and REGION where he will meet him again with a different outcome WE HOPE !!!  Landon will miss the Weber Duels this weekend while he goes to the camp at ASU.  Guess what happened on Sunday?  I’m sitting in Sunday School, feeling sick, so I leave, and I’m going to grab Landon and tell him to let’s just go home.  Then I find out the it’s Lawson Bullock’s farewell, and I really want to listen to it, so I decide to tough it out.  Well, I grab a program, and low and behold, there my son is – speaking today in SACRAMENT meeting !!!  I about fell over !!!  I hurried and called Roger, and told him to come up if he wanted to, which he did, and we listed to Landon give an EXCELLENT talk on Service.  Bless his heart, it was fantastic.  I was so proud  I was about to burst !!  Afterward he told me that the reason he didn’t tell me, was………….and get this…………… he didn’t’ want to hear me nag him about it all week, saying, “Don’t you think you better work on that talk” etc. etc. etc……….  so I’m trying to lay off the nagging.

I also wanted to thank you very much for the Christmas money !  Landon will write later to thank you, we haven’t given it to him yet.  It is very much appreciated and will help out very much.  Also, I’m living in my own oblivious world, and I’m sorry that I didn’t know or sense that Dad was still having problems.  You are too private and too much of a trooper Dad.  I worry about you. As soon as  Mark got your birthday letter to Carrie and heard you were in Bangkok, he called me immediately and was worried, and I told him to chill out – it was probably his imagination………….. but I stand corrected.  Please don’t suffer needlessly.  If you would feel better (more confident) with a doctor here in the states, please come home and get checked out.  I just don’t want this to end up being something that will affect you in years to come because you didn’t get it taken care of. I thought this mission thing would get easier (missing you both) but it is getting harder.  I hope it goes by quickly now.  I’m sorry to complain – I should be cheering you up !!  Take care, let us know how you are feeling.   We love you very much !!

Love Gwen and family 

December 13, 2005

Dear Family,

Please do not concern yourself about my health.  As you probably know, I am the world’s worst worrier.  If I thought something serious was wrong I would be home in a heartbeat.  I am well and have a good appetite, too good in fact.  The doctors all agree that I look healthy and appear to be younger than my sixty-eight years. All tests they have done show nothing.  They all assure me that nothing malignant or life threatening is going on.  The doctors I have seen, especially those in Bangkok are very well qualified, receiving their training in America and England and the hospital itself is very modern with all of the latest test equipment.

The latest test (an MRI) on my spine shows some points where the spinal cord is having pressure put on it by the vertebrae.  They think that this may be causing the pain I am experiencing.  One solution is surgery, which I would consider only as a last resort and certainly only back in the USA.  They suggest that I try massage therapy which I plan to begin this week.  They have also prescribed some anti-inflammatory medication that seems to be helping. 

If you are interested, search on "chronic pelvic pain syndrome" or cpps on the internet and you will see that many people have pain problems similar to what I am experiencing.  Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a wonder cure out there.  The fact that I might have to put up with it for the rest of my life is discouraging, other than that I am fine.

It seems that the closer we get to coming home, the more we miss all of you.  You all know the love you have for your children and how you feel when they do well.  When we hear from you about you and your children’s successes we are extremely happy and almost burst with pride.  Thanks for living the kinds of lives that we can be proud of.

See you soon.  Love Dad

December 13, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

As you can see we are still here and trying to catch up on everything.  Letter or Email writing is just like paying your tithing.  If you ever get behind it is very very hard to catch up.  Don't get me wrong, we are experiencing this with our writing not our tithing.  It's so good to hear from all of you back home.  Keep the home fires burning bright and always remember to do what our Heavenly Father would want you to do.

We love you all and remember you in our prayers.  Elder and Sister Dickson 

These are some pictures we received from Elder Loomis, one of our favorite missionaries from Weizer (spelling), Idaho - near Boise.  

IMG_0066A (29) - Now you can see why we don't eat at any of the little food stands along the streets.
IMG_0066A (45) - 6th Branch members - 3rd from left is our little lady movie star, 4th is the Branch Pres. wife, 5th is Elder Boui (Booee), lady in gold top is the old Relief Society Pres., Elder Loomis is the tallllll one on the end.
IMG_0066A (47) - 6th Branch members - (left) Emma is an outstanding young lady who plays piano, was the Primary Pres and is now YW Pres (she is in high school); Elder Loomis; Sister and Elder Miller; old RS Pres and two daughters; sister missionaries- Sis Huynh (Win) and Sis Vo
IMG_0066A (57) - How would you like to sit down to eat and have this staring you in the face?
IMG_0812 - Sister Miller carefully walking along boards over the dirty water to a members house (shack).  This is harder in the dark.

December 17, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

How is everything and everybody back in America.  Thanksgiving has passed and we are all now looking forward to Christmas.  What a wonderful time of the year.  A time to think about why we truly celebrate Christmas.  For us who are away from all the frantic hustle and bustle that usually surround this time of the year,  we find our time taken up with giving service to others and thinking of our Saviour and all that he has done for us.  We are so blessed to live in America with all its freedoms and opportunities.  May each of you feel the true spirit of Christmas as you celebrate this Holiday Season.  We love you all and wish the very best to each and everyone of you.  May the Lord be with you and continue to pour out His blessings on you. 

Love, Elder and Sister Dickson

000_0008 (4) - One of the many fancy buildings at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand
000_0011 (3) - Elder and Sister Miller and Elder and Sister Dickson at Grand Palace
000_0017 - The beautiful grounds at the Grand Palace
100_2570 - Wheelchair distribution
100_2574 - Wheelchair distribution

December 19, 2005

Dad, I'm sending this from work, but you can

reply to me at home.

Your drain in the basement is acting up again.

When they do a load of wash it comes up.  This

has been going on for the last little while, and

has been getting worse.  They have been able to

keep it away from any carpet damage.

The other night, they sucked 24 gallons (2 wet vacs)

full out.  What should they do, or who do you want

me to call?  They are heading to Vegas for a few days

and so won't have to wash for a week.  They took their

last few loads to the laundromat.

Let me know...... who to call - Roto rooter???

Also, do you think the cold has anything to do with it?

They have had no problems at all, just the past few weeks

when it has been so cold.

Let me know at home on my home email

Love Gwen

Gwen, our memories are shot as to who to call but it seems like we put that information on the sheet of paper we left with you and Mark on things you needed to be aware of while we are gone.  Roto Rooter is very expensive compared to the person we used so if you can't find the sheet Mom left with his name there is probably a way to look it up.  When we get over to the District Center will be able to look into our checking account and see if we can look it up on our returned checks.  If not, Dad thinks he would recognize the name if he saw it so we will try looking it up on the Internet.

You should probably turn off the water softener so it won't regenerate and empty water into the basement drain.  Dad doesn't remember just how that is done.  If you can't figure it out just unplug the power to it. 

Glad you are back safe from Arizona and that the camp went well.

We love you, Mom and Dad

I could not determine who we had clean it out before.  It may be Browne under sewer and drain service in the yellow pages.  Whoever it was, they were considerably less than roto-rooter (under $100).  In any case, it needs to be done so get someone whatever the cost (a standing joke here is that we are "Rich Americans".) 

If the clog is where it was before, it is downstream from the downstairs shower and basin.  This can be checked by running water into the basin.  If the clog is downstream, water will come up in the shower and in the furnace room floor drain.   It takes a minute or so to fill up the drain line.

The easiest access into the drain line is under the basin.  The line can be taken apart and the snake put in there.  It cannot be put in the shower drain because there is a pop-up ball in that drain to prevent backflow into the shower.  The next access point is the floor drain in the furnace room.  There is a built-in trap in that drain which makes getting the snake in more difficult. The next access point is in the fruit room.  The drain line can be taken apart and the snake put in there.

Hopefully the clog will be downstream from the basin which will make things easier.

Sorry to impose on you.

Love Dad

December 19, 2005

Dear Family,

You have probably already heard but this is the Email that Aunt Dawna sent to us, so thought I would pass it along.

Ray Smith called me Tuesday 12/13 to say that they had put Jolene in the hospital.  She went to the doctor to have her knee looked at for knee surgery, and he took one look at her and said you are yellow and put her in the hospital in Bountiful.  They ran all kinds of tests, and to make a long story short, moved her to the LDS Hospital for more tests.  Today Kimberly called me and through a liver biopsy discovered that Jolene has cancer of the liver, and also a collapsed lung.  Right now she is in ICU at the LDS Hospital with a feeding tube, they are trying to build her strength up before they do more tests to see the size & etc that it is.  Since she has been there, and with all the tests, she hasn't been eating like she should and also her electrolytes are down.  They don't know what size the tumor/cancer is because they don't want to do any more tests until they can build her strength back up.  I called Gwen, Erika, Pat, Sharon & Aunt Jane to let them know.  I will keep you updated, as I get it, on her condition.  Last Wednesday I put Ray & Jolene Smith & family names in the Salt Lake & Bountiful Temples. Jordan River is closed. 

Remember her in your prayers.  We will send her name to the Hong Kong Temple also.

We love and appreciate all of you.  Have a Merry Christmas.

Love, Mom and Dad (Grandma and Grandpa)

Dec 23

Just a quick not to let you know that your drain issues are fixed.  It WAS Browne, he remembered you from last time.  This time it was below the drain in the furnace room. The charge was $85.00.  I paid him with your checks.

We had a Christmas party at our house last night and I fixed turkey and ham (can you believe it mom??)  It was really good.  Just our kids, their kids, and Ben and Lu.

It has been raining raining raining the past evening.  It is 40-50 and really warm for this time of year.  Landon wrestled at N.S. Wednesday, and won. Zac is hoping it doesn't snow this weekend so he can get his roof on the garage started shingling.   Manda and Camryn leave for AZ tonight.

Haven't heard anything else about Aunt Jolene.

Take care, and watch for a Christmas Email !!!

December 25, 2005

Dear Friends and Family,

The faster we go the farther behind we seem to get.  It is Christmas night and we have had a full day.  Some of you early birds are just waking up to Christmas in America and I can just picture the children all excited over what Santa brought and busily opening their presents.  Once again we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Successful New Year.  Always remember the true meaning of Christmas not only today but throughout the coming year.  We love you all and wish we could be together during the holiday season. 

Love, Elder and Sister Dickson.

000_0003 --- Some of the relatives watching us eat.  Notice the bamboo floor, you don't have to worry about sweeping the dirt under the rug.
000_0014_0001 --- 81 year old in baseball cap, wife is white haired lady standing behing Brother Som.
000_0020 --- These are the little birds that were still alive just hanging there.
100_2743 --- A ferry like we crossed on.
100_2772 --- Lady stomping the rice in her bare feet.
100_2782 --- Students cutting rice.
100_2788 --- Brother Som holding the cycle they cut rice with.  They are made from animal horns or a tree limb.

December 25, 2005

We celebrated our Christmas last Thursday (22^nd) because Manda and Camryn left for Phoenix on Friday night.  I cooked a turkey and ham and dressing (mom’s recipe) and potatoes and gravy (from a packet) and rolls (store bought) and pumpkin pie (homemade the Dickson way) but it did not turn out.  Manda made it, and it may have been the cheap Western Family pumpkin? Or else she did something wrong, because it was way runny………….Ben and LuAnn came down, and Zac and CJ and Treyson.  Landon had to referee Junior High wrestling, and was late, but that’s okay.  We opened all of our present.  We got the kids each a portable DVD player, which they were very happy with, and Camryn and Treyson some little toys.  Of course Treyson was too little to understand, but Camryn really really got into opening presents, and she was pretty happy with a baby doll from her mom, and Zac and CJ got her a Care Bear, and we got her a little farm animal set, and she got a little chair to sit in that she really liked.  It was a really nice evening, kind of nice to stay at our home for a family Christmas party.  

I would have liked Mark and Erika and families to come, but Mark was in Phoenix for baseball camps, and BYU games, and Erika was busy busy busy as usual.  I had to work on Friday, but then we took Manda and Camryn down to the airport about 5 pm.  Her flight left at 8 p.m.  We heard later that Camryn was a total “pill” at the airport, screaming and throwing a fit, etc. etc. etc.  When they finally got on the plane she settled down and they both slept all the way to Phoenix.  Manda called us the next morning and said that she got her settled at Jim’s apartment before going to Therese’s to stay.  When she called Jim Saturday morning, he said they had had breakfast, and he gave her a bath, and they were watching cartoons, and he was reading her a book.  Manda also called today, Christmas Day, and said she (Camryn) was having a really good time with her Arizona family.  Manda was invited to Jim’s mom’s for the party and dinner and it was going well.  I’m glad they are able to get along and be civil for Camryn’s sake. 

Last night on Christmas Eve we went out to eat with the Kimbal family.  We at Sizzler on 12^th street.  It was okay.  Then we went to King Kong……….. WOW   It was way nerve wracking, especially when Kong was fighting the three tyrannosaurus rex………. GROSS !!!>!>!>!>!>………….

We came home, went to bed, and were awakened by a much appreciated phone call from Mom and Dad from Cambodia.  The connection was really good, and it was good to hear their voices.  I will be sooooooooo glad when June comes.  I miss them……   Erika called also, and it was good to talk to her.  I had spoken with Mark and Carrie the day before and he told me that Jason and Shelly are moving to St. George!!   That was a surprise.  I guess mom and dad’s house will set vacant, and that’s okay, we’ll check on it.    

We went to church (me and Landon) at 11 a.m. for sacrament meeting.  I was really surprised at the turnout.  A lot of families and extended families were there.  It was really really nice.  They released Teresa Rhodes (one of my Laurel advisors) and sustained Lisa Streadbeck in her place.  Teresa and her girls (tear tear) and family will be moving to Peterson in their new home within the month.  

We also went over and saw Zac and CJ and Treyson’s Christmas today.  I took some pictures of their garage.  Rog and Zac have gotten all of the tar paper and drip edge and ice block on it, so it’s ready to shingle !!   Too bad Zac is going to Pinedale with us tomorrow………..  I know he’s torn – snowmobile – shingle – snowmobile – shingle……………… oh well, it will get done.  

CJ and the baby are going to stay home.  Roger and Zac are getting the sleds ready and loaded, etc. etc.  We are leaving at 6 am tomorrow morning (Monday 26^th) and will ride Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, coming home Wednesday night after we are done riding.  

Landon has wrestling practice Thursday morning and a Dermatologist appointment on Thursday afternoon.  His face has developed quite a bad case of acne – don’t know WHY it has come on him so badly.  It started during football, and has increased, and I’m afraid of scaring if we don’t do something.  Neither Roger or myself or Manda or Zac has had it this bad or at all…………….  

Now I’m just sitting down writing this journal entry, which I need to do better about.  In my patriarchal blessing I was told that my journal would be the means of bringing my kids back to the gospel – so I need to do better.  I finished reading the Book of Mormon yesterday.   When I read it I feel so much happier and content.  I do a pretty good job of reading it regularly – but I could improve…  I’m glad I took upon me the prophets challenge.  I had already read it one this year (Jan-March) and now a second time, and if I take my Bishop’s challenge, I will read it ONE MORE TIME before January 1^st – only 70 pages a day (about 2 ½ hours) Can I do it??   We’ll see.     

Now I’m going to put together a slideshow presentation for mom and dad so when they get up in the morning (day after Christmas) it will be there for them !!

December 29, 2005

Well we are back from Pinedale............... all went well.  The snow was great, The temperature was great, The weather WAS NOT cooperative.  It snowed on us (up in the hills) everyday......... it could have been better, but we had a good time, considering.  All that went were Roger, Gwen, Zac & Landon, Bret & Gaylene Kimbal and boys, Kyle and Chase (Kolby is on a mission) and also Bret's brother (Jeff) 's boy Trevor (his mom just died about a week before Christmas) and Mark and Janene Walker and Shawn and Shersti (Landon is on a mission) and Camille and her husband couldn't come.

Tonight we went over to Mark and Carries for Jason and Shelly's farewell party.  Carrie was upstairs in bed though, still recuperating from her gall bladder operation (I hope you already knew about this, and I'm not letting the cat out of the bag). 

Landon has a double date tonight with Chase Kimbal and Paige Peterson and Chesey Martin......... apparently he knows this Chelsey because she used to live in Morgan, and is still friends with Paige.

We took Landon to the dermatologist this afternoon, and he prescribed an antibiotic, and some cream to open up his pores.  Hopefully this will help.  Tomorrow afternoon I'll be watching Treyson.  Camryn gets home tomorrow morning (Jim is flying her home).  Everything seems to be going well down there in Arizona - Manda calls Jim daily to get the report. 

Dad, we got the gas bill for the shop, and WHOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!iiiiiiiiiiehhhhhhhhhhhhhh gag gag gag.  Two months ago, our home bill was 64.00 then last month it went to 84.00, and now this month 104.00 AND WE ARE ON EQUAL PAYMENT PLAN!!!  Zac's home bill last month was $89 - this month - $260 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1  Shelly said she called the gas company and was told that they implemented a 14% increase and then another 30% increase.  Mark hasn't opened his bill yet...........  I told him I wanted him to open it while I was there so I could see his face..............  Well, anyway - last month the bill for the shop was $18.00 - this month........................  $124.89 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I asked Zac if he had been using it any more, or if he had forgotten to shut off the heat, and he assured me that he has not.   He doesn't use it a whole lot, but will heat it up to 50 for an hour or two here and there.   It was extra cold for a week or week and a half in the early part of December.  I guess all this, coupled with the rising rates accounts for the bill.  Zac said he would work in the cold, without turning up the heat, but I told him you wouldn't want him to do that.  He has offered to pay the bill.  What would you like me to have him do?

Well, better go for now.  Did you get the slideshow????  Write back soon

LOVE YOU !!!  Do good, and take care.  Do you think you'll be back by the end of May??  Landon graduates on June 2nd !!

See you later :)

Gwen

November 2005

11/1/05 - From Mom and Dad on their mission

Dear Family and Friends,

Well here we are once again and it seems like we get slower each time.  Things are going great and we are really keeping busy.  It is still hot but cooling ever so slightly.  The other morning at 6 a.m. it was above 80 degrees but usually rains in the evening or during the night and that helps to cool things off for a few minutes.  We think of you often and you are always in our prayers.  Take care of things back home and we'll see you before you know it.  Time is going by fast.

Love, Elder and Sister Dickson (Lee and Veloy)

The pictures are as follows:

100_2333 - Our Khmae Workshop with Vandeth (foreground) and Rothriza (Liza) are helping some of the students.
100_2334 - Just across the street from Lucky's Market and Burger is the Olympic area.  This must be where the flame was lite.
100_2338 - Blind musician, and another musical instrument that played for the dancers on the dinner cruise.  The little boy could sure dance.
100_2352 - Houses and house boats as seen from the dinner cruise boat.  The water is still quite high in the river.
100_2363 - Elder and Sister Hayes dancing with some of the young Khmae dancers.

11/6/05 - From Mom and Dad on their mission

Dear Family and Friends,

Hi, from warm and sunny Cambodia.  We hear Morgan has had its first snowfall and have definitely decided to wait until spring to come home.  The sights, sounds and smells still amaze us.  We are having some great experiences with these special people and enjoy being here with them.  Take good care of everything and everybody back in the states.  We think of you often and pray for you always.

Love, Elder and Sister Dickson (Lee and Veloy)

The pictures are:

100_2188 - The golden shrines on the left are found in most of the Buddist homes and are used for worship.  On the right are statues.
100_2207 - Mark, how would you like to raise you loaves of bread in these trays?
100_2212 - Ovens for baking bread - pieces of charcoal wood are burned in here.
100_2218 - Chickens on their way to market

100_2251 - Re-morgue - pulled by a moto.  This is how people are transported in the suburbs or in the smaller towns, especially factory workers going to and from work and then they are really jam packed.
100_2272 - Veloy by the big plants outside the wall of the Mission Home.

Thursday, November 10, 2005 - Letter to Mom and Dad on their mission

Hi,

Sorry it's been so long since I've written.  It's been pretty crazy around here.  Let's see.  You might have heard by now, but the football team lost last Saturday.  We are done.  It was very disappointing.  Grantsville was stopping Mike Rose up the gut all the time, and it seemed the coaches panicked and started coaching a game we had never played before.  Instead of handing off to either Mike, Josh, Landon, Chase, or Jared like they have in the past, they continued to send Mike who ran 19 times and only gained 50 yards the entire game.  Josh saw the ball twice and Landon saw the ball once !  Chase had a broken had - so he only played defense.  Also, they had Alan Tucker passing the ball, which we are not a passing team !!  It showed, quite well, as we had 9 turnovers !!!!  Final score  Grantsville 14, Morgan 7.   They are a great bunch of kids, and we are very close to many many of the seniors, Chase, Mike, Brandon Mead, Colton Winchester, Alan Tucker, Bean Christensen, Jake Blazzard.

Wrestling has started up (practices)  First match is the day before Thanksgiving.  We are having a parents/wrestler meeting tonight, and getting ready for our Marie Callender Pie Sale Fundraiser.  There are no matches on Tuesdays !!!! for the first time in 4 years !!  So that means I won't have to worry about a Young women conflict !! YEAH !!!!!This is probably because of the new Region 10.  But we will have to travel to Roosevelt (Union) twice, and Uintah (Vernal) once. 

Our Evening of Excellence play, "The Excellence of One Man" is coming together.  We had out dress rehearsal on Tuesday night, and as they say, if the dress rehearsal is a bomb, you KNOW the play will be good................  Well the play will be VERY good we hope. It is Sunday night a 7 pm., and we are expecting quite a turnout.  It will be a very special event.

Just a note on what everyone is doing.................  

Roger is hating work as usual.  We wish the bakery would close, so he would have to find another job, it makes his life miserable.  

Zac got his garage foundation back-filled, and was supposed to have sand hauled in so the floor can be poured tomorrow?  I don't think that's going to happen, but we'll see.  I'll have to send pictures soon.  

CJ will go back to work on December 6th.  for 3 days a week.  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.  McKenzie will tend on Mondays, her friend Lindsey Wardell (Moroni's wife who is expecting a baby in February) will tend on Wednesdays, and me and Carrie (I hope) will alternate on Tuesdays.  We only have to do this until mid/end of January, when Diane can take him all the time.   

Landon is plowing on through his EDnet homework, and keeping up on everything in his life, school, friends, etc.  We need to get him registered for a baseball camp in Phoenix AZ in December.  He might need to miss a wrestling tournament for this, but that's okay.  He took the ACT a couple of weeks ago, but we haven't heard back on the score yet.  He's scheduled for another on Dec 10th.  We took wrestling pictures yesterday up at Rees Gravel Pit, this is for the poster to hang in all of the businesses around town, promoting the team.  

Manda is working, and while it is stressful, she enjoys it.  

Camryn is learning more and more every day.  You will not believe it when you see her.  She's saying a bunch of things now, and loves to have you read/look at books with her, and we love her so much. 

Well, I need to get working on some other computer stuff, so I'll close for now.

Take care, we love you and pray for you.

Love Gwen and family

11/11/05 - Letter from Mom and Dad

Hi,

Sorry to hear about the football game, we were cheering from way over here in Cambodia.  It is too bad things went the way they did.  At least the boys did a great job all season and they can be proud of that.  I still can't figure out why the higher ups decided this was a good way to pick who goes to state.  It should definitely be the best team, the team that has won the most games.  Well Landon has wrestling to look forward to now.

We were also sorry to hear about Cody Watkins.  Dad and I have said quite often that we would hate to change places with the young missionaries.  They enter a completely new world and a lot of adjustments have to be made by some.  I don't know what I would do without Dad here with me, and visa versa.  But the growth and development these young men experience is amazing.  We have just been involved with teaching the Employment Workshop to eleven American missionaries who are finishing their missions and will be released next Tuesday.  At the Zone Conference today they all bore such powerful testimonies and are all so special.  I can just picture Landon doing the same thing.

You will have to write and tell us all about your play, "The Excellence of One Man."  We enjoyed reading all the things that your family is involved with.  It sounds like you are all really busy.  I wish we could be there to help Zac with his garage, CJ with Treyson, and hear Camryn talk.

I have to go.  Brother Som is picking us up in 5 minutes.  Will write another time.

Take care, we love you very much.

Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa

11/15/05

Dear Family and Friends,

Yes, we are still alive and kicking.  Things are going well and the time is flying by sooooo fast.  It doesn't seem possible that next week will be Thanksgiving but don't feel sorry for us because we are going to be able to celebrate it with a big turkey dinner, too.  We don't envy you and the cold freezing weather but wish it was a little cooler here.  Right now at 2 p.m. is it 88 degrees outside (in the shade).  They keep saying we are past the rainy season but it keeps raining every few days.  We are presently right in the middle of celebrating the Water Festival (3 days) and will have the opportunity to watch the boat races and fireworks tonight.  Hope all is well back home.  Thanks for keeping in touch.

We love you, Elder and Sister Dickson 

100_2370 - Elder and Sister Hayes
100_2371 - Khmae teachers & secretary (L to R) Liza, Rama, Linda, Pisey and Vandeth
100_2382 - Looking over ingredients for cookies
100_2384 - Khmae Employment Workshop class - "Hooray, we're finished"
100_2421 - Elders with certificates after three days of workshop

November 21, 2005

I wrote this letter to Lori London (one of my young women who had moved on to college at USU) 

So how's it going? Now that you've gotten into the swing of things.......... are the classes harder than you expected? When are finals? What are some of your favorite classes?

Well enough of the interrogation......... Just wanted to write you a note and tell you about the "play" that the Young Women and Young Men put on for our Evening of Excellence on the 13th. It turned out really good, and you could really feel the spirit. Natalie Nicholas suggested we sing the new song from EFY called Praise the Man, and we did and it was the highlight of the evening. We sang it again in sacrament meeting yesterday too. Jared Rose played the part of Joseph, and it was alot like the play at camp this summer, as far as we had readers doing the
voice-over, and the actors on the stage just moving around. Marcie Terrell did the music between scenes and it really added to the spirit. I wish you could have seen it !! Here are a couple of pics from the play - of course all the girls were drooling over Joseph, I mean Jared !

Your mom gave another great inservice lesson last week, and in it she mentioned that you have befriended an older man who was moving into an assisted living center. I just wanted to tell you how great I think that is. I'm sure you will both benefit from this friendship ! You're the
greatest ! Keep up the hard work, and hang in there. We miss you !

See you later :)
Gwen

Wow a picture of Jared Rose!  It couldn't get any better than that.  Thanks so much for keeping me updated.  I miss young women's so much and I love to hear what's going on.  Finals are sneaking up on me as well as a 10 page paper so that has put a damper on things.  Of course I make lots of room for fun (perhaps too much).  I have found that I really love country swing dancing and I go every Thursday night and I'm signed up for a class next semester.  How is your new grand baby doing?  I bet your the best grandma ever.  I hope you have a great Thanksgiving and thanks again for the pictures.  You are great!

Love ya

Lori

November 21, 2005

Sorry I haven't written - busy busy......... I know, no excuse

Quick question - can I make the pumpkin pie stuff (Dickson way) today (Monday)

and leave it in the fridge and will it still be good for Thanksgiving on Thursday??

We are going to Joni's and I need to bring pumpkin pies

I'll write more on the Evening of Excellence program (last week) later

Love you both - please write back ASAP - I'm planning on making it tonight (Monday)

because I'm too busy Tuesday (YW) and Wed (wrestling) first match

Love GWEN

November 23, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

We wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and wish we could be home with you to celebrate it.  There are so many things that each of us should be thankful for.  After seeing the conditions other people in the world live in and what they have gone through, it gives you a different outlook on life.  It was just about a year ago that we were getting packed and wondering what our mission would be like in CAMBODIA of all places.  Well, a year has passed quickly and we have really had some unique and memorable experiences.  The Lord has truly blessed us and continues to bless us each day.  As we have said before, the people here are so friendly and loving it's hard not to love each one of them in return. 

We love the gospel and the opportunity of being in Cambodia.  President Towers, our mission president, said - "Cambodia is the best kept secret in the Church" and we believe him.  Thanks for your prayers in our behalf, you are always in ours. 

Love, Elder and Sister Dickson 

                                               

100_2449 - Boats that have already raced in foreground.  Boats in background are racing.
100_2457 - Two boats racing.  The golden barges in background are the floats that will be lit after dark and displayed.
100_2459 - Some of the crowds.  The pavilions are for dignitaries, etc.
100_2478 - One of the barges with hundreds of lights.  Moon in the background.
100_2480 - Decorated barge or float.
100_2496 - Decorated barge or float.                                                                                     

November 24, 2005

Dear Brother and Sister,

What did everyone do for Thanksgiving?  We stayed home and had Thanksgiving ALL BY OURSELVES for the very first time!  It was really weird not to have grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins around.

After dinner, Brian, Lance, Aaron, and I went to the new Harry Potter movie.  Tiana and Colton did not want to go.  (I didn't enjoy the movie as much as I thought I would.)

Well,  I love you both very much!  Hopefully, all of us (including Mom and Dad) can be together next Thanksgiving, and it will seem NORMAL!

Love Always,

Erika

           

November 24, 2005

(I'm sending this to mom and dad too - I'm too lazy to write another letter.........................:)

Hi Kuk,'

It's about 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, and I can't sleep  - I ate too much I guess.  We went over to Joni and Kerry's and had dinner with their family and Ben and LuAnn, and Kerry's family (Lyle, Kimlyn, Kyle & Jennifer, and their kids) Also, Kelly and Michelle came with their three boys, and Zac and CJ and Treyson dropped in for a little while too.  I had to bring 2 pumpkin pies and 1 banana creme pie, and french green beans in mushroom soup with almonds.  We also painted on wood, and then put sayings on the wood (they are doing this in relief societies all over now, maybe you know about it)  I did Return with Honor, LuAnn did Live, Laugh Love, Families are Forever, etc.  It was really fun.   I don't know if you know, but Jaden Dickson and Chans Porter are both Freshmen, and they are both taking after their cousin Landon, and they are wrestling.  We had a meet at Morgan last night (23rd) and Both Jaden and Chans won their matches, and Landon won both of his also.  The one Landon had was tough, but Landon didn't wrestle very good.......... but pulled it out in the last second literally, to break a tie and win. The kid he wrestled took state last year in 1A at 145.  Jaden's match was WAY intense, neither wrestler really knew what he was doing, and it kept going back and forth and back and forth, but Jaden eventually won.  It's a way fun time, because Aunt Pam and Uncle Norris are there to watch Tyler and Jayden Carrigan (Lisa's boys) and we just love all the boys, and there was a really really big crowd out to watch them.  Wrestling is coming around in Morgan.  It seems 4 years ago when Landon was a Freshman, it was not "cool" to wrestle............... but now, we had 15!!!!! freshman come out this year !!!  It is FANTASTIC !!  When Landon did, there was only 3 !!!!

I wish you could come and see a match sometime, but I know how busy busy you all are.  Mark and Carrie don't quite know what to think of wrestling I guess............. they are so big into their boys baseball (Dev and Dal) but Jaden has never shown any interest in sports, and now he is wrestling, which is a GOOD thing, but it's kind of hard for Mark and Carrie to get into it I think.  You have to really love it I guess.   You know there are a BUNCH of Friday Saturday tournaments, and it makes for a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg day sitting in the gym if you are not really into it.  Weber Duels, Bobcat Brawls, Evanston Tournament, Delta Duels, Region, State....................   It's GREAT !!!  We love it - can you tell?????    I guess Mark and Carrie went to Smith's for dinner.  I felt the same way you did about Harry Potter Erika - it was okay, I like the books better than the movies.  I guess it's hard to put all that was in that book - in the movie.  Manda and I went and saw it last Saturday night at 10 p.m.  I was way tired before it was over.  Manda is going to Green River Wyoming tomorrow by herself to meet her friend Therese and then they will come back here Saturday night, and Manda will take Therese back to the airport on Sunday morning.  She will have fun, and I'll have fun tending Camryn.  Do you have all of your Christmas shopping done??  I don't - not any at all.  It seems my life is sooooooooooooooo crazy.  Maybe next year it will slow down (haha)  I agree with you, I’ll be glad to have mom and dad back too, and things back to normal - whatever that is.................  Take care  Love YOU!!! 

Gwen

November 27, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

Another week has rushed by and we can't believe it will soon be the end of November.  Where in the world has August, September and October gone.  We have been really busy as you can see from our journal entries.  Two more days and we will have been on our mission for one full year.  It doesn't seem possible that that much time has passed.  Thanks for keeping us up to date on the happenings back home.  We really look forward to your Emails and then too it gives Lee something to worry about.  He hasn't changed at all.  We miss all of you very much and try not to think about home but keep ourselves busy which isn't hard to do.

Love, Elder and Sister Dickson

100_2514 - Lee and Elder Hayes setting up for power point presentation.
100_2520 - Taha (Bangladesh)
100_2521 - Primus (Cameroon, Africa)
100_2522 - Sara (Eritrea, Africa)
100_2523 - Mency (Phillippines
100_2530 - Elder and Sister Briggs (North Carolina) - their farewell speech

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 28^th, with either Carbon or Emory (4^th 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 8^th 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. (23^rd) and will probably be the 24^th 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 13^th.  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