June 2005

June 4, 2005 - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

Dear Family,

Just a note about the property, you do need parking and turn-around space.  Between all of you, decide what to do with the minimum impact on Roger’s farming operation.  When we get back home we will see about a permanent graveled solution to the problem as well as a picnic pavilion, trees and lots of other things.  I have great plans on how to spend your inheritance.   

Another thing that comes to mind is the approach to the property off of Hwy 66.  I asked Wilkinson’s to fix it last year and it never got done.  I believe one load of road base and grading so that it drains away from the highway would fix the problem we have with potholes along the edge.  Get it fixed; there is money there in the account to pay for it and Gwen has the checkbook.

I can’t remember whom I talked to about getting the watering system going down on the property, I think it was Zac.  Anyway, there is a little twist knob on each of the zone valves that needs to be tightened.  Then in the box by the controller there are some little drain valves on the back-flow prevention device that need to be closed.   Four of them I think.  It just takes a quarter turn using a screwdriver to do that.  Then, there are four little plastic caps that need to be replaced.  I think they are in a little bottle inside the box.  Anyway, I know you will figure it out.  The key to turn the Richville water on is in the blue shed.  Of course you will have to re-attach the suction pipes that pull the water out of the hole in the ground.

Is there water in the hole in the ground that you can pump out of or will you have to use the Richville water?  Last year it did not come up until June 10^th when they started watering the fields, but the creek has been much higher his year.  Has Roger watered anything yet, has he cut the hay?   Did he plant oats with the new alfalfa?  How is it doing?  Let us know, we are interested in what is happening there.  Wish we could be home for half a day to help get everything going.  Next year it will be a breeze for you.

Worrier that I am, I would like a to have a screen of some sort put in the pipe where it takes the water underground in front of Marks to prevent anyone from being washed into it.   Something like we have on the pipe down on the Welch ditch would be fine.  If you do something, I know it falls on Zac to make the screen.  Thanks Zac!!!  Any expense, Gwen has the checkbook.

Hope every one is fine.  Keep writing. 

Love Mom & Dad (Grandma and Grandpa)

June 6, 2005

Note to Mark:

I'll call Wilkinson's and get the road base project going.   We'll grab Zac and get down to the property sometime this week and get the watering going.  What night would be good for you?  Or if you are busy we can still get it done, it is sooooooo hard to get everyone's schedules to match.   You'll have to point out to Zac exactly where dad wants that screen, and we'll get him started on that.  As far as the parking - I wish Dad would have pressed the issue last year with Wilkinson's so it was DONE down there, and Roger could have planted around it - as it is now, I guess we could just disk up 20 feet along the bottom and hope this will work.  Let me know.  Thanks,  Gwen.

June 7, 2005

Note FROM Mark

Gwen:

I have no clue what dad is talking about when he mentions a screen...I've never heard him talk about it so I don't know where he wants or what he means.

It was Zac who was trained on how to plumb the well and sprinklingsystem.  This last time that I mowed you could tell that the ground was getting harder and looking like it needed water.  I can help out any night but Tuesday.  We really should get watering as soon as we can.  When you think about it it's amazing we haven't watered one drop and it's June 5th.

Regarding the turnaround, couldn't you just cut away with the lawn mower a section big enough to turn around and then keep it mowed?  It probably wouldn't get tromped on consistently enough to kill it, and

then it wouldn't be as muddy when it got wet.  When Dad gets back and finally decides where he wants it (which will probably be slightly different than where we put it) you'll still have hay growing and not

have to re-plant.  Why it wasn't done the day he had the road installed is beyond me ????

Email me back or call me with when you'll be down there.

Mark

Letter from Mark to Mom and Dad

Dear Mom and Dad,  

We just got finished hooking up the sprinkling system at the property and all went well with just a couple of hiccups.  It's hard to believe that it's June 8th and we still haven't watered down there.  The rain keeps falling frequently enough that it just hasn't needed it.  Although our lawn has needed it more than the Property, we've only watered a couple of times and have used the Richville Pipeline Water to do so. 

We had heavy, heavy rain again on Monday and Tuesday and cooler temps (it snowed for a bit Monday) and we probably could have stretched it our until next week but we figured it was time to get it done. All went well with the property water lines.  Zac did all of the plumbing with the pump, pump relay, etc. and we used a hose to prime the line.  For some reason though it just wouldn't take when you would shut off the priming hose and hope that the pump would do the job.  We turned on the Richville Pipeline water (after shutting the valve to the well) and made sure that the pump was at least working and that the timer was functioning.  It was.  We partially opened the valve and primed the line from the pump backwards toward the well.  We then tried again using the well and all went fine.  Zac seems to think that there was air bubbles somewhere in the line that were eliminated when we back primed it.  We shut off the Richville Water completely and are now completely operational from the well. A couple of questions regarding the zones and watering.  First of all, after playing with the controller, we determined that there are 18 zones.  Is this correct?  Also, do you have any tips or suggestions on watering.  I will be in charge of watering as we are doing the mowing and I'm close. 

We weren't quite as fortunate with hooking up my pump, but we're close.  Zac whipped together the electrical and we hooked up the plumbing connections, but when we tried to back-prime from the Richville Pipeline water, the pump wouldn't allow water to go through it backwards and down into the water line for some reason (at least that's what we believe).  Our pressurized Richiville Pipeline Water would go through the ball valve when we turned it, through the filter and into the pump, but it would not go out the front end of the pump into the black, flexible PVC in order to prime the line.  We tested it with the flexible PVC disconnected and proved that this was the case. Hmmmm.  We used a garden hose from the hydrant at the creek to prime from the well instead, and that filled up in less than a half hour. Unfortunately, in the process of reconnecting some fittings our connection of the white PVC that connects the PVC line from the ball valve to the filter (which was glued directly into the filter) came unglued and we were out of business to test the pump.  Bummer. 

Here is another question for you that I couldn't answer when Zac asked.  What purpose is the filter serving and why did we put it on? I couldn't remember, and I was wondering if you could.  Is it just to protect the valves and sprinkler heads from sand so they don't get clogged or damaged?  Zac thought that it makes sense to have the filter in front of the pump to protect the pump, he thought, but not that big of deal on the other end of the pump leading to the lawn sprinklers.  It really would be easier to repair without utilizing the filter and we are unsure if we will be able to re-glue the joint.  Big deal or not if we have a filter?  Will we be battling clogged sprinkler heads?  Also, is the pressure regulator functioning or even necessary any longer?

Well, at least we're operational at the creek.  We've realized what a job you've had in mowing alone.  Although it's not physically demanding, it is very time consuming.  Jaden has been doing a lot of mowing, Spencer has been up and mowed it a couple of times (he likes to mow and feels like he should help he says), and Carrie and I have probably mowed a couple of times each. The last two weekends we've had large groups down there and everybody had a great time.  There is enough space to turn around near the well (if you use reverse) and I think that we might be able to get cars in and out without creating a turn around.  We'll need to level some of the ground out down there with a shovel as it is quite bumpy, but it is pretty spacious actually.  If you can get cars to park on the shoulder you can get by all right.  We also mowed a section of the grassy hay at the edge of the southern tip of your planted grass (where we've shot trap previously) to allow for trailers.  Spencers group had about 8 trailers and it really looked like a campground down there.  We have just kept it mowed each time we mow.  The bathroom is operational, but how do you know when it is full?  We did what you said and put in the water mixed with RV holding tank chemicals, but after looking in it both Gwen and I couldn't determine what was full, kind of full, or maybe just a little full.  Any suggestions? The dam on the creek still isn't up, but they have turned up the Welch Ditch gate and water is flowing through the weir and ditch area you've created.  We've been watching the sticks and been keeping them taken care of....they really can dam up the ditch quickly!  The dam is spilling and we heard it should spill for the next two weeks.  I'm sure that will keep the creek higher, but when you look at the mountains you can tell that the snow line is going higher and higher each day.  All in all, it's not been too bad and we haven't had too many sticks to pick up.  We've used the kids to help out and they really are doing a lot of chores in our yard also.  Jaden is our 3-hour a day gardener and we pay him to help out, so he's been doing a lot for us.  We bought some purple petunias and he planted them in the whiskey barrels, and he does a fine job mowing.  He's even mowing our yard and doing great at it.

 Roger's hay and oats are doing fine.  The oats are probably 8 inches to a foot hight, and you can see the hay at the base of the oats.  I would guess that the hay is about 3 inches high.  Gwen said that he'll cut the first crop as oats and then the hay after that later on. Roger is in St. George watching the wrestling camp that Landon and Jaden are at.  I do know that he has not had to water his crop once yet.  It really has been a strange, wet spring, and unlike any that I can remember.  I'll write again soon.  I hope this gives you a feel for what we've been doing and how things are.  We sure miss you, but know that you are where you want to be.  Thanks for all that you do for us.  I love you guys.

 Mark

June 9, 2005

Dear Mark and Zac,

Mark, thanks for your letter.  It answered most of Dad's questions but

not all.

1-     Has Roger cut the hay on Aunt Barbara's property yet? 

2-     How deep is the water in the well?

Now to answer some of your questions.  There are eighteen zones.  I believe we set it to water thirty minutes per zone and then made adjustments to catch the spots that looked too dry or too wet.  I

can't remember how often we watered; twice a week I think when it was hot.  You will just have to experiment.

I had trouble getting the pump down by the creek to stay primed.  It required using the Richville water and sometimes a hose at the well end before it started to work all right.  You may find that you will

lose prime and have to do it again.  At least we had to last year.

Mark, as far as your water system is concerned, your pump has a back-flow prevention valve built into it so it is impossible to prime line down to the creek from the outlet end of the pump, you must do it

from down by the creek.  I think that I built a small line connected to the three-inch line with a valve on it that you can hook a hose to. You should be able to hook the Richville water from the hydrant over

to that line in the well and push the water up through the underground line to your pump, which you apparently have already done.  Your pump will allow the water to flow through it toward the sprinkler system but the internal valve will not let is go the other way.  Once you get it working it may take a day or two before it gets all the air out of the line.

Relative to the filter and your pump.  You may remember, we were pumping pretty dirty water out of your well there at the house.  The purpose of the filter was to prevent sand or other small things from

getting into your sprinkler system and clogging up the sprinkler heads.  When you re-plumb the connection from your pump to the sprinkler system, I would think seriously about rigging up a flexible

connection rather than the rigid PVC.  It may well be that the filter came unglued because of the vibrations in the rigid piping.  As far as leaving the filter off and whether or not it will clog your sprinkler heads, Lance Boyce or someone in the sprinkler business could give you a better answer, as I don't know.  The suction pipe down by the creek has a screen on it that will only allow only relative small things to go through.  Nothing that would damage the pump so the filter does not have to be on the intake end of the pump.  It could be, if that was more convenient, but the purpose of the filter was to protect the sprinkler system and not the pump.

If this doesn't answer your questions, fire off another e-mail and we will get right back with you.

As for the outhouse – as long as the solids are covered with water you should be okay.  Once you see things start to pile up it is time to call the John and Company and have them service it.  When they come they will suck out the tank contents, replace it with water and chemicals and re-supply your toilet paper (I think).

On another subject, Bruce wants to use that red handled PVC pipe cutter that I've got.  There are two places that it may be.  I think it is in the cupboard on the south end of the building, along with

some other plastic plumbing supplies.   If it is not there, there is a toolbox with a rope handle (olive drab in color) that has a bunch of plumbing tools in it.  It (the toolbox) may be in the building or over

at Jason's place.  Maybe Zac knows where the cutter is.  Give Bruce a call when you find it so that he can get it (829-3700).

Love Mom and Dad (Grandma and Grandpa)

June 10, 2005 - Letter to Mom and Dad on their mission in Cambodia

Sorry it's been so long since I've written. Today I am off of work tending Camryn.  Manda had a bunch of errands and appointments to run in Ogden. She only has 3 more days of school left, and then will go to Las Vegas for the weekend (next weekend) and then back to start work on Monday at the Chiropractor's office in Layton.  This will be here externship (3 weeks) then she will work there afterwards.  Camryn will go to Diane Clark to be tended and I'll pick her up when I get off work at 5 p.m. and Manda won't be home until 7 p.m. She works until 6:30, which is a pain, but oh well.

Camryn is sleeping now.  She's been down almost 2 hours (morning nap) so I expect she will be up soon.

I guess Mark sent you a letter describing hooking up the water down at the property.  I saw your reply, but not the letter.  If you can please forward it to me as I am keeping track of them in my journal. 

Zac got the pipe cutter to Bruce.  Bruce thought it was pretty amazing that in the morning they fire off an email to you wondering about the pipe, and there you are half way around the world, and by evening the pipe is on his porch!  He was pretty tickled.

Zac's lawn is coming up good, and he is working for Dave Durrant now, and he says that is okay.  sometimes I wonder if he will ever be happy in what he is doing.

Roger has been down to St. George watching Landon in a wrestling camp/tournament this past few days.  They'll be home tonight.  I guess Landon did really well, and won his weight group, which is 160 now, by the way !!!

He also competed in the UTE SHOOT last weekend at University of Utah (football stuff).  I think I may have sent you a slideshow to watch of this.  Morgan took 1st place !!!   Tomorrow there is a Stake YM/YW activity at the Stake House, but Landon can't go because he is taking the ACT for the 2nd time.  He'll probably take it all 4-5 times, and then they take his best score.

I planted 3 tomato plants dad!!  Are you proud??  I hope they live.   They have been in for 2 weeks, in walls of water, and then I'll need to go get some of your cages when I take them out, but I'm not taking them out for awhile.  They have survived so far !!

Well, I hear the little one waking up !!

Roger has not cut any hay yet !!  No one hardly has in Morgan it's been too wet !!!!!  They say it is the wettest spring in 19 years around here.  We are supposed to get more rain this weekend, and then it should clear up.  Did I mention that we got snow on Tuesday, June 7th !!  about 1/2 an inch.  It looked like winter outside !!!

Roger planted oats with his alfalfa behind Mark's house.  It is coming up good.  Mark was funny, he asked me when the alfalfa was going to start looking like alfalfa????   I told his that was OATS !!! and to look down at the ground underneath and he could see the little alfalfa coming up. 

Zac sure knows what he's doing with the water.  Me and Mark just stood around and watched  and did what he said. 

Gotta go

June 11, 2005 - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission in Cambodia

Dear Family,  I wish we had some of your rain to help cool things off.  This is supposed to be the rainy season but they don't have too much rain anymore.  Anyway we have a couple of more months so it could pick up.  For those who have been asking about where we live and what our apartment is like, we have enclosed some pictures.  It really is quite nice and we are getting used to calling it home.  We are all truly blessed and appreciate more and more each day the privilege we had of being born and raised in America.  It is hard to comprehend how these wonderful people survive on what little they have.  May the Lord continue to bless all of us.

Love, Elder and Sister Dickson (Lee and Veloy)

  Pictures:  1307 - This is our kitchen (half of it).  On the wall behind the door is a wicker stand with our pots and pans and next to our little oven is a two burner hot plate. 

                1309 - Our spare bathroom off our living room.  It holds our cleaning supplies and extra drinking water bottles (5-gallon).  Notice the pump on the one bottle, this is so we can get water out to cook with and not have it go through the water cooler.

                1311 - Our frig is just outside our kitchen door with the water cooler next to it and then the kitchen table next to the cooler.  We have a combined living room and dining room.  The couch is on the opposite side of the room.

                1312 - Our family front and center.  Spare bathroom on left and washing machine on right side.  This is part of our living room.

                1314 - Our office.  Anyway this is where we keep the computer.  There is a closet in this room and it could be used for a small bedroom.

                1318 - Our king size bed.  We usually sleep on top of the sheets.  There is a nice big closet but you can only hang blouses and shirts in it, nothing long.

                1380 - Here I am in my new dress next to Chhay Mom, the seamstress.

June 16, 2005

This is a Note that Mark sent me after we had had words earlier in the day concerning the property, and taking care of it.

Gwen:

I'm sorry I was a little gruff with you on the phone there at the end today.  I was frustrated mainly with Jaden for not doing a good job,secondly for our ward for not cleaning up (we had left for baseball

and they left the property looking like total shit), and then I didn't take your constructive criticism very well, when that's all it really was.  Shelly is borrowing the chairs tonight for a Relief Society

activity in her back yard and we will help her get them cleaned up and put back away clean.

Regarding the property, I honestly didn't realize (or I had forgotten) how long it takes to mow and what a chore it is, especially when you mow both ends.  Even with our fast mower it takes about 2 hours if you do it all.  Mowing twice a week it's very time consuming and I'm laughing now thinking how I suggested that we mow and you guys trim, but's thats what I did say initially so I'm totally fine with how it's been so far.  We really need to get on a schedule though and be on the same page.  Trust me, taking a whole month in one chunk sucks.

I would suggest that you mow on Tuesdays or Wednesdays (whatever works best that week) and we take it on Fridays or Saturdays (whatever works best that week).  I will schedule it to water deep on Wednesday nights and Saturday nights beginning at dark, so that will be our unofficial deadlines.  I think we should both trim each time we mow. Doing it this way will eliminate overkill on each of us and it will make it even throughout the end of the season.  If you would rather that we take the weekdays if that works better I'm fine with that.

Gotta run.  Once again I'm sorry.

Mark

Sunday, June 19, 2005 – Father’s Day

Happy Father's Day Dad !!

I know it's evening on Father's  Day (Your Time).  Hope you get this before you go to bed !!  I love you very much, and hope that your health is doing okay.  We pray for you everyday ( mom too!).  The hay is down on Aunt Barbara's and Kendells, and our property, and Orson Harvey's.  It has not rained on it yet !!  Boy it sure has been windy that last couple of days though.  I took the walls of water off of my tomatoes, and am going to put them in cages today.  Our yard is looking quite good.  We have got the front part that used to be a mass of weeds, ready to plant.  But probably won't plant for awhile, as we need to get the sprinkling stuff in, an we don't have water in our hole yet.  We will I'm sure when Dee waters behind us, but he has hay down there too.  I don't think any farmer watered their alfalfa before first crop this spring!!

Amanda is in Vegas for a couple of days with her girlfriends from Arizona.  She is done with school now, graduating with a 4.0 and perfect attendance !!  Her official graduation will be in September.

Camryn is being a SWEET SWEET girl as we are tending her.  She has slept Friday and Last night, all the way through!!  And didn't bug Grandma at all !!!  We took some way cute picture the other day and I'm getting them together in a slideshow that we'll send the website link to you soon.

Zac and CJ are busy - watching their lawn grow (front AND back) getting the baby's room ready (painting, etc.)  They went 4-wheeling night before last.  They are friends with Traci Wilkinson (Stu and Judy's girl) and Derek Glass (Jake Glass's boy - Floriene Glass's grandson)  Zac is enjoying working for Dave Durrant (I think) - He doesn't say much.  CJ is liking her new job in Salt Lake too. She is hoping it will work into a home job by the time the baby comes, as she is on the phone 90+% of the time.

Landon is playing baseball, and just started his ED Net classes last week.  I hope he can keep up his enthusiasm for these classes, and his grades !!!  They are college classes, with college professors, which he really likes the professors - says they are much better than Morgan's teachers, especially when it comes to the math stuff.  He is taking Math 1010 now (summer) an will take Math 1050 during the school year next year.  We have to pay for the books, but no the classes.  They count towards his High School credits, and also college credit at the same time.  These credits will transfer any where he goes, IN STATE.  He is also taking Theater, Speech, Science, and an online strategies class.

Well, better go for now.  Hope you had a great day !!  We look forward to your journals each week !  We'll try to do better on our emailing as well.

Love Gwen and family.

June 21, 2005

Morning -

Well Roger is turning hay, and will be bailing tonight.  Looks like we've avoided rain while the hay is down. It was about 95 degrees yesterday.  Our yard is looking great, and my tomato plants are looking good! We got a baby skunk down in our window will last night.  Kept Manda up most of the night, she's a joy to be around this morning I tell you !!  Camryn is going to Diane's again today.  Everything went well yesterday.  I'm going up in them mountains near Jeremy Ranch road to look at a cabin.  Landon has Ed Net.  Zac is taking his little car down to get the timing belt fixed. We are tying a quilt in young women's tonight.

Evening -

 Well I checked my email, and this DIDN'T send this morning, so I'll add some disappointing news tonight.  It rained !!!!! Roger was able to bale our field, but Orson's and Aunt Barbara's got too wet.  Oh well,   it'll get done sometime !!  Rog stuck some steel posts down in the window well, and the skunk climbed out !!

(Actually it didn’t (written 2 days later)  - we also put a blanket down hoping it would climb up, and it didn’t,  finally had to shoot it with a .22

Love Gwen

Take care !!  WE love YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Letter to Mark from Gwen:

Which lawnmower are we supposed to use to mow the property,  the one that you and dad bought, or our own?   Also - if it's the one you and dad bought, should we plan on bring gas to  fill it before we mow, or would you rather we  made sure it was full AFTER we mowed?  Please let us know.  We will mow on Wednesday this week See you later :) Gwen

Gwen:

The lawn mower is in the west end of Dad's shed, is full of gas, the height is set to what we've been mowing at, (and of course you should use it).  By the time you're done, the tank is almost empty and it

takes 3 to 5 gallons to top it's best to top it off when you're done. If we both do this with our own gas it will be equal and the gas I use for my lawn won't ever be an issue.  To mow the entire area that is

mowable it's about 1.5 to 2 hours.  Bringing your mower would cut that time in half I guess.

I trimmed on Saturday, and I think that we really only need to trim it weekly, but there is really a need to do general clean up and stick control.  There is also some general pruning of the branches that are

growing out low on the big trees that needs to be done in my opinion before it becomes a huge job.  I think that if we split up those two jobs and consistently did it on a weekly basis we could keep a good

handle on things.  Which would you prefer, weekly weed eating or weekly stick control and pruning?

I am picking up some fertilizer and will apply it on Thursday.  This should kill a lot of the weeds and thicken up the lawn considerably. There have been a couple of issues with the pump not staying primed

that I've been able to fix, but overall it's working and the watering is going smoothly.  The water still hasn't come up in the well, but what we're drawing from is being replaced almost instantly.  I've

monitored it when both my yard and the property are drawing from it and it looks ok.  I'm sure when they start irrigating it will come up. Regarding the flowers, if you're ever down there would you please

water the flowers if it looks like they need it.  I put a pitcher by one of the barrels and we try to keep an eye on them but sometime forget.

Call me if you have any questions or email me as I check it at least once a day.

 Mark

June 23, 2005

Dear Family, sorry we are so slow but all is fine.  I am still working on this weeks journal but thought I would get last weeks events sent and also a few pictures.  They are (0036) - Our second day in Cambodia, while going to a Vietnamese Village for food and clothing distribution, we had to ferry across this river.  The approach was very steep and narrow and the ferry very rickety.  (0058 and 0067) - Another Vietnamese Village for food distribution.  It was located on the banks of the Mekong River and the fishermen were fishing with nets.  Veloy is handing out packages of powdered milk at this village.  (0370) - Lee is being measured for a new pair of pants.  He lost weight and needed new ones.

Love, Elder and Sister Dickson

June 24, 2005  (Letter I wrote to my Aunt Dawna)

It's good to hear from you too !! We are keeping busy here also.  Roger in in the middle of getting first crop hay baled, and this rain keeps messing him up.  I'm working and trying to keep up with everyone - a funny thing that happened (Funny might not be the right word, as my nose is still twitching) a skunk fell down into our window wells at the front of our house.  We tried for 3 days to get it out by putting things down in there to climb up, but to no avail.  We finally had to shoot it (in the head) and boy it stunk up the place !!  Roger was the lucky one that had to climb down in and retrieve the corpse.  Manda has finished school and is now working for a chiropractor's office for her externship.  Camryn is going to DeeDee's the baby sitters, who is the same baby sitter that raised Landon.  She is awesome, and we are so glad she is taking care of Camryn. Zac and CJ are expecting a baby (don't know if you knew that).  It' a boy, and is due in mid-October.  They are working on getting their lawn and yard all in, and redoing two rooms upstairs, one for the baby and one for extra.  That will leave only one more bedroom that needs to be worked on upstairs, and then there entire home will have had a make-over.  CJ is working down in Salt Lake for IHC, as a pharmacy technician to homebound people.  Zac just transferred from Richard Brown Plumbing to Durrant/Slate Plumbing.  They are pretty busy too !!  Landon is taking EdNet college classes this summer, and hope to have his associates degree by the end of next summer after he graduates from high school.  He's also playing baseball 3-4 times a week, and then there's football camp coming up, and wrestling camp was a couple of weeks ago, and and and.............. you can see he keeps us hopping !!  Take Care

Love Gwen and family.

June 26, 2005 (from mom and dad)

Here we are once again with the happenings of this past week.  As you can see we are like the Engergizer Bunny and just keep going and going.  The pictures we are sending this time are:

1279 - Lee loves getting his hair cut.  You can see that the barber really gives him the works.  I do worry about that straight edge razor though.

1281 - Phat and his kongbei.  He usually always fills in when Brother Som can't take us because of his meetings.

1360 - Part of our ASPECA class.  (left to right)  Chea Map (Mup), Koam Sothea, Pel Sophorn, Duong Sok An, Heng Sokchea, Chhay Srey Peo (Bo), and Sam Kanha (Ganya - who has gone to France for a couple of months).

1394 - Our young Khmae teachers we are taking to Kien Svay.  (left to right) Saom Viseth (a student and brother of Piseth), Suon Sokhom (Sew-comb), Saom Piseth (Peeset), and Noun Rattana (Raw-taw-naw).

1403 - The home and grounds the Church is leasing for the Kien Svay Branch for their meetings.

1408 - Bananas growing in the back yard at Kien Svay Branch.  Brother Som and granddaughter Clare with the guard for the property.

Hope every thing is fine back home.  We love you all, Elder and Sister Dickson

June 29, 2005

Dear Mom and Dad

Here I am sitting at my computer, wishing for an email.  Then I think - I bet  they are sitting there wishing for an email too !! We have been really busy as usual. 

Landon twisted his ankle last week Friday in a baseball game against Northridge.  He was laid up all weekend, and we were really quite worried.  He kept it iced and elevated, and it is much better.  He got an ankle brace from Coach Hoopes, and is wearing it, and was able to play in the game on Monday night.  He is taking EDNet college classes at the High School, and was signed up for 5 classes, but dropped his science yesterday as it was just too much !  He still has Math 1010, Theatre, Speech, and Online Strategies, which is PSY 101 I think.  He went up for an interview with the Bishop last night for Baptism's for the dead on Saturday.  He got dressed in a white shirt and tie without me even telling him to (truth be told, I don't think I would have even remembered).  He's a good kid. 

Zac and CJ are doing fine.  Almost got the rooms all painted upstairs (the back room for the baby, and the little room at the side with no windows, which will be CJ's scrapbook room).  Then the carpet, and they will be set to go !!  Zac said the front bedroom (upstairs) will have to wait, as he is sick of it !!   Their lawn is looking great, both front and back.  Saturday morning Zac woke up to 5 inches on his back yard, and the neighbors (Lee's) were watering at about 1:30 a.m, and went to bed and "thought" that someone would take it "up the ditch", so they were inconsiderate as usual.  Zac was pretty hot !!  However it did not wash the seeds away, and it probably did the lawn good (maybe).

CJ is starting to show (I guess she's about 6 months along).  Everything seems to be going fine with the pregnancy.

Manda is doing here externship at a chiropractor's office in Layton, which she is NOT enjoying !!  She should be done by the 13th of July.  But guess what !! Carole, one of her teacher's a CCI, who is also an office manager for Dr. Barnett (a plastic surgeon) in McKay Dee Hospital called her yesterday, and said they need some help in their office, and offered Manda a job !!  We are all so thrilled !! 

Our hay situation is not good.  Roger still has baled hay in our field, and Orson's (It's off Aunt Barbara's)  Randy Clark cut back on the amount of hay he wanted, and Roger's so called friend from work, backed out.  What a jerk.  So here we are with a bunch of rained on hay that probably won't be sold, and Roger and Zac trying to get it in the barn (Landon was no help this past weekend because of his ankle).  It just keeps raining every afternoon for the past week.  It really pounded yesterday about 3:30 p.m.  And I was asleep (really hard) but Manda said it lightninged and thundered and rained last night. 

There have been major wild fires in Southern Utah, at Pintura, New Harmony, etc.  Between St. George and Cedar City.  They have had to close I-15 a few times.  No homes lost yet. 

Me and Landon will be going to a play "Fiddler on the Roof" at Salt Lake Community College to fulfill one of his Theatre requirements tonight.  Tiana is playing one of the little sisters.

Well, I better go and get ready for work..................  A newsy letter would be nice mom..............................

Take care of yourselves !!  (Dad you look too skinny in the pictures mom sent !!)

We really are enjoying the pictures.  Can you take one of your apartment house, on the outside from a distance (kinda like you did the church house) so we can see it?  Also, a picture of Som in his car that he drives you in, and hand the camera to someone and take one (full body length) of you and Dad together.

Love Gwen and family

June 29, 2005

Dear Gwen and Family, 

It's 4:44 am here, I couldn't sleep so got up and checked the computer.  Glad to hear about Mandy's job situation.  In many ways she is a chip off of the old block (you, mom, etc.).  Thanks for writing even though the hay news made me feel bad.  We do look forward to hearing from you so keep on with the e-mails.  Since you said you were hoping for something I thought I would send a short note even though it takes me forever because of my lack of typing skills.

Sounds like Landon is buried up but it is so good to hear how seriously he takes his Church opportunities.  He is such a great example to Mark's boys and others.  Tell him to keep up the good work.

I think you are right about Zac's lawn, as long as it doesn't wash it out it probably helps.  Unlike when J Golden buried my garden and a week later Jenny repeated it.  Flooded potatoes and corn never completely recover. 

I'll put mom to work providing the pictures you asked for.  By the way, I have gained back 6 or 7 pounds and lately I have felt much better.  Keep praying for us.  Well, back to bed.

Love, Dad 

Dear Family,

May 2005

May 3, 2005 - - Letter to Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

I'm sitting here, wishing to hear from you, and then I realize that I haven't been very good at writing to you!!  Sorry !!  Let's see..................  what's been going on in our lives.

Roger is loving his work as usual (HAHA)  He had to get up in the middle of the night (2 a.m) because one of his driver's had been arrested and thrown in jail because of a falsified driving log. The highlights in Roger's life are of course, Camryn and watching Landon's baseball. All the stress from his job wears him down, and he's usually asleep in his chair by 8:30 p.m.

Amanda has about 44 days left of school.  She has done well, and is at the top of her class.  She won't know about the externship (where she goes) until June.  We walk everyday (that it's not raining!) on the walking path. She struggles with her emotions, and gets down easily.  Jim is not making things any better, as he has now refused to let her have full custody, but want's joint custody, and will fight "to his dying breath" for this.  She (it seems to me) gives in so easily, wanting to not have contention, and wanting Camryn to have a relationship with her dad.  She is planning on taking Camryn down to Phoenix for the weekend, over the 20-22 of this month.  

I am going to St. George this weekend (7-8), but not next weekend, and me and Manda will celebrate Camryn's birthday (May 12th) on the 13th, as we are going to go to SLC, to Hogle Zoo, and shopping, etc. 

Zac is always working on a project !!  Let's see.  He's got his heat ducting all in for his upstairs, and it's now connected to his furnace.  That was quite a job.  He and Shawn Prescott worked on it most of the day last Saturday.  He has the ditch all piped, head gates in, and grates on the head gates, pipe all in down the side of his house, with little pipes coming up (2 1/2 inch)that he has capped, which can be opened to get the side if needed.  He's got a sprinkling systems all in the front and side.  The curbing people are coming Thursday.  Rain gutter people are coming next week.  Hydro-seeding people next week also.  He's got the walls (next to the driveway) that we did while you two were here, and the wall out front, and a front step leading down to the sidewalk...............It's looking very very nice.

CJ is still working, and has decided to get her CNA also.  She got her pharmacy tech license, but hasn't worked in that area yet.  She and Zac will find out whether or not they are getting a little boy or little girl on Thursday. We'll let you know !!

Landon is still going full throttle at baseball.  They will go into the first round of the State playoffs this weekend, in third place in our Region.  They will have a double header on Saturday in St. George.  If they lose both games, they are out,  If not, they'll be BACK to St. George on the 12th (Camryn's Birthday) to play again.  We'll have to see how it goes.  Somedays they look real good, and others, the BAD NEW BEARS.  Landon plays a good game consistently, and is batting 300+.  He usually throws at least 2 runners out a game, at either 2nd or 3rd, or gets them coming home. He does well in school, and is in the National Honor Society besides all of his sports.  I hope he can go far in life in both directions.

I'm still buried at work, but slowly digging out.  I'll be glad when May is over, because it HAS to be done by then. Young Women is fun, but a lot of work !!  We are decorating cakes (with Vicki Walker's help) tonight.  Last week we did gold leaf pictures, and the week before, made lip gloss.  I took Breanne Wilson's senior pictures last weekend, and they turned out good.  I'm also working on "photo slide shows" of wrestling kids, to give them as Senior gifts.  We will go to Temple Square on the 12th, to plant flowers with the young women.  I'm excited about this !!

The weather has been raining on and off, and the River is high.  There has been some flooding in Peterson, but not too bad.  East Canyon was running pretty high too - but they have started holding it back now, but Bud Carter says they let too much out, and unless we get a lot more rain, it won't fill.  It still has 15 feet to go, and is going up 2 inches per day. Yesterday day I met with Dee Waldron, and that Daren Rasmussen from the State, and Shane Green (originally from Morgan) and Bud Carter, to walk the creek, and see the project that the church wants to do.  I hope it does not impact us negatively downstream. - they say it won't.   I guess this park is not going to be your typical church park, similar to Zarahemla, etc.  There is to be no mowed lawn, no asphalt, no concrete.  They are basically trying to create a floodplain that will allow the water to slow and the energy to dissipate.  They are not planning on disturbing the river bed itself, just sloping the ground around it.  I wish I could explain it better. It looks like their permit will be approved (surprise surprise).  From the walk yesterday it is quite a ways from our campground, more than I thought, so hopefully it will be okay. (They never did do this Church "camp")

See you later :)

Gwen

May 6, 2005 -- Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

Dear Family,

Things are going well and we are now settled back into our schedule that seems to become busier each day.  The weather is HOT and should continue like this for several more weeks.  Lee it taking it a lot better than I am.  In fact, cold weather along with cold hands and feet sounds mighty good.  At 7:30 this morning it was already 86 degrees outside.  We hope all is well back home.  We miss all of you and think of you often.  Love, Elder and Sister Dickson

May 8, 2005 - - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

Dear Gwen, Erika, Carrie,

Thanks for being such wonderful mothers to my grandchildren.  Have a good day. 

Love Dad

Dear Gwen, - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

"HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY" to my wonderful daughter.  I hope this day is as special for you as you are to me.  You are not only a caring Mother and Grandmother but an outgoing person and a very good friend to everyone.  I am so pleased with all that you are doing in the Church and the way you set your goals and accomplish them.  I don't think I will ever be able to memorize the statement of the Living Christ.  That is quite an accomplishment and you should be very pleased with yourself.  You will never know just how much joy you bring to Dad and I.  Thanks again for being our pride and joy.

Love,  Mom

Letter to Mom while on their mission to Cambodia

Happy Mother's Day to you too Mom

I've been thinking about you a lot today, and seem to miss you especially bad.  I'm sorry you will get this late, since I'm writing it at 7:37 p.m on Sunday (Mother's Day) - I know it it 9:37 a.m. on Monday morning there.  I hope you did not think I had forgotten you.  We were traveling back from St. George today.  We have been down there watching Landon play baseball in the playoffs.  Morgan went into the state playoffs as third in Region, and this past 2 days, they played two games, losing to Wasatch and winning Delta.  They will travel back there next Wednesday night for the rest of the state playoffs (Two games on Thursday).  If they were to take State, they would have to WIN 7 games in a row, over a three day period.  If they get beat once more, they are out, since it is double elimination. I won't be able to go, because Camryn's birthday is Thursday, and Manda has to work, and that is the day our Young Women are going to Temple Square to plant flowers, and MAYBE if they are still alive and will play on Friday, I will try and make it down for that game, we'll have to see !?!?!  I'm sorry I can't go, but I don't want to desert Manda and Camryn on her birthday, because even though Camryn wouldn't know, Manda would feel really bad. 

I love you very much, and miss you too.  I am very proud of you and dad, you set a great example for our family.  I know our family is and will be blessed because of your sacrifice.  Landon got up this morning, (he rode the bus home with the team last night and they got home a 3 a.m this morning) and we stayed down and came home today, and even without me here, Landon got up by himself and went to church!  I told him that was the best Mother's Day present I could ever ask for.  I don't know if Mark or Erika told you, but we are planting a tree down at the property in your honor for Mother's Day.  I hope that meets with your approval.  I will send a picture as soon as we get it in !  I hope you had a nice day.  You are the BEST MOM !! (I don't think we ever planted a tree?)

LOVE GWEN and family

May 10, 2005 -- Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

We are attaching a few pictures showing some of the meats that are available here in Cambodia.  You will see some show a variety of meats sold each morning in the market.  These are freshly slaughtered, probably killed that very morning so the meat would be good as long as it was cooked well.  However, we buy all of our meat at one of the more modern grocery stores.  If you look at various pictures you will see parts of pigs (head and feet), ducks, chickens, etc.  Also notice a large pan of locusts which were for sale at the Central Market. 

Two of the pictures need further explanation.  The other night as we were going to a wedding reception we passed by an open air eating establishment loaded with people and our driver said, "this is where they eat dog meat."  When we looked closely we could see a dog's head in one of the pans.  Of course we didn't have our camera with us.  Today, while returning from the Red Cross celebration we passed the same establishment.  This time we did have our camera and got a couple of pictures that we have included.  One of them shows a dog on a grate over a flame.  The hair is being burned off after which it will be scraped clean and butchered.  The other one shows a dogs head in a pan, notice the teeth and nose.  We didn't feel too much like eating our lunch after seeing this.  Maybe we could have a barbecue with certain dogs when we get home.  We asked Brother Som if they raised the dogs for this purpose but he said no, they just steal them off the street.  He has had two or three of his dogs disappear over the years and he thinks that they were taken for this purpose. 

We will close for now as it is past our bedtime but we just had to send these pictures to you.

Love Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa

Wed, 11 May 2005 - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

Here I am, half-way around the world and still concerned about affairs at home.  We heard from Bruce concerning a meeting Zac and CJ attended for the LLC.  He mentioned that workdays were planned for the May 14th and June 4th.  If this is right, since I can't be there, please see that our family is represented.  Thanks.  Dad

 Reply to above:

Don't worry dad - we'll be there. Hey, there was a problem with your toilet in the main bathroom. It was not flushing right.  #1 would go down all right, but not #2.  Jason and Shelly had Zac come over and take a look at it, and Zac was just sure it was the toilet, so he got a new one, and put in on and the Dickson luck held true...............  Still would not flush, and even WORSE than before !!  He climbed up on the roof, just SURE it was the vents, stuck a hose down, but no luck -  He told Jason he would have to call Roto-Rooter.  They called them, and they snaked it down, and now it flushes like a charm !!  Sorry we did not try that before buying a new toilet.  Is it okay to pay from your account ?  It was $90.00.  Sorry.............

Love Gwen

May 11, 2005 - Letter from Amanda to Gwen
Hi mom

I was just checking in w/you to see how you where doing.  I have been really worried about you lately and I am hoping that it's just the pressures of your job, and your deadline.  I hope that you have called your Dr. and made an appointment. I am really worried about you and you better take me seriously.. dammit.. luv ya Amanda

I'm okay hon.  Just tired.  I don't have time to go to the doctor now.  We'll see how it goes after the end of May, and if I'm still messed up, I'll pursue it.  Thanks for worrying about me - you are the only one that does !! Love Mom

 That is not true.. everybody else is just a busy as you and don't have the time to notice... if you haven't gone to the Dr by the 1st week on June I am telling dad and we are going to make you... got it!!! Luv always Amanda 

ps I don't know if i will ever be able to repay you for what you have done for me and camryn... Thanks

May 13, 2005  - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

Would one of you update me on Roger's farming and the weather and high-water situation. 

Thanks, Dad

May 14, 2005

Roger got the field behind Mark's house planted in alfalfa, and it is coming up beautifully !!  We have had rain rain rain and more rain

There is no flooding in Morgan (except at Peterson a little bit), and Roger said the other day he might not need to water ANYTHING before cutting first crop. 

I wish you could see Zac and CJ's yard.  If they could have gotten the seed or hydro-seed in, it would be doing great - IF it hadn't been washed away.  As it is now, it is still just dirt, waiting for a drying out period and then will be planted.  The weekend is supposed to be nice, and me and Camryn and Manda are going to the Hogle Zoo today (I'm taking off work)  It's supposed to rain again next week.  It's the wettest bunch of weather (historically) that we've had in a Lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng time. 

Gotta run - take care - love you !!  Love Gwen

May 15, 2005  - Letter to Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

Dear Mom and Dad

Is everything there okay?  Haven't heard from you in awhile.

Today was a good day, as all Sunday's are.  Yesterday was awesome.  I had the opportunity to go to the Bountiful Temple and see Chris and Kimberly Mikesell and their three kids sealed together for time and all eternity.  Chris is Roy and Patsy's boy, and Kim is Morris and Merla Fife's daughter.  They have been married for 11 years.  They have 3 kids, Rory is about 8 years old, Megan is about 3,  and Tanner is about 15 months.  It was really special.  I had forgotten the words that are spoken, as far as saying they are sealed to you, just as if they were born in the covenant.  Then I went home, and got to go to a baptism for one of our Young Women - Sarah Sims.  She is 15, and has been coming to Young Women for a few years, and is friends with Danielle Durrant (Dave and Gayla's daughter) and Anne Robinson (you wouldn't know her parents). Sarah lives up Hardscrabble.  She was confirmed by the Bishop today in Sacrament, and the Young Women sang, "Walk Tall You're A Daughter Of God".  It was very very special.  Landon also helped out in Primary Sharing Time.  The lesson was on the Priesthood, and Landon talked about the Aaronic Priesthood.  I peeked in the back door so he couldn't see me, because I knew he would be nervous.  He did a great job.  He's such a great kid, and such a joy to be around.  Today we had Zac and CJ and Ben and Luann over for Camryn's birthday cake and ice cream.  We took pictures as she ate her own little cupcake !!  Earlier today she accidentally shut her finger in the french doors.  It was so sad, and she just screamed and screamed.  The end of her little finger was about smashed FLAT !!  No blood, but totally squished !!  I was pretty upset. It's a good thing Manda remained calm, because I was crying I felt so bad for her.  But it seems okay now. 

CJ starts her new job in Salt Lake on Thursday.  She will still be working for IHC, as a pharmacy tech, working with outpatients on their meds.  It is a DAY job !! - 9 to 6 Mon-Fri.  So she should miss the traffic.  It's on 2100 South, off of I-215. (I don't know if she ever took this job?)

Mark and his family went on a trip to Arizona to catch a Diamond Back game.  Now he's back in the ball games again, pretty hot and heavy.   There was a nice article on Jaden's Eagle Project in the Morgan County News, he fixed up the baseball field at the fairgrounds for WBBA to practice there.

Kelly and Michelle had a new baby about 6 weeks early.  He is doing well, they will name him Easton.  He weighed 5 lbs. 3 oz. and is still in the hospital.

Ella Barnum died a couple of days ago, we went to her viewing tonight.

Zac worked a long day up at Round Valley on Saturday.  They got there at 9 a.m., but Zac said they just stood around for a couple of hours before starting, and then worked till 5 p.m.  Roger and Landon and Mark were busy and couldn't help.  Zac said there were 10-20 people there, but mostly him and Richard and Troy and Michael did all the work.

Hogle Zoo was fun last Friday.  We went and drove up through the avenues while Camryn slept, and then went to Gateway for lunch, and then to the zoo, and home over Emigration Canyon and then to Parley's and over and home by Park City.

I head back to work tomorrow - fun fun.  Almost got the assessment roll finished.........  Hopefully this week will see the end of it.

It was a nice weekend as far as the weather, but it's supposed to rain again tomorrow. 

Write soon,

Love Gwen and family

May 16, 2005 - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

We thought the grandkids would get a kick out of these pictures.

They were taken while we were in Bangkok (the end of March) at the Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo.

These tigers were very big and I carefully held their tails up.  I don’t know what I would have done if they moved.

Grandpa got his picture taken with these two cute little elephants.  He bought some little bananas and fed them.  They really liked him.

I am feeding a baby elephant.  They sure can pick things up quick with their trunks.  It was hard to feed them and look at the camera at the same time.  I was afraid they would get my fingers mixed up with the bananas.  We had to wash our hands after feeding the elephants because they slobbered on their trunk when they put the food in their mouths and then the slobber got on us when we fed them again.

Grandpa is showing how big and strong he is with the alligator.  Doesn’t he look like a big game hunter?

After the elephant show we got to ride the elephants.  This was a big one and he still has the colorful coverings he wore during the show.  Even the trainer is dressed up fancy.

We are fine will write more later and send our journal.

Love, Grandma and Grandpa

May 22, 2005  - Letter to Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

Sorry I haven't written much lately - we have been so busy !

I miss hearing from you too !!  And I KNOW you two are busy busy.

Little tidbits of what has been happening.

Carrie's Grandpa Harrop died last night - I don't know the details, except I asked Devin on the phone if he had been sick, and he said, "No, he's just old..........."  I got a kick out of that.

We are is the process of getting our yard spruced back up after years of neglect.  I hope by the end of the summer it begins to look respectable.  We bought us a riding lawn mower yesterday - a Craftsman at Sears.

Spence had a group down at the property Friday night - I haven't heard how it went, but I'm sure just fine.

The dove is on the hill in Porterville, so maybe we'll escape flooding this year.  It has been really warm 80-90 these past few days.

Roger used your mower to mow down grass in the barnyard.

Manda and Camryn have been in Arizona for the past few days, celebrating her birthday with the Schutt's.

Manda will intern at a chiropractor's office in Layton, and probably get hired on there part-time  - 4 days a week.  (I don't think this happened)

CJ is going to her new job in Salt Lake now. 

Zac gave Richard Brown his two weeks notice, and will work for Dave Durrant and Matt Slate.

Baseball banquet is tomorrow night.  Graduation is this week also.

I have two Young Women, Lori London and Breanne Wilson who are graduating.  Next year, I'll have 11 seniors !!!

Zac and CJ's yard is just beautiful.  We'll have to send some pics.  He has worked sooooooooooo hard on it.

Well I need to get ready to go to a meeting.

Please write back and tell me if Dad is feeling better, and also you mom.  Are you both able to keep up health-wise with what you need to do?  Are you tired a lot, or managing okay?  I worry when I don't hear from you.

I love you both very much, and miss you too.  I'm glad it's only another year.  I can't believe 6 months have passed by so quickly.  Hopefully the next 12 will go by that fast too.

Love Gwen

5/22/05  - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

Dear Family,

They have given us a lot to do but My excuse for not writing is that I don't type.  Mom is off to the Service Center where she is entering data on membership records.  I'm sure she has it all in her journal which she will be sending soon.  Then at 1pm she goes to teach English while I go visit a bank about loans to start-up businesses.  Tonight we go to an open house for our drivers daughter and her family that have just moved into a new home.

Sorry to hear about Carrie's Grandpa.  Thank heaven for the gospel and our knowledge of the Plan of Salvation.  It makes death so much easier to deal with. 

Hope Manda gets back safely and that everything is going well for her with her new job.  Richard will really miss Zac and I hope CJ tolerates the drive to her new job.  Even though I am far away I still worry about each one of you.  Let us know what the family is doing, especially the grand kids.  Send those pictures of Zac's yard.

It sounds like things are happening down by the creek.  Have you got the sprinkling systems going?  Mark, does the mower work ok after a winter off?  Also were you able to find the old laptop computer?  Keep us up on what the boys are doing.

Erika, thanks for your update on your family.  It sounds like you are tooooooo busy.  Hope that Aaron's allergy soon clears up.

We are both fine so don't worry about us.  As Gwen mentioned in her last e-mail, six months has gone by very quickly and before we know it we will be back home.

Keep the e-mail coming, we check it several times each day in hope we will hear from you.

Love Dad

5/24/05  - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

Dear Family and Friends, 

Here we are once again with the happenings of the past week.  Attached are pictures of the house that Brother Som has been building for his daughter and son-in-law.  Notice the different stages as it progresses along.  Because labor is so cheap bricks are laid to form the walls.  The walls are then plastered and painted.  The inside floors are almost always ceramic tile.  The house is narrow and long (approximately 15 feet by 40 feet) with the living room in front serving as a garage at night.  The hallway down the left side leads to two bedrooms with the kitchen and bathroom in the back. 

We hope all is well back home.  Love, Elder and Sister Dickson.

5/29/05 - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

Just a few recent pictures.  One is of a bicycle pulling a trailer, usually it is a small motorcycle and there are hundreds on the street.  Another is of your mother in a kongbei, Brother Som was in an accident and was unuable to drive one day and this is how we got around.  The driver's name is Phat.  Again there are hundreds of them on the street.  The third picture is of a street vendor cooking her goods to be sold on the street about a block from where we live.  She is there every time that we go by whether it is morning, afternoon or evening.  We don't dare sample her offerings and we don't know what she is cooking but it looks pretty good.  You can see that Mom is well and happy.

We are just getting ready to go to church, it is 7:20 Sunday morning here and our driver will pick us up in about twenty minutes.  We hope you have a nice Memorial Day weekend.  Keep in touch, we love to hear from you.

Love, Mom and Dad (Grandpa and Grandma)

 5/29/05 - Letter to Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

Hi mom and dad.  Well, it’s been a pretty uneventful Memorial Day weekend.  I got the flowers put up on the graves, including grandmas and grandpas (both).  Our yard is looking better and better.  Poor Zac is having a time with his grass planting……….  First of all he plants it, and then Cannon on the corner decides to water, and it spills out all over Zac’s front yard (this is about 2 hours AFTER he plants it!)  I was ready to kill !!!

Then Lee’s on the other side water, and THEIR head gate leaks so bad, that it comes onto Zac, so Zac diverts it down the side pipe to the back yard, and it spills over and wets his BACK yard that he is trying to get ready to plant.  Then Daisy Brimley (in back) waters, and it spills over in the back yard too………….. Then Uncle Ray waters, and instead of shutting off the water up at the main ditch !!  He pulls the headgate and sends it DOWN the ditch !!  And back on Zac’s backyard again !!!!!  The main headgate up on the corner (on 100 S.) is so poorly done.  It does not seal, and water is always leaking by.  Zac is pretty discouraged, but I told him to look on the bright side – IF he EVER does get his grass planted, he won’t have to water it – HIS NEIGHBORS will do it for him !!!

Amanda only has 10 more days of school, and then she starts her externship at the chiropractor’s.  Landon starts summer ball on Tuesday.   Roger is thinking that it will be hay cutting time soon.  We are also going to get the watering at the property set up tomorrow.  We got us a riding lawnmower, so we can help Mark mow the property too.  Boy that is a full time job, as well you know.  Do you care if we get some weed and feed, or maybe just some weed killer to put on it? Mark says there is more weeds than grass. 

I am now working on the Morgan Trojan Football Program, getting ads sold, and layout put together, etc.  It is a big job that I wish I HAD NOT said I would do…….  Oh well, we’ve all got to help out – right?

Better go for now.  Thanks for the quick notes dad, and we LOVE the pics !!  Also, I’m passing your journal as I get it, on to Aunt Maisie and Uncle Ray (printing the pages) because they don’t get email.

Take care, work hard, DO GOOD !!!

LOVE Gwen and family

5/31/05 - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

Dear Family and Friends,

These are some pictures and our journal.  Hope you enjoy them. 

Love, Elder and Sister Dickson.

The attached pictures are: (0392) A bread vendor that you see everywhere along the streets.  Since their product is completely exposed all day long we don't dare buy any.  (0659 and 0661) These look like lobsters and it would probably be alright to eat them right after they are cooked but after she carries them around all day on her head, we don't buy any of these either.  This was on the beach in Sihanoukville.  (1023)  The group of young elders that went with us to the Hong Kong Temple.  (1849) This is the young man that helped on our boat tour of the three islands while we were in Sihanoukville.

April 2005

April 1, 2005 - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

In case I don't get our journal to you this week here is a letter that we wrote to our group of friends at the temple.

Well it has been too long since we last wrote so we will take time today to catch you up on what we are doing.  We are getting a little taste of warmer weather but are told it will get a lot warmer.  The other day it was 102 degrees and very humid.  Just the thought of moving around makes you perspire. 

The Learning Center has now closed and starting Monday we are going to be trained to work with the Employment missionaries here in Phnom Penh.  Additionally we will be teaching English to the staff of a non-governmental organization (NGO) orphanage.  I  (Veloy) will also be teaching English to several girls (ages 11 to 17) at a shelter.  These girls were sold into prostitution by their families and were rescued by the police.  I have taught two classes with them and they seem anxious to learn and are very cooperative.

We have just returned from Bangkok where we saw some doctors about a persistent problem Lee has been having.  To our surprise, our taxi cab driver (Charlie) knew and had pictures of Ray and Helen Johnson, a couple we worked with at the Temple who served a mission in Thailand a couple of years ago.  What a small world we live in.  Anyway, for the past three months Lee has been tormented by a burning sensation in his groin and upper legs and we hoped that the doctors in Bangkok (a very modern hospital) could determine what the problem was and give him some relief.  We saw four different doctors on two different days and got four different opinions on what the problem was.  We did come back with some medications that will hopefully do the trick.  All the tests that were done show that he is healthy and there is nothing seriously wrong with him.

The week after our Employment training is the Khmae (Cambodian) New Year and everything here shuts down and the people travel to the country to see their relatives.  Most of the senior couples are going to get the chance to travel somewhere.  A good number are going to Vietnam, which will be a fairly extensive and expensive trip.  Since we are going to Hong Kong and have just returned from Bangkok, Thailand, we are going to do something closer to Phnom Penh.  We will travel with two other couples to Sihanoukville, a city on the ocean about four hours drive south of here, where we will lounge on the beach and take several one-day excursions to various nearby places.  One-day trips including lunch run from $10 to $15 each and our guesthouse where we will be staying is only $15 a night per couple.  Sounds like we are having a tough time doesn’t it.  Of course we will take our lessons plans along and do some studying also.

On April 25^th we are going to the Hong Kong Temple with another missionary couple to accompany nine new missionaries, Elders from Cambodia who will receive their endowments there.  It sounds like we will get to do a little bit of sightseeing but most of the time will be spent in the temple.  Of course we will have to pay our own way but it will be worth it.  We will be flying late at night to minimize the cost for the new missionaries so hopefully the whole trip won’t cost too much.

Hope everything is fine at home with all of you and that you won't get too bored when you receive our journal.

Love you all.  Elder and Sister Dickson 

{Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Sister, Sister-in-law and Brother-in-law} 

April 5, 2005 -  Letter to Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

We are all well and doing fine.  The weather has been rainy rainy rainy !!

Landon's game was cancelled yesterday, and the makeup game (because of rain)

was cancelled the day before that !!

Mandy got your birthday card.  I guess Dallin's B-day is this week also.  We'll

have to celebrate both of them on Saturday when we have pizza !!  We are going

to try and clean up at the property a little bit on Saturday too.

Landon has his ACT test (the first one) on Saturday.  Tonight is Young Women's and

we are practicing for our Missionary Night which is next week.  The boys and girls

will be paired up into companions and sent to various homes in the ward to teach

as missionaries do.  They are excited for this - but I would be really nervous I think.

We need to remember to teach by the spirit, and pray that the recipients will be able

to learn by the spirit, because this is when individuals are truly reached.

Did you watch General Conference?  I really really liked the talk about being kind,

and Elder Bednar's talk about the tender mercies of Christ, and so many others.

Where did you watch it?? Stake Center??

Landon like the priesthood talk by Anderson, on how evil is disguised by friendly eyes,

or something like that.  Also he was impressed by the talk discouraging gambling, as

he has participated in poker with his friends at one time or another, but it has not been

an active pursuit of his, like it has become with some of the people he knows.

Zac has put a heat vent up the corner of his living room to service the upstairs. He has boxed around this pipe with a wall.  He was able to relocate the plug that was on the kitchen wall (by bringing it out to the new wall) and also ran a switch (two-way) so that he didn't always have to go clear across the  living room to turn off the living room light !!  He's pretty smart !! I wonder where he get  all of his mechanical, electrical, do it himself capabilities?!?!?!?!  Hahaha........ Little does he know that he is setting himself up to be just like you dad, depended upon for every little thing !!!!

Amanda has finished the HARD part of his schooling, and now just has to put in the time on the easy stuff until she finishes the course in the middle of June.  She has a weekend trip planned to Vegas then with Therese and Jody to celebrate all of her hard work. Then it's back for her externship (she doesn't know where this will be yet) and then hopefully hired somewhere that she will like.  She plans on living here for at least another year after that - if she can stand it !! Seriously, she appreciates all that we have done for her, but I told her, that is just what parents do for their kids !!  We have enjoyed having them here so much, and surprisingly, there has been very little tension.

On another subject - is Hong Kong in China??  I thought the church did not have a presence in China??  Or is it like Vietnam used to be (or maybe still is) where there is Communist and Free China??  Please explain.

Have fun this next week in Shanoukville.  Relax a little for all of us !!  You deserve it !!

Take care, and don't worry about us here at home, things are going well.

Love Gwen and family

April 8, 2005 - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

Dear Family,

Well you can see by reading our journal that we have had a very busy week.  Hopefully we can get all rested up next week and be ready to start working hard again.  We hope you are all doing well.  Have fun with your get together and don't work too hard cleaning the property.  We love you all and miss you.  Will write again in about ten days.  Don't worry about us. 

 Love Elder and Sister Dickson (Mom an Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, etc., etc., etc.)

April 18, 2005 -  Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

Dear Kids,  we're back from a very relaxing and nice trip to Sihanoukville.  The weather was beautiful and the ocean was warm and wonderful.  Wish you could have been with us.  We got a taste of a Cambodian rain storm last Saturday.  It rained cats and dogs or in other words, it poured down good and hard for about two hours.  The streets were flooded and water was running everywhere.  We spent about an hour in a hilltop restaurant waiting for the rain to stop long enough for us to take an open cable car down the hill to where our car was.  It didn't stop so we left anyway.  The cable car was pulled up and down by an old International Harvester tractor.   Will write more later.  We are well and everything is fine.  We get back into the swing of things tomorrow.   

Take care!!!  We love you, Mom and Dad (Grandma and Grandpa)

April 21, 2005 - Letter to Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

I just wanted to tell you about a play that Landon made at catch last night in the JV game against Ben Lomond. A kid was on third, and a kid was up to bat and struck out on a third strike and the ball was in the dirt, and Landon dropped it so Landon had to scoop it up and throw the kid out at first.  And here was the kid on third wanting to come home.  Landon scooped up the ball, pointed at the kid at third, and bulleted it down to first - kid out.  Jake Blomquist bulleted it back to Landon at home, and it was on the money and Landon was able to block the plate, and the kid was out coming from third base!!  Game ends, Morgan wins 10-3.  I wasn't there to see it, but Rog said it was pretty awesome.  When I ask Landon about it, he just "ah shucks" it, with a BIG SMILE !!

Tomorrow  - Landon is going to be in THREE skits for his friends that are running for SBO's.  He is going to be performing an original New Zealand war dance that Jason Bush taught him, Chase Kimbal (running for SBO president), Tyler Carrigan, and someone else - I can't remember who.  Then he's in Katie Rhodes skit, about some kids that go to a movie (he get's kissed on the cheek, and has to kiss someone else on the cheek in this one!) and then he's in Jake Blazzard's skit, which is something about Blue's Clue's cartoon.  I'm going over to watch and FILM it.  It should be pretty good !!

Gwen and Family

April 23, 2005 - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia 

Thanks for all you do for us.  We really appreciate it and the e-mails you send to keep us informed.  Now that we are back from the beach and Dad is feeling better it looks like we are going to start getting busy and involved.  You will notice in our next journal (I will send before we leave for Hong Kong of Monday night) some of the things we are going to be doing.

Thanks for the pictures especially the one of Camryn, Dallin and Devin.  You are right that picture was too cute to not send.  We sure do wish we could have been with you on Amanda's birthday.  How did the cleaning up of the property turn out or did it storm? 

Landon seems to be really involved with a good bunch of friends.  We wish we could have been there to see his spectacular play in getting those two players out.  How did his ACT test go?  Are the elections over for student body officers?  Who got in and how did the skits work out? 

We went to a Zone Conference today and we were really impressed with the young missionaries.  They are awesome.  I can just picture Landon doing all of these things that they do when he gets on his mission.  He is a great kid besides being a special grandson.  But then all of our grandkids and great-granddaughter are extra special.  We are glad Amanda is doing so well in school.  How is Zac coming with fixing his upstairs and how is CJ feeling?  I hope she isn't too sick.

How did the YM/YW do on their missionary night?  Could they pick the homes they wanted to go to or did the leaders send them to certain homes?

I haven't heard from Pam and Norris so I don't know if they are receiving any of our e-mails or if their computer or whatever is still not working.  Also, would you please make a copy of stuff and give it to Aunt Maisie and Uncle Ray.  By the time we get things to the Mission Home and hit the mail pick up just right, things could be a week or two late. 

Thanks again for everything you do.  Dad mentioned the other day that no one tells us about the weather.  Is there any high water yet or hasn't it started to melt.  We are having really warm weather now.  Yesterday afternoon it was 95 degrees.  In fact, it starts warming up early in the morning.  We try to open our windows to get a little circulation and fresh air when we get up in the mornings, but have to close them before 8 a.m.

Will close for now.  We love all of you.

Love, Elder and Sister Dickson (Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa)

April 23, 2005 - Letter to Mom and Dad on their mission to Cambodia

I've worked from 7:30 this morning till 7:30 tonight at my work.  I took a 1/2 hour lunch at the Chicken Inn with Zac and CJ and Manda and Camryn.  I am swamped, and my May 22 deadline is looming, and I have SO MUCH left - I hope I make it !

Roger and Landon went to Ogden to see Northridge play at Lindquist field.

Now to answer your questions !!

But first - one of my own.  You say dad is feeling better now?  I'm so glad. Do you think it's the medicine working?

We did get down to the property on a Monday night a week or so ago, and got it all raked.  Mark said he would mow today, and our family is going to keep it trimmed.  We'll see how it goes ??!?!

Landon does have a bunch of good friends.  He got his ACT test results today, an 18 - a little lower that we thought he'd get.  He'll be taking it 2-3 more times, so hopefully he can get it up in the 20's.

The student body elections were yesterday.

President - Chase Kimbal against Landon Peterson (Darrin Peterson's son, who is Jerry Peterson's son) - Landon won  Landon's skit was a spoof off the Incredibles, and was pretty "incredible"!  Chase's New Zealand war chant went well also, with Landon, Tyler Carrigan, Mike Rose, and Colton Winchester helping him out.

Secretary Josh Wilson against Whitney Weaver - Josh wonVP -  -Jake Blazzard against Bryce Smalley - Jake one.  He did a skit on "Blue's Clue's"  It was great !!

VP - business Jake "Beaner" Christensen against Katie Rhodes (one of my YOUNG WOMEN) - Katie won, and I'm so happy for her !!!

VP - advertising Tim Poll against Ren Blake - Tim won

VP - historian Cami Mayhew against Stefanie Clemens - Cami won

The YM and YW did great on their missionary night.  We had the homes picked out, and they did a good job.

I don't know if Aunt Pam's email is working or not - I'll have to ask them.

I'll get Aunt Maisie a copy of things for you.

The weather has been warm, and then rainy.  The river and East Canyon creek is pretty high.  The Weber is higher that I have seen in in MANY years. 

Zac has got his grates in all of his head gates.  They look beautiful.  Dad would be so proud.  They are perfect.  I would put them up against any in Morgan.  They look awesome.  He has taken such care to make sure they fit with exactness, leaving nice slots for the head gates to be pulled out, without having to lift the grates.  He even made the two little ones in the middle come down in front, and not just on the top.  I'll have to take a picture and send to you. 

He got your car licensed - because his pooped out on him.  CJ feels good some days and some days not.  They haven't worked on the upstairs too much, only ripping out carpet and pad of the back room and the little room. 

Amanda got  90 on that test I was telling you about.  She's at the top of her class !!  I hope she can get a job in Ogden and not Salt Lake when her externship starts, which is in June.

Tomorrow is YW, and I have a lot of meetings to go to - one at 8:30  9:00 10:00  11:00 - 2:00 is church, and then one at 3:15.  Does that sound familiar??

I have a challenge for you !!  Have you heard of the Living Christ??  It's a statement that the Prophet, and the apostles put out in 2000.  Well guess what??  I memorized the WHOLE thing !!  It's a doozy.  I cannot believe I did it !!  We (Lynelle Rich and I) have done it, and challenged our young women to do it also.   I am so proud of myself. I challenge you to do the same !!  I know you can.  Here I go - I'll type it for you from my memory:

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millenia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life, and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice.  None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, and(remove) the Messiah of the New.  Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of  the earth.  "All things were made by him; and without him, was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3).  Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness.  He "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it.  His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill.  He entreated all to follow His example.  He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead.  He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

In instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice.  He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary's cross.  He gave His life, to atone for the sins of all mankind.  His was a great and(remove) vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

We solemnly testify, that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary.  He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the World.

He rose from the grave to "become the firstfruits of them that slept" (1 Corinthians 15:20).  As Risen Lord, he visited among those He had loved in life.  He also ministered among His "other sheep" (John 10:16)  in ancient America.  In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long promised "dispensation of the fullness of times" (Ephesians 1:10).

Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: "His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: "I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father" (D&C 110:3-4).

Of Him the Prophet also declared: "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That He lives! "For we saw Him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father -

"That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God" (D&C 76:22-24).

We declare in words of solemnity, that His priesthood and His Church have been restored on the earth -  today(remove).  "built upon the foundation of ........ apostles and prophets,  Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Ephesians 2:20).

We testify that He will someday return to earth.  "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: (Isaiah 40:5).  He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to  be judged of Him according to our works, and the desires of our hearts.

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles -  that Jesus in the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God.  He is the great King Emmanuel, who stands today even(remove) on the right hand of His Father.  He is the light, the life,  and the hope of the world.  His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life, and eternal life in the world to come.  God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

The words in red - are where I made a mistake, either by leaving something out, or using the wrong word. I also thought you might like the scripture references - I didn't memorize them. - pretty good don't you think??

Well I better go for now, it's 9:34, and I'm beat.  Take care, we love you and pray for you daily.

Love Gwen