January 4, 2005 - letter to Mom and Dad on their mission in Cambodia
Dear Mom and Dad, everything is going well here. Roger is
back to work after 2 weeks of vacation.
He's loving it HAHA of course.
Manda likewise is back at school for the first time last night. It does her good to get out. Camryn is fun and loving, and no problem at
all. Tonight I'll take her to Young
Womens, and Wednesday night we (Roger, Gwen, Landon) are going to UVSC in Provo Woodland
Uncle Lewis' funeral was very nice yesterday. I sent the program in pouch mail. I tried to get the recording on a new little voice recorder we bought,
but the quality isn't good at all. I was
planning on zipping the file, and sending it to you so you could listen, but I
don't know if it would be worth it.
Who are you teaching English to? Members, future missionaries,??? Someone asked me, and I couldn't tell
them. Did dad get well from his stomach
upsets?? Did he have parasites??
Everyone we see asks about you, and were concerned about how
the earthquake and tsunami affected you.
Have you be helping in the relief efforts at all??
Well, I better go for now.
I pray for you every night, and am so glad you are setting such a good
example for our family. I'm proud of
both of you. Take care and DO GOOD !!
Love Gwen
January 5, 2005 -
Gwen
and Family,
Our
internet was not working properly and of course this happened Friday so it
couldn't be fixed until Tuesday. We are just fine. Dad is still
trying to get over the gomboo but he is much better. No he didn't have
any parasites that we are aware of but he took medicine for them just in
case. They say that this medicine will protect him for the next six
months.
We
are so glad all of you had a good time on your snowmobiling trip to Pinedale
and that no one was hurt. Also glad that Amanda returned home
safely from Arizona vacation. Thanks for sending the recipe and for forwarding Aunt Pam's
e-mail to us. I made fried rice the other night and it was surely
good. Our rice cooker works really good.
I'm
sorry that Roger's vacation wasn't twice as long but someone has to work.
Tell Landon we think about his wrestling often and wish we could be there to
see him. Yes, it is okay to share our e-mails with whomever you think
would be interested. We have just sent quite a long e-mail to all of
you. Hope it isn't too boring but will answer some questions about how it
is here in Cambodia
We
check everyday for e-mails, so keep them coming. We pray for you everyday
and are so proud of the accomplishments you and your family are making. We
will try to write again soon but things are getting busy,
Love,
Mom and Dad
January 7, 2005
Well, last night a bombshell hit me…………… I was called to be
the Young Women’s President of our ward !
This was a total shock to me !! I
didn’t know that they were planning on reorganizing, and I feel soooooooooo
inadequate. I know thought, that if I do
my best and give it my all, and stay close to the Lord and my Savior through
prayer and daily scripture study, that they will make up the difference for
me. I know that with their help I could
do ANYTHING !! I know this !! I was surprised and thinking “OH NO”, but did
not panic in my heart, because our Bishop said he KNEW that I am who the Lord
wanted in this position at this time.
The Bishop said it was made manifest unto him VERY STRONGLY that I was
the one. I guess the Bishop was praying
about ANOTHER woman, because he knew that I have a lot on my plate right now,
with Camryn, work, etc. But the Lord let
him know that it should be me !! I hope
I can live up to what I need to do. You
know I have been wanting to grow spiritually, but I could not do it on my
own. This will help me out, if I will
but do my part, and I will be a better person for it. I will try and do my best. My first hurdle will be to choose two
councilors and a secretary. I will need
the Lord’s help for this. (I chose Lynelle Rich, and Susan Wiscombe, and Gayla Durrant as my secretary)
We head up to the Bobcat Brawls today. Landon did well
against Ben Lomond last night, pinning the kid
in the 2nd period.
Zac got his JUNO email set up last night. CJ was at work.
Manda is LOVING her schooling. Camryn is so sweet. She was kinda a pill at the wrestles last
night, but it’s because she was tired.
She finally went to sleep. I love
her so much !! Manda talked with Jim yesterday and had a really good
conversation. He’s getting help from a
psychologist AND a psychiatrist and will go on medication for his bi-polar
disorder. Camryn is now officially
crawling !!! watchout !!! She does bye bye and patty cat (sometimes)
too. She is sooooooooooo precious to our family.
We found out that Kelly and Michelle are going to have a
baby (girl?!?!?) in June. We wish them
the best.
January 8, 2005 - letter to Mom and Dad on their mission in Cambodia
Dear Mom and Dad
Quick note for you !!
Zac and CJ have a new email address.
It is: zacandcj@juno.com Landon took fourth at the Bobcat Brawls these
last two days. He wrestled great ! He was up against a couple of tough TOUGH
ones which he lost, and one that he SHOULDN'T have lost.............. but he did okay. Morgan Varsity took 2nd place as a team, and
that is fantastic !!!! Me and Rog stayed
up there over night at the Crystal
Inn
Manda and Camryn stayed home, and had a good time, except
Camryn woke up every hour last night.
Manda thinks it's because of the wind.
It blew and blew and BLEW last night.
Got your Dell rebates dad - deposited them !!
Zac and CJ and Shawn Prescott went up to Woodland
snomobiling today. Roads were terrible,
and even going 35 MPH, the wind blew Zac's truck and he ended up jackknifing
back and forth about 8 times, on that long stretch between Marion and
Kamas. He said it was WAY SCARY !!!
But everything turned out okay, and they didn't run of the
road, and no cars were coming the other way................. so see, there is BIG blessing #1 we have
received since you gone on your mission, not to mention all the little
ones...........
LOVE YA DO GOOD !! Take care
LOVE GWEN
January 9, 2005 -
Gwen,
According
to our calculations it won't be your birthday for another hour there in Morgan,
but here you have already been a year older for thirteen hours. We want
you to know how important you are to us and what you have brought into our
lives. You have grown into a wonderful and thoughtful woman of whom we are
very proud. We wish we could be there to wish you Happy Birthday in
person, but this will have to do.
All
our love, Mom and Dad
January
9, 2005
Today
is my 44th birthday !! I
went to church and it was very good.
Took Camryn, and she was a doll (a wiggly doll) and everyone loves
her. She is so cute and lovable. I fasted and prayed, and feel good about my
choices for councilors (SP?) and secretary.
I went through the ward directory and did my part, and then prayed, and
thought, and fasted, and this morning I felt the Lord confirm my choices. I
have chosen Susan Wiscombe as first counselor (over Mia Maids) and Lynelle Rich
as second councilor (over Bee Hives) and Gayla Durrant as secretary. I feel very good about these women, and I
feel the Lord is happy too. I hope they
accept. I’m not too worried or concerned
about this position, and maybe I am being very naive, or don’t really feel the
weight of the responsibilities that will soon be mine, but I KNOW that with the
Lord’s help I can do anything !! I just
need to do my part.
January 12, 2005 -
Dear Dad and Mom,
I'll get you Heaton's email address ASAP - I just barely got
on the computer tonight (8pm my time - 10 a.m your time) and of course they are
closed tonight, but I'll get on it first thing in the morning. I usually check email in the mornings 5-7
a.m. my time, 7-9 p.m your time, but there wasn't a message there this morning
when I checked, so I wasn't able to ask today, but I'll get on it tomorrow.
I'm glad to hear you are feeling better Dad, I am/was really
worried about you, and have been praying for you really hard !! I hope things
clear up soon !!
I don't know if you have heard about the horrible flooding
in St. George. They have had rain rain
rain , and snow snow snow in the mountains, and with the Virgin
River and Santa Clara Drainages, it is just horrible. They have called a state of emergency, and
about 6-12 homes have been destroyed, by falling into the river that used to be
several hundred feet from the houses.
One man died, after being swept from his vehicle. Sewers backed up, bridges, destroyed,
etc. It sounds like it's on both sides
of St. George, i.e. Virgin (town evacuated), Washington, and west side, Santa
Clara, Gunlock (town marooned) no way
in or out. Town of Beaver Dam Cambodia
We've got rain here, no snow. When we left Smithfield
Landon wrestles tomorrow night at Grantsville. Our basketball team is still undefeated, and
they had a really neat article in the Standard about Jim Wiscombe and his boy
Derek, and Stan Nielsen, and his boy Reed, and the comparisons between this
team, and the team of 74? that took state.
Manda and Camryn are doing well. Manda likes school, and gets 98-100 on her
test, regularly. Just a chip off of
blocks, huh?? Camryn is crawling all over, and pulling herself up, and the
other day she pulled herself up, over and OUT of her crib !!?!?! Needless to say, we LOWERED it down to the
bottom !!
Zac is all hyped up about building a det. garage behind his
house. I wish he would stop thinking up
things to do, and just rest..............
CJ is just working, and working, and
.......................sleeping (ha ha - she said to say that)
Rog and Landon are over to Kelly Wilson's wrestling
now. I'm just sitting here messing
around on the computer.
Take care, I love you,
Dear Gwen -
You
will never know how much it means to have your help and know that we can rely
on you. Hang in there with all the challenges you face. We pray for
you every day.
Love,
Dad
Jan13, 2005
Dear Dad and Mom
I talked to that Cloward guy tonight at approx. 5p.m. my
time. They have no email at the doctor's
office, strange huh?
But he said he would email you from his home. I gave him your email address.
I hope he follows through.
If not, let me know and I'll try again !!
Let me know anyway, just so I know if he followed through.
It's 10:17 p.m. and we just got back from Grantsville. Landon pinned his opponent.
Morgan won every match, except 189, which we had to forfeit
because Nate Bird was sick.
We are doing sooooooooooooooooo good.
Take care, LOVE YA
LOVE GWEN
January 15, 2005
Well, we've got some sad news........Rawley was hit and
killed by a car yesterday, Friday the 14th. Manda was and is very sad and upset
about it, but it will be okay.
We were all upset. It was at noon, and I was home from
lunch, and she had just got home from Ogden
Rog and the boys went snowmobiling today, and Gwen and the
girls (Manda, CJ and Camryn) are going shopping, out to eat, and to a movie
today.
January 16, 2005
Sorry about Rawley, I shed tears a number of times when I
was a boy over dogs that had died so I know how Amanda feels.
It sounds like you girls were going to have a good
time. What show did you see? Have you seen “The Work and The Glory”
yet? You asked quite a while back about
a Dickson history. I put all the Dickson
stuff in a box marked “Dickson.” It is
on the shelves in the shop area next to our sofa. Just move the plastic back and pull the box
out. You will have to look through it to
see what you can find. Good Luck.
We are glad Landon is doing so well in wrestling. Thanks for the obituary and funeral program,
it was really nice. We also got the
notes from all of you. If there is
anything else we have neglected to answer or tell you just remind us. We still have senior moments!
All our love, Mom and Dad
January 16, 2005 -
Dear Mom and Dad,
Well, guess what?? I was just sustained as the Young Women's
President of the 6th Ward. I feel really
good about this calling. I love Young
Women's and the leaders and young women there. I chose Susan Wiscombe and
Lynelle Rich as my counselors, and Gayla Durrant as secretary. They are women who I look up to, and would
like to be more like (besides my own mom !) I
know that with Heavenly Father's help I will be able to fulfill my new
responsibilities. Thanks for being such
good examples to me. I love you both
very much. Please pray for me so that I can do a good job. Thanks !!
LOVE GWEN
January 20, 2005
Dear Mom and Dad,
Haven't heard from you in a
while>>>>>>>>>>>
How are things in Cambodia
We have had an exciting week wrestling (see article below)
This is the same kid that dumped Landon on his head last
year and about broke his neck !! You've
never seen Rog so fired up, he came out of the stands and about out onto the
mat, and got into a shouting match with
the South Summit Crowd !! WOW !!
We all lost a little bit of control I think !! Go to Bear River
tonight !! and Delta this weekend (Friday and Sat) Weather is beautiful here in Morgan.
Manda has walked the walking path in the afternoons all week (40, 50's)we
are all well.
Love Gwen
Morgan
Wrestlers Win on Senior Night
Morgan High honored nine senior
wrestlers and their parents at the final home meet on Tuesday, January 18,
prior to taking on the Wildcats of South Summit. The coaches agree that this group of seniors
has been instrumental in providing the leadership necessary for team and
individual success. In addition, they
have been excellent role models and mentors to the younger wrestlers, which
will ensure a strong program for years to come.
The senior honorees include Byron
Andersen (130), Mike Clunas (152), Garret Durrant (125), Mike Eddy (112), Brett
Hendershot (171), Stefan Palmer (103), Zach Taylor (119), Cody Watkins (140),
and Mark Wright (215).
While a hyperventilation kit and a
bottle of Pepto Bismol may have been more appropriate, mothers were presented
with roses as token of appreciation for parental support.
Once the ceremony was complete, the
Trojans turned their attention to tangling with the Wildcats. The South Summit
wrestlers and their large contingent served notice early on in the match that
they cared not whose special night it was.
Starting at the 152 weight classification, the Wildcats won four of
first five matches plus a forfeit at 275 to race to a quick 30 points. Brett Hendershot (171) kept things from
getting totally out of hand by getting a crucial pin, leaving the score at 30-6
prior to the light weights taking the mat.
Thankfully, the light weights were
the heavyweights in this meet as they came to the rescue. Stefan Palmer (103), Mike Eddy (112), and
Zach Taylor (119) turned back the green wave with dominating performances. Garret Durrant (125) must have felt he was looking
in the mirror as he went toe-to-toe with a South Summit
wrestler that matched his build and ability (but not his toughness). Durrant pulled out a nail-biting 8-4
decision.
The large raucous crowd was both
tense and vocal as it became clear that Morgan’s only chance for victory was to
sweep the final three matches, and at least one had to be by more than a
decision.
Landon Rich (135) gave everything
he had to hang on to a 5-3 decision. An
apparent cheap-shot body slam by South Summit
after the final whistle threw gas on the burning emotions of coaches,
wrestlers, and fans on both sides.
Landon shook it off, and after a collective calming deep breath,
wrestling resumed.
Cody Watkins (140) stepped on to
the mat and re-ignited the home crowd with a gutty, dominating effort resulting
in a 15-0 tech fall. Watkins’s
performance set the stage for a winner-take-all final match.
With the scoreboard announcing a
36-34 score in favor of South Summit, Josh Wilson (145), arguably Morgan’s best
wrestler, needed only to win to snatch the team victory away from South Summit . Wilson Wilson
The Trojans can enjoy the
satisfaction of a hard fought, well deserved win over a very worthy
opponent. It was fitting to have a
special night on a special night.
Jan
20, 2005
Sorry
for the lack of mail to you. We can tell you now that mom has been really
sick. The flu we think. She could not teach the first 3 days this
week but she is better now. We have to hurry off to a meeting but will
get back to you later today. Glad to hear about Landon's success. Love
Dad
Jan
21, 2005
Just
a note to say hello. First of all, mom has been sick. Last Monday
she woke up with the flu. She didn't feel up to teaching her classes
until Thursday. She's still weak but seems to be over the sickness.
We're both at about 90%, give us one more week and we'll be back to normal. Keep
the e-mails coming, we check it each morning and each evening and sometimes
in-between. Attached
is something about Som, our driver who is also second counselor in the mission
presidency. When you read it you will see why we have been so blessed to
live in America
Jan 24, 2005
Gwen,
I have discovered a lot about myself while on this mission -- some good
and some bad. I always blamed my inability to feel comfortable in a skirt
to just having a big belly, but I find that my right hip is not the same
as my left hip. The result is my skirts hang uneven, like a couple of
inches longer on the left side. I even considered wearing my skirts with
the zipper on the right side until seeing it had no affect. I had never
noticed this back home but here we have long mirrors and I can see myself
from a distance. It looks horrible. I guess I will have to have
some dresses made but would at least like to give Chhay Mom (seamstress) a
pattern to go by. Could you please find one of my dresses, either the
dark blue with the light blue flowers or the florescent pink and
orange. Both of these have all the pleats across the
bodice. I believe they are hanging in the basement closet in the
bedroom over home. It doesn't matter which one you send. You will
have to send it through the mail like a package. Just in a soft air mail
envelope would be okay. Check with the post office and see what would be
the best way to send it so it won't take six months to get here. I don't
know what it will cost but hopefully not as much as a new wardrobe. Just
mail to:
Sister
Veloy Dickson
House
2B, Street 222, Off Norodom Blvd.
Thanks
again for doing so much for us. Tell Landon we are so pleased with his
wrestling this year. Also, give Roger a high five. We wish we could
have been there to see him at the South Summit
match.
Love,
Mom
Jan 24, 2005 -
Dear Mom
I got your dress mailed off this
morning mom. I have NEVER noticed anything wrong with your skirt hems. Are you sure the mirrors over there are
working???
Also - where are your quilting
frames, and quilting stuff (tacks, needles, etc.) I need to use them if that's
okay.
I hope you are feeling much better.
Can you send some more journal
entries??
We surely enjoyed Som's story. He is about Roger's age.
Did you ever get my message about
YW president? You never commented on it,
so I didn't know
if you got it. I am pretty overwhelmed..............
We pray for you all the time, and
love and appreciate you so much.
Aunt Maisie called, and said to
tell you HI, and that they think about you all often, and pray for you too.
Aunt Barbara tried to write you an
email letter, but it came back at her as undelivered.
I don't know if she used the right
address.
Maybe send her a quick note at
bdwhittier@mycidco.com so she can just reply back to you directly.
Got to go for now.
Let me know on the quilting frames
LOVE GWEN
January 24, 2005
Gwen, The quilting
frames and stands are up in the rafters above the loft.
Mom thinks that the clamps and other thing are probably in
the built-in
drawers in the downstairs bedroom at the house. If you can't find them,
there are some squeeze clamps somewhere in the shop that
might work. As a
last resort you may need to buy some small c-clamps. Good luck in finding
them.
Gwen, we did get your e-mail about YW president. Mom and I are so proud of
you and know you will do great. You have so many of your mother good
traits, I believe the
only things you got from me were weaknesses and your
love of math. (HAHA) Seriously, we pray for you and all of
our family every time
we pray (which is pretty often) and we know that your love
of those young
women will be felt by them and will help you be
successful. With mom being
sick, the journal has suffered. She is completely recovered and will soon
get back at it. Well,
we are about to be off to our teaching assignments,
hope to hear from you soon.
Love, Dad
January 26, 2005 -
Well, another uneventful day.
Work as usual, then home at 4 p.m. to watch Camryn.
She is crawling ALL over now, and pulling herself up to
things.
Babbling, and saying BYE BYE and sometimes waving, and patty
caking.
She's eating more people food too.
Landon is still wrestling, getting ready for Region next
week.
He is on the Youth Court, where a select few youth get to
act as court judges, attorneys, bailiffs, etc. for their peers who have broken
the law. An alternative to the regular
juvenile court type of thing. I would
like to tell you what Sherie Wright had to say about Landon. Quote:
Gwen, I can't tell you what a special kid you have. He is gifted, he definitely has a gift. Of all the kids that were there (about 5-7
kids) he was the ONLY one, and I mean the ONLY one who was comfortable and able
to put them (the defendant and their parents) at ease. He really has a way about him, and I’ve never
ever seen anything like it. End quote
She just went on and on..... Well you know we already know that Landon is
special, but it's great to hear it from someone else !! When I told Landon about it later, he put his
arms around me and guess what he said?
He said, "Yup, you know what that's gonna help me with don't you
mom?, MY MISSION !!
Doesn't that just make you so proud ?? I just thought you'd
like to hear about that.
Zac is working on building a fence at his house. The weather has been sooooooooooo good. It's been quite foggy in the morning, but
turns off and by afternoon before the sun goes down, it's quite nice. Of course down below the inversion is getting
terrible.
Well I better get going now !!
LOVE GWEN
Dear Landon,
Your mother keeps us posted about you and your achievements. We are so proud of you and the things you are
doing.
You are such a great grandson and you will make such a great
missionary!! You already know how to
work. Keep up the scripture study with
your mom and at seminary and at church so that you will be truly prepared when
you are called. Also be careful, Satan
is real and he does not want you to succeed.
He will work especially hard against anyone who can do his cause real
damage. Always choose good friends and
never let yourself get into situations where you will be tempted to do
wrong. Keep doing your best.
Love, Grandpa and Grandma
January 29, 2005
Dear Gwen and Family,
Thanks for your e-mails.
It’s great to hear about the family.
I wish we could be there to watch Camryn do all her little tricks. I’ll bet your are really enjoying her. We are so grateful that Zac is around to take
care of things. Dad isn’t worried at all
when he knows it’s in Zac’s hands. We
dropped him an e-mail and hope he will get with you on his cost for fixing our
shower . We don’t expect him to do
everything for free.
Gwen we are so tickled about your new calling and sorry we
didn't get right back to you. You will
do a great job. You and your family are
in our thoughts and prayers always. It
sounds like you have some good assistants or I should say counselors to help
you. I know you love the girls and I'm
sure they love you. Were you able to
find everything you needed for the quilting - frames, pins, clamps, needles,
etc.?
We heard that they had some avalanches back in Utah
We are so glad Landon is doing well in wrestling and wish
him good luck at Region. We’ll be
rooting for him here in Cambodia
Dad noticed that Juno is still billing us. They were suppose to put us on hold for 18
months. Would you check on it and if
there is any problem just cancel our subscription or whatever you call it.
I went shopping today and picked up some pretty lavender
material for a new dress. We are going
over to the Mission Home next Monday morning and I will check then to see if
the dress has arrived. No matter how I stand
to look in the mirror, I’m still lopsided.
It must be me and not the mirror.
We bought us a little electric oven today. I hope it works okay on casseroles because
that is what we bought it for. If you
get time could you send me the recipe for Turketti, chicken and rice casserole,
etc? They should be in my green recipe
box. It’s starting to get hotter
now, so I don’t know how much cooking I will be doing or how much the
little oven will heat up the kitchen. I
just hate to think about March, April, May and June.
Take care of yourselves.
We love you and wish you the best.
Love, Mom and Dad
1/29/05
January 29, 2005 -
Guess what? CJ is in the hospital this morning (Jan 29)
getting her appendix out !!
She woke up at about 4 a.m., with horrible pain in her lower
right stomach.
After suffering greatly for an hour, Zac took her to the
emergency room and
ultrasounds and bloodwork revealed that it was her
appendix. We are waiting
to hear how the operation went (it should be a scope) at
this time.
The guys haven't been doing much snowmobiling, and haven't
had any trouble
with avalanches. We
got a new 700 RMK for Landon to use, and his old
one 550 will go to Manda to use. But as usual, wrestling puts a cramp in the
plans...............but we love wrestling !!!!
A couple of things.........
I need your SSN# and VISA # that you used for JUNO billing
in order to cancel.
Also, refresh my memory.
Where is the green recipe box?
Did you give it to me??
I am having early onset of Alzheimer.
LOVE you both !!
Please email Mark and reassure him of your health. He called me
in a panic this morning after reading your latest journal
email, stating that dad was too
sick and weak to drive to somewhere................. and
then Richard Brown (the alarmist !!)
saw him this morning, and asked how is your DAD doing?!?!?!
I heard he was really
sick................. and so Mark called me and was freaked
out.............. and wanted to know
just HOW SICK WERE YOU.....................and I told him I
thought you were okay and getting
better. Please let
him know ASAP so he can quit worrying. I
think he has a bit of Grandma Dickson
in him also..............HAHAHA
LOVE YA, Gwen
See you later :)
Gwen
1/31/05
Dear Roger,
I love you sooooooooooooo much.
I just wanted to tell you how glad I am that you are my
husband. You are a good husband, and a
good father. I know that it is hard with
your job, but you are so good about leaving it at work. When I don’t ask much about it, it is because
I know that you don’t like to talk about it.
But I want you to know that I pray for you, and ask Heavenly Father to
help you with the pressure you are under.
Love Gwen
January 31, 2005 - letter to Mom and Dad on their mission in Cambodia
Dear Mom and Dad,
CJ is doing fine. The
operation went well, and they did the scope on her on Saturday about 1
p.m. She came home on Sunday at about 1
p.m.
How are you both feeling now? I hope you are doing better. Roger and Landon are over at Kelly's
wrestling. I'm just working on my
personal progress stuff for Young Women.
Mom, what are some important attributes that you think a
mother should have?jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj
Please get back to me on this
I LOVE YOU !! DO GOOD
!! Love Gwen
