Update on Dick

Today has been a difficult day for Dick. He has had a lot of pain in his back, probably from being in bed so long. We have given him back rubs and tried to turn him so that he would be more comfortable. He has also been sick to his stomach. The nurse gave him some medication to help with the nausea, as well as pain medication. He has slept a lot and that's good because that's how things heal. The swelling on the left side of his face and head is visible now. He looks like someone punched him in the eye. The doctor told us that he would have swelling for the first 48 hours and then things should improve.



Several people from the ward came to visit but he was really not up to visitors. He would just wave his hand and say: "Thanks for coming." Today was really not a good time for visitors. Perhaps tomorrow will be a better day for him. We took him on a couple of walks around the nurses' station, and that seems to help him a little. I think the anesthesia will be in his body for a while and that causes a lot of his sleepiness and nausea.






Amy has been here with us since Friday night, and she has been a great help. We have spent lots of time in the hospital and had some good chats. Ryan and Billy gave Dick a blessing this afternoon and that was very nice. Jenny and Billy stayed up at the hospital while the rest of us came home to eat. People have brought in bread and a meal and notes of love.

Amy and I went to our ward for church this morning, and the theme of the meeting was on President Eyring's November 2008 Conference talk on "Adversity." The talks were very pertinent to many of us in our ward, as there have been an unprecedented amount of illness in our ward in the last six months: breast cancer, thyroid cancer, broken back, a brain tumor, three deaths, etc. After the speakers had spoken, the bishop stood up and asked us to specifically pray and fast for those in our ward who are struggling physically and mentally. Many people are having difficult problems right now. But, we have faith in our Savior and know that he will stand beside us through the hard times. He knows all about them. Many people came up to us after church and expressed their love and concern. It's wonderful to know that so many people are praying for us and are willing to help out. We have felt the power of prayer during this time. Thank you.

Unexpected turn of events....

President Livingstone from the Democratic Republic of Congo (the mission where we are supposed to report to this summer) sent us a nice email this morning. President Livingstone said, "Heavenly Father gives us interesting and different twists and turns on our path, and the measure in how we respond to them in part defines our levels of faith, obedience, humility, hope and any other number of divine virtues".

Thursday evening while studying French, Dick became confused about what we were studying. We tried to talk through it but he had a difficult time focusing and understanding anything that we were doing. He said that the words on the page were all one big word or meshed together and then he said he was done studying and closed the book. He then started complaining of a pain in his chest. It startled me because I thought that he was displaying symptoms of stroke or heart attack. I told Dick I was worried about him and he kept saying he was, "just fine". I told him I thought we needed to go to the hospital. I went downstairs and told Billy that I was worried about Dad and that he was having some symptoms of heart attack or stroke. Billy got on his computer and looked up the symptoms and came up and decided to talk to Dick himself. Finally, Dick conceded and we went down to the emergency room at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. After an EKG, blood tests, a CAT Scan and an MRI they determined that there was a brain tumor in the top, left side of his brain, directly behind his eye and sitting next to the carotid artery. They believed the tumor was the size of an eye-ball. The on-call doctor Thursday night happened to be a neuro-surgeon by the name of Dr. Howard Reichman, who is considered one of the best neuro-surgeons in the country.


Dick underwent a four hour emergency brain surgery today by Dr. Reichman (usually a four-month wait for this doctor....we feel so blessed), to remove the "eyeball-sized" tumor. After four really long hours, Dr. Reichman emerged with a smile on his face and said that the surgery went great. He removed approximately two-thirds of the tumor and the remaining one-third was interwoven in the optic nerves in an area too risky to remove (doing so could result in double-vision the rest of his life or other side-effects). Dr. Reichman indicated that the part of the tumor that was removed "looked" to be a Meningioma, which is a benign tumor that develops in the thin membranes, or meninges, that cover the brain and spinal cord. Meningiomas usually grow slowly and do not invade surrounding normal tissue. They rarely spread to other parts of the central nervous system or body. They have submitted the displaced tumor for testing and the offical test results will not be back until later next week. The remaining one-third will respond well to radiation, according to Dr. Reichman.



The recovery time for this operation is about two full months. So that means that our mission has been put on hold indefinetly. The doctor did say that he fully expects us to serve a mission. Whether we serve in the Congo or not, remains to be seen. Right now the most important thing is getting Dick back on his feet and healthy.

We keep talking as a family that the one good thing that has come of all of this is that the COMB-OVER IS GONE!!! hee hee:) We must find the good in every situation and here I am making lemonade with my lemons.



Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, "If we are serious about our discipleship, Jesus will eventually request each of us to do those very things which are most difficult for us to do. Sometimes the best people have the worst experiences because they are the most ready to learn."

Elder Maxwell also stated, "How can you and I really expect to glide naively through life as if to say, 'Lord, give me the experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!"

Yes, this is a trial for us. And it is hard, but we know we have wonderful family and friends that are praying and fasting. Your prayers have been felt and the kind deeds have not gone unnoticed .... when we returned home from the hospital today, our lawn had been mowed by some great neighbors.

I will continue to keep you updated as I can.

Memorial Day -- A Time to Remember

This year was the first year that we have been in town for Memorial Day for several years. We usually take a trip during this period of time. However, we were in town this year, and we took the family and visited the graves of some of our loved ones. I really love to go to the cemetery on Memorial Day because there are so many beautiful flowers, and it's really a nice time to think about and remember those who have played such a vital part in our lives.

As we visited the graves, I thought about each one of those special people. Grandpa Miller is my hero and was there to listen to me and help me through many difficult situations. Every time I would call him on the phone and say "How are you?", he would say, "I'm just fine; everything's fine." He was always cheerful and made me feel like he loved me very much. I felt like I was his real daughter. Grandma Miller taught me many things. She was a hard worker and taught me how to work. She loved to tell stories, especially at Christmastime. And, sometimes she would cry when she told them. She was a good listener but she also loved to talk and tell about things in minute detail. I know she loved me. Millers were great parents to me and I love them very much. When we drove up to the cemetery to go to the Millers' grave, Roy and Maralee and their family also drove up. So, we visited together.

Grandma Dalebout was a special lady. She was Dad's mother, and he loved her very much. She was the right mother for him because she didn't crowd him but gave him his space. She loved her grandchildren and was happiest when they were around her. She taught me how to bottle fruit an easier way than I learned at home. I always used that way. I loved her. She was a good mother-in-law.

We also decorated LuAnn's grave, Glen's first wife. She was my good friend when I was growing up, and it hurt my heart so much when she was sick for a long time--thirteen years. Glen took good care of her and treated her so kindly.

These are people who have had great influence on me, and I thank them for blessing my life.

The End of and Era

It finally happened. This past Saturday, May 16th, 2009, our Stake Relief Society Presidency was released. Our presidency has been together for four and a half years. I was a counselor to another president for one year before that. That makes a grand total of five and a half years for me. I have loved working with three really wonderful sisters in the Gospel, sisters who truly know the meaning of charity and unity: Lynda Bingham, Jan Brimhall and Rose Robison. They were such wonderful people to get along with and I truly learned much from them. I will miss the association we had.

The past year has been an up and down year for us in our presidency. We were told several times we were going to be released and then it didn't happen. That went on for about a year.

When we were released, our Stake President told us that he had wanted to release us, but the Lord didn't want us to be released at that time. He said he didn't know exactly why we were supposed to stay and asked us what we had learned during the past year. We told him we had learned patience, forgiveness, love between each other. Every one of us has had a few trials during the year, and we had to deal with some difficult situations. In our presidency, two of us had parents die, one is scheduled for cancer surgery, and another had to go to work full time and go through some surgery with her husband. All in all it has been a good run. We have learned to love the sisters in the stake and have learned much from each other and our good Stake President. Our release was sweet. President Warner promised each of us blessings and expressed his love and gratitude for us.

I have also been released from being president of BYU Women this past year. It has been a good year for BYU Women, and I really enjoyed getting acquainted with many wonderful women who have been in that organization for decades. I felt inferior to them because they were so seasoned and had been there so long. However, they were very kind and supportive to me. It was an enjoyable experience. I served with Marilyn Alexander and Betty Lewis.

My service at the MTC is finished. Because I am at the MTC three days a week being tutored in French, I felt like I needed to be released from that calling as a volunteer. I have been there for about three years and have enjoyed working with the missionaries as an investigator. Now, I will move on and be a missionary myself.

Speaking of French. We're eating, sleeping and dreaming French. We also speak a little. It's slow, but we're starting to make sense out of a few things. We have a great tutor at the MTC who is very patient with us. Pray for us that we will get a good grasp on the language, sil vous plait. Merci.

Home From Michigan and Back in the Soup

After a wonderful week with Matt, Stacie, Jacob and Owen, we returned home on Monday, May 4th. We had one day to get washing and a little cleaning taken care of. Then, off I went to Jenny and Ryan's to tend their children, while Jenny and Ryan went to beautiful Kona, Hawaii with their friends.

I have to say that Milly was so pleasant and fun to be with. I dragged her all over on Wednesday morning to take care of a lot of business and shopping. She was a trooper. We had some fun playing games, and then we returned to the Wood house a little after the other children came home from school. We had a fun time playing "Annie Eye Over." I don't know if that's how you spell it or not. There were really only two of us who could get the ball over that great big, tall roof, Dick and I. And I wasn't very good. Then, we played a little "Hide and Seek." We got our workout for the day. Then, Dick helped me put them to bed. He told one of his famous "bedtime stories," which the Wood kids love. They are made-up stories that have people or animals with funny names. Then, we watched a little of the results of American Idol, and off to bed. They went to bed very well.

Thursday, after all the kids went to school (including Milly at Pre-School), Dick and I had our yellow fever shots--(more are coming--five more). Then, I rushed to a daytime Enrichment meeting to help with the food and work in the kitchen. Janice Kapp Perry spoke to our Stake Relief Society sisters. Shewas awe-inspiring. She told of her experiences in Chile while she and her husband served a mission there and the sweet experiences that they had. She gave me great hope and inspired me to think that maybe we could do some good on this mission. She had us sing some of her Primary children's songs, and she sang a family song she had created, which was really fun. It had five different parts singing together. She is truly a talented lady.

Thursday night, we all atrtended Spencer's soccer game. His team played for the championship, but they couldn't quite pull it together to win. So, they took 2nd place, which is really very good. I know Spencer was disappointed, but I think he was fine with them winning 2nd place. Jenny and Ryan called from Hawaii and said they had gone snorkeling and swimming with the dolphins that day. They love sitting on their lanai and enjoying the soft Hawaiian breeze. We were all envious.

On Friday, the kids had a jog-a-thon at school. They ran for 45 minutes to raise monoey for the school. I attended Ali's and Zack's run. Then, I had to check them out of school to take them to the Eldred Center (senior citizen's center) so Ali, Zack and Milly could perform with their clogging group. They were so good. The older people loved to see them and watch them perform. Then, they went back to school. I had a short rest, folded clothes, and then they came home from school. I needed to take Spencer and his friend to Wal Mart to buy a birthday present for one of Spencer's firends. Ali tended while we were gone. Afterwards, I dropped Spencer off at his friend's house to go to the birthday party. I brought the other kids to our house. Grandpa Dalebout bought pizza and Dick cooked it. So, when we got home, we were able to eat, which was nice. I didn't have to cook. The kids watched a movie while Dick and I went to a viewing. Again, Dick told another famous (anyway famous to the Wood kids) bedtime story and put the kids to bed. Whew! I don't envy all the things that mothers do now a days. I dropped into bed exhausted around 10:00 p.m.

Today, we took the Wood kids to their friend's house, where they will stay for a couple of days. Then, Annie Dalebout Colledge (my neice) will watch them for a day and a night. On Tuesday, the Squires will watch them until Ryan and Jenny come home on Thursday. They really have nice friends to offer to help out.

On Tuesday, we met with a lady at the MTC who set us up for tutoring lessons in French. We start on Monday and will go Monday, Wednesday and Friday for one or one and a half hours. Then, we will have two hours of homework everyday. Our tutor is from Montreal and grew up speaking both French and English. He is also tutoring President Headlee (the new mission president) and his wife over the phone. And, he is tutoring Michael Moody and his wife. Brother Moddy has been in the music department of the Church and will act as an assistant to the President because the mission is so big. He is a former mission president in Haiti and speaks French well.

I will be the secretary to the mission president. I haven't done secretarial work for a long, long time--before computers. So, I'm going to have to bone up on my computer skills. Billy said he would help me. We will also be teaching English and keyboarding. Dick will be in charge of all the mission finances, which will be a difficult job. The money system in the Congo is very different from what it is here. He has had some training at the Provo Mission Office. We're both going to have to do a lot of practicing. However, the couple that we will replace will be there about three weeks before they go home, so they will help us learn our jobs.

A Whirlwind Week!

So much has happened the past nine days. We've waited for a mission call for four+ weeks, received a mission call, had relatives over to open the mission call, and then tried to get used to and accept the mission call. In addition, we've attended three graduation events for Billy: Commencement, a luncheon in the Skyroom, and Convocation. He graduated with his MPA (Masters of Public Administration). The next day, he sent his girlfriend off to Ghana for three months. On Saturday, April 25th, I had the last piano recital with my piano students. On Sunday, we had a birthday dinner for Zack at our house, but Jenny and Ryan cooked the meal.it was time to pack so that we could get on the plane on Monday, April 27, to go to Detroit to see Matt and Stacie, Jacob and Owen. We've spent the last week with Matt and Stacie enjoying their new little Owen and Jacob. We were able to celebrate Matt's 31st birthday with him on April 28th. That was also Amy's 38th birthday. Today, May 2nd, we had Owen's blessing. Scott Dalebout surprised us and was here for a Detroit Tigers ballgame last night, stayed the night, and was here for the blessing. On Monday, May 4th, we leave to go home. Whew! It's been busy!

Our mission call to the Democratic Republic of the Congo was really not too much of a shock, as we had corresponded with the mission president, Don Livingstone, for a couple of months. But, still it boggles the mind to think that we will be so far away for 18 months in a country we know very little about. IT WILL BE AN ADVENTURE! We are really going to have to step up our French. We will be able to go to the MTC and be tutored in French three days a week. Plus, we have to get all kinds of wonderful shots: yellow fever, cholera, DPT, MMR, and we have to take malaria pills every day all our mission. Doesn't it sound fun. We do know that we will be working in the mission office. I will be President Headley's secretary. Dick will work with finances and taking care of the missionaries. We will also probably teach English and maybe I will be teaching some keyboarding. It's very hot in the Congo because it's on the equator. The average temperature is around 90 degrees with 94 per cent humidity. Forturnately, we will have a two-bedroom apartment with air conditioning, and the mission office is air conditioned. We go into the MTC on July 27th, so we do have a little time.

Billy graduated and it was a happy time for all of us. He doesn't have a job yet, but he continues to put feelers out and apply for jobs that he knows are available. His girlfriend, Amy Brennan, left for Ghana for three months. So, he'll be lonely.

I was able to hold my last piano recital with my piano students. I have real enjoyed teaching these kids over the past three years. They are great kids and I will miss them alot.
Because Dick and I were going to Detroit to see our newest grandchild, Owen Scott Dalebout, we had to have a birthday celebration for Zack before we left because his birthday is on May 2nd, and we would be gone. So, we celebrated Zack's birthday on Sunday, April 26th.

We have had a wonderful time in Detroit, enjoying two cute little boys. Owen is so cute and is a good baby. Dick and I took Jacob to the zoo and had a great day. We celebrated Matt's birthday with the family and enjoyed a good meal at Buca di Peppo's. We also visited Henry Ford's home, which was very nice and interesting. Last night, Matt, Dad and Jacob went to a Detroit Tiger's game. When they arrived there, Scott Dalebout was there and surprised Dad. Matt knew he was coming but neither Dad nor I knew. Scott had been in Columbus, Ohio, with his work for Space Labs and drove up to see the game and be here for Owen's blessing. We were pleasantly surprised that he was able to be here. We had a nice day.

All in all, we have been on the move. And, I don't anticipate that things will change when we get home. So, we'll just gird up our loins and dig in our heels and continue all our preparations.