Lisbon Stake Dividing and Letters

A 10:00 meeting with Xavier Dias, Portugal North Seminary supervisor. It was very successful, with good discussion of the graduation last Saturday, we called Lisbon and Frankfurt about our new car—talked with Brother Konig (?) and found that a Renault 19 has been ordered (no air! I put in a big play for air, and maybe it will come that way.). It should be here in a couple or three weeks. We worked at the mission office on our presentation—transparency stuff mostly and had a quick meeting with President Copeland. He reported on his weekend in Madrid, and on his traveling with President McCook of the Lisbon Mission. He said to call McCook, that the Lisbon Stake was being divided Sunday by Elder Asay, and we are to be invited to the occasion!! So I called them. He sounded great and asked us to be there for the 10:00 Conference session where the Oeiras Stake will be organized, stay for dinner with his family, Elder Asay, the Traynor family from Tucson who is visiting the McCooks. It's be great! We'll leave early in the morning and return that night.

Also we got from Susan and her family—5 letters and Donna's! It sounded so good—we really needed that! Letters have been slow coming, and my companion was getting pretty low about it. The Hansens reported all is well! It took 18 days for that letter to get here! So much for the 2½ week turn-arounds! And she still hadn't received our letter of the 22nd! We worked through the evening and went to bed later.

[Mesa]

Up early packing etc. Said our goodbyes this morning to Mary Ellen, John, Amy, Cassie. Tough, but the dissipation and desire to serve made it possible, and we went up afternoon to Coolidge, then Mesa. The difficulty with leaving the Campbells is just that the heavy bonding, built up for twenty eight and a half years, makes it all the more difficult. Marian and I have talked of how there is no more love there—the love is the same all over. All our kids, their spouses, and children are loved most surely and completely but for the reasons well-known, the special bonding is a factor—me to Mary Ellen and Marian to Amy. It makes it tough to leave. The Campbells will be just fine in our absence. The new house is adequate (The pool and landscaping are going in right now). John's job is going really well—I'm proud of him for his industry and ability. Also grateful to him for loving and caring for Mary Ellen so much. Also the ward has accepted the family just the way you always hoped they would everyone. They're busy, happy and successful. I love them, but I really want to get to Porto—so no tears!

On to Coolidge! First Mike's house. By the time we got there, the kids where all home from school, or arriving. Mike came home from work special to see us off. Such a lovely family!! This is such a loving bunch—full of hugs and kisses. Something about a grandchild's hug and kiss that's extra special. Some business matters to discuss. More hugs and kisses—this was a short visit, so it was mostly hugs and kisses. This family is close and doing fine (it will do better when Mike finishes school and can get on with his real life's work. They're all pulling for that!). Also hard to leave!!!

On to Sue's. This was the toughest. Our Donna clinged to us like she'd never let us go. She doesn't understand. And we'll just have to leave it up to the Heavenly Father to help her through this. Most of the kids where there—all but Jan. We hugged and kissed some more—I don't know how many of those are available on any one day, but this day was surely loaded! We told everyone goodbye, then another hard parting from Donna. I kept a smile glued on, tho. On the way down the street we saw Jan walking. It was a difficult moment leaving her, and driving away. Love that special girl!

On to Mesa, awhile getting set apart at Mom's, then a time with John's family. All there. All loving and squeezing. Since we'll see John in the morning, it diffused this departing a little. Hugs and kisses and hugs and kisses. It's extra hard to leave John and his family because of the unsettled conditions there. The pregnancy, the job insufficiencies, all else still unsettled. But here, again, we'll just have to leave it all in the Lord's hands. He knows us and our families, and our needs, and He still said "go to Portugal," so we go! I pray that the Lord will bless and prosper our families in things spiritual.

Back to Mom's for the night. I called Gwen, Shirley and Carol. Marian called Frank and K. We went to bed sad but ready—.

[Coolidge]

Errands and such around Tucson a.m. Afternoon late we went with John and Mary Ellen—their car—to Coolidge for Mckay's baptism. A nice family time! I spoke on baptism. Just us from Tucson and the Coolidge family were there, and a lot of Hansens and Brooks. Had a nice visit afterward with Susan, Jan and Lindsay and Taylor. The rest went to Spencer's ballgame. Back to Tucson real late.

[Mesa]

Talmage's B-Day

[Tucson]

Back to Tucson. Donna an appointment with Dr. Leavitt to fill her tooth again, Lindsay's B-Day and dinner, back to Tucson to stay with Mary Ellen. This is not a mission. The events are not missionary events. Waiting for a visa at home is the pits. Since this journal is supposed to be a missionary journal, I'm putting it aside until the mission starts up again. So—until further notice!!! Lindsay's B-Day.

[Mesa]

Marian and Mary Ellen took Cassie and went to a showroom for jewelry. I stayed with Amy and took her to school. That was nice to have a couple of hours with Amy. We left for Coolidge about 3:00, went to Susan's and McKay's B-Day. Also dinner and Family Home Evening. About 8:00 we came on to Mesa. Mom had already retired, so we quietly entered, settled in and turned in. McKay's B-Day.

[Tucson]

Pumped up the tires on Daddy's car, then bid Mom goodbye again and went to Coolidge. Visited Jerri and Susan, dropped off Donna, came to Tucson, where Amy was involved in a little play at school. Runaway Rabbits! Cute!! Nice to be with Mary Ellen's family.

[Mesa]

I worked until I got the latern's root ball out from under Mom's orange tree—a major job! I've tried that several times before, without success. Also got two palm trees from under there. Also some other little yard things.Read some, the Marian, Sue and Donna got there, with Kimball and Talmage. Visited some, then Susan and the boys left. We kept Donna for overnight. Had dinner at Sizzler (Donna liked that) and got her a permanent. A nice evening with our special daughter.

[Mesa]

Marian at Susan's. Me at Mesa. Pbtttt. I love the lady and hate to be away from her—especially now that we are missionary companions! She's having some time with Donna. I worked in Mom's yard part of the morning, went to Phoenix to the (?????) and got them squared away on getting our pictures in the missionary departures, got some more pictures of the family ordered from Welker(???), visited for a long time at the CES office. Charlie and I had a 1 hour session, then I had a brief time with Lund and a good session with Linc. Lund Johnson will be Mesa Institute director next year, and Lincoln Goodman will be associate area director. I feel good about those appointments. I always felt, or expected, that one day Linc would "fill my shoes." I told him that I didn't pick him, but that if I could have, I would have. Linc and Lund are true friends. It's a lot easier to leave my life-long job and move along knowing that they, and some others I have touched along the way, are in charge and growing with the work.

[Mesa]

Slow start, but finally got started out of Tucson. Saw a couple of model home areas on the way North. These were retirement communities, so not as desirable. Visited with Susan and left Marian there to stay while I came on back to Mesa to check on Mom. We're separated 'til Thursday. I don't like that—and anyway it's against mission rules! But this mother of mine needs some watching, and Carol isn't doing it like she's supposed to. A miserable evening (Anyone reading this diary can immediately detect here a sag in mission spirit. Boy do we need those visas!).

[Mesa]

Some more stuff around Mom's home. We shopped some. Met the Vanderpools at the drugstore. Mom's trying to trying to run us and showing her forgetfulness in the process. I've determined that it's probably not safe for her to be alone, but she's too stubborn to have it otherwise. After noon Marian and I went to Coolidge where we enjoyed Donna again and Susan's family. Shortly Dave, Mary Ellen and Mike and their families arrived. A nice dinner and enjoy-one-another time (There was an altercation, but I'm not going to expand on that—just try to help resolve it. This is part of the give-and-take of family life.). At the conclusion, we drove back to Mesa, to bring Mom Gibson home, spent the night in Mesa.

[Provo]

Our wedding day, 39 years ago. Marian is lovelier now than ever before. She's beautiful through and through, a lady in every way, and a spiritual force that I can see growing everyday. She is full of surprises and loves me more than I deserve. Far more! 39 years are just the beginning. If I can prove worthy of her, eternity is forever, and with my Marian, it will be worth having.

But today wasn't great, because she's sick. I brought breakfast and dinner to her on a tray. She made it to the cafeteria for lunch, but didn't eat much. She didn't go to her classes. In the evening we went for a drive for a half hour, then called Susan. Marian's worried about Donna. She's not eating and has lost 9 pounds since we left her. Sue says she cries sometimes and misses us. I suppose that's not too big a surprise for a child of 33 to miss her Mom and Dad. It's a lot of years to pattern, then get torn out of the pattern. The rest of the evening was spent with journal, letters and scriptures. This anniversary in Provo. Next anniversary in Portugal—40. Then 41 back with our family! I hope.

[Provo]

Celestial duties first thing. We changed all the toilet paper. Classes all day. I about had my fill of Para and Por. Morning and afternoon. I just can't seem to get it lined out straight. At night I did my tarefa, then studied grammar alone—no teacher. I like that. I'll have Sister Harris check it tomorrow—she's my best grammarian. It rained and snowed a little today and turned really cold. Seems that Conference let out too early for the usual blustery time! Lincoln's B-Day!!

[Provo]

A not-much-going day. Classes am and afternoon. Branch meeting at night, then a trip to our district room (31 Flavors) with the Chapmans. We had a splendid time. Got much accomplished. Got a letter from Jan. Marian cried. Jan is very special. Wrote a letter to Walmir and Yedda.

[Provo]

This is one your standard days. Cold, snowy, real cold. The classes went as scheduled except for a visit from Elders Taylor and Osborne of the Seventy. there was a full-bore meeting in the gym to hear Elder Taylor's message on Lehi's Dream as adapted to Missionary work. I popped into bed pooped, and am writing this Saturday. Kimball's B-Day.

[Provo]

A full day. Daytime classes and branch meetings at night. We got 2 new couples into the branch—both going to Germany Frankfurt. Marian was back full bore. But Elder Chapman missed the evening meetings because of a sinus infection. The weather turned rainy and cold today, with a very light sprinkle of snow. It has been beautiful the last few days. The change is welcome. Met Elder Byron Thompson from the Cerritos Institute. He came in yesterday. He's going to Japan and was really happy to see a face he knew! Fine young Elder! Rusty Kelson came by at lunch and visited us in the lobby. Just a social visit. Larry's B-Day.

[Tucson-Coolidge-Mesa]

The movers were to be back at 6:00-6:30 am. No way! 7:45! The excuse--the motel didn't give them a wake-up! Pokey all day. I died 1,000 deaths. While they were loading I got a physical for a $100,000 life insurance policy--on the hood of a pick-up truck--blood sample, blood pressure and all (the urine sample was in the restroom.) John came by with the paperwork, and I got all signed up! I hope it goes through. It's for my retirement! The movers took 'til 6:30 pm to finish unloading all our furniture into the storage vaults. Then I snaked them through the hills and streets in that big van to Mary Ellen's where they unloaded her portion. It was 8:00 pm! I got Amy and headed for Coolidge. I fixed Susan's hanging lamp, got Marian and the 3 of us went back to Mesa, late.

[Mesa-Coolidge-Tucson]

Down to Coolidge first thing to meet the moving van at 8 or 8:30. We had a nice visit with Sue and the little kids 'til 10:30 when it finally arrived. Two men again. They put off Donna's stuff and some stuff for Susan, and loaded the piano. Then they left for Tucson. Marian stayed at Susan's to help get Donna settled, then I left for Tucson. I arrived at the storage building 1 1/2 hours before the van arrived, and loafed! I don't know what they did on the way. Two guys unloading--went real slow. By 6:00 pm they hadn't done much. I stayed the night at Mary Ellen's. That was nice!

[Mesa-Coolidge-Mesa]

Had a good night's sleep. That's a good bed. Got Donna's social security changed. Opened a checking account at First Interstate Bank in Chandler for Mike and Sue to use. Took Donna to Coolidge with all her stuff and got her settled, then the car title changed at Florence. We need Arizona licenses on the '87 Century, and Mike's name is on it. A big day!!

[Mesa-Coolidge-Tucson]

Stopped to get income tax started with Joe Palmer. Then to Coolidge. Couple hours with Sue and on to Tucson. Dr. Leavitt looked at our teeth. Evening with Mary Ellen (John’s coming back from a business trip to Fresno about Midnight) and over to David’s without Marian. Spent a super 3 hours visiting with Dave and Peggy before bedtime. (I slept on their couch.) What a very nice visit.