August Newsleter

(This is put together from Kyle and Charise’s blog, emails, facebook, etc. : He is begin-
ning law school in Lincoln, Nebraska next week. )
“Well, we finally made it here. We started driving last Saturday morning at about
5 am, and made it to our new place around 11 pm. It was quite an experience with 5 lit-
tle ones in the cars with us (Damon plus Mark and Julie's four kids), but we made it!
We are so so grateful to Mark and Julie and their family for all they did to get us moved
here and into our new place. What amazing family we have, thank you to everyone else
who helped as well! The hardest thing about moving is being away from you all. Just
remember if you are dying for a vacation we are only 12 hours away,...we have all the
corn, beef, and antique stores you could dream of! :)
We are so happy to have such a beautiful place to live. I was very apprehensive
about student housing, but this little townhouse will be fantastic for us! We are in a very
quiet neighborhood, there are magnificent trees and greenery all around, we have a little
play area in the back for Damon, and we are on an end unit (so we only have to share
one side of our house). It really is more than I had ever imagined. What a wonderful
surprise!”
There are 9 couples nearby who graduated from BYU and most of them have 2
year olds, too. One of Kyle’s professors is LDS, also, so they should have a good sup-
port system around them, for which we (the family) are grateful. Kyle just finished
his orientation and is ready to start classes next week. Good luck Kyle!
“How do we deal with such unexpected set-
backs in life‟s journey?...By listening to the
prophets, keeping an eternal perspective,
having faith, and being of good cheer, we
can face life‟s unexpected challenges and
„get on with our lives.‟”
Elder Stephen E. Snow
May 2009 Ensign
“Continue on with prayer and faith.”
Grandpa Alldredge
Nov 1998 Newsletter
VERL AND ADA
ALLDREDGE
August 2009
Volume 28 Issue 1
Close-Knit Family
Newsletter
Anniversaries:
 David & Nancy
Thompson
12 Mark & Julie Johnson
12 Tim & Maria Anderson
15 Ryan & Kimberly
Alldredge
20 David & Jennifer Parke
24 Tyler & Shayla Cook
Birthdays:
1 Jeremy Thompson
1 Rob Johnson
3 Cody Wilson
8 Brooklyn Larsen
9 Tina May
10 Milton Larsen
10 Angela Johnson
10 Rachel May
10 Jacob May
10 Garrett May
10 Liz Johnson
11 Taylor May
13 Jacob Larsen
16 Jocelyn Alldredge
17 Nick Larsen
19 Syndey Hulet
19 Julianna Larsen
21 Ty Larsen
 Alan Alldredge
28 Jed Johnson
 Carson Johnson
31 Brandt Larsen
“Remember the prayer of the Prophet Joseph.
Adam prayed; Jesus prayed. We know the out-
come of their prayers. He who notes the fall of a
sparrow surely hears the pleadings of our hearts.”
President Thomas S. Monson
May 2009 Ensign
August



Taylor, Brandt, Zach and Matt
for getting your
Eagle Scout awards


Kera and Clint
September 25, 2009
Page 2 Close-Knit Family Newsletter

Birthdays:
2 McKayla Johnson
2 Kelsie Cook
5 Anna May
6 Verl Alldredge
7 Jeff Johnson
8 Madisyn Johnson
12 Rinda Alldredge
15 Zachary Johnson
18 Kera Johnson
20 Gale Larsen
21 Tucker Larsen
25 Mark Johnson
25 Taegan Walker

Anniversaries:
3 Jerry & Gerri Alldredge
15 Mike & Jalyn McKelleb
20 Dustin & Amy Alldredge

September



Kisty
for completing your Master‟s Degree
Update on Michael:
The medicine seems to be working, and his
blood count is down!

Grandma Alldredge
Page 3 Close-Knit Family Newsletter

Grandma Alldredge (Continued)
Page 4 Close-Knit Family Newsletter
Dear Family,
I know this a one of those trite sayings, but "Where has the time gone?" Seems like
we were just at the reunion and now here it is, almost September. Our summer has had
some hot days, but we've also had some nice ones, so maybe it just doesn't seem like
we've had summer yet. We're not complaining, we've had enough hot days for me, just
not those long weeks close to 110 and humidity. We do need a little humidity, rain has
been really rare. A couple of times we could smell it, just didn't see it. My garden, Ha,
Ha...well, anyway my tomato and pepper plants can't decide what ot do in this
weather. The tomato plants have lots of tomatoes on. They just can't decide if they are
supposed to grow or turn ripe, so they don't do either, just sit there. The peppers have a
few on also. We've torn up the garden area and we've taken out most of the boxes. Next
year I'm going to try gardening in the ground and see if I do better. I bought some onion
sets, gave some to Gayla and Scott and planted some. Mine were like golf balls, theirs
are huge. Gale is a good sport, he built the boxes, helped me get all the mulch and stuff
to fill them with, now he's tearing them apart and building a system so we can use the
irrigation water to water the garden instead of tap water. That should help our water bill.
We've also been woring on the back yard, just behind the house. It's been just dirt
for so long and the ground is a little like cememt when it's dry. We'll see if we get it fin-
ished. Tammy and Gayla were here last weekend and the kids worked for a long time
digging and piling up the dirt to make a volcano, then came in for soda and vineger. It
worked. So now were wondering about planting grass. Where will they dig.
I haven't kept notes and it's too early in the morning to call everyone and ask whats
going on in thier families, so this will be brief, I think. Everytime I say that, I rattle
on... Kera and Clint are getting married on the25th of September Coby recieved his
Eagle on Sunday. He made bouys for search and rescue to use in the lake.
Nicholas has done two hip and two knee replacements, so I guess I shouldn't get
nervous when he sews up Lexi's lip.
Taylor has completed his Eagle project and is working on the paper work. That
seems to be bigger than the project. Taylor did some new sidewalks at the elementary.
Brandt has his project done also, but every time he turns his paoper work in, there is
more to do. He's getting discouraged. Brandt painted light poles at the college tennis
courts. Zach got his Eagle in the spring, so I can't remember if I put that in the newletter
or not. I don't know what they are called, but he made some things so the kids learning
to read could hear themselves better.
Julianna and the kids came up in July. I know it wasn't easy for her, but we appre-
cate it. We had a big sleepover with 15 little bodies, then a pancake breakfast. Luke
The Larsen Family
Page 5 Close-Knit Family Newsletter

stayed for a few days after and went home with Julianna's brother. Scott took him,
Kason and Mishawn fishing. That night we had a fish fry and ate all the hot dogs the we
could hold.
John and Taylor went antelope hunting with the bow and arrow and got one the
second day out. Now they have to get it cut up, but they make that a family affair at the
cabin and it turns into fun, I think.
Natalie got an elk tag this year in the same place where Gale got his, so they are
planning a hunt in Septmeber.
I need to give a BIG thank you to Curtis for helping me this summer to do the ed-
iting of Mom and Dad's book so that it became a reality. And thanks to Kristen for for
all the time he was away from home helping me. You're a good sport.
Gale and I are busy, not sure what we are dong, but we are busy. We are so gratea-
ful for our family and for all of you. Our prayer are with you, so many challenges in our
family right now. We need each others prayers and support. I think I've said this before,
but I love the song, "No man is and Island, No man stands alone, each man as my
borther each man as my friend."
We send our love and our prayers that each will find peace and be comforted.

We love you
The Larsen Clan

PS Get you check-ups and let your Dr know your family history and that you are downwinders!!!!!!!
PSS MY e-mail doesn't have spell check, sorry for mistakes.


The Larsen Family (Continued)
Page 6 Close-Knit Family Newsletter
The May Family
Dear Family,
August (is a) rush! Hard to think past Mike and Cindy right now. We know the full
range of emotions you might be going through and there is no way to get through it ex-
cept day by day with Heaven's help. You will either be searching for anything and eve-
rything about your cancer or you will completely avoid it. Either way, it's hard to stop
thinking.... Our thought and prayers are with you at this time.
I've been spending bukoo hours at school for the past 4 weeks. It's never
enough. The new Vista Charter school that is opening in Ivins in a few weeks has throw
a monkey wrench into the school organizations of about 5 school on the West side of St.
George. They are advertising as a performing arts school where Suzuki violin and piano
lessons will be taught in the afternoon. In other words half of the day is core subjects
and half the day is performing arts lessons. They didn't have their enrollment goals in
early August so they went door to door proseliting in the best neighborhoods to garner
more student population. Santa Clara, Red Mountain, Coral Cliffs, Arrowhead and
Sunst elementaries have all been drastically affected and many teachers have lost
their jobs in those respective schools. One teacher on our second grade team was reas-
signed to a 1st grade at Dixie Downs just 3 days before school started. We divided up
her class and assimilated them into the 4 remaining 2nd grade classes. It's been
crazy. Vista Elem. even set up a table at the local grocery store - Lins market to drum up
business by saying to parents, "Look, we'll give your kids free instrument lessons." As
a parent, do you think you want your child to have a full day of the core subjects or a
half day? It's been tough to loose some of my best students/families because the grass is
always greener..... somewhere else.
Other than that, we've started school and I have a great class so far. Every year they
add more for me to do. Just once I wish they would say, Here...try this...it will make
your job easier!
Our summer has been under construction for 2 months and we should be about fin-
ished this week. We remodeled in two rooms, the computer room and the main bath-
room. Many things went wrong but many things went right and we should be able to
give the first "flush" this week. Jerry is on a first name bases with the Home Depot
folks. He has been there almost every day.
Jalyn and family took Kennedy up to see the Oquirr Temple open house. I know
they had a really enjoyable time. Kennedy spent a week in SLC with her Anderson
cousins and then flew back to San Diego with Grandma Mathews.
My mom spent a week with us and then a week with Jalyn's family in Hender-
son. She has been advised by her doctor that she should not be driving anymore and she
definately needs help in her home or an assisted living arrangement. Mom will be 80 in
The Jerry Alldredge Family
Page 7 Close-Knit Family Newsletter
September. She is having dizzy spells and panic attacks that can be disabling. While
she was with me she had severe pains in her chest and we wound up in the emer-
gency. It was panic attacks but she is getting them quite frequently. She has been to the
emergency 3 or 4 times in the past 6 months.
Jerry and I are busy with our calling as the Stake Single's reps. We are planning a
luau dinner in a couple of weeks that will involve about 180 people. ALOHA!
Jerry tells people that he will be glad when I go back to school so he can rest. It
has been a fast, intense summer with only one family vacation up to BrianHead for a
week. We hope that it starts to cool down soon.
Evonne....we are worried and concerned about you but don't know why yet. Hope
to know what to pray for. We love you each and all.
Geriatrics
The Jerry Alldredge Family (Continued)
Page 8 Close-Knit Family Newsletter
Dear Family,
I guess I should write so we can get on with getting the newsletter out. Thank
goodness Angela is so computer smart. This just might work. I hope all the next gen-
erations know, that the will receive their newsletters on their e-mail, if their parents have
given us an address, if not bug them until they do. If you want a paper copy, you will get
you parents copy and copy it! Julie is also going to put it on the Alldredge blog she
started a while back. So we all should be able to read it somewhere somehow.
I am going to have a hysterectomy. It was scheduled for Monday, 24, but some-
thing has come up and that may change. I will e-mail the new time and details in case
you want to know. You know I love anything medical so I am a little scared today but I
still feel calm that in the end all will be kay. Prayers are appreciated!
We have had a busy summer. Ben married sweet LeighAnn and they are settling
down getting used to each other and paying bills and working. Kyle and Charise took
Damon away to Nebraska. They are settling in and finding a community of LDS people
in their area with children Damon’s size. Their next door neighbors are also from BYU
and he is from Rock Springs, Wyoming, a good place to be from not in. At the last min-
ute UNLV called and offered them a spot, gave them one day to decide and could not
give them any of the perks they get in Nebraska, like residency the first day she works,
cutting tuition in half, and they also gave him a scholarship so their debt will be much
smaller. They were already packed and leaving the next day for Lincoln so they just got
in their cars and went. They had had so much contact with people in Nebraska that they
felt that was the way to go. They also heard from a school in Oregon, but just didn’t re-
ply. They were happy with their decision at that point. Mark and Julie went with them,
in fact pulled the trailer and helped drive their extra car. Mark showed them some of the
sights from his mission and some of the fun things to see. Mark and Julie and kids went
on into South Dakota, to Mount Rushmore, and other places and then came on
home. Charlene has been doing okay, but is choking up again. We have to wait until Oc-
tober to get more of the medicine she needs for her reflux and that seems to help with
the congestion but the Pharmacy thinks they are smarter than the doctors so we can only
get so much in six months and that’s not enough.
Rob is our first casualty of the recession. He is officially without a job. He is
looking and in the mean time has been helping fight wild fires in his area. Liz and the
Kids stay busy.
Shayla is a deer widow this week. Tyler takes the oldest two with him and this
year is Kolten’s first year to be able to shoot. This is the bow hunt.
Angela is busy getting her classroom ready for another fun filled year. She also
has a very busy schedule in her master’s studies. I was going to be her best helper. I am
The Johnson Family
Page 9 Close-Knit Family Newsletter
still hoping, after recuperation, to be able to help. It just may be later than I hoped.
Jed’s family has been having sickness and asthma flare ups this last little
while. Their goal is to go a week without taking someone to the doctor! Everyone
seems to be growing and trying to do the right thing so I guess we are all doing the best
we can.
Farming has been a challenge lately, with me whining and Char gagging but Bur-
ton seems to take it all in stride, at least I thing he does. He isn’t very vocal. We had a
storm a couple of weeks ago that just laid the corn on the ground like pick up sticks. So
harvesting has been a challenge but I think it will be done soon. I don’t even remember
what comes next. Fall work, Onions and grain corn I think.
It was so nice to be with all of you at the reunion. Dennis and Rae Ann did such a
good job of organizing and feeding us. I was so grateful to be able to participate in the
Humanitarian stuff. We may not think we have enough stuff, but we all have more than
we need so giving to others and teaching our children to give to others is a great
thing. Thanks Dennis and RaeAnn. Job well done. I sure hope you got rested up!!!
Well, while I have been doing this letter, which has taken over an hour, I have
talked to 3 nurses and a doctor. I think I am on my way to a new surgery date. I will
know on Monday, when I visit a doctor at the new IHC Hospital in Salt Lake. I hear it is
a good one. I love you. Wish I could be there on Daddy’s Birthday for cake and ice
cream but maybe by then I will be on my way to being better. I love you all.
Johnson, Cook and Johnson
The Johnson Family (Continued)
Page 10 Close-Knit Family Newsletter
The Dennis Alldredge Family
In February Michael had the flu and ended up with a bad case of bronchitis, he went to the
doctor and as he left he decided to make an appointment for a full physical because he hadn't had
one for a couple of years. (I don't think the bronchitis has anything to do with the cancer.) He had
the physical in April and everything seemed to be okay; he had a fasting blood test the next day be-
cause he had been pre-diabetic at his last blood test. (He's still pre-diabetic.) We never heard any-
thing back about the blood test but figured we would have heard if something was wrong.
At the beginning of July I had a quick doctor's appointment to refill some prescriptions and
asked about Michael's blood test. The doctor said that he couldn't tell me anything because of
medical privacy laws but that he would send a copy home with me in a sealed envelope. He went
out to get a printout for me and came back and said that Michael needed to make an appointment to
see him again. (I don't think he had seen the test until then.)
When I got home I was talking to Dani on the phone and she had me open the test and we
saw that he was still pre-diabetic and that his white blood count was high but April is allergy time
so I just thought that he'd probably had a sinus infection or something back then. Dani's a phleboto-
mist and knows about blood counts so she called the doctor's office from St. George and left a mes-
sage that he needed to get another blood test. Michael stopped by on his way home from work (our
doctor is in Woodinville which is fifteen miles from here) to make an appointment and they wrote
up orders for another blood test. They also told him that his wife had called and said that he needed
one and he told them that it wasn't his wife but his daughter who had called. Michael went in the
next morning and did a fasting blood test on his way to work.
That afternoon we went to Utah for a week for the reunion etc. Two days after we got home
was his appointment - Friday, July 21, 2009. He went in and the doctor had him do another blood
test because the middle blood test was written wrong and was just for blood sugar which seems to
be stable. He discussed the high white count with him and said they needed to see if it had gone
down since April.
Two days later, last Monday evening, Dr. Riegel called Michael and told him that the white
blood count had gone up (from 28 to 34) since April and that Michael needed to see an oncologist/
hematologist and told him to make an appointment at the cancer center in Kirkland. He said there
were several things it could be but leukemia was probable or maybe lupus.
Michael called Cascade Cancer Center the next day and tried to get in to Travis' cancer doc-
tor but she was busy until September so he made an appointment with a Dr. Carlos for last Friday.
We decided not to tell the family until we had something definite to tell them so we spent the week
trying not to think about it but Leukemia was definitely on both of our minds.
Thursday night after Chiana's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese our home teachers came
over at 11 PM and we told Travis and he and Bro. Callahan gave Michael a blessing. Adam was at
a concert with Nikki and Erin so wasn't home.
Friday, July 31 was the appointment. The doctor told us that all indications and tests show
Leukemia - CML. This is the chronic not the acute leukemia so doesn't progress as quickly. He said
there is a chromosome marker that will show that it definitely is CML so they took more blood and
sent it to the University for the chromosome study which should be finished by this Friday, if it is-
n't they will postpone our appointment until it's ready.
The Michael Alldredge Family - Michael’s Story
Page 11 Close-Knit Family Newsletter
The doctor told Michael to keep on working and living normally right now. When they get
the tests back they will start Michael on a pill called Gleevec which is a miracle drug and works in
95% of the cases. He will need to be on this the rest of his life but it has very few side effects and
he will not lose his hair because it doesn't kill the good cells just surpresses an enzyme that forms
the white blood cells. If he doesn't respond to this pill then there will be testing of healthy siblings
and children for a stem cell transplant, which they do instead of bone marrow transplant but it is
similar, they can also harvest his stem cells if he has enough healthy ones and freeze them to use. If
the Gleevec pill works Michael shouldn't even have to quit work right now.
The doctor hadn't heard of Downwinders and the above-ground atomic testing but said that
one of the causes of CML is radiation and it is a cancer found in the Japanese bomb survivors. This
makes me really angry and I won't rant very long except to say that I am really mad at a govern-
ment who thought that we should roll over and not care that they thought that a bunch of "hick
Mormons" would be patrotic enough to sicken/die for their country!!! And $50,000 comes nowhere
near to covering cancer treatment anymore. Michael's pills will cost at least $2000 a month. We
have good insurance and should be able to keep the premiums paid for the next few years.
As far as symptoms Michael has had very few. He has been a lot more tired lately and will
take a nap after work sometimes instead of going outside to work in the yard. He claimed it was
because he'd turned 60 in April. He also seems a little pale (under the Seattle tan.)
We took four of the kids to lunch after the cancer center appointment to tell them. There
were tears, laughter and love. I called Darlene while we were there and she was kind enough to
help tell you. We drove up to Erin's work that night and waited outside for her to get off work and
told her there. She took it well and knew about the Gleevec pill. Erin went home and put it on
Facebook that night. The next morning Michael saw it on there and told me to call my mother be-
fore she found out from someone. Since Erin and I have 3/4 of the same friends on Facebook I de-
cided I would put something there too although we weren't planning on saying much yet.
Michael just came in and he told his bosses today. One of them has a wife with cancer and
he told Michael that our insurance has been great covering her treatment and meds.
This is all we know, it looks like it is definitely leukemia and most likely CML because of
the breakdown of the kind of white cells he has (most are mature - in acute leukemia many of the
white cells are immature) and they will start treatment after the chromosome study confirms it. (In
CML - chronic myelogenous leukemia - the bottom of the 22nd and 9th chromosomes break off
and attach to each other).
There you know more than you probably wanted to. Feel free to pass this on if anyone else
wants details. At this time we feel blessed that this was the prognosis after all of the scary scenar-
ios that we imagined last week.
Thanks so much for your concern and prayers.
Love,
Cindy and Michael
PS. And yes, if you were reading carefully you saw that if the doctor's assistant hadn't overlooked
the blood test in April, Michael would have been diagnosed back then and already be in treatment...
The Michael Alldredge Family (Continued)
Page 12 Close-Knit Family Newsletter
Dear Family,
It was nice to have a break, but I miss getting letters so I guess it is time for all of us
to get writing again! It has been a wild summer here, but it has flown by and is almost
over.
WE had a wonderful trip to Korea. Korea is a beautiful lad full of very nice, but very
busy people. Most of then don't have time for the gospel, but the members that we met
were very happy and giving of their time. They all loved my Jordon, in the church and
out. He was a very good missionary. One of the sister missionaries told us that they called
him the prophet. He talked to all the taxi drivers that drove us about the gospel and had sev-
eral referrals to phone in before we left. The flights were long, but a little shorter because
we flew directly from Salt lake to Tokyo and the over to Busan. On the way home we got
back about an hour early. We called Katie and Cami to tell them we were back and they
hadn't even left home yet. But they still wanted to come. By the time we got through cus-
toms and met up with Kisty and Andrew and Jon, we didn't have to wait very long. But
then Katie drove a little too fast and got a ticket.
We had a wonderful time. There is nothing like touring a country with a missionary
that truly loves that country. I was so worried about the food. David and I had gone to a
Korean restaurant before to check out the food and I pretty much decided I would have to
eat plain rice the whole time. but we had some really good food and some that was very
interesting, but I didn't have any problems. I had prayed so hard that I would be able to eat
it and I know that my prayers were answered. Korean food is very spicy hot, but I was
careful to get the mildest food that I could and I didn't even have to take one tums and had
no acid reflux!
We met many people that we will probably never see again in this life, but I will love
them forever. It was a really good trip.
After we had been home for a week, Cary and John and the kids came for almost 2
weeks. I think we about ran them too death and they were probably glad to get home. The
first day they were here we spent all day doing pictures, with the promise of pizza and root
beer floats after we were done. Then the next day was Jordon's home coming (I know we
don't have those any more, but we still act like we do). It was so nice of all of you that
could be here to share the day.
Then we spent 2 days at the cabin. Cary's family hadn't been there since they move
3 years ago, so I told the kids we were going no matter what. We had a crazy fun time and
stopped at Bear lake on the way home for a few minutes so the kids could swim. Then we
had a day to kind of hang out at home before we went to the reunion. Cary and her family
went to spent the weekend with John's family. I think they kept them busy there also and
some of them got sick there, so that wasn't much fun. They came back over on Monday and
I took them to the airport on Wednesday. We didn't have enough time, there is never
The Thompson Family
Page 13 Close-Knit Family Newsletter
enough time. But we are learning to be grateful for what ever time we are given to be to-
gether. I was able to have all my family together for the first time in almost 4 years and I
consider it a great blessing, a gift from God!
Jordon has been working with David and Jason and Jeremy. He is never sure where
he will end up. After having months of no work, they now have too much, but the are small
jobs and won't last. But again we are thankful what we have.
Cami has also been working. It's a good way for her to get to know her brothers and
for them to know her. And she kind of enjoys it. But she doesn't like anyone she knows to
see her so dirty! Cami will be moving out this week to go to school. She has had a class
this week, but can't move in until Friday so she has had to do a lot of driving. She is ex-
cited and I am excited for her. This is a good time of life.
Jonathan was able to take 2 trips for the school this summer. One was for the school
and one was with his job to explain the research and computer program theat he has writ-
ten. He made a poster and won an award for it. (Not the poster paper posters we used to
make in school, it was very complicated) He has done 3 internet classes this summer and
worked at his job as much as he could. Since he has finished his classes, he has studied for
and taken the test so he can apply for graduate school. There is amother test he will have to
take for physics. He has one more year at USU. Jon also bought a motorcycle and has had
fun riding it around.
Jordon will be going back to BYUI, but their school doesn't start until after Labor
Day so we will still have him for a couple of weeks. It has been so good to have him home
and to have him around. He has a very special spirit. He has tried to obey the advice that
all returned missionaries get from their presidents date. He has been quite worried that he
wasn't following thie advice, but all the girls he knew before he left are married or gone and
Tremonton is a hard place to meet new people. He has been on a couple of dates with a girl
from Jeremy's ward. But he will have lots of opportunities when he gets to school.
Kisty is all finished with school! She completed her MBA and is happy to be done.
I have tried to keep enough milk in the frig and the laundry done and the lawn
mowed with a mower that is broken more than not. And I try to have dinner for everyone
when they get home. That is pretty much my life. Boring I know, But I am grateful for it.
We pray that all of you that are struggling now will be given peace and everything
will be okay. Just know that we are praying for you and we love you. We will help in any-
way that we can. Heavenly Father loves us all and knows what we need, but we have to be
willing to ask for it so don't be afraid to ask. And let other people help because they just
might be the answer that you have prayed for.

Love,
The Thompsons
The Thompson Family (Continued)
Page 14 Close-Knit Family Newsletter
Dear Family,
Not much has changed since the reunion, we are all doing well and staying healthy....no
broken bones or trips to the Emergency room thank goodness. We all enjoyed the reunion and
Dennis and Raeann's. We really appreciate all the thought, preparation and physical work that
went in to making it so fun for all of us. Thank you, Thank you!!!!
I am not ready for school to start. I think the kids are, but I'm not. I have enjoyed the
more relaxed days of summer, even if it does seem like we tried to cram so much in, there was-
n't time to relax. I don't look forward to the scheduling once all the high school activities re-
sume....it is always a nightmare. Last week, when I got my employees notes out of the box to
do the schedule, I had 17 notes asking for time off. It gave me such a headache! It takes hours
to do the schedule, then the minute I post it, they all start making changes! ha.
Risa isn't as thrilled about school starting just because she doesn't look forward to all the
girl drama in her class. But she is excited to be a Senior. It seems like you blink and their Sen-
ior year is over so quick. I don't look forward to that.
Alan and I were able to take a fast trip with Risa to Mesa to go see "Wicked" the weekend
before the reunion. It was so fun staying with Lars and Julianna and having Gayla & Scott &
all their kids there the first day we were there was a blast. We really enjoyed playing with
them. Too bad Russ wasn't with us, he would have loved playing with all the little boys. I
couldn't believe how much Julianna's baby, Ada, looks like Risa when she was that same
age. We went to church with them and Alan was asked if he and Lars were brothers (it's the
hair cut! ha).
We were able to go to the Oquirhh Mtn. temple open house with Kenzie's family the last
weekend in July. It was beautiful and we are looking forward to the dedication. I wish we
could have gone camping once this summer, but there never seems to be enough time. It's a
good thing we have the reunion, or our trailor would never get moved. My parents had a pavil-
lion built at Mineral and we've enjoyed having a few cook outs there.
We've made a few fun trips to Lake Powell. I could go once a week if we had the time
and money. It is either the "best" day, or the "worst"...depending on the wind. We were finally
able to plan a Sat. with a bunch of our Kanab friends and their kids, on the 15th, and we had
only been there an hour when the wind started blowing everything away and dirt was blasting
us. It gets scarry on the water when a storm is blowing in, so we packed up and headed
home. Such alot of work for an hour of fun. Now I think our Lake trips are over for the season
with football starting.
Matt is going to be a Freshman and has been lifting weights all summer with the
team. They started practicing on the 3rd of Aug. and got their pads this week. Their first game
is next week in Mesquite...hope it isn't too hot. Matt is such an obedient kid. He is always
early for practice and does whatever is asked...never with a bad attitude. He has really im-
proved at Junction this summer as well and is growing up alot. I would head off to work and
leave a list of chores for him and Russ and they would always have them done when I got
home. (not as many fights as last summer...at least that I heard about.)
The Alan Alldredge Family
Page 15 Close-Knit Family Newsletter
Russ is excited to be in 6th grade. They have 3 teachers that they rotate to each day, so it is
a good practice for middle school. He hasn't done any serious reading this summer, so I know he
will have to really buckle down once school starts. He has signed up for tackle football and they
have games nearly every Sat. in to Oct. I hope we can fit in a few wood hauling trips too. Russ
had 3 jobs at the beginning of the summer, but the theater guy was kind of demanding at first of
a 11 yr. old, so I had to remind him of Russ' age. Russ is really good with the customers at the
Junction...but I can't work him and Risa on the same shift....WW3 would break out.
Russ turned 12 in July and received the Preisthood on Juldy 26th. It was a neat day. It was
wonderful seeing him pass the sacrament the next week, he loves it!
We've been working on painting fire hydrants for Matt's Eagle. We've spent several
Wednesday night activities doing it, and have painted our whole list of those in town worn out
ones. Now we need to find a bunch more for one more evening of painting, to get enough hours
in. There are a great group of leaders helping out...only 4 Teachers and 3 deacons...but they've
done great.
Andy and Kenzie are looking forward to school starting. Their apt. in Cedar is really cute
and they have several married couple/friends who are living in the same complex. They went to
church one Sunday and there was one of the missionaries from Andy's mission who had gotten
married and moved to Cedar..in his ward. He was excited about that. His job at Pipe Springs
will be over this week and then Cedar will be flooded with college kids again...looking for jobs
in a city that has very few. It is scarry.
Alan is always busy. He has a trip to Wisconsin in Sept. to learn how to help run the Iron
Man decathalon that Washington County is doing next May...he will help with the organiza-
tion. Then in Oct. he goes back to Alabama for another week of training. Unfortunately there is
alot of work and not much site seeing involved. He is doing another "exercise" during Western
Legends here next weekend with all the amateur radio operators, so he has been trying to organ-
ize that. He keeps on doing so much, I am so thankful for all he does for us and the community.
We are hoping for a better Fall, better weather for people to stay traveling. Our summer
was pretty slow. We had a lot of new employees, who probably couldn't have handled a really
busy summer....it has been stressful in that reguards. We are still open and hoping to stay that
way.
Garrett is doing great. He is excited for a big Gladis Knight concert that she and her hus-
band are doing in the Chicago area. They are taking a few investigators to it and the mission is
really gearing up for an bunch of new investigators. He sounds happy and loves the area he is in
in Indiana. They had two baptisms a few weeks ago..a 9 yr. old and 11 yr. old. He said that it
was so exciting to see how excited they were, they soaked up everything they taught them and
the mom was reactivated and happier too.
We are looking forward to the family trip to Trumble on Labor Day. (I'm hoping for
enough employees to work so that we can get out of town.) Hope you are all doing well. Many
of you have such burdens to carry, we pray for you all!!!
Love the Kanab Alldredges
The Alan Alldredge Family (Continued)
Page 16 Close-Knit Family Newsletter
Hello Family,
I thought I would write everyone at one time to make it easier so that way I can give
everyone an update on what is going on here with me and Nathan. I had to go to the hospital
last night because I was having right sided pain again. I knew that I had kidney stones again
but I wanted to make sure that I was right. Nathan and my step dad took me to the hospital at 1
am. They came in got my vital's and started and I.V. so they could do blood work and start
giving me fluids and med's. They wanted to wait and give me the med's till I saw the doctor. I
had two people in front of me before the doctor came in and saw me. At this point Nathan and
I had both been up since about 10 am Sunday morning. So we had been up for a very long
time. The doctor came in and I told him what was going on and how bad the pain was and said
that it did feel like I had kidney stones again. So he wanted to get an x-ray to see how many
they were. But the x-ray didn't show much of anything. The doctor was waiting on the blood
work to see how my white count was. Usually when I have kidney stones I start running a fe-
ver and I get really sick when the pain gets really bad. But none of that happened this time.
Some time after 4 am the nurse came in and gave me something to help relax my kidney's to
help pass the stone. I was also half way done with the first bag of fluid. Than some time
around 5 am the nurse came in and gave me some heavy med's to make the pain go away. So
some time after 5 they sent us home. We called my step dad to come and pick us up so we
could get home. We got home at 6:30 am and Nathan had to be to work at 7:30 am. So he
never got any sleep before he went to work. Nathan was up for over 24 hours. I called work
and let them know I wasn't going to be able to make it in because I was on heavy med's and
needed to sleep. Nathan got home from work at 5:30 PM and went right to bed. I got him up to
make sure that he got something to eat and after he at he went right back to bed. I got up at
about 2 PM yesterday afternoon. But I am starting to feel better. The doctor put me on hy-
drocodone which is just another name for Vicodin. He also has me on ibuprofen in case I get
fevers for anything. I just need a few days of rest to kind of get over all of this and I should be
feeling a heck of a lot better within the next week or so. Well I hope
everyone is going well. Let Michael know that he is in our prayers and we will keep praying
for him every day. Well it's time to go and go to bed and get some sleep. We love and miss
you all so much. We will call soon. Love you all.
Nathan and Brenna Alldredge
Grandkid Pages

Page 17 Newsletter Title
(This is put together from Kyle and Charise’s blog, emails, facebook, etc. : He is begin-
ning law school in Lincoln, Nebraska next week. )
“Well, we finally made it here. We started driving last Saturday morning at about
5 am, and made it to our new place around 11 pm. It was quite an experience with 5 lit-
tle ones in the cars with us (Damon plus Mark and Julie's four kids), but we made it!
We are so so grateful to Mark and Julie and their family for all they did to get us moved
here and into our new place. What amazing family we have, thank you to everyone else
who helped as well! The hardest thing about moving is being away from you all. Just
remember if you are dying for a vacation we are only 12 hours away,...we have all the
corn, beef, and antique stores you could dream of! :)
We are so happy to have such a beautiful place to live. I was very apprehensive
about student housing, but this little townhouse will be fantastic for us! We are in a very
quiet neighborhood, there are magnificent trees and greenery all around, we have a little
play area in the back for Damon, and we are on an end unit (so we only have to share
one side of our house). It really is more than I had ever imagined. What a wonderful
surprise!”
There are 9 couples nearby who graduated from BYU and most of them have 2
year olds, too. One of Kyle’s professors is LDS, also, so they should have a good sup-
port system around them, for which we (the family) are grateful. Kyle just finished
his orientation and is ready to start classes next week. Good luck Kyle!
Grandkid Pages
I am not sure I am excited for school to start, but I guess it will be starting on Monday,
anyway. The next few months will be so busy. I am working on a Master’s degree, and
due to schedule conflicts, had to take 3 classes this semester instead of the usual 2. It
will be a challenge to keep up with the homework and still have time to help mom with
Charlene during the next few months. I did receive a great blessing yesterday, though,
in the form of a student teacher. She was supposed to be in another class, but there was
a problem, so the principal brought her to me. She has already done student teaching in
kindergarten and seems like she will do a great job, which will be a great help to me. I
am very grateful for this blessing. I am also grateful for all of your prayers and support
for my mom, just as I was grateful for all of the support we received last year after Ben’s
accident. I love being part of this great family! We are so lucky to have each other!
Angela