9420651e0ddc--journal-10-2007-11-2010-steven-roper-emails-pictures-letters.txt

2/21/02 Mom called last night to find out you made it home alright. Wow all ready miss you. You are such a survivor. I love you for that. You make things happen are willing to find ways to get things to work. That is your talent to see a situation and find a way to get a solution.

I love alot of your solution. We all learn and make mistakes and you are willing to continue and that is what happiness in all about; I sure enjoy you home again and we honestly love Rock too. He is so apart of the family and I thank the Lord for leting us be apart of both of your lifes. I will always love you but you make it easy for me. Take care and let me know what is up with Rock s job status. Pray about it and we can always work things out. Give me a Plan as I always say. Lv alwys Your dad.

3/26/02 Hey Bear; How ya feeling? got a letter from bake last night. Actually mom did. We all got a tape. He sounds to good and wants to convert the world. He has a plan to do that too. I think it will be good to have you guys close. The key to familiy life is to stay close to the Lord. All else will fall into place if that is your first priority. I know it hasn't always been mine but it is now. I so much love the church as more or nor as much as I love my family. I hope and pray that we can always get along and be together forever. You never realize what you have until you might loose it. Charity you make me proud of how you live your life and the love in your heart for the family. It's a great thing to have; Love for family. I know you will love your kids better that we have loved you. Take care and mom is thinking about coming to visit you if Jess doesn't come.

Lv alwys Dad

4/9/02 Yes I got this. What new with you? Mom and Dad had a great time in Utah. He saw your daughters and Mike. Conference was good this year and we need

to be mind ful of the things we need to do to be truly happy. Families can be together forever when all members strive to do what is right. There is no set way that we made it and that is it. We need to contiune to try to do our best in doing what the Lord wants us to do and then we have an opertunity to be able to live with him once more. Time is runing out for some of us and it is never to late but it gets harder to come back as we let the Idea of we will do it later enter our minds. Because later never comes true we only have today. Love you susan and sorry about our phone deal but I call you again. Happy brithday to you and when I see you again I will take you to diner for your brithday I missed. Lv Alwys Steve

9/6/02 Well Susan: We just dropped Angel off at school in Idaho............ I got home and read your email. I was prettie well lost with what you said. Sometimes I think you feel I purposely try to make you feel bad. But that is not my intentions at all. Every body calls this a church and we need to believe in the church but I feel its not just a church but the way it is. If we live it now or we live it in the after life that is the way it is. It is better and easier for us to live it here on earth. Once we have been taught and know it to be true then we need to live it or other wise we it may be alot harder later. So do you think I pride my self in telling you that I love you and want you to return to church? It's not for me that I want you to understand but for your self. If you could see the change in Mitch and how she lives her life and your right I was not a always there for her but I feel that was both of our faults. Nancy has played a terrible game with forgiving one and not the other and it took me some time to just deal with it. Right now I tell Nancy what ever I want to tell her I do not watch what I say any more. Nancy needs to forgive and it is up to her and if you think I am associated with Mitch because she has come back to church. You don't know me very well. My friends and relatives don't have that criteria to be my friend. Susan I pray almost every day to help you understand the gospel more fully. Why do I do that? It's not for me but for you. I have not doubt that Joseph Smith is a prophet so what he said is true. There two kinds Latter Saints in this world. Ones that believe but that don't obey and the ones that believe that do obey. I am still trying to obey. I make mistakes every day and I will not give up until I die with trying to do what is right. I love you and want you to be with us if I make it. I know you love mach and all your kids and if I have hurt you in any way. I am Sorry. Lv alwys Steve Your only brother in this life.

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2/14/03 Sue. I tried calling nance last night but she was is some type of problem that she couldn't talk. f wish we didn't have this problem because it is one more thing nance has to deal with. Charity and Rock went to Utah last night, There flight got delayed a couple of hours. Were leaving for Utah this afternoon. We always think about our selves but I am trying to think about what mom really wants and I feel she doesn't want to feel like bad at the party. So that is why I am going to tell her and she what she says. Nance that is. Lv alwys STeve 2/14/03 Just talk with nancy on the phone. I wrote her a email and told her we would like to cancel the party. She went out of control for awhile but soon came to her senses when I told her I wasn't in charge of the party. We are all in charge and we make the decision. I ask her to talk with you about it. And we can make the decision together. Nance feels that there is no problem with having Mich there and we should not cancel because of one person. She will not invite her but says she will still come even if Mich is there. She will not make a scene but just will not talk to her. Will not make any comments to her or about her. I feel better this is out in the open and if we are going to have a family gathering that all is invited. Period. That is what I feel it should be. Forgive our follow men and women. Maybe not be there friends but forgive them. I really don't know what to do. I can not speak for mom and Dad. That is who we want to please. Would mom want this party with Nance and Mich there? Yes but only if the feeling of hate were not there. Can you tell Nancy that? Is that the way you feel. Some how I felt if Nancy had invited miph that it would be on Mich's side to come or not. Nancy is just not ready for that right now. The question we should have is would mom like the party the way it is? What do you think? Nancy tried calling you a few minutes ago. I told her to take care of this tonight because her work is so stressful. Let me know after you talk with Nancy about having the party or not. We should all agree together whether to have it or not. right? I just want mom to be happy. What will make mom happy? Is the question. Lv alwys Steve.

2/27/03 Sue: Your family is awesome to be with. We had a short little family night that was done well by Tommy. He bore his testimony and you could just feel the potential in that young man. Mich said some words also about the Temple and how her life has changed since she has been to the temple. She sure had a tough road but I think now she is happy to go through it. Her kids were very good to be with, they are very loving to me and I don't know why. I am just there Uncle. I can honestly say I love those kids and worry about them. AS for Terry. Me and-her had a very good talk the first night they came. She told me about her finding peace. I lessened to her and when she was done [ explained that it doesn't stop there. It's not like you found it and the is the end. You have to continue each day in looking for things to do to have love. If she never stops looking for truth in her life and I never stop then we will be able to go back to our Heavenly Father together. Terry has grown allot but needs to have her own ideas and not some one else's. I feel if she continues on her path to find true love that she will find it. I really had a good time with you family. Take care Lv alwys Steve;

Faculty Reflections...................................................................££ B Presentation of Class of 2008.............................................................. EPrincipal _ Acceptance of Class................................................................... Suzie Board ofEducation, SVUSD

"Awarding of Diplomas................................................................... "" Suzie R. Swartz — President Board ofEducation, SVUSD —

Reading of Graduates’Names............... " Closing Remarks/Recessional............................................................ Ep4ri™/ * Audience will please stand ** Please withhold applause until diplomas have been awarded

Colin M. Stark Lauryn Rebecca Stewart

~7—ffV

^M7

nQ Q i i n o a

Jessica Rojas Samuel T. Roper

Bake into College and on the 14th. Maybe if Mich wants we can go to the temple on the 15th or 16th. 1 will ask her.

10/2/02 Dear Sue. I visited mom yesterday and it was a good visit. Dad is really

8/19/03Nanie: I don't know why you got this. My Computer is doing some weird stuff. Just replaced my power supply. Probably going to buy a new one. But right now its on hold. How did you lesson go last week? 1 just love to talk about the gospel. Ryan is doing really good. He saw the Bishop last week and the two Bishop will talk on how to help Ryan. Last night we had Germ Watts who is going on a mission to Taiwan, at the Beach. His family came. It was a good for Ryan. Germ is so prepared to be a good missionary. Ryan said he wanted to be like this guy. I really feel it is good for Ryan to be here. It is not all peaches and cream. I am sorry to say we are not perfect but we try. I am beginning to have a love for Ryan that will last through the eternities. So know that you son is doing well with us. Nancy the Gospel is so true. I pray I might live it principles so I can live with iyiy father once again. We saw Grandma Bovert last Sunday and it took grandma awhile to recognize Ryan and mom said it was not until we left and she looked at pictures did she know who he was. Grandma at times is just like her old self and other times she struggles allot with life. I know there is something else she is suppose to do and I will pray to find out if there is any thing I can do for her. Take care. Lv alwys Steve

1/8/03 Dear Bear: How was your Christmas? Christmas came and we were not ready for it. We did try to get a Christmas spirit by inviting a family down the street to a FHE. We did and they are from Bolivia. I hope we can continue to share the gospel. Well on Christmas day we went to Mexico. Monterrey. Bakes mission. We drove 22 hours from grandma Vickers house in Victorville to McAllen Texas. Slept one night in the states then off to Mexico. We went and saw the movie Twin Towers, Lord of the rings (Sub titles in Spanish) in Reynosa while Bake went and set up some families to see. When the movies was over Bake showed up with a friend. Young girl named orlanda. She went with us to a family named Havier. Bake had baptized this family. Only the mom and kids and the-father got baptized after Bake had left. Strong family and really smart in the gospel. I was impressed with the family and how they knew why so many families fall 0,^ from the gospel with they just join the church. (Retention) They said it was the members

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fault cause they don’t fellowship them. The missionaries do their job and the members don’t. They told me Bake was not the typical missionary and that is why he will do well in the gospel after his mission. So many change their ways after they come home from their mission. The next day we were going to Monterrey, which is three hours away. The travel paperwork and vehicle-permit situation got too confusing to keep driving, so we left the van at the bus station and took the bus to Monterrey. Cindy was worried about the uncertainty, but we got through it. ON the bus Bake met a girt (Young girl that sat by him on the bus) He said he was in her house when he was a missionary and that she told him he looked familiar. Didn’t teach them the gospel but she was interested and gave bake her phone number. We got off the bus to enter the El Centro bus station. It was a zoo. You could tell it was not a safe place. So we left as soon as we can and stayed in a hotel two blocks away. Bake and me got a taxi and went to the mission home. Before we left we ordered a dominos pizza to the fam in the hotek The mission home was in one of the churches. One of the elders help us out a lot. By finding the cheapest car in all of Monterrey. Let me tell you it is not cheap to rent a car in Mexico. You think it would be cheaper but it is twice as much. I freaked out but soon can to my senses and paid the price. The first day we had a flat tire. Tire was rotten and they wanted us to pay for the tire. Unbelievable the way they handle business in Mexico. Not all places were like our car rental place some were honest. 1 told them to take back the car. After some argument they said they would not charge us for the tire. But when we brought the car back they wanted money for the Hubcap. Wouldn’t you thing they were both related. All they wanted was money. Some people are the same no matter what country you are in. I threw down 200 pesos and told them they were dishonest people. Bake said we should get a taxi as soon as possible because we don’t know what they will do. We had other problems with our hotel but they resolved it in an honest matter. So I would tend to think Mexico is not all bad. Only if you rent a car from the cheapest place in Mexico you are bound to have problems. Right. You would think that we didn’t have a good time but that is not true. I had one of the best times of my life. I know things didn’t go as well as they should, but that is the adventure of going to a foreign country. We went sesame street amusement park. We saw one of the most beautiful falls you could of ever seen. When we got there. The falls. I let-Angel, Tima and David. (A 14 year kid bake baptized) ride horses. WE walked, bake, Danielle and me. (An 18-year girl bake baptized} I didn’t know that they took two different trails to get to the falls. I went crazy cause when I got to the falls. My kids were not there and they left before I did. They told me I could find them at the top of the falls. I walked up

there and they were not there. So the only thing I could do is go the beginning and wait. ON my way down 1 saw them and every thing was Okay. They were good guys that guided the horse but some-times you just don’t know. This family that we brought to the falls wanted us to go with them to the mountains. WE stopped and bought T-bone steaks. Cheap. And cooked them in the mountains: It was an awesome time. No English but you can tell the love we had for each other because we had a common bound and that was Jacob. He was such a great missionary and it was nice to be there to find that out for out selves. You never know the influence you have on people until some one else can see it for them selves. Bakes two years were ones that he spent doing the best he cap in serving the Lord. Jacob wants to got back and help more people there in Mexico but now he has-to get on with his life. Lam proud-of that boy for doing so well and taking the gospel seriously. I just loved to be in the place where my boy served two years. Lv Alwys Steve

7/29/02 Hey Elder Phipps. Don't really know if Corey is getting married or has a girl friend. I talk to him allot about work but that subject does not come up. There starting a school to paint today and my friend Cooper will be working with your dad and Corey. Hope he makes it. I think he will. Sounds like your doing good and your still into the missionary stuff. Don't think about the time you come home . only think about what you can do with your time there. What kind of difference can I still make. Don't let the other missionary tease you and be confident with what you want to accomplish. YOU are you and no one else will be you so let no one tell you how you are except you. Life can be good and bad depending how you act with what the Lord gives you. I am impressed with what you have already done with your life but it never ends and we never come to the realization that we have done it. We always strive to obey the commandments of god and never let up. we either are getting better or we are getting worse there is no standing still. I pray and hope that you will stay on that path to reach the good fruit. I am still walking toward that tree also and some times I fall or stop but I need to get up and start again. That is what life is all about. You will find it easy since you are on a mission and when you come home it will change. The real test will begin. So prepare now by doing all you can in teaching the people on your mission. Take care Iv alwys STeve

9/6/02 Elder Phipps: That is awesome that you still baptising. You are Awesome and I am so proud of you. I am so proud to know you and tobe associated with you. I can honestly call you my friend. Which I have to few of. True Friends are hard to come by. I would do any thing for you. Cypress is a good school. I got my AA from that shcool. Actualy it was in science. AFter my mission I went to Cypress. I went to Ricks college in Idaho before my mission and that changed my whole life. My mission changed my whole life also. There is not to many days go by when I don't think of my mission. I make my decision in life on the way my mission was served. I was not a perfect missionary but I cared about the people and that was what really matter. Serving others is what the Lord wants you to learn on your mission. That you true to find your self when you are so busy helping others. Your dad is doing alot better and has alot of work. You need to just continue your life as a missionary all your life. Josh said a mission is not two years but Its your whole life. The two years is a good start on you mission. Well take care lv alwys STeve P.S. Did I send you money for my knife? (I want a traditional knife from your country you are serving

10/2/02 Dear Sue. I visited mom yesterday and it was a good visit. Dad is really going to have a hard time taking his driving test. It's on the 16th of Oct. I read him questions and when he gets them wrong he doesn't understand so he continues to give the same wrong answer. He gets the majority of them right.but there is the two or three he can not seem to change the answer. He understands that he is having problems and really tries hard to understand but knows that it is just not there any more. Rocks mom told uncle john why not? When john said he was not a Mormon? He said he didn't know. It was a good visit with Grandma last Sunday. We had Bake there with Rock. Charity, Jed, Tima, Marsha, cindy and me. Of course Uncle John was already there. We had a prayer before we left. The spirit was there. Grandma didn't do the rosary thing after Jakes prayer. Things are changing with her. When grandma ask Jake she can not understand why the lord has not taken her yet. Jake told her she needs to be baptized. It really interesting that when Jake says things that they are sgid with sincerely and the spirit just radiant. Susan it is a marvelous feeling to have you son back after two years of being gone. Ya he is doing the right thing for those two years but it some times still hard when he is gone. I am grateful for my family and for us to be together once again. Angel is still away and we won't truly be together until the 10th but it will be an _ even greater feeling in our house. Take care. Lv you alwys Steve

10/7/02 Sue: Did you have a chance to lessen to conference? It was prettie much tell it like it is. Get our selves in order by obeying the commandments and if we are not then repent today and start. No more waiting for the blue moon, now is the tune to prepare to meet our heavenly father. If we wait we will not be ready when he comes. Wow what powerful message. He is a true prophet of God. I know it and I need to live by it or die trying. One General Authority said it's not important to know how many kills you have on your system. But it isimportant to know what type of relationship you have with your Heavenly Father. The message was clear that today it the day we do some thing about our selves. Even the Prophet of God said he needed to do better and will try from this day forward to be a better person. Be a little kinder to those he comes in contact with and hopes he can be a better person so we can trust him more. Wow! that is what humbleness is all about. Teach by example. I have been trying to find things I can do so I can help others and in this last conference I have come up with two items. Invite my neighbors to my family home evening and have more meaningful prayer. Lv you susan. Always will love you. STeve Having Jake home is a blessing that can not be replaced.

Ya all done well this morning? Hope so. Have you written to Elder Kendall yet? He needs words from you. Another white guy for a comp. Wow you have to feel lucky. Bake told me that he never had a white guy. That every one his comps were locos and did not speak much English. He says he like the Spanish language better that English. He speaks really good. He has gotten calls and emails from Mexico for his friends. Let me tell you that he loved his mission. When he came off the plane he was looking up to see if he could go back. He loves us so much that he was pulled in two directions. I know it was hard for him because it was hard for me. I didn't not want to leave my mission but you have to and the blessing in store for him his so much greater than what he just went through. The mission is the best right now in his life. He make his mission be with him for ever. I told him that a mission is not two years but your whole life. That those two years is a jump start on the start of your whole life. It was a blessing to see my son after two years and I am so proud of him and I just knew he serve his heart out. I ask him if he was the best. He said no. But I tried to be the best and that is what really matters. When President Hunter released him. He just sat there and cried. I did too because he knew it was done. We cried together. I told him to that we loved him and we be there for him to help him get back into the world. You never know it but it is easy to live the standard of the church when your on your mission. It seems it would be the opposite but its not. you have no rules, no comps and no schedule, just on your own. The things you learn have to be put into practice and tested. Some day Elder Lassek you will be tested. Take care lv alwys STeve A true and eternal friend. I am sending you a take with bakes voice. Been working on it for a month or so.

Hey Elder Tate: Some time we never loose our name but you may feel more comfortable to be called Brian. We kind of playing email tag and I sent you two emails before I got one from you. So let me answer your question. Yes that was Denise Dung. Blossom told me that she join the church and is going to church. So I thought you may just want to know. Blossom took Erick’s death kind of hard at first but it was because of the Gospel that she got through it. When she first heard about his death she was crying for days and some one told her at church. If she believes in the Plan of Salvation and Blossom said she did. IF you would truly believe in the Plan of Salvation you would not be so sad. So Blossom kept telling her self I believe in the plan of Salvation. After saying it a ton of times she was still sad but she knew she would see him again. It helped her get through it. Billy installs electronic equipment in homes. Touch pads with computer hook ups. TV’s and sound systems. I haven’t really talked with Billy since I saw him on Guam. He has always been away on another inland when I would go to Oahu. Just want to tell you Brian that I appreciate who you were on the inland of Guam. At the time I was with Elder Brown and he was such a jerk. I just wanted to give it all up until I became Comps with you. You were easy going and I felt we got along super well. Better than any of my other comps. We thought alike we did good work and had fun doing it. The memories I have are still with me today. I always wonder about Jim Cruz, the white boys we baptized, Sad story about Bro. Wallner, Sis Shashedo and so many others. My Mission was one of the greatest times of my life at that time. I have so many experiences that may be better because I love my family but I would not have had those family experiences without my mission. It set the pattern of my life and even though I screwed up so many times it was my mission that got me back on tract, it’s not what we have done but what we are doing now that makes us who we are and I learn that on my mission. I always thought there would be time where you would just make it. I would see others in the Gospel and felt they never had any problems. That they have worked so hard in gaining perfection in them selves that they didn’t get tempted and they were beyond all that. That is not the way it is. It’s always trying and never giving up. It’s the person that picks himself up that makes it to the finish line is what enduring to the end is all about. In my life there have been special people in my life that have helped me pick my self up and you are one of them. So it gives me great honor to say thank you for doing that for me. Take Care Lv alwys Steve

Hola Jared. Just got a tape from Nathan Anderson and he loves his mission and he doing alright. He is a good guy. Have you heard any thing more about Nate Warner? I heard he went on this trip with Cliff to Mexico. Steve Jarme told me it was not a real good trip for Surfing but they had 8 days of good surfing. What ever that means. But they had a good time. Wish Cliff would get active again. Did you know Cliff Of course every one knows Cliff. He was my home teacher and ya know he came every month when he was active. I worry about him and his family. Some people just never get it. What life is all about. It seems you are starting to get it. Life is not for us to just trash it but to help others succeed where we can not. Is it all set in stone and we know exactly what we are to do? No we play it by ear and obey the commandments in the process. I feel we should never give "uplrying. Some times we feel depressed and all is lost but that is not the way the Lord wants us to feel. WE need to just get our butt up and do some good even if we don't want to. That's when it is the most good. Last week I have had some great highs and some real lows but I thank God for those highs for it lets me get through the lows. No matter how low they are. Life does not stay the same. It's either good or bad. We have the opportunity to dictate how we feel no matter if it is a low or a high. Even if we feel like crap we need to get a hold of our selves and take our feet and kick our selves in the butt to get going. Don't ever stay depressed. Get over it quickly and move on to some thing that is worth while. Like loving some one that is less fortunate than us. Take a drive to scum city and know they have it worse than you. I don't really mean to physically go there. But close your eyes and think about a person that you have met that is worse off than you and then you don't feel so bad and your problems don't seem that great. I think about some people that starve because they have no money to buy food. I am not that low so stop feeling sorry for your self and do some good in this world. I like to set goals for my self and see if I can do them. Why am I telling you this Jared. I just don't know but that I am getting some things off my mind and you are here to lessen. Thank you for emailing back. I know you care and that is a talent. Some thing you were bom with. Love, Respect and Caring are all talents. Some have it and some don't. You can not force some one to Care, to love or even respect some one. That all comes by earning your right to care by the way you deal with others. Take care dude. Lv alwys Steve______________ __ ________

Happy Easter: Nancy and kids. I hope your understanding of Christ is better today. It's funny how I learn about our Savior this past week then I have in a long time. We drove to Las Vegas on Saturday because Grandma wanted to go to a friends 80th birthday party. Legrande Johsnson. Remember he was at Mom's 50th. It was done well but copied a few things we did. They had Hawaiian Hay stack for food. It's like bowls of all kinds of food like ham, rice, noodles, cherries and this chicken soup to poor on top. It was really good.. Rod was the M.C. and told some jokes. He ask me to say a few words. Wow. that was a surprise. I told him how respectable Lee was and how he has dealt with situations with a calmness about him that I tried to do with my kids. We were there on Sunday so we tried to go to church. But got lost. It started at 11am and we were still looking at 11:45am for the chapel. We didn't give up and we finally got there at but it was the Spanish branch. We all went in and sat and lessen to the Spanish speakers and then waited for the one o'clock to partake of the sacrament. It felt good to go to church. They talked about the temple and Cindy leaned over to me and said. Were going to the temple on Friday. Ya know we missed last month. I felt she understood the speakers. She said she didn't understand all the words but understood the spirit that it was given. Yes mom and dad went into the meeting with us. They said they didn't understand a word but felt the spirit. Could it be to go into a meeting with a different language and go away feed by the spirit? Yes that is what happen to us. I understood about 60 percent. They talk fast so by the time I understand some thing they are on to another topic so I loose some meaning. I enjoyed it very much. Came back home and went to work. Took off at 1 pm on Wednesday to go to the Temple pageant in Mesa Arizona. It is a Play put on the temple grounds of the Mesa Temple. They have been doing this ever since it was built. Twenty years ago I think. They have 400 people in there play. They did scenes from Christ era. It was done well and I learned allot about Christ in the process. I have been praying for enlightment when I go and do church stuff. And you would not believe some of the things I have been able to understand. I don't want to sound like a Fanatic but the church is true-er today they it was Yesterday. Because I learn more about it. Then on Friday we went to the Temple. What a week before Easter. It was very fulfilling and have gained a greater knowledge of my Savior and the love he has for me. It is good to feel good about your self and to know you are his son and my elder brother has done so much for me. I am grateful to know the things I know and have such a great family as I have. I thank my heavenly father for allowing me to be apart of your family and all of my family. Take care Nance

2/21/02 Mom called last night to find out you made it home alright. Wow all ready miss you. You are such a survivor. I love you for that. You make things happen are willing to find ways to get things to work. That is your talent to see a situation and find a way to get a solution.

I love alot of your solution. We all learn and make mistakes and you are willing to continue and that is what happiness in all about; I sure enjoy you home again and we honestly love Rock too. He is so apart of the family and I thank the Lord for leting us be apart of both of your lifes. I will always love you but you make it easy for me. Take care and let me know what is up with Rock s job status. Pray about it and we can always work things out. Give me a Plan as I always say. Lv alwys Your dad.

3/26/02 Hey Bear; How ya feeling? got a letter from bake last night. Actually mom did. We all got a tape. He sounds to good and wants to convert the world. He has a plan to do that too. I think it will be good to have you guys close. The key to familiy life is to stay close to the Lord. All else will fall into place if that is your first priority. I know it hasn't always been mine but it is now. I so much love the church as more or nor as much as I love my family. I hope and pray that we can always get along and be together forever. You never realize what you have until you might loose it. Charity you make me proud of how you live your life and the love in your heart for the family. It's a great thing to have; Love for family. I know you will love your kids better that we have loved you. Take care and mom is thinking about coming to visit you if Jess doesn't come.

Lv alwys Dad

4/9/02 Yes I got this. What new with you? Mom and Dad had a great time in Utah. He saw your daughters and Mike. Conference was good this year and we need

to be mind ful of the things we need to do to be truly happy. Families can be together forever when all members strive to do what is right. There is no set way that we made it and that is it. We need to contiune to try to do our best in doing what the Lord wants us to do and then we have an opertunity to be able to live with him once more. Time is runing out for some of us and it is never to late but it gets harder to come back as we let the Idea of we will do it later enter our minds. Because later never comes true we only have today. Love you susan and sorry about our phone deal but I call you again. Happy brithday to you and when I see you again I will take you to diner for your brithday I missed. Lv Alwys Steve

9/6/02 Well Susan: We just dropped Angel off at school in Idaho............ I got home and read your email. I was prettie well lost with what you said. Sometimes I think you feel I purposely try to make you feel bad. But that is not my intentions at all. Every body calls this a church and we need to believe in the church but I feel its not just a church but the way it is. If we live it now or we live it in the after life that is the way it is. It is better and easier for us to live it here on earth. Once we have been taught and know it to be true then we need to live it or other wise we it may be alot harder later. So do you think I pride my self in telling you that I love you and want you to return to church? It's not for me that I want you to understand but for your self. If you could see the change in Mitch and how she lives her life and your right I was not a always there for her but I feel that was both of our faults. Nancy has played a terrible game with forgiving one and not the other and it took me some time to just deal with it. Right now I tell Nancy what ever I want to tell her I do not watch what I say any more. Nancy needs to forgive and it is up to her and if you think I am associated with Mitch because she has come back to church. You don't know me very well. My friends and relatives don't have that criteria to be my friend. Susan I pray almost every day to help you understand the gospel more fully. Why do I do that? It's not for me but for you. I have not doubt that Joseph Smith is a prophet so what he said is true. There two kinds Latter Saints in this world. Ones that believe but that don't obey and the ones that believe that do obey. I am still trying to obey. I make mistakes every day and I will not give up until I die with trying to do what is right. I love you and want you to be with us if I make it. I know you love mach and all your kids and if I have hurt you in any way. I am Sorry. Lv alwys Steve Your only brother in this life.

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2/14/03 Sue. I tried calling nance last night but she was is some type of problem that she couldn't talk. f wish we didn't have this problem because it is one more thing nance has to deal with. Charity and Rock went to Utah last night, There flight got delayed a couple of hours. Were leaving for Utah this afternoon. We always think about our selves but I am trying to think about what mom really wants and I feel she doesn't want to feel like bad at the party. So that is why I am going to tell her and she what she says. Nance that is. Lv alwys STeve 2/14/03 Just talk with nancy on the phone. I wrote her a email and told her we would like to cancel the party. She went out of control for awhile but soon came to her senses when I told her I wasn't in charge of the party. We are all in charge and we make the decision. I ask her to talk with you about it. And we can make the decision together. Nance feels that there is no problem with having Mich there and we should not cancel because of one person. She will not invite her but says she will still come even if Mich is there. She will not make a scene but just will not talk to her. Will not make any comments to her or about her. I feel better this is out in the open and if we are going to have a family gathering that all is invited. Period. That is what I feel it should be. Forgive our follow men and women. Maybe not be there friends but forgive them. I really don't know what to do. I can not speak for mom and Dad. That is who we want to please. Would mom want this party with Nance and Mich there? Yes but only if the feeling of hate were not there. Can you tell Nancy that? Is that the way you feel. Some how I felt if Nancy had invited miph that it would be on Mich's side to come or not. Nancy is just not ready for that right now. The question we should have is would mom like the party the way it is? What do you think? Nancy tried calling you a few minutes ago. I told her to take care of this tonight because her work is so stressful. Let me know after you talk with Nancy about having the party or not. We should all agree together whether to have it or not. right? I just want mom to be happy. What will make mom happy? Is the question. Lv alwys Steve.

2/27/03 Sue: Your family is awesome to be with. We had a short little family night that was done well by Tommy. He bore his testimony and you could just feel the potential in that young man. Mich said some words also about the Temple and how her life has changed since she has been to the temple. She sure had a tough road but I think now she is happy to go through it. Her kids were very good to be with, they are very loving to me and I don't know why. I am just there Uncle. I can honestly say I love those kids and worry about them. AS for Terry. Me and-her had a very good talk the first night they came. She told me about her finding peace. I lessened to her and when she was done [ explained that it doesn't stop there. It's not like you found it and the is the end. You have to continue each day in looking for things to do to have love. If she never stops looking for truth in her life and I never stop then we will be able to go back to our Heavenly Father together. Terry has grown allot but needs to have her own ideas and not some one else's. I feel if she continues on her path to find true love that she will find it. I really had a good time with you family. Take care Lv alwys Steve;

Faculty Reflections...................................................................££ B Presentation of Class of 2008.............................................................. EPrincipal _ Acceptance of Class................................................................... Suzie Board ofEducation, SVUSD

"Awarding of Diplomas................................................................... "" Suzie R. Swartz — President Board ofEducation, SVUSD —

Reading of Graduates’Names............... " Closing Remarks/Recessional............................................................ Ep4ri™/ * Audience will please stand ** Please withhold applause until diplomas have been awarded

Colin M. Stark Lauryn Rebecca Stewart

~7—ffV

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Jessica Rojas Samuel T. Roper

Bake into College and on the 14th. Maybe if Mich wants we can go to the temple on the 15th or 16th. 1 will ask her.

10/2/02 Dear Sue. I visited mom yesterday and it was a good visit. Dad is really

8/19/03Nanie: I don't know why you got this. My Computer is doing some weird stuff. Just replaced my power supply. Probably going to buy a new one. But right now its on hold. How did you lesson go last week? 1 just love to talk about the gospel. Ryan is doing really good. He saw the Bishop last week and the two Bishop will talk on how to help Ryan. Last night we had Germ Watts who is going on a mission to Taiwan, at the Beach. His family came. It was a good for Ryan. Germ is so prepared to be a good missionary. Ryan said he wanted to be like this guy. I really feel it is good for Ryan to be here. It is not all peaches and cream. I am sorry to say we are not perfect but we try. I am beginning to have a love for Ryan that will last through the eternities. So know that you son is doing well with us. Nancy the Gospel is so true. I pray I might live it principles so I can live with iyiy father once again. We saw Grandma Bovert last Sunday and it took grandma awhile to recognize Ryan and mom said it was not until we left and she looked at pictures did she know who he was. Grandma at times is just like her old self and other times she struggles allot with life. I know there is something else she is suppose to do and I will pray to find out if there is any thing I can do for her. Take care. Lv alwys Steve

1/8/03 Dear Bear: How was your Christmas? Christmas came and we were not ready for it. We did try to get a Christmas spirit by inviting a family down the street to a FHE. We did and they are from Bolivia. I hope we can continue to share the gospel. Well on Christmas day we went to Mexico. Monterrey. Bakes mission. We drove 22 hours from grandma Vickers house in Victorville to McAllen Texas. Slept one night in the states then off to Mexico. We went and saw the movie Twin Towers, Lord of the rings (Sub titles in Spanish) in Reynosa while Bake went and set up some families to see. When the movies was over Bake showed up with a friend. Young girl named orlanda. She went with us to a family named Havier. Bake had baptized this family. Only the mom and kids and the-father got baptized after Bake had left. Strong family and really smart in the gospel. I was impressed with the family and how they knew why so many families fall 0,^ from the gospel with they just join the church. (Retention) They said it was the members

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fault cause they don’t fellowship them. The missionaries do their job and the members don’t. They told me Bake was not the typical missionary and that is why he will do well in the gospel after his mission. So many change their ways after they come home from their mission. The next day we were going to Monterrey, which is three hours away. The travel paperwork and vehicle-permit situation got too confusing to keep driving, so we left the van at the bus station and took the bus to Monterrey. Cindy was worried about the uncertainty, but we got through it. ON the bus Bake met a girt (Young girl that sat by him on the bus) He said he was in her house when he was a missionary and that she told him he looked familiar. Didn’t teach them the gospel but she was interested and gave bake her phone number. We got off the bus to enter the El Centro bus station. It was a zoo. You could tell it was not a safe place. So we left as soon as we can and stayed in a hotel two blocks away. Bake and me got a taxi and went to the mission home. Before we left we ordered a dominos pizza to the fam in the hotek The mission home was in one of the churches. One of the elders help us out a lot. By finding the cheapest car in all of Monterrey. Let me tell you it is not cheap to rent a car in Mexico. You think it would be cheaper but it is twice as much. I freaked out but soon can to my senses and paid the price. The first day we had a flat tire. Tire was rotten and they wanted us to pay for the tire. Unbelievable the way they handle business in Mexico. Not all places were like our car rental place some were honest. 1 told them to take back the car. After some argument they said they would not charge us for the tire. But when we brought the car back they wanted money for the Hubcap. Wouldn’t you thing they were both related. All they wanted was money. Some people are the same no matter what country you are in. I threw down 200 pesos and told them they were dishonest people. Bake said we should get a taxi as soon as possible because we don’t know what they will do. We had other problems with our hotel but they resolved it in an honest matter. So I would tend to think Mexico is not all bad. Only if you rent a car from the cheapest place in Mexico you are bound to have problems. Right. You would think that we didn’t have a good time but that is not true. I had one of the best times of my life. I know things didn’t go as well as they should, but that is the adventure of going to a foreign country. We went sesame street amusement park. We saw one of the most beautiful falls you could of ever seen. When we got there. The falls. I let-Angel, Tima and David. (A 14 year kid bake baptized) ride horses. WE walked, bake, Danielle and me. (An 18-year girl bake baptized} I didn’t know that they took two different trails to get to the falls. I went crazy cause when I got to the falls. My kids were not there and they left before I did. They told me I could find them at the top of the falls. I walked up

there and they were not there. So the only thing I could do is go the beginning and wait. ON my way down 1 saw them and every thing was Okay. They were good guys that guided the horse but some-times you just don’t know. This family that we brought to the falls wanted us to go with them to the mountains. WE stopped and bought T-bone steaks. Cheap. And cooked them in the mountains: It was an awesome time. No English but you can tell the love we had for each other because we had a common bound and that was Jacob. He was such a great missionary and it was nice to be there to find that out for out selves. You never know the influence you have on people until some one else can see it for them selves. Bakes two years were ones that he spent doing the best he cap in serving the Lord. Jacob wants to got back and help more people there in Mexico but now he has-to get on with his life. Lam proud-of that boy for doing so well and taking the gospel seriously. I just loved to be in the place where my boy served two years. Lv Alwys Steve

7/29/02 Hey Elder Phipps. Don't really know if Corey is getting married or has a girl friend. I talk to him allot about work but that subject does not come up. There starting a school to paint today and my friend Cooper will be working with your dad and Corey. Hope he makes it. I think he will. Sounds like your doing good and your still into the missionary stuff. Don't think about the time you come home . only think about what you can do with your time there. What kind of difference can I still make. Don't let the other missionary tease you and be confident with what you want to accomplish. YOU are you and no one else will be you so let no one tell you how you are except you. Life can be good and bad depending how you act with what the Lord gives you. I am impressed with what you have already done with your life but it never ends and we never come to the realization that we have done it. We always strive to obey the commandments of god and never let up. we either are getting better or we are getting worse there is no standing still. I pray and hope that you will stay on that path to reach the good fruit. I am still walking toward that tree also and some times I fall or stop but I need to get up and start again. That is what life is all about. You will find it easy since you are on a mission and when you come home it will change. The real test will begin. So prepare now by doing all you can in teaching the people on your mission. Take care Iv alwys STeve

9/6/02 Elder Phipps: That is awesome that you still baptising. You are Awesome and I am so proud of you. I am so proud to know you and tobe associated with you. I can honestly call you my friend. Which I have to few of. True Friends are hard to come by. I would do any thing for you. Cypress is a good school. I got my AA from that shcool. Actualy it was in science. AFter my mission I went to Cypress. I went to Ricks college in Idaho before my mission and that changed my whole life. My mission changed my whole life also. There is not to many days go by when I don't think of my mission. I make my decision in life on the way my mission was served. I was not a perfect missionary but I cared about the people and that was what really matter. Serving others is what the Lord wants you to learn on your mission. That you true to find your self when you are so busy helping others. Your dad is doing alot better and has alot of work. You need to just continue your life as a missionary all your life. Josh said a mission is not two years but Its your whole life. The two years is a good start on you mission. Well take care lv alwys STeve P.S. Did I send you money for my knife? (I want a traditional knife from your country you are serving

10/2/02 Dear Sue. I visited mom yesterday and it was a good visit. Dad is really going to have a hard time taking his driving test. It's on the 16th of Oct. I read him questions and when he gets them wrong he doesn't understand so he continues to give the same wrong answer. He gets the majority of them right.but there is the two or three he can not seem to change the answer. He understands that he is having problems and really tries hard to understand but knows that it is just not there any more. Rocks mom told uncle john why not? When john said he was not a Mormon? He said he didn't know. It was a good visit with Grandma last Sunday. We had Bake there with Rock. Charity, Jed, Tima, Marsha, cindy and me. Of course Uncle John was already there. We had a prayer before we left. The spirit was there. Grandma didn't do the rosary thing after Jakes prayer. Things are changing with her. When grandma ask Jake she can not understand why the lord has not taken her yet. Jake told her she needs to be baptized. It really interesting that when Jake says things that they are sgid with sincerely and the spirit just radiant. Susan it is a marvelous feeling to have you son back after two years of being gone. Ya he is doing the right thing for those two years but it some times still hard when he is gone. I am grateful for my family and for us to be together once again. Angel is still away and we won't truly be together until the 10th but it will be an _ even greater feeling in our house. Take care. Lv you alwys Steve

10/7/02 Sue: Did you have a chance to lessen to conference? It was prettie much tell it like it is. Get our selves in order by obeying the commandments and if we are not then repent today and start. No more waiting for the blue moon, now is the tune to prepare to meet our heavenly father. If we wait we will not be ready when he comes. Wow what powerful message. He is a true prophet of God. I know it and I need to live by it or die trying. One General Authority said it's not important to know how many kills you have on your system. But it isimportant to know what type of relationship you have with your Heavenly Father. The message was clear that today it the day we do some thing about our selves. Even the Prophet of God said he needed to do better and will try from this day forward to be a better person. Be a little kinder to those he comes in contact with and hopes he can be a better person so we can trust him more. Wow! that is what humbleness is all about. Teach by example. I have been trying to find things I can do so I can help others and in this last conference I have come up with two items. Invite my neighbors to my family home evening and have more meaningful prayer. Lv you susan. Always will love you. STeve Having Jake home is a blessing that can not be replaced.

Ya all done well this morning? Hope so. Have you written to Elder Kendall yet? He needs words from you. Another white guy for a comp. Wow you have to feel lucky. Bake told me that he never had a white guy. That every one his comps were locos and did not speak much English. He says he like the Spanish language better that English. He speaks really good. He has gotten calls and emails from Mexico for his friends. Let me tell you that he loved his mission. When he came off the plane he was looking up to see if he could go back. He loves us so much that he was pulled in two directions. I know it was hard for him because it was hard for me. I didn't not want to leave my mission but you have to and the blessing in store for him his so much greater than what he just went through. The mission is the best right now in his life. He make his mission be with him for ever. I told him that a mission is not two years but your whole life. That those two years is a jump start on the start of your whole life. It was a blessing to see my son after two years and I am so proud of him and I just knew he serve his heart out. I ask him if he was the best. He said no. But I tried to be the best and that is what really matters. When President Hunter released him. He just sat there and cried. I did too because he knew it was done. We cried together. I told him to that we loved him and we be there for him to help him get back into the world. You never know it but it is easy to live the standard of the church when your on your mission. It seems it would be the opposite but its not. you have no rules, no comps and no schedule, just on your own. The things you learn have to be put into practice and tested. Some day Elder Lassek you will be tested. Take care lv alwys STeve A true and eternal friend. I am sending you a take with bakes voice. Been working on it for a month or so.

Hey Elder Tate: Some time we never loose our name but you may feel more comfortable to be called Brian. We kind of playing email tag and I sent you two emails before I got one from you. So let me answer your question. Yes that was Denise Dung. Blossom told me that she join the church and is going to church. So I thought you may just want to know. Blossom took Erick’s death kind of hard at first but it was because of the Gospel that she got through it. When she first heard about his death she was crying for days and some one told her at church. If she believes in the Plan of Salvation and Blossom said she did. IF you would truly believe in the Plan of Salvation you would not be so sad. So Blossom kept telling her self I believe in the plan of Salvation. After saying it a ton of times she was still sad but she knew she would see him again. It helped her get through it. Billy installs electronic equipment in homes. Touch pads with computer hook ups. TV’s and sound systems. I haven’t really talked with Billy since I saw him on Guam. He has always been away on another inland when I would go to Oahu. Just want to tell you Brian that I appreciate who you were on the inland of Guam. At the time I was with Elder Brown and he was such a jerk. I just wanted to give it all up until I became Comps with you. You were easy going and I felt we got along super well. Better than any of my other comps. We thought alike we did good work and had fun doing it. The memories I have are still with me today. I always wonder about Jim Cruz, the white boys we baptized, Sad story about Bro. Wallner, Sis Shashedo and so many others. My Mission was one of the greatest times of my life at that time. I have so many experiences that may be better because I love my family but I would not have had those family experiences without my mission. It set the pattern of my life and even though I screwed up so many times it was my mission that got me back on tract, it’s not what we have done but what we are doing now that makes us who we are and I learn that on my mission. I always thought there would be time where you would just make it. I would see others in the Gospel and felt they never had any problems. That they have worked so hard in gaining perfection in them selves that they didn’t get tempted and they were beyond all that. That is not the way it is. It’s always trying and never giving up. It’s the person that picks himself up that makes it to the finish line is what enduring to the end is all about. In my life there have been special people in my life that have helped me pick my self up and you are one of them. So it gives me great honor to say thank you for doing that for me. Take Care Lv alwys Steve

Hola Jared. Just got a tape from Nathan Anderson and he loves his mission and he doing alright. He is a good guy. Have you heard any thing more about Nate Warner? I heard he went on this trip with Cliff to Mexico. Steve Jarme told me it was not a real good trip for Surfing but they had 8 days of good surfing. What ever that means. But they had a good time. Wish Cliff would get active again. Did you know Cliff Of course every one knows Cliff. He was my home teacher and ya know he came every month when he was active. I worry about him and his family. Some people just never get it. What life is all about. It seems you are starting to get it. Life is not for us to just trash it but to help others succeed where we can not. Is it all set in stone and we know exactly what we are to do? No we play it by ear and obey the commandments in the process. I feel we should never give "uplrying. Some times we feel depressed and all is lost but that is not the way the Lord wants us to feel. WE need to just get our butt up and do some good even if we don't want to. That's when it is the most good. Last week I have had some great highs and some real lows but I thank God for those highs for it lets me get through the lows. No matter how low they are. Life does not stay the same. It's either good or bad. We have the opportunity to dictate how we feel no matter if it is a low or a high. Even if we feel like crap we need to get a hold of our selves and take our feet and kick our selves in the butt to get going. Don't ever stay depressed. Get over it quickly and move on to some thing that is worth while. Like loving some one that is less fortunate than us. Take a drive to scum city and know they have it worse than you. I don't really mean to physically go there. But close your eyes and think about a person that you have met that is worse off than you and then you don't feel so bad and your problems don't seem that great. I think about some people that starve because they have no money to buy food. I am not that low so stop feeling sorry for your self and do some good in this world. I like to set goals for my self and see if I can do them. Why am I telling you this Jared. I just don't know but that I am getting some things off my mind and you are here to lessen. Thank you for emailing back. I know you care and that is a talent. Some thing you were bom with. Love, Respect and Caring are all talents. Some have it and some don't. You can not force some one to Care, to love or even respect some one. That all comes by earning your right to care by the way you deal with others. Take care dude. Lv alwys Steve______________ __ ________

Happy Easter: Nancy and kids. I hope your understanding of Christ is better today. It's funny how I learn about our Savior this past week then I have in a long time. We drove to Las Vegas on Saturday because Grandma wanted to go to a friends 80th birthday party. Legrande Johsnson. Remember he was at Mom's 50th. It was done well but copied a few things we did. They had Hawaiian Hay stack for food. It's like bowls of all kinds of food like ham, rice, noodles, cherries and this chicken soup to poor on top. It was really good.. Rod was the M.C. and told some jokes. He ask me to say a few words. Wow. that was a surprise. I told him how respectable Lee was and how he has dealt with situations with a calmness about him that I tried to do with my kids. We were there on Sunday so we tried to go to church. But got lost. It started at 11am and we were still looking at 11:45am for the chapel. We didn't give up and we finally got there at but it was the Spanish branch. We all went in and sat and lessen to the Spanish speakers and then waited for the one o'clock to partake of the sacrament. It felt good to go to church. They talked about the temple and Cindy leaned over to me and said. Were going to the temple on Friday. Ya know we missed last month. I felt she understood the speakers. She said she didn't understand all the words but understood the spirit that it was given. Yes mom and dad went into the meeting with us. They said they didn't understand a word but felt the spirit. Could it be to go into a meeting with a different language and go away feed by the spirit? Yes that is what happen to us. I understood about 60 percent. They talk fast so by the time I understand some thing they are on to another topic so I loose some meaning. I enjoyed it very much. Came back home and went to work. Took off at 1 pm on Wednesday to go to the Temple pageant in Mesa Arizona. It is a Play put on the temple grounds of the Mesa Temple. They have been doing this ever since it was built. Twenty years ago I think. They have 400 people in there play. They did scenes from Christ era. It was done well and I learned allot about Christ in the process. I have been praying for enlightment when I go and do church stuff. And you would not believe some of the things I have been able to understand. I don't want to sound like a Fanatic but the church is true-er today they it was Yesterday. Because I learn more about it. Then on Friday we went to the Temple. What a week before Easter. It was very fulfilling and have gained a greater knowledge of my Savior and the love he has for me. It is good to feel good about your self and to know you are his son and my elder brother has done so much for me. I am grateful to know the things I know and have such a great family as I have. I thank my heavenly father for allowing me to be apart of your family and all of my family. Take care Nance