Momma Gets Her Swing

I’ve wanted a swing on my front porch for years.  We have the perfect spot for it, so for my birthday Ed negotiated with McArthur Welding to create one as a birthday gift.

PDG Bev Christy and her husband Ed invited us to breakfast at Tifiny’s here in St. George.  We met at 10 am and enjoyed a lovely meal together on a gorgeous summer morning, then said goodbye and wished them safe travel to their summer residence in Bend, Oregon.

 

As soon as we came around the corner and into the driveway, I saw my beautiful birthday gift hanging on the front porch. Ed knocked on the front door and our son David and Wesley, Taisley’s husband walked out anxious to show me what they had done to make sure the swing could accommodate up to 1000 pounds.

 

Then Bev and Ed drove up … they had been in on the surprise … and shortly after Kole and Jan’L came over … and Ed escorted us all into the house for cake and ice cream.  It was a lovely surprise and I love my swing.

FAMILY HISTORY: The Sappingtons and Valley Fever

In 2003, our second daughter Stacy was still a few weeks away from Taisley’s March delivery date when in late January she developed what her obstetrician diagnosed as pneumonia.  Her doctor hesitated to start treatment because of his concern for the potential of hurting her unborn child with serious antibiotics, but, the 35-year-old mother continued to get worse and worse until he had no choice.  After two weeks on a powerful drug, chest x-rays showed no sign of improvement and her symptoms - trouble breathing, a persistent fever, night sweats, joint pain and extreme fatigue – continued to sap her strength.   

Soon after, she was checked into the local hospital then life-flighted to Salt Lake City where she delivered a healthy baby girl on March 12, 2002, the same day lab results confirmed a diagnosis of Valley Fever (aka coccidioidomycosis, San Juan Valley fever, desert fever or desert rheumatism).  Her family watched the helicopter fly away, while being told by local doctors they had done everything they knew how to do, but felt they were losing her.

Taisley was born in Salt Lake and the following day Stacy and her newborn returned to St. George where every one of her 5 doctors (1 in Tucson, 2 in Salt Lake and 2 in St. George) were convinced – while they were certain she was dying when they put her on the plane – she had now turned a corner and her immune system would kick into high gear for a full recovery. 

The next day, she began having terrible cramps – to the point she was sweating and crying in agony.  I took the baby and her dad took her to the hospital where - only about 20 minutes after they checked her in - she coded in the emergency room.  Her body had shed all of her potassium and her heart stopped.  Luckily, she was in the well-trained hands of exceptional doctors who were able to start her heart again, but her immune system did not do the same.  From there she spent 2 weeks in ICU being treated with ampitericin followed by another 4 weeks in the hospital.  She lost most of her hair and lots of weight, but was finally able to come home to her family.  Statistically, she is one of 5-10% of Valley Fever patients who will always need to be medicated to keep this life-threatening fungus under control. 

Scroll forward several years.  I had inhaled a grain of rice and had developed a spasmodic cough.  It wasn’t serious … just irritating, so I made an appointment to see Dr. Hoffman, a respiratory therapist at (then) Dixie Regional Medical Center.  She assured me my body would absorb the rice and the cough would go away on its own but, made a follow-up appointment for me for a couple of weeks later.  Still coughing – and because I have a history of tuberculosis contracted as a child from my Uncle Millard and my little cousin Dudley who both died from TB - she decided I needed a lung biopsy (which hurt a whole lot, by the way). 

A week later, I returned for the results.  Almost apologetically, she told me she had made a diagnosis, but I probably wouldn’t know what it was.  “You have scaring on your lungs from Valley Fever.”  I started to laugh.  She wanted me to know Valley Fever can be life-threatening and was certainly not funny.  When I gained my composure, I asked … “do you know who I am?”  She looked at my chart and responded, “well, yes … you’re Linda Sappington.” 

“Yes, but I’m also Stacy Foote’s mother,” I told her.  

I think I know when I had Valley Fever.  I went to work as usual at the Volunteer Center of Washington County, but before noon I was too sick to stay at the office.  I missed almost a week of work, unable to get out of bed, then awoke one day, once again feeling fine.  Apparently, Stacy’s mom is among the 90-95% who get VF and get over it without longterm effects. 

According to the Valley Fever Center for Excellence in Tucson, AZ, about 100,000 new patients are diagnosed every year in the United States, most often in the desert region of the United States, from the west coast of California to the eastern border of Texas (those who live outside of these desert areas can usually trace their diagnosis back to a desert vacation). The fungus coccidioides immitis, grows in the soil, primarily in areas of low rainfall, high summer temperatures and moderate winter temperatures.  It can be found in the hot, desert regions of Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, parts of Texas and in our own southern Utah, where St. George is the nation’s most northern community for the fungus. These fungal spores become airborne when the desert soil is disturbed by winds, construction, farming – even high energy outdoor recreational activities. In susceptible people – including women in their third trimester of pregnancy – as well as in animals, infection occurs when a spore in inhaled.  Once in the lung, the spore changes into a larger, multicellular structure called a spherule.  The spherule grows and bursts, releasing endospores which develop into more spherules (think “dandelions”). 

The most common symptoms of Valley Fever are fatigue, cough, chest pain, fever, rash, headache and joint aches, in any combination, and which generally begin to develop within three weeks of exposure.  Valley Fever is not contagious, and, in most cases, can be successfully treated.  Many who get it don’t even know it … or need no treatment; but, approximately 5-10% of patients have serious side effects – and for a very small number of patients, it is fatal.  Risk factors which could make a patient susceptible to serious complications include a compromised immune system, diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, age, ethnicity and occupation, such as farmers, construction workers, and archeologists in the 25-55 age group. 

Those who work or play outside in our hot summer months should be aware of the symptoms of Valley Fever – including those who vacation in our area, then return home and find themselves feeling poorly. According to the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, the organization responsible for tracking diseases in the five-county area, Valley Fever is the diagnosis for about 50 residents in the five county area every year.

I don't want to scare anyone, but summertime in Southern Utah is prime Valley Fever season, so consider yourself warned.

FAMILY HISTORY: Gloria

When we lived in Thousand Oaks, CA, I was assigned as Gloria’s visiting teacher. 

This beautiful woman, a few years older than I was well-to-do, had beautiful clothes, an impressive house, a fancy car and a handsome husband.  As a young wife and mother, I was intimidated since at that time, I had four children growing up in our new, but small, starter home a few blocks away … and I wanted to be her when I grew up.

Gloria always seemed happy to hear from me when I called to make an appointment to stop by her home … and she never said NO to my request to visit, even though she and her husband were not active in the church.

However, when the time came to ring her doorbell, she would open the door – but only about 1” – and she always said the same thing.  “I’m so sorry, but this is just not a good time, but please come back.”

Month after month for more than two years, we went through the same scenario.  I called, she said YES.  I rang her doorbell, she said NO!

Then there was the day when I had an appointment to visit Gloria at 2 pm.  I was sure I knew how it would go, but I was called to serve her so at 1:59 pm, I stepped onto her porch and rang the doorbell. 

But, this visit was entirely different.  I heard the garage door go up and her handsome husband sped out in his shiny, expensive car.  At about the same time, the front door opened WIDE.  There stood Gloria in only panties and bra … and covered in blood.  As she fell into my arms, she said through her tears, “I prayed you would come and I prayed you would be on time.  I knew today he was going to kill me.”

Turns out, despite her wealthy life style, she had been a seriously battered wife for most of the years she had been married and is often the case, the abuse was escalating.

This experience still makes me tear up but I learned three important lessons.  I learned to always be on time. I learned you never know what’s going on behind someone’s front door and, I learned just because someone appears to have everything doesn't mean they do!!!!

PS:  The rest of the story ... he was arrested.  She filed for divorce and moved to Hurricane, UT - his hometown.  He had one of those Southern Utah names everyone knew.  Gloria returned to church and was eventually called as her ward's Relief Society president. 

Sustained and released in the same meeting

On the beautiful Sabbath Day of June 13, 2021 something occurred which has never happened before – at least not to me – in my years as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A little background for those who may not know how callings, sustainings and releases work in the LDS Church.  To be called to a position involves a meeting with the bishop who asks a member to accept an assignment (aka calling) to serve in the ward (or stake).  A sustaining (aka Law of Common Consent which means a majority must approve) takes place in our Sunday Sacrament meeting when the name of the member and the calling to which s/he is willing to serve is announced to the congregation.  Then the leader at the pulpit asks for a show of hands in favor of this calling … or a similar sign in opposition.  

 

So today, the 2^nd Counselor in the Bishopric stood and read the names of those accepting new assignments … including Ed and Linda Sappington as building cleaning coordinators.  (Not that it matters, but in the Church, we take care of cleaning the building every Saturday morning in each assigned quarter of the year.  Since our ward is one of 3 in our building our turn comes around every three months).  

 

I have to admit I was shocked when I heard our names called.  I leaned over and asked Ed if he had met with the Bishop and had agreed to this calling, but had failed to tell me (something which has happened more than a few times in our married life).  He assured me he hadn’t.  I leaned over to the lady sitting on my other side and asked if I had heard correctly … “Ed and Linda Sappington … right?”  She assured me, she had heard the same thing.

 

Now to releases.  After a period of service, the member is released, usually after being called to another assignment.  Sometimes it’s many years in one calling … sometimes only a few months, but its all part of the process. 

 

At the end of of last Sunday's Sacrament meeting, the 2^nd Counselor stood to close the meeting, but asked with a grin, “has anyone ever received a calling without ever talking to the bishop?” 

 

With that, he asked for a “vote of thanks for the work of Ed and Linda Sappington as our ward building cleaning coordinators” (all 30 minutes of it) then asked for a sustaining vote for David and Jan’L Sappington as our ward building cleaning coordinators.

 

After the meeting was adjourned one of the sisters asked, “why didn’t you raise your hand when he asked for those opposed to our 'new' calling?"  Honestly, I was going to stand up when he first called our name, but I think I was too shocked to do so.

Kaytee, Simeon, Rick, Jessica and Josh say, "I quit!"

Our youngest daughter Kaytee has been working for the past couple of years for an accountant in her small town of Anaconda, MT.  Husband Josh has worked at Montana State Prison for more than ten years but last year he decided to resurrect his family's concrete business part time.  After a short time, it became apparent his part time business was quickly becoming fulltime.  He is very much in demand for his concrete work and needs help, especially with the paperwork portion of his business.  

Kaytee has really liked her job, and has learned a lot, but at the end of May 2021, she worked her last full day for her accountant boss.  Her "new" job will involve riding herd on her three daughters - Adyn, age 12; Skylar, age 9 and Thoryn, age 6 and managing office responsibilities for Northmen Construction.

Simeon has been managing a computer help desk for a couple of years, and while he hasn't been miserable on the job, he doesn't feel he is growing in it, either.  Stephanie, who is one test away from having her CPA certification, works for DOMO in Provo. During the pandemic, both have been able to work virtually and share responsibilities for the care of their baby girl Sydney.  When the pandemic began to subside, Simeon was called back to work in person while Stephanie continued to spend her days working fulltime and caring for a newborn.  

Then someone heard Simeon teach in church and suggested he would make a really great seminary teacher and encouraged him to apply.  As it turns out, there were over 200 applicants for a handful of seminary positions in and around Utah County.  Simeon was one of less than two dozen selected.  

He will spend the summer in training after which he is assigned to teach seminary at Spanish Fork High School where he will have a school teacher's schedule for awhile which will give him time to spend with Stephanie and Sydney.

Our son-in-law and Stacy's husband Rick, has worked for one of his close friends, since he retired from the St. George Fire Department in 2018. 

Eventually he gave notice for his job as a truck driver and accepted employment as a heavy equipment operator with another company.  His boss / friend was sorry to see him go based on his reputation as a skilled, honest and hardworking employee but Rick seems a lot more relaxed, since making this difficult decision, which is a good thing for him and for all who love him.

In early June, Jessica texted she had given notice for her job as activities director at an assisted living center in Provo citing the same reason as Kaytee's ... "my kids need me at home."  

She noted her paycheck is "not much" and she feels they can get along on Michael's income.  What will she do at home?  She is going to more fully commit to her YouTube channel, work on her books and her kids, and help Michael with his company's paperwork. They hope to be building a home one of these days which will add to her new workload ... all in happy ways!

So, it appears we have a job-changing epidemic in the Sappington family.  On June 15, 2021, Kaytee called to say her husband Josh, who has been a lieutenant at Montana State Prison for a decade, has tendered his resignation.  His plan is to make Northmen Construction a household word in his community.  At this time, his skills are very much in demand ... so much so, he has been working 7 days a week.  

At the same time he is experiencing kidney failure and waiting for an organ donor.  His dad is spending several months a year in Montana managing the business to help out and Kaytee will be the face in the front office.

All of these changes - as well as the birth of Selwin and Brianna's baby boy Zion and Kirsten's high school graduation - has occurred in the last couple of weeks.  Busy family, the Sappingtons.

Sel, Brianna and Ayah welcome Zion

Zion Selwin Lovell, firstborn son of Selwin and Brianna Lovell and little brother to 17-month-old Ayah, came into this wild and crazy world on Saturday, May 29, 2021 weighing in at a hefty 9 lbs. 4 oz. His birth was not without incident.  

According to his Grandma Lori, the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, he came out face up, his blood pressure and blood sugar were both down, he was slightly jaundiced … and his birth required the use of forceps.  Not a perfect delivery but certainly a perfect baby.   

So cute and so glad to have him here!

Another graduate in the family

Kirsten, oldest of Michael and Jessica’s four kids, is – as of Thursday, May 27, 2021 – a graduate of American Leadership Academy,  a charter high school in Spanish Fork, UT!  There was a question as to whether she would "walk" to receive her diploma, but in the end, Kirsten put in the hard work necessary to make it happen … and we know the world is waiting for what this beautiful young woman has to offer.  Can’t wait to see where life takes her!

Sel has an MBA

Selwin Anthony Lovell accepted a Master of Business Administration from Southern Utah University on Friday, April 30, 2021.  He was proud to be a member of the largest graduating class of SUU’s Dixie Leavitt School of Business (which has a 92.3% job placement rate).   We knew Dixie and his wife Anne for many years beginning when the Leavitt's were called to serve as President of the St. George Historic Sites. 

 

This is yet another accomplishment Sel will add to his already long list of accomplishments since he and his twin brother Simeon joined our family after our mission in Guyana ... and, this one will certainly open doors along his career path.  He has worked so hard to get this far and is now submitting job applications right and left though he admits he’s a bit conflicted because Brianna’s family is here in SoUtah but Simeon and Stephanie live in Utah County.

 

We know he will soon find a good job which will challenge him as well as take advantage of his personality, skill set and absolute grit!  We would hate for he, Brianna and their soon-to-be 2 kids to move away, but we understand he needs to do what’s best for his family … so I can live with wherever he can be happy and successful, as long as it isn’t Mississippi or Atlanta.

 

Congratulations, Selwin.  We are so very, very proud of you.

Kaytee to FINALLY get her temple

On the glorious Easter Sunday of April 4, 2021, Russell M. Nelson, the world’s living Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the church currently has 41 temples under construction or being renovated; groundbreaking for 21 new temples took place in 2020; then he revealed the location of another 20 temples soon to be constructed around the world.    

As everyone regained their composure, he listed the following:

·      Grand Junction, Colorado (their third)

·      Farmington, New Mexico

·      Elko, Nevada

·      Yorba Linda, California

·      Oslo, Norway (I’ll bet Aspen Bair and all of her family are over-the-moon excited)

·      Brussels, Belgium

·      Vienna, Austria

·      Kumasi, Ghana, Africa

·      Mozambique

·      Capetown, South Africa

·      Singapore

·      Belo Hoziante, Brazil

·      Cali, Colombia

·      Two more in Mexico

·      Smithfield, Utah (where Charlene was born and reared)

·      Casper, Wyoming

·      Burley, Idaho

·      Eugene, Oregon

·      … and, Helena, Montana

Within seconds of the announcement of a temple in Helena, my phone rang and in a nanosecond, Kaytee and I were both sobbing uncontrollably, overcome with gratitude for a  loving Heavenly Father who has answered so many of her prayers over the past 6+ years.  When she was finally able to talk, she said her phone lit up with a dozen calls from friends who were as excited as she is!

Our baby girl lives in Anaconda, Montana. Currently her temple is Idaho Falls, Idaho – about 3 hours from her home.  Of course, she could attend the Spokane, Washington temple … its only 6 hours away so for five years, she has been asking prayerfully night and day for a temple closer to home.  “Honestly, Heavenly Father, I don’t care if its Helena or Missoula … just please, can we have a temple?”

 We all know how much she has wanted this to happen - and for how long!  After every General Conference, I get a call with a sarcastic question.  “Oh, sure, Utah gets another temple.  I mean, come on.  You really need another temple?  Twenty isn’t enough?”

 

When he heard the announcement Michael texted her a humorous question, “Is this close enough for you?”  In answer to his question, Helena is about 75 miles from Kaytee's home but she and Josh are looking at property in Deer Lodge, which would bring them to only about an hour away.

 

I can’t help but wonder if the Lord simply guided Church leaders to a temple site in Montana because He was weary of her constant pleading, but I am so grateful to know my Heavenly Father answers prayers.  Kaytee says she is even willing to come turn over a shovel full of dirt to get the process moving along!

 

I love this girl!!!

Taisley and Wesley are married

Taisley Ann Welch, youngest of Stacy and Rick's four daughters and Wesley Rex Pugmire were married on Saturday, March 20, 2021.  The wedding venue was the beautiful - but cold and windy - red barn at the Hela Seegmiller Farm in Washington Fields. Taisley made her way down the aisle on her daddu's arm to be handed over to her handsome groom surrounded by a few friends and lots of family with her Grandpa David Welch officiating. 

They are so young - both 19 - but Wesley has loved her since 8th grade.  When I opined they were too young to be getting married, Taisley reminded me, "Grandma, I am - by a couple of weeks - the same age you were when you married Grandpa!"  She's right.  I turned 19 on July 15 and we were married on August 31.  Taisley turned 19 on March 12 and was married on March 20.  

The newlyweds spent a weeklong honeymoon at the beach in San Clemente, CA. For awhile, the Pugmire's will be living in a beautiful and spacious apartment created for them by her Mom and Dad in the basement of their home.

Their future together includes him finishing his studies at Dixie Technical College to become a journeyman plumber while Taisley works at the Foot and Ankle Institute and continues her education at Dixie State University from which she expects to graduate next spring.  

Congratulations, Taisley and Wesley.  We can't wait to see where life takes you both!