update 1/23/2011

Mom is still with us and this morning she had a treat from Daniel Morales, a young man from Earlimart who knew mom when we lived in Delano. Daniel and his mom (Melissa) came and visited mom on many occasions when he was just a young boy. Yesterday Daniel came by with Mark and Teancum to help with Teancum's Eagle Project. They were going over to cut some lumber in Brother Johnson's shop here in town. They came by the house before going over to Brother Johnson's home and Daniel asked if he could see mom. We went into her room and woke her up and she was so excited to see Daniel again. Daniel and his mother had sent mom some beautiful flowers when they heard she was not doing very well. Mom thanked Daniel for the flowers and told him what a good looking young man he had become. She talked to him about how much she had enjoyed his visits when she lived in Delano. It was a sweet moment for the two of them.

After Daniel left mom went back to sleep and has been asleep most of the time other than when I wake her to give her something to drink or eat. She had quite a restless night last night and I thought we were going to lose her, but she has rallied this morning and took her pills with a little juice and some jello.

sweet letters from family members

My Dear Aunt Gwen:
Evelyn wrote and said that you were not doing well. I wanted to let you know how much you have meant to me for all of my 67 years. Not many people can say that they have had a substantial influence on someone for this long a period, unless it's their child.

From my very first memories, I know that some of my most poignant moments were with you, Randall and the kids in Escalante. At the celebration of your birthday this past summer, Joan and I stayed in the Padre Motel. I looked out the window in the bathroom and saw the barn. Oh, boy! Did the memories come back with a flood... Dilts... what a hard headed horse! Milking the cow and having fresh cream for our bread and milk. I loved feeding the pigs, though they were "scary"when i would lean over the pen and dump the feed and garbage for their daily feast. What fun for a boy like I was... from the city, with no knowledge of this type of life. I never would have had that experience if not for you and Randall.

Mom loved to come to Escalante to see you and help on the switchboard. She loved the quiet and beauty that Escalante possess, as we all do. I remember going to Devil's Backbone. In those days, it was almost a full days trip. Playing with the girls in the back yard and teasing the heck out of them was something! Having Dick 'teach" Dilts how to ride double with me as the passenger was probably a big act of patience for both horse and man. I, the boy, loved it. WOW! I couldn't have had more fun Uncle Randall took me up to Poesy to fish and made sure that I caught something. He and Uncle Harold gave me something in fishing and hunting that I still enjoy to this day. These are the memories of a lifetime. How can that be beat.

The "BEST" present you gave me was your UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. I always felt so secure and safe when I was with you as I do today with these memories of you. Every time I would see you, you welcomed me. You give me a hug that warmed me in my heart and soul. As we all know, I was a handful in the best of times. Mom and Dad tried their best but as I look over my life, I feel like I was raised in the best traditions of the West and our faith by FAMILY. It is a tough job raising children, and I was a LUCKY ONE. You never judged. You just LOVED me and gave me your advice I want you to know that even though I may not be with you now, YOU will be with me in my heart and influencing my deeds and behavior the rest of MY life. I LOVE YOU soooo much, Aunt Gwen. Give Mom and rest of your sisters and brother a hug as I know they will be there to meet you.


God Speed,


Craig



Dear Grandma
I hope you are doing well.
I really enjoyed going out to Escalate
for the first time and seeing you.
I wish I could have brought my violin out
and played for you.
I wish I could see you more often.
love you
Hannah

Dear Grandma
I hope you are feeling good today.
I miss seeing you.
I was so good to see you when we can out to Utah!
I enjoyed seeing the places where my dad went.
I am glad I am your granddaughter.
I wish I could see you more often than every few years.
I am enjoying school. I love it.
Most of my work is reading.
Reading is something I dearly love.
I am getting ready to play in front of a judge in
March with my viola.
It will be fun.
I enjoy making music with my viola.
I love music. I only wish I could play the piano.
I love the piano.So I am trying to teach myself piano.
I also love to take pictures.
So of them are quite good.
I put a lot of them on the blog.
I also love to take long walks with my camera
and take pictures of the plants and scenery.
I love nature. I also love to talk pictures of the sunset.
The sunset gets so pretty.
I hope you have a wonderful day.
Your Granddaughter
Eliza Keturah Lyman



Dear Grandma
I enjoyed spending time seeing you , and talking to you.
I miss seeing you. It was wonderful that I got to go
to Escalante for the first time .
I love you very much .
your loving
Granddaughter
Emma


Dear Grandma

I have missed you.
I hope I can see you again.
I wish I was out there.
I love you.

Jonathan

Update 1/21/2011

Mom had a visit from a dear friend, Robin, and she brought her some daffodils in a pot. She said they reminded her of mom. Like the yellow of the sun she brought sunshine in her heart. Mom had taught her daughter Macie how to crochet and she had crocheted a scarf for mom several years ago. Macie is at BYU now going to college. Robin and Rusty are dear friends from Delano that have moved to Bakersfield. When she heard that mom was not doing well she came by and saw her. It was hard for her to see mom so down and she cried as she left her dear friend.

Mom is resting peacefully and wakes up when I go into her room to offer her a few sips of drink or give her a little food. She only eats and drinks a tiny amount. She is not passing fluids so I think they will probably put in a catheter today when the nurse comes to see her. She will also get another bath which makes her feel more relaxed. Judith is a jewel and mom likes to see her come. She ate a little bit of cereal, tapioca pudding, jello, and yams yesterday.

Last night Ramon and Ashley came by and brought the girls. Mom woke up and got about 10 kisses from Lexie (Ashley's and Ramon's daughter) her great great granddaughter. I did not take a picture of them but will do that on their next visit on Saturday. Mom seems to enjoy the small children when they come by to see her. Many people in the Brimhall Ward are always asking about her and offering services.

Deanna called last night and she talked to her but she has such a hard time hearing everyone on the phone and she cannot speak very loudly anymore - really only soft mumbles. Her speech is very labored and she only speaks one word at a time very slowly so it is hard for her when you call.

She rested well last night and did not wake up only when I got up and offered her something to drink. This morning she wanted something warm so I made her some hot chocolate and she drank about a quarter of a glass of hot chocolate. She did not want to eat when I went in and asked her if she wanted breakfast. Maybe the hot chocolate will end up being her breakfast.

She sends her love to all of you, as do I.

Wed January 19th, 2011

Mom has been down in bed for the last two days sleeping. She enjoyed her bed bath with Judith her home health nurse. It helps her to fee better when she has her bath but today she did not get up after her bath but went back to sleep. She ate some cereal this morning and some tapioca pudding tonight. She has been drinking water and some V8 juice also. Her breathing is shallow but she is still hanging in there.

After her bath she looked at the pictures that Brent Hiskey had sent to Evelyn and identified several of the pictures, where they were taken and who was in the pictures. She got tired after awhile but stayed awake unit we had identified all the people she knew. We will send Brent and Evelyn a copy of what she told me about the pictures.

The pictures attached is after he bath with her home health nurse Judith

Love

Aunt Joyce

Update on Gwen Lyman

Left to Right- Dick, grandma, Blaine, Rosemary, Evelyn and Joyce

Mom enjoyed having her children here Jan 10-14 and rallied considerably during their visit (see attached picture). Deanna is not in the picture because she was just here in November.

Mom had a good day yesterday, 1/17/11. She had the hospice home health nurse come by and give her a bath and then she got up and sat in her chair for about 3 hours. Alma Magleby ( mortuary in Richfield) called and asked about her and gave us some things we needed to do to prepare for her funeral. He also wanted to know which funeral home she would be using here in Bakersfield, which is Cherished Memories Memorial Chapel. One of the things he wanted us to do was to pick out her casket so I took my laptop into her room and she picked out her casket. We have also asked her about other arrangements that she wanted for her funeral. She is thinking about songs she wants and what she wants Dick to speak on. We were able to speak about the arrangements without it being a bother to her or myself. I went on the obituary page and printed off the obituary's for Twila McNelly, Gretha Henderson Twitchell, Betty Alvey, and Klyn Haws and gave them to her to read. She enjoyed reading about her dear friends who had passed away back in Escalante, and a cousin in Cannonville.

A week ago we thought that mom would not live more than a few more days but she has rallied again. Michelle, my daughter and her two sons, were here and Michelle helped me with mom to get her in and out of bed. She works with patients doing physical therapy and so she is very good with mom. Mom loved having two of her great grandsons here to see her also. Michelle picked up some V8 Fusion drinks for me at the store and we gave some to mom and she drank about two glasses yesterday. Last night for dinner she had some squash and a half a glass of milk. She is drinking lots of water also.

She went to bed about 7 P.M. and rested quite well through the night. She woke up at about 2:30 AM and went back to sleep after being readjusted in the bed. She was awake at 9:00 AM this morning (1/18/11), ate some 10 grain cereal, drank some juice and took her pills. She said that she had a good nights rest. Her breathing is pretty shallow so we have her hooked up to an oxygen pump and this brings more comfort to her. I will update you tomorrow.

Love to you all,
Joyce

Bakersfield

Two weeks ago Joyce and Milton came to take me back to California. I am so happy to go and stay with them. I am excited to see my family over there and the fish in the pond. Here are a few pictures that we took that day. I'll write soon and let you know how life is in sunny Bakersfield!

I will miss Belle

Evelyn and Milton loading up the truck!

Joyce, me and Evelyn

Evelyn, me, Jim and Sarah before I left

Big News!!!

Wow, February is gone and March is here, how did that happen? This has been a nice winter in Arizona but it has rained a lot which causes problems for Belle, the dog, and I when we want to go for a walk.


Here is a picture of me all bundled up because they were working on the heater and it was really cold in the house. I love being warm, or should I say hot. They thought I looked silly but it was Evelyn who did it, not me.


This is my last week in Arizona with Evelyn and her family. I am moving back to California to live with Joyce and am really happy to be moving back home. Come and see me there real soon!