December 30, 1985 Lehi, Utah

Dearest Johnny; Roy; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura & BRETT LEE; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell & LeeAnna:

Welcome to little Brett Mellor - we are so thrilled he is here and is healthy and Claire is doing really good! Bob called us Thursday a little after noon and when he said they had a little boy I couldn't believe it - they were so sure he was going to be a little girl they had a name for her (Kate Marie) but they didn't come up with a boy's name until Saturday just before they left the hospital. He weighed a little over 8 pounds so he's a big boy (I know all of you know all this except for Johnny). We have talked to Bob & Claire and Michael and also Claire's parents and everything is fine with all of them. We are anxious for their visit in March so we can get acquainted.

We have had an absolutely fabulous Christmas week and one of our greatest gifts came on Saturday when we received your letter Johnny. It didn't come on Monday or Tuesday like it usually does so I waited for the mailman on Thursday and finally on Friday I went out to meet him and said, "If you don't have a letter for us from South America I am going to cry" - I almost did!!! He was almost as happy as we were when it came on Saturday. I'm sure it was all the Christmas mail that delayed it because you had written it the same day you always do. We love to hear about the work you're doing Johnny - and three more baptisms - WOW!!! We also love to read how you appreciate the value of your mission and how your testimony is growing. (Johnny wrote that he has received more this year than any other at Christmas time as he serves even though Christmas day would be like any other to him as he tracted and studied.) We're SO proud of you. Kay Shelton told me that Steve called home (he is serving in New York) twice on Christmas day and that he was really homesick! You should have your backpack by now - and also your Christmas package - We're happy you have your backpack by now - and also your Christmas you received the Thanksgiving tape and enjoyed it (he wrote that it was so good to hear the family's voices in English - Ha'.)

Roy & Patrice - it was just wonderful to have you call on Christmas Day and it meant so much to us. We knew you were going to Connecticut to spend it with Patrice's family and we always worry about your traveling when the weather is bad. Patrice - I surely thought about you a lot the other night when we were with friends for dinner and I wish you had been with us. One of the ladies in with friends for dinner and I wish you had been with us. One of the ladies in the group (she is married to a former classmate of mine) is a famous Utah poet and author. She had just come from a symposium with other writers form throughout the country and in Russia and she talked all night about so many literary things and it was completely over my head - I know you would have been able to add so much to the conversation! Roy - we're anxious for you to come in February and the skiing should be really good - it's snowing again this morning!!!!!


Our Christmas started on Christmas Eve when we all met at Ann & Rons' home for their annual Christmas Eve party. We got there about 6:30 and Ron had just taken some bread out of the oven that he had made - before the night was over I had eaten four slices of it and with butter too - it was whole wheat and really good. Ann had made delicious clam chowder so we all ate chowder and bread and visited while all the little children made darling "Gingerbread Houses" - they were made out of graham crackers for the houses and decorated with all kinds of candy and frostings. It was so much fun to watch them work so intensely and they all turned out so cute - we forgot to take pictures of all of them that night but we took pictures the next day of the ones the Weinert children had made - we did take a lot of pictures and will send them around. After they had finished their houses Ann fixed dinner (as if we hadn't eaten enough already)! We had wonderful brisket and fruit & vegetables with different dips. Then the children put on the spiritual story of Christmas and it had been written by Susanna in her own words - the children all chose their own "costumes" and they were just darling. Ron video-taped it and we watched it - the children and all of us really love that. Then the children put on a musical program that was just outstanding - Ricky & Barji both played the piano and little Mary Ann stood up s confidently and sang a solo - Susanna played a piano solo and Jessie played two violin selections (one was Jingle Bells) and both Russell and LeeAnna sang. Right after they had finished Santa Clause made a big noise on the front door as he passed over their home in his sleigh and dropped candy on their porch and out on the snow. I KNOW the children will never forget that because I won't - he had dropped each one of them a little Christmas candy toy and other candy. It was really fun and exciting. Then the Weinerts and PaPa & Grandma B went to their own homes.

Christmas Day was equally fun & exciting. Daddy & I went up to the Weinert about noon and Rick was busy making the most delicious spinach balls and we ate them right out of the oven along with egg nog and Jeannie's wonderful homemade candy. Pretty soon the Woolley family came and it was so much fun to see all the children show off their Christmas things and each one was so happy and contented with what they had received. After we had all gathered and visited for awhile Rick welcomed everyone to their home and then Jeannie told a beautiful Christmas flannel board story with all the children helping her - before it was over we were all in the tears - mostly with gratitude for the blessing of love and happiness we all felt to be together as "part of our family" and to know that the other members who were not with us in body were with us in spirit. We'll never forget that either!!! Then we had a wonderful Christmas dinner Jean & Rick had prepared - ham, potato casserole, green & fruit salads, rolls, egg nog & candy. Then "some of us" went sled riding with the children and that was so much fun - one time Papa "launched" Russell down a steep hill and when he stopped quickly at the bottom he fell head first into the snow and came up with a mouthful - it scared him but he was a good sport and asked for more - we all loved it!

Daddy & I left a little earlier than the Woolleys so we could go spend a little time with Grandmother & Grandpa Forrest up in Brigham City. We tool some "goodies" up for them and they enjoyed them and we visited for quite awhile - it always makes me sad to see them like that but I guess they're happy. On our way back to Lehi we stopped at Temple Square and also the Triad Center to look at the lights - that is an unbelievable sight - it was cold but we walked around!!

Thursday night Daddy & I went to Park City with Ellen Mae & Mel (our college friends) where we met more college friends who were staying in a condominium up there while they went skiing. We all went out to dinner and then back to visit and it was just wonderful. Our friends are from Pasadena, Cal. and he has just retired from New York Life - we hadn't seen them for almost forty years but it was like it was just yesterday. It was so neat to be in Park City because we could see the beautiful sky, noon & stars for the first time in over two weeks this fog is driving us crazy. I would like a condominium up there but Daddy wouldn't. Right now we are considering going on a trip to San Diego and then to Phoenix and buy one of those places to spend the Winter - what would you all think about that?

I had a wonderful 60th birthday ugh!!! I had ordered Daddy a "hammer drill" for Christmas but it didn't get here until the 27th so we went over to Sears to pick it up and then went shopping. Really I don't think the drill is what I thought it was so he will probably take it back - we can't figure out how it hammers and we think the name of it is deceiving. It is a power drill and will work in other ways but he has one that will do most of that. He gave me "Power Scrub Brush" and I'm not going to take that back - Ha!

Ann & Art Willardsen and Joe & Jed came to see us yesterday and then they went to church with us - it was so neat for them to do that. Jimmy has received his mission call to the Spanish speaking part of San Diego - just 90 miles from his home - they say he is really happy about it - it will be good because he is still receiving medical help for injuries in that three-wheeler accident.

They have announced plans to phase out the Geneva Steel Plant in 1989 - there is a lot of controversy about it because Geneva has gone in with the Kore Government to produce and sell the steel. I personally will be happy to have the steel mill out of this country but it will mean the loss of a lot of jobs for people here and will definitely have an effect on the economy here. I guess it will also affect a lot of professional people. Every day in the paper there are reports of other business coming into the Valley but of course nothing as big as the steel mill. If I were in business this would really worry me but it doesn't seem to worry other "big businesses" - we can't believe all the shopping developments going in. Right close to Lehi is that big Smiths Super Market and now they are building places right next to it for Sprouse Reitz and Christensen department store - they must know something I don't.

We just talked to Ann. They went to Jerome, Idaho to spend the weekend with Ron's parents and on their way back they stopped in Farmington and exchanged Jessie for Ricky for a couple days. Ricky & Susanna are having fun playing together and we hope to have them come over here for a little while. Jessie was playing her violin for one of Ann's friends on Friday and dropped it - Ann says she has dropped it before without any serious damage to it but it - Ann says she has dropped it before without any serious damage to it but this time it broke right in two. Ann was so upset and she called Ron so he came and took Jessie to the violin shop where after a lot of "talking to" he bought her another one. We're really proud of them for doing this because we bought her another one. We're really proud of them for doing this because we have never seen anyone any more careful with anything than Jessie has been with her violin and she really loves it - it was just an accident and Ann & Ron knew this. They have a new rule - don't ever take the violin out of it's case unless you are on a carpeted floor!!!

Daddy has the kitchen cabinets all apart today. I guess there is no way to get this done without getting in a REAL BIG mess!!! He started to do this the day before Christmas but after a few "serious' arguments he put it all back together - I can tell he can't wait any longer. He is going to "face" those White cabinets with an oak board and then stain it so it will match the other cabinets he is building. He really loves to do this and he has to do things where he can work in the house because it is too cold outside. He really want to build a big garage so he can have a warm workshop. The man who wants to but this place wouldn't leave us alone - he called last night and said he wants to come over tonight to see us again. It's so funny that there are so many homes for sale throughout the valley and we have had three people ask us about ours and haven't even put it up for sale. It has really looked pretty during the holiday with all the lights outside. Did I tell you about the boys who were stealing the lights? One night last week one of our neighbors brought two boys into the house and said he had seen them stealing our lights. Daddy talked to them and told them he would be happy to buy them some strings of lights if they wanted them for their homes - they said no, they just made a mistake and took about a dozen lights out of their pockets and gave them to Daddy. Well - the next night they stole 28 of them - you can't win!!! The people in Lehi have really been nice to us - we have had so many plates of goodies brought in we will never be able to eat all of it.

I talked to Chris Jordin & Joy Geisler on my birthday and they told me some news about our Little Rock friends. Jim Blankenship has just accepted a job with New York Times and they have moved from Fort Smith, Ark. to some place in Florida. Barbie Lucas hasn't taken the test for Medical School yet (Chris says she thinks she has taken it but didn't do every well so they are saying she has taken it - Ha!) Linda Garret had a miscarriage but is doing well. Carla Culwell and Bruce are moving back to L.R. - he has been out of work for six months but his former employee re-hired him so they'll move home from California.

That's all the news I can think of. Thank you so very much for all you for us for Christmas - most of all we love just being thought of. PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Let us know how we can help you. WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF OUR FAMILY AND LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.
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