July 5, 1988 Orem, Utah
Dearest Johnny; Roy, Patrice & Emily; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:
It's Tuesday and I didn't get my letter written yesterday - it wouldn't have been mailed anyway because of the holiday and besides that Daddy & I REALLY celebrated the Fourth of July!!!!
This past week has been a busy one and also a very momentous one. Bob & Claire and their family have moved to Utah and we have to keep pinching ourselves to believe it is really true. We have loved all the activities and being together but there was always something missing - Roy & Patrice & Emily weren't with us and we really missed you - I guess we can't have everything!!!!
Daddy picked up Bob & Claire and the children right on schedule on Tuesday afternoon and they all came to Orem. We have talked about how the children just took everything in stride and weren't upset about the move at all. The Woolleys came over later in the evening and we had dinner together outside - Daddy bar-b-cued turkey and it was SO good!!!! Claire wasn't feeling very well and we felt bad about that - they think she got some food that didn't agree with her.
Wednesday morning Bob & Claire & Katie left quite early to go to Farmington to close on their home. They hadn't been gone very long when we received a call from the men driving their moving van - they were already in Farmington and wanted to know how to get in touch with Bob. WE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. Bob told us later that they had just stepped inside their home when their movers pulled up (Bob had drawn them a map on how to get there). They laughed because they said they were moving furniture into their home even before they had bought it. They spent the day with the movers and pretty well had everything moved in before they came back to pick up Michael, Laura & Brett - we tried to get them to stay up there and let us have the children until the next day but they were too excited for the children to see their new home and we didn't blame them. I will never forget watching little Brett cling to their red van when he saw it - they had been staying in a motel for several days in Memphis and that was the closest thing to home that he could remember and he was not going to let it out of his sight. Needless to say - they all love their new home and Bob & Claire were thrilled to find that it had things in it they didn't know about - central vacuuming for one.
Roy & Patrice - I wish I could send you Bob & Claire's new address but we don't have it. They brought us the sheet with it on and also the map they had given to the movers but Jim & Marlena Griffin came by to see us and they wanted to know how to get to see them so we gave it to them. WE LOVE THE BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF LITTLE EMILY!!!! She is really a doll and looks so healthy and contented. We also loved your letter Patrice and we're happy to have it to share with everyone while we were all together - we tried to call you from Jean & Ricks' home but Johnny couldn't get the MCI card to work so we gave up. How nice that you were able to spend time with the Buttz's while you were visiting your Mom, Patrice - we continue to be so happy we were able to meet so many of your friends & neighbors at your wedding - they are such special people!!! We loved hearing about your friend, Jenni, and her wedding - it's unusual for us to learn about Lady Ministers and I'll bet she performed a beautiful ceremony. Our dearest fr9iends in Little Rock are Presbyterians and their son, John, was just married in a small church in Magnolia, Arkansas but I'm sure it was not as exquisite as one built in the 1860's with stained glass windows, etc. We also enjoyed hearing a little about Dorcas - do you keep in touch with them? I'll bet you do. Emily will be so fun to watch from now on - they almost grow TOO fast !!! Patrice - your stationery was so cute with all the animals stickers!!!
Barbara Jean was baptized on Saturday afternoon so we all met at the Weinert's church - Daddy and I LOVED it because our family was so well represented. Their stake does it quite differently with each ward having their own baptism - there were two children baptized in their ward - Barji & a little boy named Dustin. Barji had asked me to give the talk on the Holy Ghost so I did - Dustin's mother gave the talk on Baptism - all the little children sang, "I Am A Child Of God" and it was just a beautiful program - Claire played the piano. Barji looked so beautiful in a white lace dress and her Daddy did a super job in baptizing her and also confirming her a member of the church. After the baptism we went to the Weinerts for an absolutely wonderful dinner - Rick grilled steak shish-kabobs that were out of this world - Jeannie had made rice pilaf that was also out of this world and then we had fruit, green salad & vegetables and brownies with raspberry & chocolate sauce. They had put up a volley ball net in their back yard and we had such a fun, fun evening visiting and playing volley ball. It's really fun to watch the cousins interact with each other and accept Michael, Laura & Brett in with them as if they had always lived here - if Emily had been here she would have been smothered with attention as Katie was - Susanna loves babies and knows how to care for them - she is so careful and conscientious!!!
Ann had to take Jessie to Logan on Friday so I went with her - she had a car full of little gymnasts and I really enjoyed going and watching them perform. Jessie was the only one in her group to win a first place ribbon - she is GOOD!!! It was also fun to be in Logan again - Annie drove me all around to the places where I had lived while going to school and to the places where Daddy & I spent so much time - things have really changed there but the memories haven't.
Ann called Sunday night to tell us all the things they were going to do the next day (the Fourth) and we tried to keep up with them - we were super tired last night. We started at the balloon races at 6:30 a.m., our neighborhood breakfast and flag raising ceremony at 8:00 a.m., the parade at 9:00 and then Johnny left to drive to Ogden to see some water skiing competitions with his friend, Kim (a girl). Daddy and I got in our "fishing clothes" and drove to Heber, Marion (we saw the church that was bombed and were the Singers live) and then to Oakley where Daddy found a cabin he wants to but. We had fixed a picnic lunch so we stopped and ate that but we never did fish. That cabin is just perfect for us - it is on a quarter of an acre lot and within walking distance of the Weber river and in a gorgeous setting. We had planned to spend time at Deer Creek watching the Woolleys sail in their new sail boat but we couldn't stay because we had Hans with us and they don't allow dogs in that area. We did watch them sail for a little while just from the road. By the way, JIMMY HAS THE CHICKEN POX - I believe he broke out yesterday morning and he is just covered but he doesn't feel bad. I was kinda' glad we had Hans with us because it was SO hot and I had jeans on and would have cooked in the sun - everyone else was in bathing suits and in the water. I worried about Ann because she was chasing Jimmy and she didn't' want him to get in the water. That is a beautiful place and it looked like the California beaches yesterday - quite crowded. Their sailboat is GREAT!!!
Johnny and his friends all hiked up to the "Y" last evening so they could watch the fireworks at the Kiwanis Park. When I talked to him this morning he said it was really a hard hike and the fireworks only lasted ten minutes - he said they were all so disappointed. The Osmonds put on their big extravaganza Saturday night with Rich Little, Mary Hart, etc. on the program and they are very hard to compete with. The Woolleys watched their fireworks display from their balcony after they came home from the Weinerts.
It is the Mellor Family Reunion this coming Saturday - it will start with breakfast at the "Springs" about 7 a.m. and if any of you want to go we will go too - if we don't hear from you we may just go by ourselves. We would like to stay for the Mormon Miracle Pageant that night - Wayne & Chris plan to be there on their way coming here for several weeks. That makes a long day but it is quite fun - they have genealogy meetings and a family luncheon where everyone brings something to share and it is all held in Fayette which is an experience in itself.
Daddy & Ray are going fishing this afternoon - they have found a place on Utah Lake where they catch cat fish and they are delicious. I just went to put something away in our refrigerator and discovered we have a box of angle worms in it - ugh.!!!!
We love each one of you so very much - PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - Let us know how we can help you!!!!