September 12, 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:

I have to force myself to come downstairs into Johnny's room where the computer is - he has moved out and it just isn't the same. He moved out little by little last week but when he took his pillow, I knew he was really moved - Ha!!! That pillow has gone with him through thick & thin - from Little Rock to Billings, from Billings to Utah and then from Utah to Chile and back again -he doesn't even like me to change the pillowcase!!!

He was over for a little while last night and says he really likes where he is living - he has two other young men in the house with him - one is from Sandy, Utah and the other from Wisconsin. They will all be moving out in January and he hopes to get some of his closer friends to move in with him. He just leaves his car at his house and rides his bicycle to school. He loves his bike - and the exercise is good for him.

Daddy and I decided to make whole wheat bread this morning - grinding our own wheat, etc. and we even ground some barley to go in it. I'm trying to get it to raise now - you know us - it turned cold last night and we haven't turned out heat on yet so the house is cold. I have put it in the oven to try to get it to raise. I am so glad to have it cooler that I won't turn on the heat until we absolutely have to - Ha!!!!

We have talked to each one of you this week except for Jeannie and we have heard about them from Bob so this letter won't be one bit interesting for any of you. It was so good to talk to you last night Roy and after we hung up I thought you might never call us again because I yelled at you - when he told us that Emily has two teeth I said "I AM MAD" - I'm really not mad but we will surely be happy when we can see her. She sounds SO cute and it is obvious she is a healthy little baby - we can wait now until Thanksgiving!!!!

Bob said they had quite an experience when their family and the Weinerts all went to the State Fair. Little Sarah became separated from them and they didn't find her for about forty - five minutes and then a security guard had her. We have gone through that and there are very few things more frightening. THEN before they came home they all decided to go on one more ride - he was with Brett on the big Ferris wheel and he could tell he was acting strangely - right after they got off he threw up right in front of a big crowd waiting to get on it. Other than that they had a good time.

Annie called Saturday night - we had fun talking about the Miss America pageant that was going on and the young woman had just played a violin solo and we had hoped that Jessie was watching - Ann said that she did watch it and was impressed with it. WELL, as it turned out, that young woman won as Miss America. Jessie is doing really good - she will never have natural vision in her right eye but knowing her, she will be the only one who will know it - she will compensate in so many other ways and we are proud of her!!!! Ann & Ron had been in Salt Lake buying some evergreen trees to plant between their home and their neighbors.

Thanks for your sweet note Claire - we are SO thrilled that you finally have your lawn in. That must be a wonderful feeling - we're anxious to see it. Bob - it was a thrill to go to the cabin last Friday night - when Daddy put the electric breaker on we had forgotten to switch them off. Some of the lights don't work but most of them do and IT IS WONDERFUL!!!!!

Jeannie and Rick - do you feel like sardines yet???? We hope you are all having lots of fun and laughing a lot - that's the secret to meeting life's challenges - I KNOW!!!!! We would be more than happy to have you live in our cabin and commute - Ha!!! Really, we're willing to help in any way we can and we're pulling for you to get the perfect home - you deserve it!!!!

The best news for this letter is that Daddy's PSA test is normal. I couldn't believe it when I called the doctor - it was 73, 43, and the last was 19 and he thought that was very good. His nurse talked to me and she said. "Honey, it's normal" - I said, "Please give me the number reading" and she said, ".2" We're going to do everything we can to keep it that way. He feels just wonderful and he was in meetings yesterday from 10 o'clock until 6 so we're back in the groove.

The next best news is that Daddy bought me a "sewing machine outfit" that will really be fun. They had the Bernette (made by Bernina) on sale so we went to look at it and ended up buying that and the Serger and the big table that fits both of them. I don't know when I'll have time to use them but when I do it will be fun - I start taking my lessons on Thursday to learn how to use them. The Serger is completely foreign to me but the lady demonstrating it said she uses hers for 90 percent of her sewing. (it seams, finishes the seems and trims them all in one operation). Patrice - when you come for Thanksgiving maybe you will teach me how to use it (what I don't learn from the lessons).

I have bought that picture package from Olan Mills and we will have our family portrait made during the week of Thanksgiving. I don't have to make the appointment until the first week of November so will you all please tell me when the best time will be? Roy, Patrice & Emily will be here for that week so we could do it before Thanksgiving if that would be better for everyone. I am going to wear a navy blouse and Daddy will wear a navy tie do you want me to assign you all colors???? I'm out of space again - WE LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH - PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL!!!

Return to Home Page