January 15, 1989 Orem, Utah

Dearest John; 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:

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY!!!! I hope Daddy gets through the day without having a heart attack from dealing with that - Ha!!! I don't even watch television today because they have a lot about him on it and this is an unwarranted holiday in Daddy's eyes. I know a lot of people feel that way too.

We have been in touch with each one of you this week and that makes us happy - we really do understand the weeks that we aren't though. Jeannie & Claire, we loved your letters - Patrice, it was wonderful to talk to you - John, we loved having you pop in and it was wonderful having dinner with the Woolleys yesterday!!!

I don't know how many times the Woolleys have eaten on their new Christmas china with their matching crystal goblets and also their matching placemats and napkins but we appreciated all that yesterday. Everything was SO pretty that it almost didn't matter what we had to eat. Susanna & Jessie had made a beautiful fresh fruit salad and they reminded me so much of Ann & Jean way back when. I had asked Ann if it would be in keeping with the Sabbath for her to roll up my hair for a permanent - she said, " Oh Yes and Ron has to leave at 5 to go out of town so he won't care". I felt bad after because Ron changed his schedule and didn't leave until 9:30 and there I was taking Ann's time when they could have had fun as a family. When I need a permanent I seem to forget all rules of etiquette - Daddy gave me my last one and he would have given it this time but I could tell he REALLY didn't want to.

Daddy & I went to Susanna's school one night last week to see her in a "Wax Museum Program". I have never seen that done before and what a great teaching tool!!! The students in the top reading group were asked to participate and each one chose a person from their history lessons to portray in a wax museum setting - Susanna was Clara Barton and she wore a nurse's costume that Ann had made. Last night while Ann was rolling up my hair Susanna organized the other children to put on that kind of a program for us - it was darling - LeeAnna was "Shirley Temple", Jessie was "Mary Lou Rhetton", Russell was "Buffalo Bill" (I think), and Jimmy was "Buffalo Bill Jr.".

We're looking forward to our visit with Ricky, Barji and Mary Ann when their Mom & Dad & Sarah go to visit Roy, Patrice & Emily. The ice skating rink down by Utah Lake is a "very popular" place and we hope the "Provo Cousins" will be available so they can all go together. Ann has invited them to go to their Primary and that will be lots more fun for them. That Sunday is our Ward Conference and Daddy has to lead a panel discussion and I have to teach our Relief Society lesson.

Claire - I'm wondering if any of Katie's "escapades" remind Bob of his childhood - Ha!!! I'll bet you were really frightened thinking she had swallowed a hairpin - that could do a lot of damage, couldn't it? It's good to have a little scare with your Tylenol - when things like that happen I think we're all a little more careful. You didn't say if she had to have her stomach pumped - did she? I had to call Daddy from a church meeting early one Sunday morning to come home to take Bob to the hospital to have his stomach pumped from eating a bottle of orange flavored aspirin - he had climbed up to the medicine cabinet and opened the door to get them. Katie is really young to be so agile in her climbing - I'll bet you can't take your eyes off her for a minute.

Roy - did you get to do any golfing? Patrice said you might just be going to "hit some balls". I want Daddy to get some new golf equipment in the Spring so he can go golfing with you when you move to Little Rock. I hope your home doesn't sell too fast - (Patrice said they had just barely put it on the market and have already had four different people come by to see it). I just love your home and know it won't be hard to sell. It was fun to hear little Emily in the background talking for her Mommy to pay attention to her - Patrice was drawing pictures for her on a slate. John really likes his classes this Semester. He came home for a few minutes the other night just for some peace and quiet - he said he didn't get to bed until midnight the night before and had been going every minute all day. He surely does look good all the time and we love having him close!!!

Daddy & I went to the cabin one day last week. We drove to the gate and then walked the rest of the way - they don't have a lot of snow up there - not nearly as much as last year. Daddy is really worried that the reservoir will be too low. Daddy shoveled the snow from the deck and we had lunch and then came home - it was a fun trip. We drove out to Utah Lake this morning to see if there was any fishing going on - there were very few men fishing so Daddy decided they weren't catching anything. He is going to Fishlake this Thursday with Ray. He is SO anxious for Spring and we haven't even had Winter yet.

I had a fun week last week - I went to a luncheon on Tuesday for our little luncheon club and then on Friday I went to another luncheon at the Country Club with a friend for her literary club meeting - after that luncheon a young man who lived in China for two years working for Hewlett Packard gave a slide presentation that was just excellent. Daddy & I have temple assignments one day each week and that is always a special thing to do.

That's all the news. 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!!!

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