March 6, 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:
Wow - this will be a very short letter!!!! I can't think of any news - what a dull life we live - Ha!!!
Daddy got up early this morning and finished his "job" in the garage. I don't know if you remember that we had some holes in the wall of the garage - I believe the former owners of this home ran into it or something. Daddy finished building the dog house door and then re-plastered all those holes and this morning he has sanded them and painted all of it - it looks SO much better. Hans will use his door when he has to - we have put his water and food in there so he has to go in when he gets hungry and thirsty but so far he hasn't gone in to just go in his dog house. It really is a relief though to know that he can get warm and "out of the weather" if he wants to - Daddy even put a light bulb in his house and has it rigged up to a timer so it will go on at night.
I "suggested" to Daddy that a few shelves would be nice in his work room to hold our paper goods and food supply. Well - before I knew it he had built the nicest shelves and they will just hide "a multitude of sins". We went to the cabin one day last week and he took measurements of the kitchen - he is going to take those old windows out and put in new ones and then panel the kitchen. You just wouldn't believe the "good job" he did in insulating that room he built - all the jugs of water down in the kitchen were frozen solid but there was one jug up in that new room and it wasn't frozen a bit. Those windows really allow a lot of solar heat to warm that room and it was very comfortable up there. There is still SO much snow up there we weren't sure we would be able to get to the cabin. We got to the gate okay and parked our car and then walked right over the top of the gate and started walking to the cabin - the snow was just crusted over and with every step we sank in clear to our waists - we ended up "crawling" to the cabin. We laughed so hard we were worn out by the time we got there - it was an absolutely gorgeous day with the bright sun out and the white, white snow. We counted 50 men out on the lake ice fishing.
We had a wonderful surprise yesterday. Bob, Michael & Laura drove down to spend the afternoon with us and we loved it SO much. Bob wanted to get some computer "stuff" copied off that he had given to John so he did that while he was here. It was so much fun for me to spend time with Michael & Laura - we played "Lotto" and "Dress Up". It was good to visit with Bob about his work and everything - he really likes where he is and all. He said his office was burglarized one night last week and the only things that were missing were his prescription blanks and his signature stamp - he had to have all his prescriptions stopped in the local pharmacies and then change his signature a little bit. It is scary because he said the night it happened he had had a late surgery and went back to his office and noticed a man in the office across from their offices and he was bent over looking in some drawers and about that time something fell from his pocket and Bob, in looking back, thinks it was a screw driver. Bob said there is a new doctor that he hadn't met yet so he just thought that was who it was so he didn't bother him. Their offices were opened with a screw driver and Bob says he is glad he didn't confront the man because it was probably the burglar and show knows what could have happened!!!!! Bob says that Claire has really enjoyed the skiing this year - Michael went with her one day and it was fun to hear him so excited.
Bob says that the Weinerts are doing GREAT and we know the Woolleys and Roy Mellors are doing GREAT too. We visited with Ann one day last week - they have their home decorated so beautifully and I'm proud of the little touches Ann has made - she made a small fabric table cloth with pleated edges that looks very professionally done - I wouldn't have believed she made it!!! The fabric matches the wall paper in their dining room. We talked to Patrice yesterday morning and she said they were all doing fine - I miss little Emily and we could hear her in the background - Roy had to work yesterday.
John came over on Friday night and told us he wanted to go to Moab and go bike riding - he had bought a rack for his bike that fits the ski rack on the van. We thought all weekend he was in Moab with friends so we didn't call him while Bob was here and he was SO mad at us. He had changed his mind and didn't go to Moab - he just went Heber and biked all the way back to his apartment and then had one of his friends take him back to Heber to get the van. He was in church or at his apartment all day yesterday and could have come home to visit with Bob. I have a hard time realizing that I don't need to know where he is all the time - BUT I'M LEARNING. He looks SO good and seems to really be enjoying school and college life. There was an article about their "business" in the BYU newspaper - I had it copied and will send it to you - we're proud of you John!!!!
Our dining room is all back together again and it looks normal. We bought an Oriental rug to go in the entrance that really brightens everything up - we love it.
Chris Jordin called on Saturday and it was good to hear a little news about Little Rock - I guess everyone is kinda' disappointed in the Gonces - Dave has been quite unscrupulous!!! Chris had been to Houston to be with their first little grandchild - the baby weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz. at birth and went down to 6 lbs. before the doctor advised Karen to stop breast feeding her.
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.