June 5, 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:
When I started my letter a few minutes ago I looked at the calendar and realized that Daddy was 15 minutes late for his appointment with Dr. Brown. I hurried and found Daddy who was out weeding the garden and called Dr. Brown's office to see if he could still come in - the nurse said, "Oh, Dr. Brown will be out of his office for a couple weeks - I forgot to call and reschedule your appointment". It's a good thing Daddy is feeling really good or we would have been upset!!!!
Yesterday was such a fun day I'll have to tell you about it first. Daddy & I went to the cabin on Saturday morning and stayed overnight - we went to church in Scofield and it reminded us of our first few years in Little Rock - they have a beautiful little chapel but there were only about thirty people there - it is a dependent branch with Helper Ward being responsible for staffing it. Do you remember how Hot Springs was a dependent branch with Little Rock staffing it? The services were SO special but you would never have believed that Daddy and I went dressed in camping clothes - they welcomed us as if we had been dressed in our "Sunday Finery" - Ha. WE LOVED IT. We went back to the cabin about 1 o'clock and waited for the Woolleys - they had told us they would come right after their church was over. They got there about 2 0'clock and it was such a fun, fun time. When I left the cabin about two weeks ago it was just sparkling clean and looked brand new. WELL - Daddy had warned me but I could never in my biggest imagination have known what had happened. The swallows have completely taken over the one side of our cabin with all those new windows that Daddy has put in and they have built a million mud nests. Daddy and I had planned to knock them all down and wash off all the "guck" from the windows and walls BUT we decided to wait and let Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy see them first - it really is one of the most interesting things I have ever seen - you can have a ringside seat watching the birds build their nests and then live in them from our upstairs room. What we didn't reckon with was RON!!!! He said, "Oh, you can't destroy them - you have one of the quaintest things in the world right on your very own cabin". He got the hose and washed off some of the guck and said, "Just keep that washed off but leave the nests". SO, I guess that's what we will do and see what happens - they will soon be through with the mud so all we will have to wash off will be the bird droppings - can you imagine at least two hundred swallows with four eggs hatching in each nest several times this Summer? Anyway, now we not only have a fishing cabin, we have a National Geographic Special right out our windows. Maybe we will be able to charge fees for everyone who wants to come see it - Ha!!!!
It was so much fun to see the Woolley children playing "Little House on the Prairie" in the cabin - they surely do make their own fun!!!! It was quite cool outside so they spent most of the time in the cabin - they did play along the lake beach and on the boat ramp and even built a few. We loved the whole day. We left the cabin about 8 o'clock and came back by way of Fairview and that is a beautiful drive - we stopped in the canyon to have watermelon and the children found a long "glacier" and they had fun sliding down that - we didn't want the day to end but of course it did and we had to leave. We got home about 10 o'clock. Daddy just loves everything about that area - that is where he grew up - I love it too!!!
Ann had a wedding shower for a girl who used to live neighbors to them in their old home on Saturday. She made a delicious dessert and had some left over so she brought that to the cabin. Daddy & I cooked most of last week for a High Priests' party here on Friday night and we had a lot of leftovers so we took that and we just all ate leftovers. Our party here was a REAL SUCCESS - we had at least fifty people and we ate on church tables set up on our back lawn - it was a gorgeous night and everyone loved it. I hope our pictures are good - that's the sort of thing we had in mind when we bought this home and it is SO neat to have it happen - we had a lady in our ward entertain with songs and her guitar and then we all joined in singing.
John went to Layton on Friday afternoon to have Bob check his nose - he really had a good time. He had pizza with Bob & Claire and their family and also Claires' parents and he said it was wonderful. He also spent time visiting with Jean & Rick and their children - they were swimming in their neighborhood pool and John said it was really nice. He said Rick & Ricky had had a great time in Yellowstone. John's nose just looks wonderful - Bob had given him steroid shots to reduce some swelling and John said, "Wow, that really hurt"!!!!
We're looking forward to being with Roy & Patrice & Emily for a little while in Little Rock so I will have some news to write about them. I believe Patrice & Emily will be coming home this weekend - is that right??? I can just imagine how happy Roy will be to have them home - their home must seem mighty quiet!!! Patrice - we know you have had a wonderful visit and we hope you have been able to see some of your friends as well as your family - your Mom is going to REALLY miss little Emily!!!
The Beyers came by to see us last Sunday - they are such good friends. Their daughter and her family live in Centerville - he is with Valley Bank & Trust and has just received a big promotion. We had a letter from the Smiths - Ken has received a job in Dallas so Ken & Linda and their family will be moving as soon as their Little Rock home is sold. Ann gave me a permanent last week and I am CURLY - I love it!!!
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.