June 26, 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:
A beautiful day in Orem - we have had some very cool weather so it's nice to have the sun shining and predictions of warmer days this week. We even had our furnace on several days last week and I think that is very unusual for June!!!
Today is Michael's 8th birthday - we know he has really celebrated - they had a family party for him at the cabin and he told us he was going to have friends over for a party and then we are all going to Layton for his baptism on Saturday!!!! He will know he has turned eight. I can remember so well when he was born - Daddy and I waited for the phone call from Bob to tell us we could come to the hospital to see him. We spent more time with him as a baby than we have any of our grandchildren I think. We hope you have a very happy birthday Michael.
Friday is Barbara Jean's birthday and she will be nine. I remember so well when she was born too - she was truly a beautiful baby and I was SO thrilled when Rick called and said they were going to name her after me. We hope you will have a really happy birthday too Barji - I'll bet you will have a friend's party!!!
Patrice - thank you so much for your letter and those pictures - they turned out so good and we laughed at the one you so carefully set and then you closed your eyes!!! Roy - did you enjoy your medical-military training course at Lackland??? I hope most of it was indoors because you have had hot weather. We hope you won't be too busy during the month of July with your new interns (Roy says July is his busiest month). Patrice - we have a plaster cast head (I guess that's what it is called) of Joseph Smith and I took it to church yesterday for a visual aid for my lesson and I dropped it - the top didn't break but the shoulder part did and Daddy was trying to put it together last night and said, I wish Patrice were here to do this!!!! I'm sure your pottery class isn't involved with mending broken plaster but we thought of you. I doubt it can be fixed but we can buy another one - the sisters in my class just gasped but I have learned to never fuss over things that can be replaced!!!
We have thought about the Woolley children all weekend but we didn't want to interfere with their baby sitter so we didn't go to see them. Daddy called and talked to Susanna and she said they were doing fine. We hope Ann & Ron have had a wonderful trip - they went to Niagara Falls - Ron was asked to go there on a business trip and he said he didn't travel away from his family on weekends so the company said to bring his wife and they could have a second honeymoon at Niagara Falls.
John has finished school and is looking for a job - I told him I would call my friend Ida Smith and ask her to recommend him for a job at one of the Smith stores in this area BUT he would have to take it - Ha!!! He is such a joy to have come home once in a while - he really likes his apartment but we do see him occasionally when he comes to get his boat to go skiing. He said his final exams were HARD and he needs a break from school.
The Weinerts went to Sun Valley over the weekend - we talked to Jeannie on Thursday and she said they were leaving the next day ªwe hope they have had a wonderful trip too.
Daddy & I went to Park City for a High Priest Group Leader's Retreat on Friday and Saturday. We stayed in a very luxurious three bedroom apartment at the Resort Center. That's the first time we have ever stayed in Park City and we LOVED it. I said I could really get used to that - I don't know if any of you remember but when we first came home from our mission I wanted to buy a condo there. I am a mountain person and Daddy loves the water - HE FOUND HIM THE KIND OF FISHING BOAT HE HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR!!! It's a little deeper than his other one and will be safer for him to go fishing out on Utah Lake with - he's thrilled with it. I said, I'm so glad we didn't have to pull that clear from Little Rock, and he said that if he had found it back there he would have found a way to get it out here. I think he will have fun fixing it up - it needs a few things done to it so he has another project!!!! He has gone over to Lehi this morning to show it to Ray. Daddy went to Dr. Brown (the oncologist) last Thursday for a checkup and he told him that if he had never seen the x-rays before he would think the vertebrae was perfectly normal - he was very encouraging. They sent the blood to California for some specific tests and won't get the results back for a week or more - that's the first time they have done that. Daddy got a letter from the urology department of the University of Utah asking for names of his brothers and brother-in-laws so they could approach them about some research they are doing - they said there is a DEFINITE LINK BETWEEN HEREDITY AND PROSTATE CANCER - we couldn't figure out why the brothers-in-law would be important but we hope the men in our family will take heed of this!!!!
I can't think of any more 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.
P.S. We're looking forward to the family party at your home Bob & Claire on Saturday. Michael's baptism will be at 5 p.m. It will be fun to be with Claire's family too and visit with Bob & Alice about their mission. I told Ellen Mae & Mel we would be there and would love to have them come (that was bold of me, wasn't it?) - I will really be surprised if they come but they are so much fun you will enjoy them. Ann & I will bring the Fajitas!!!!