February 12, 1990 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:

Daddy & I just came home from our walk - we started out the first of the month determined to walk every day. Daddy likes to walk at night and I like to walk in the mornings so we're doing a little of both - Ha!!! We have been going over to the outdoors track at the rec center and it's supposed to be a little over half a mile around and we go six times - Daddy's ankle is so much better and I have a hard time keeping up with him. He's feeling really good - getting ready to smoke the rest of the salmon that we have in the freezer. He wants to do some more landscaping on our hill but the nurseries don't have those cedar logs that he needs - they tell him it isn't Spring yet!!!!

We have had such a fun weekend!!! Bob called Saturday morning and said he would like to come check some of our genealogy. That is a long way to drive to do a little genealogy but we REALLY loved having them drop in like that - he brought Laura, Brett & Katie and they were SO good. I don't know how they keep up with little Katie - she & Emily are at the age when they need constant watching to keep them from getting hurt. I REALLY enjoy having the grandchildren come like that so I can get to know them better. Bob has more up-to-date genealogy than we do, but we were able to give him a few dates he didn't have. Daddy & I keep saying we're going to work on that but we don't.

Yesterday, Sunday, the Woolleys came and had dinner with us about 3 o'clock and then John & Gayla came too. I guess there are very few things I enjoy more than having our family come for dinner - I wish I were a better cook but they don't complain. The children always give us such a boost and then it is a real plus to have John & Gayla around. The Woolleys are caring for Pres. Rex Lee's daughter, Christie, for a few days while they are out of town so she came with them - she & Susanna are good friends and they are dolls!!!! We admire that little Jessie - she lost one of her contacts while Ann & Ron were in California - they got her some new ones and Ann said they were in the doctor's office for about four hours having tests, etc. They got the contacts and took them home and Jessie put them on their steps going upstairs - Jimmy came along and somehow they ended up with an empty box. They had to order some new ones and also some prescription glasses for her - she just takes it all in stride!!! As they were telling us about it last night, Ron just sat scratching his head - a lot of Daddy's would not be so good natured and helpful!!!

John & Gayla were both having tests this week so they couldn't stay very long. John has some very hard courses this semester - he says they are very interesting and he seems to love school but as he says, "it is hectic". Gayla is so fun to have around - she just makes herself at home and fits right in. I wish they would come often - we always have food in the freezer they can fix.

Little Mary Ann is having a violin recital at their home today - I wish we could drive up for it. She is very good!!! We miss the children after we have been with them for a few days like we were with the Weinerts and also little Emily after she leaves.

Patrice - my carrot cake turned out so good that I have to make two more for this Wednesday. One of the ladies who came for our Family Home Evening meeting last Monday is in charge of a luncheon on Wednesday and she asked if I would make two more for it. I believe I will make one carrot and one chocolate so they can have a variety. I love the lemon flavoring in the frosting for the carrot cake. We know you're doing good - I know it must be hard for you to have so many people going through your home all the time and it will be a relief when it is sold. We hope you know that we would love to have you move in with us if you have to vacate much before moving to Little Rock.

Some of our friends are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on Valentine's Day. Tonight we are getting together to surprise them with a party - we're getting fried chicken and all the trimmings and will meet at the Christensen's home for dinner. The friends whose anniversary it is used to live on a ranch in Montana and sold it for 7 million dollars not long ago Daddy knew them in Montana but I didn't. They are the "salt of the earth" kind of people - Dick & Gladys Briggs - and she really is quite crippled with arthritis.

I'm excited to put on a quilt for Ann. She bought some plaid flannel at Christmas time and we told her we would like to help her tie it - they brought the "stuff" over for it yesterday. We have had such a mild Winter but it is supposed to be cold and snowy the end of this week and it will be fun to work on it.

We talked to Chris & Wayne yesterday and they're doing fine. They went to Florida for a couple weeks and then to Little Rock & Dallas - they're like gypsies!!! We received a letter from the Scofield people telling us they would hook us up to the sewer as soon as the weather is warm enough and we needed to have our "contractor" draw up plans for the clean out system - SO Daddy called Wayne - Ha!!! Daddy is SO anxious to spend time at the cabin - we drove up there one day last week but we didn't dare go beyond that road that leads up to those other cabins on the mountain. Daddy was worried that we would sink through the snow crust and get stuck - we could have walked into the cabin but it seemed a little foolish since it was cloudy and looked like snow. Bob & Michael are going to come in a couple weeks and will go there with Daddy to go ice fishing.

That's all the news - I think!!! 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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