April 9, 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:

There were lots of exciting things happening this past weekend!! Little Sarah called yesterday morning, so excited, because their little finches had laid three eggs. I can't imagine anything more fun for them than to watch those little birds lay eggs and now to watch them hatch right in their own home.

Then - it's Jessie's birthday this Wednesday and she was planning a birthday party and had her invitations already to pass out - BUT - Ann & Susanna decided to give her a surprise birthday party on Saturday morning. Ann had told us about it and she was so worried that Jessie might find out but her friends all kept it a secret and they all gathered in their basement using that outside entrance. Jessie was up watching television in her pajamas when they all surprised her - I believe she had eleven friends. They went to J.B.'s for breakfast and then back to their home for visiting and fun. We went up later Saturday afternoon and Jessie was 'kind of in a daze'.

THEN - we talked to Roy and they had been to Little Rock last weekend and had found a home they liked. It was SO fun to hear about their plans - what a wonderful and exciting time in their lives and yet a stressful time too!!! They haven't made any definite decisions yet. I wish we could be more help to you during your move - that is HARD!!! Daddy wanted to jump in the car and drive to Little Rock to look at the home you're looking at - Ha!!! We both still miss Little Rock. We surely hope you are feeling good Patrice and that you won't overdo.

Daddy was in charge of the refreshments for the Gold & Green Ball at church on Saturday evening. He had passed out "fliers" earlier in the week asking 41 families to bring a 'batch' of cookies - we had thought maybe half the families would respond. WELL - you have never seen so many cookies in your entire life. He got sprite and sherbet from BYU and we made a million gallons of frappe' - we spent most of the evening in the kitchen but it was fun. I came home towards the end of the dance and got some big baggies so they could take the left over cookies home with them. The dance really was to honor the graduating seniors in our ward and they had a little slide presentation about each one of them and it was very nice. There are some very nice young people in our ward.

I will be happy when tomorrow is over!!! A friend and I are going shopping this afternoon to get the food for Relief Society Homemaking day. We will make cannelonis tonight to serve forty women for lunch tomorrow - then we will get the stuff to demonstrate making them tomorrow and also food for "Quick & Easy" meals to demonstrate. I am going to make that Bisquick crab quiche and then your spam pizzas, Jeannie. We have to demonstrate in the morning and then again tomorrow night - I personally think that is a little much!!! We will serve the cannelonis, fruit salad, steamed vegetables and then the left over sherbet for dessert. I'm anxious to learn how to do the cannelonis - I made them once but they didn't turn out!!!

John went to Moab this past weekend for a mountain bike race or something. We saw him for a little while when we came home from the dance on Saturday - he and Gayla were here watching a video. She is excited about going to Spain. She will go home to Mesa in about a week after this Semester and stay until June when she will go into the MTC. Daddy and I were surprised to hear how many of the girl graduating seniors in our ward are planning to serve missions - it used to be quite a rare thing for girls to go on missions but now most of them want to go. John is planning to go to school this Spring semester but he isn't sure about the Summer one - he doesn't think he will be able to get any classes that he needs - he was supposed to meet with his school counselor this week.

Daddy had his bone scan on Friday morning and Dr. Brown had us wait for the results so he could talk to us. He showed us the x-rays and the cancer has gone to the ribs on Daddy's right side. It's a very small spot and that is the only place. Dr. Brown was completely frustrated - he just looked at us !!! He had told us from the very beginning that he wouldn't treat it until it became symptomatic and now they have found it before it has started hurting. He is consulting with other doctors and especially Daddy's urologist in Salt Lake - Dr. Middleton. He explained they may treat it with hormones or with radiation - he won't know until tomorrow afternoon. What a challenge for all of us - especially Daddy - but we want you all to know that we are prepared and know that things will be just fine whatever happens. Daddy feels just great and we're SO grateful for that!!! Daddy & I went fishing last Monday and Wednesday on Utah lake. Monday, I caught the biggest walleye pike you have ever seen - I couldn't believe it. I would have lost it if Daddy hadn't netted it but it was REALLY fun. Daddy caught lots other fish but they weren't as big as mine was - Ha!!! Wednesday, we went on the other side of the lake and Daddy caught a huge catfish and a carp but I didn't catch anything. He smoked them on Thursday but I can't bring myself to eat the carp - he thinks it's good!!! We plan to go to the cabin on Wednesday morning and stay for a couple days - we have to speak in church on Easter morning and we'll prepare our talks us there. I have to give my lesson the next Sunday and then I believe we are going to say NO to all these extra assignments!!!

We talked to Jeannie last night and she said that Rick & Ricky won't be able to go to Lake Powell on the 21st. They are going to take their family to Vernal this weekend to see Dinosaurland and Rick can't take off any more from work. I don't know if Bob and his boys are still planning to go or not - Daddy has invited Ray to go with them if they still plan to go.

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