April 16, 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:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEANNIE!!! We hope you have a wonderful day - it's fun to think back thirty-eight years ago when we were in Raleigh, North Carolina and we were SO thrilled to have such a beautiful little baby. We were SO poor and our insurance for your birth wouldn't be good until later in the month but our doctor was going on vacation so he arranged to have it pay if he induced labor - as it turned out I went into labor naturally and if he had not made arrangements beforehand we would have been in deep trouble - Ha!!! We would have had to send you back!

Daddy & I and John & Gayla went up to the Weinerts for Easter dinner yesterday - what a wonderful turkey dinner we had and everything was SO beautiful!!! They had two tables set with their nicest china and crystal and darling Easter bunny centerpieces and Easter egg place cards with our names written on them. The children had had a part in all the preparation and it just couldn't have been nicer - WE LOVED IT. The children showed me some of the birthday gifts they had for Jeannie and they were SO excited about what they were going to do to celebrate.

We loved being with the Weinerts and hearing about their trip to Vernal and visiting "Dinosaurland" and "The Flaming Gorge Dam". They had left on Friday and spent the night in Vernal and then they came home on Saturday evening in time to color Easter eggs and get ready for church. They had an Easter egg hunt on Sunday morning and they were excited about that. The girls all looked so darling in their new Easter dresses and bonnets & Ricky of course was all dressed up too - we got there just as they were coming home from church.

Ann called last night and told us all about their trip to "The Arches" - I didn't know it but I guess that is a national park. Many of the members of their ward went there also so the children had friends to play with and they had a wonderful time. Ann said it was so much fun for their family because their children are all at the ages now where they can all participate in the activities - their "baby" is old enough now and that makes it so much more fun. They left Wednesday afternoon and came home Friday night - they had planned to stay and come home Saturday but Susanna's friend Christy Lee became ill and they wanted to get her home - Ann forgot to cancel their motel reservations for Friday night and that was bad news - Ha!!!

We loved talking to you Roy and we hope Patrice is feeling better by now. Patrice has had a sinus infection and Roy said, "Mom, I had to take her to an ear, nose & throat specialist". We miss that little Emily and we need some pictures. We hope you got her Easter tricycle put together. We think you are very wise to wait until you get to Little Rock and get things a little more settled before buying a home. We are keeping our fingers crossed that you will sell your San Antonio home soon - everyone has to have all these real estate experience - it's part of life - Ha!

Daddy & John & Gayla went over to see Bob & Claire yesterday and they said they are doing fine. They had had a fun time in Salt Lake for the Easter weekend - it's just fun to "get away". Daddy says your yard is really pretty Claire - he was especially impressed with your healthy bishop's weed all over. He wants to get you a load of that "black stuff" from Utah lake so let us know when you want it.

Daddy, Ray, Bob, Michael & Brett are planning to go to Lake Powell this next weekend. I surely hope the weather stays good - we have had an absolutely gorgeous two weeks!! They are predicting a cold spell starting tomorrow with snow in the mountains and even frost in the valley - it makes me sick to think that some of the fruit might be killed - all the fruit trees are in full bloom!!! The weather men are wrong more times than they are right so we're not too worried.

Daddy is feeling after our Relief Society luncheon was over on Tuesday that I came home and took a nap (I never do that) and then I had to go back that night and demonstrate the food all over again and serve a mini-dinner. The lady who worked with me in the morning got sick and couldn't come back that night. The two to us cooked cannellonis on Monday night and got the rest of the food ready and we served 45 at noon and about 20 that night. Everyone loved it but I told the President that it was too much for two people to do so they are going to get committees from now on - I have never been in a Relief Society that expected just two people to do all that!!!

John is going to move back home and there is nothing that could make us any happier. I'm trying to not be too excited and make too much of it for fear he will change his mind. He says he is going to be taking some really hard courses and needs to study harder than he can in the situation he's in now. I remember those days so well and I could hardly wait to get in my own room and do my own thing. He can do anything he wants in our downstairs - the only time I come down here is to write my letter or to iron and that is very, very seldom. It will REALLY mean a lot to Daddy to have his here too.

We love each one of you so very much - WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU - PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!!




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