July 15, 1990 Orem, Utah

Dearest John; Roy, Patrice & Emily; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:

It's Sunday afternoon and John is letting me use his computer to write my letter. I am so far off schedule in writing but it really doesn't matter to anyone but me - Ha! This is a neat computer but I still like the one Daddy & I have too!!!

We have had such a wonderful Summer so far and I just hope my energy keeps up with everyone else's. We left a week ago yesterday, July 7th, to go to Lake Powell. Ron had said they were going to leave at 5 a.m. but we didn't believe him - Daddy was worried that he might forget his houseboat key so he tried to call him at 5:10 and they had already gone - I believe that is a family record. Bob & Claire and their family arrived here about 6:30 and believe it or not we were already to go - Rick & Jean and their family had gone on ahead to have breakfast at McDonalds. We all left from McDonalds about 8 o'clock and traveled in a caravan - I felt like we were leaving part of us here when John didn't go with us but we could surely understand why he couldn't miss school. He was awakened many times with all of us telling him goodbye.

The trip to Lake Powell was just wonderful - it rained most of the way and was almost cold and we had all expected to "roast". When we got to the lake we found the Woolleys almost immediately - their children were already on the houseboat and Ron loaded all our things onto his boat and Rick launched his boat and we were on our way. It seemed almost "too easy". We just had fun from the very start and stayed in a different place every night - with the water level being down almost 50 feet we found some of the most unique places. The children really had a variety of places to explore. My favorite place was our last night - they parked the houseboat right up against a cliff and the depth of the water at the diving board was 40 feet so the water was clear and just beautiful. The children spent most of the time in the water because the cliff was too steep for them to climb - they also went bumper riding and the older ones learned to water ski. Little Brett got a little too brave for me - he found he could go anyplace he wanted to and I was SO worried that he would forget to put on his life jacket - little Jimmy was a little more cautious. The parents have such strict rules about life jackets and their children really obeyed them or it would have been hard.

The food could not have been better - when I felt people here what we had to eat they can't believe it. The Weinerts had delicious Mexican food and lot of it - the Bob Mellors had barbecued chicken that was "out of this world?" - the Woolleys had chicken & steak shish-ka-bobs and I have never seen so many special treats in my life. It was so funny - early in our planning stages, Bob suggested that we not take any canned soda pop but have that sugarless lemonade instead - as a result, each family worried that we wouldn't have any cola so each family took plenty and we had more than we have ever had!!!

We slept up on top of the houseboat every night - the first night it started to sprinkle so Daddy & I and the Bob Mellors moved down in the cabin area but we were sorry because it stopped right soon. We had a cloudburst one night and WHAT A SIGHT!!! There was a flash flood right in front of our houseboat and also water falls coming out of the rocks - it was just spectacular. The children were all SO good and it was a real treat for Daddy & me to be with them. We really missed Roy, Patrice & Emily and talked about how much fun it will be for little Emily in a few years - it wouldn't have been much fun this year and Bob & Claire were glad they had left little Katie home.

The Weinerts, Bob Mellors & Daddy & I traveled home in a caravan and that was fun - we stopped in Price to have a hamburger. The Woolleys stayed until Friday - we all came home on Wednesday because Bob & Rick had to work on Thursday. Barji stayed with the Woolleys and we'll take her home tomorrow because we are going to Brigham City. The couple who bought our lot in Brigham City have been paying for it monthly but they want to pay it off so we have to go there to sign papers, etc. They have been paying 10 percent interest and we won't be able to get that again but we'll be happy to have it settled.

Chris & Wayne had been here on Wednesday morning and had visited with John and then they came back on Thursday morning to see us. It is fun to have them here - they picked up Linda, Rick & their little Jonathan on Thursday at the airport and then they came and had lunch with us here on Friday on their way to Manti to see the Mormon Miracle Pageant. Rick & Linda are SO happy and we think it's wonderful that that is working out - they're expecting another baby in November. Linda asked for your phone number Roy & Patrice and I forgot to get it for her - she'll probably find it anyway and call you. Rick & Linda are going home on Tuesday and then Chris & Wayne will be with us - we'll probably spend a lot of time at the cabin.

Dianne Power is here visiting and she called Thursday morning and invited me to go to lunch with the Arkansas group at the Country Club here. Frances James came from Sandy and Barbara Sondrup's mother, Helena Jacobsen and her daughter Jerry were with us too (actually Helena has the Country Club membership). I LOVED it!!! Dianne really looks good - her doctor has finally diagnosed her health problem and is helping her - she is allergic to just about everything in the environment (the chemical in stain resistant carpets, hair spray, perfume, etc. etc.) - she is taking lots and lost of vitamins to help her immune system build back up. She had pictures of Garic's wedding and when I told her how pretty her dress was she told me she paid $400 for it - probably more that the bride's dress - ha!!! She still doesn't lie Trumbull but loves her home there. Rick & Trace are living in their condominium here and going to school - their twin girls, Jaime & Janni are 9 years old - about Jessie's age. I'm hoping I can get them to the Woolleys for a couple house so they will have fiends here in Provo.

Daddy & I went to the Mellor Reunion yesterday and we were so thrilled because John came too. We had gone early for the business meeting and he came later. The only ones there from Daddy's side of the family were Ramona & Winston but we had a great time and met a lot of people who are related. Roy - we got all the genealogy things you had ordered and will send them to you. WE got packets too but haven't gone through them yet - Daddy was proud that you had shown enough interest to order them. Those reunions are really hard because the leaders don't get a lot of support - I admire them for keeping them going and making the genealogy things available - I'm afraid we will all be held accountable for that and we don't go our share!!!

Daddy is feeling pretty good - he is having lots of problems with his stomach and I guess that is a reaction from the pills he is taking. I think he is going to ask bob for a prescription for some pills that Ramona had him try - they seem to help him. He surely does have a lot of energy - he is up and has all his yard work done before I can get my eyes open.

The fruit is coming on and we are really looking forward to that. We haven't had any bing cherries yet but Chris & Wayne found some and said they are delicious. Daddy bought a box of apricots and then Ramona gave us some so I made a little jam to keep them from spoiling. We'll have tomatoes before long and have already had some crooked neck squash.

John just went to his former apartment to pick up his bicycle - I have worried that he had sold it so he decided he had better get it home to prove to me that he didn't. He is doing great and gets letters from "Hermana Garn" often - I admire both of them.

We love each one of you so very much and we're SO proud of you. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Let us know how we can help you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW RICKY - 11 years old - WOW!!!
Return to Home Page