November 26, 1990 Orem, Utah

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

Wow - it's been almost a month since my last letter. I tried to find time to write this morning so I could get it mailed today but my visiting teachers came, then it was time to go to the dinner!!! It's now about 7:30 and I'm determined to write it because I don't know what tomorrow will bring!!! It is really cold and windy outside and so warm and nice inside - we had a little snow last week but not much in sight now and we need it so much - the ski slopes are open but not much in the valleys.

Dr. Brown decided to not start Daddy on any radiation - they had planned to start tomorrow. Daddy has been feeling SO good and doesn't have any pain so he just had to have a blood test and is scheduled to go back in two months. Dr. Brown told us that sometimes when they give the radiation to the tumors it causes the PSA to go down so if the PSA is up again he may decide to do more radiation. He was quite surprised that Daddy is better.

We left here as scheduled on Thursday, Nov. 1st to go to Little Rock. We just took our time and enjoyed every bit of the trip - we went through Colorado and Kansas and got in Little Rock the afternoon of Nov. 3rd. It was wonderful to see Suzie, Patrice's Mom, again and we just couldn't believe how well Patrice was doing. We had gone to help but they really didn't need us!!!

TIMOTHY IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BABIES WE HAVE EVER SEEN. When John saw his picture he said, "He's perfect, isn't he?" and that says it all. We will be really surprised if he doesn't look as much like his Daddy as any son could - when I get time I am going through Roy's baby pictures and send them to you Roy because he REALLY does look like you. Patrice said that Roy had worked like a demon getting them moved and we believe it - I don't know how they did everything they did. They had moved from their apartment and also their storage and everything was in order so they were very comfortable and settled.

WE LOVE THEIR HOME!!! It is in such a perfect location - they can walk to just about everything they need - they have a wonderful and safe play area and Emily - their family room with a great fireplace is so convenient to the kitchen and also the backyard - their bedrooms & bathrooms upstairs are so spacious with lots of interesting angles and areas - their guest bedroom is beautiful and on the main floor which is something I wish we had. They have a wonderful sun room in addition to a lovely living room with fireplace and dinning room right off the kitchen. They will really have fun decorating their home. Daddy & I love their big trees - we watched squirrels climb all around.

Thank you SO much for letting us use your apartment, Roy & Patrice. (Roy had signed a lease on their apartment through November and it was SO convenient for us - I still think we owe you some rent.) We stayed at the apartment Saturday night and then went to Hot Springs early on Sunday morning to attend church there - they have a gorgeous new chapel up on a hill. Chris & Wayne were expecting us so we went to their cabin on Lake Hamilton after church. Chris has torn a ligament in her knee so she is using a walker and is supposed to stay off her feet. Wayne waited on us hand and foot and the meals he prepared were really good - they had brought fish from the coast. We stayed in Hot Springs two nights and then went back to Little Rock and were with Roy & Patrice most of the time. I just couldn't get enough of that little Emily - she is just darling and fun to play with. Timothy is a GOOD baby and only cried when he was hungry or wet.

Roy took us all over the new area in Little Rock. Do you all remember where Jean Starnes lived? All the area there and West of her home is the new Pleasant Valley of Little Rock only it is much more elaborate with larger homes - it is called Chanal.

Daddy & I drove out to Maumelle Town and that has really grown too - we couldn't believe it!!! It seems like everything around Little Rock is booming and I can't figure out why.

We went to Searcy to see Brenda. She is much better from her cancer treatment and was on a trip to Pennsylvania to be with Chris & Sally Mart for Thanksgiving. We went to the Searcy Chapel and visited with Bishop Slade and his wife who is a former Sherwood girl and they told us all the news of that area.

Jim & Marlena Griffin had us for dinner one night and it was really fun to be with their family and see their children who have grown up so much - their oldest daughter starts at BYU next Fall. They have a lovely home that has just been remodeled. We went back the next week to stay with Chris & Wayne another night - I think Daddy really wanted another of Wayne's dinners.

We went "church hopping" the last Sunday we were there. We went to Otter Creek for their services first, then out to Jacksonville and then to our own former ward in Little Rock. They asked Daddy to speak in Jacksonville and he did such a good job - they had called from Hot Springs and wanted him to speak there too but there just wasn't time. We saw a million friends and they were SO sweet to us - Bessie Wilhite is in her 90's and still as bossy and alert as ever - Nell Wiggins is just the same but kinda' depressed (Lori is divorced and living at home with her little girl and expecting another and Pete is a counselor with alcoholics anonymous and living at home). We were more impressed with the progress made out at Jacksonville than in the other stake and we understand that the Conway ward is ready to be divided again.

I went to the night Relief Society Homemaking meeting in Little Rock - Chris was demonstrating making those decorated mats for Christmas. We had a good visit and it was a good thing because the next day Marc had a stroke. He was paralyzed on one side but has since recovered much of the movement in his arm and hand and is in the rehabilitation unit now. I have tried to call her since coming home but can never get her home so I guess she spends a lot of time with him.

Joy Geisler came over to the apartment and spent an evening with us - we went out for pizza. She is certainly a sweet friend and I would have liked to spend more time with her. She gave us a recipe book from the cook at the Governor's Mansion in Little Rock and it has been so much fun to read - I thought it was so good that we bought one to bring home to give to Carol & Elly for their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

We went to our former neighborhood and everything is about the same - our home is still really nice. We visited with Pete, Marine Funk, Terry Woods & Bobbye Dennis - we had had phone visits with Dorothy and also Helen Bridges but couldn't get together.

We also spent an evening with the McKells. Floy had fixed the most delicious dinner and we really enjoyed being with them and then the very next day Floy fell and broke one ankle and sprained the other one so she is bed ridden and I wish I could prepare a meal for them. Mary is just the same and we admire them so much for the way they help her.

We got to be Timothy's first baby sitters but I'm afraid we failed miserably. Roy & Patrice went out for about an hour and a half to attend a dinner with the staff from the hospital where Roy works. Patrice had pumped breast milk and frozen it so we could use it in an emergency. WELL - Patrice fed him just minutes before they left so when he started to cry we decided it was just his "fussy" time so we just carried him and tried to make him happy. Finally when he wouldn't stop crying we warmed the milk and attempted to feed him. It wasn't the same and he wasn't very happy and was screaming bloody murder when they walked in. Patrice told us the next day that he had swallowed so much air that he threw up after we left. One thing for sure - we found out that he is a very healthy baby with mighty strong lungs. I doubt they will go out again for awhile!!!

We left on Saturday morning, Nov. 17th, to come home and decided to come the Southern route. We thought we might go to Phoenix but decided it would be too close to Thanksgiving by the time we got home if we did so we headed north from Albuquerque. We stayed in a little town in Texas the first night and then made it to our cabin in Scofield the second night. We got in Orem on Monday morning, Nov. 19th.

John had done a wonderful job with our home & yard. He had raked all the leaves and everything looked SO good. I believe he was happy to have us come home - it is a big responsibility to care for everything here and I know it worries him.

We helped Annie a little with Thanksgiving dinner. She had invited everyone to their home for brunch and also dinner so she had a big job. Ron's parents, Bev & Russ and his sister Mimi, were with us too and they are such a joy. We all went bowling at the BYU Wilkinson Center in the afternoon and the children had fun and used up some of their energy. The food was OUT OF THIS WORLD and we all ate and ate until we were stuffed.

Daddy went fishing with Ray Friday morning early - they went to Scofield but didn't count on the lake being frozen so they didn't take their ice auger. They came home early because they couldn't shore or boat fish but they always enjoy being together and getting out to do "something".

Bob came down early Saturday morning and Daddy, Bob & John all went duck hunting. I couldn't believe it when I learned that Bob was going to be here by 5 o'clock in the morning - he had to leave Layton before 4. Daddy said that was the most beautiful spot in the world to go duck hunting but there was only one problem - there weren't any ducks - Ha!!! John had discovered that spot and he & his friends have had good luck there before but this time the ducks had gone. They were home by noon.

Would you believe that Bob was down again on Sunday morning by 10 o'clock??? I know he must be completely worn out. Daddy's sister and brother-in-law Carol & Elly Braithwaite celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday. Carol has called us at least a million times to make sure Daddy & I and all our family would be there.

WE CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN MANTI. They had their "party" at Cedar Crest, Palisades Park, in Sterling which is about 5 miles South of Manti and a beautiful place. They had a dinner for close friends and family from noon until 4 o'clock. It was wonderful to see relatives we haven't seen for years and years and we kept telling our grandchildren how important it was for them to become acquainted with their cousins. Our grandchildren were just perfect angels and it wasn't an easy day for them. They were in their beautiful Sunday clothes so they couldn't "rough house" and there wasn't anything planned for them. They showed slides and we enjoyed them but there were a few too many - Ha!!! Carol & Elly have had a very successful fifty years and have many friends who came to their reception from 4 until 6 - we left before that started.

You will never read all of this and I don't blame you but I needed to document our month of November for my journal. I wanted to write tonight so I will be free to put the Christmas lights up outside tomorrow - our area looks like a fairyland with the homes so beautifully decorated.

We love you all so very much - PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL!!!

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