April 1, 1991 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:

HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY!!! It's kinda' sad that I don't have anyone to play the "Pink Elephant Joke" on anymore - Daddy is on to me so he isn't any fun - Ha!!! I wonder how many of you had salt in your sugar shakers this morning!!!

Daddy & I just came home from our genealogy work. We only stayed for three hours instead of four - Daddy gets too tired sitting in that position for that long. We still don't know what we're doing - do you think we will ever learn???

We had such a wonderful Easter yesterday. We left early in the morning in order to get to Farmington in time to go to church with the Weinerts but we were SO happy that we did. Their services were very nice and we went into their Primary periodically and that was really special. First of all, little Sarah took part in their class presentation - she told the story of "Daniel in the Lion's Den" showing pictures as she told it and she really knew that story and stood up in front of everyone like a "real pro". Later on, Barji had a part in her class presentation and told the story of the trees that were chosen to; build the cradle for Jesus' birth and also the ones chosen to build the cross that was used for His crucifixion (I probably don't have that right but you're all familiar with the story) and she did an excellent job. THEN - Mary Ann took part in her class's closing exercises and she told the story of how the wind, the sun and rain all took part in helping the little Easter lily grow strong from a little seed - she used a flannel board with pictures too and she was so well prepared and did a wonderful job. They have a big Primary and all the little children were dressed in their Easter finery and it was a beautiful picture.

After their church, we went to their home for a delicious dinner and I was so starved I ate the Easter egg Mary Ann had colored for me before dinner was ready. Their Easter had been more like Christmas - they had an Easter egg hunt and beautiful Easter Baskets but the sweetest thing was the beautiful Easter basket Ricky, Barji, Mary Ann & Sarah had fixed for their parents and it was a surprise. They had balloons and their favorite candy bars and they were so excited. Rick grilled steak shish-ka-bobs to go with those fabulous stuffed potatoes, salad, hot bread and then we had grasshopper pie for dessert. We just ate & ate and loved every minute of it.

The children all performed for us and we continue to be SO impressed with their progress - they are all preparing for recitals. It is SO neat to have all their children learning to play something - Sarah & Mary Ann violin and Barji & Ricky piano.

We went to Bob & Claires to wish little Katie a Happy Birthday - she had a real Easter Birthday and she is such a little doll. She had received a new little tricycle and had had a party on Saturday with three little friends. We sat in their backyard and visited and watched the children play. Bob had built Michael a rope swing with a pulley type handle from one end of their yard to the other and he was having so much fun. Bob had a terrible cold and we hope he is feeling better by now - he is exposed to every kind of illness every single day.

We went up to the Woolleys on Thursday and they were already celebrating Easter - they were making all kinds of Easter baskets and pictures. Susanna was tending since their school was on Spring Break and I do believe every child in their neighborhood was at their home - a wonderful happy place to be!!! Ann came over to visit for a few minutes on Friday morning and they are doing fine - a stressful time for them!!!

John is doing good but is mighty tired of studying. He took a practice DAT test last Saturday and came home SO discouraged!!! He says he had to do so many problems in such a short time. After his test he went to see Bob and then to have lunch with the Weinerts - he loved being with them and said he had a good game of basketball with Mary Ann.

Patrice - thank you SO much for sending us that information from your Universalist Unitarian magazine - that was SO interesting. There are two centennial celebrations in Utah this month - one is the establishment of the First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake and the other is the creation of the Mormon Temple's Angel Moroni. The man who sculptured the Angel Moroni is a member of the Unitarian church - he is from Springville, Utah and first did a sculpture of one of our Mormon Prophets, Wilford Woodruff. The church liked that bust so much they asked him to do the Angel Moroni. This man came from Mormon heritage - his Father & Uncle had been excommunicated from the church for supporting a non - Mormon Liberal party candidate and also for trying to sell alcohol in a dry goods store. The Unitarian artist moved from Springville to Boston - his name was Cyrus Dallin. I have been reading some books that are mostly fiction but a little fact about the history of Utah and your article kinda' fits in with them - there is so much that is misunderstood about polygamy. We really miss little Emily and Timothy - we notice it especially when we are with our other grandchildren.

Daddy has his "Utah lake fishing boat" all ready for fishing - he brought it over from our farm in Lehi and painted & shined it all up - I hope it gets warm soon so we can go catch some catfish!!! We keep busy - we went to the temple twice last week to do sealings and then we have both been to the dentist. I decided to start going to our nephew Chris Crawford (Ramona & Winston's son) and will have some crowns replaced - John likes him & so do the Woolleys. Daddy has a skin rash on his forehead - Bob prescribed some cortisone cream and it has helped today - hope it continues!
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