January 14, 1992 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:

I can't believe that my last letter was dated Dec. 26th. We have all been in touch so I guess I decided to wait to write. I want to finish this and get it mailed in forty-five minutes - I'm sure I will forget some things!!!

We just came home from Daddy's radiation treatment - we get there about 2:15 and we're usually home by 4 o'clock but Dr. Brown wanted to see Daddy today so we were delayed by about an hour. He thinks Daddy is doing good and the x-rays show the tumors to be reduced - he still has two more treatments. Daddy still can't chew anything but the doctor doesn't know if the cancer has gone into his jaw bone - he says that if it has he will treat it with electrons. He wants to wait a couple weeks and re-evaluate it.

We just LOVED Roy and Emilys' visit - they came on January 4th and that was such good timing. LeeAnna was baptized that morning and the Woolleys had a brunch afterwards at their home - Bob & Claire couldn't come so Jeannie brought Brett & Laura and Rick had to come later so we were all at their home when Roy & Emily came. They went directly from the airport to the Woolleys. The only problem was that I had a hard time competing with all the "skcousins"

LeeAnna - we are SO proud of you and we are also very proud of your family. The chapel program was just wonderful - Ann led the singing while Susanna played the piano and then LeeAnna & Jessie played a violin duet. Susanna also played the prelude music and did such a wonderful job.

Emily spent that night with the Woolleys - they made a little bed for her right by Jessies and I understand that Jessie did a little bit of bedtime story reading to her throughout the night

Ha!!! Roy went to get her early Sunday morning. She wanted to go to church with us and I wanted her to but we changed time schedules that morning and our time was 9 o'clock and I just couldn't get my act together!!!

It was wonderful to see Roy & Emily together - they are real PALS. She was so contented here but Roy kept her busy doing fun things - he even took her ice skating!!! She was REALLY excited about spending a day with Katie so they went to Layton for a day. He also took her to Sundance. The Woolleys came over on Sunday and that was wonderful too and they played and played.

Jeannie came down last Saturday and what a treat that was!!! She helped me with some nutritious menus for Daddy that can be eaten through a straw. We hope she brings the whole family next time.

Saturday morning, John came upstairs really early for him (it was about 9 o'clock) and announced that he was going to take us to the cabin. We knew they had had quite a bit of snow but John said he knew his car could make it. We packed a little lunch and left about 10 o'clock. We got to the gate just fine and John was determined to take Daddy to the cabin door. I said I would walk down first to see how deep it was - it was pretty deep but not as deep as when Daddy and I went last year in January. When I got half way to the cabin from the gate I looked back and John was driving down. We went into the cabin and checked everything - it was mighty cold but everything is fine. John went under the cabin and checked the trap but there wasn't anything in it. It was absolutely gorgeous up there - the snow was so sparkley and soft and the bright sun was so different from the way it is here in the valley with all the fog!!!

Well - it was time to leave and that was a different story. Daddy insisted that we take a big scoop shovel from the cabin and put it in John's car and we hadn't gone very far until John was using it. He practically had to shovel us all the way from the cabin to the gate. We all decided it was well worth it though and we loved it. The Scofield store is still open and we bought a fountain drink to have on the way home. We are hoping they will get a lot more snow up there this Winter!!!

We went to our Family Home Evening party last night - we couldn't stay very long but we had a wonderful time while we were there. We also had a New Year's Eve party with that group and had such a good time. They are very sweet friends and they take turns coming to visit with Daddy. Ellen Mae called this afternoon and they are going to come down tomorrow.

It is still cold here and snowed a little last night. I had to do some Relief Society work this morning so I got up early and two men were out shoveling our walks - I couldn't see who they were. The Bishop came to see us Sunday and asked if we needed any help - we said, absolutely not because John would do all that sort of thing. John was kinda' upset this morning to find the walks all shoveled - he said he wanted to do it but he wouldn't do it at 7 o'clock in the morning. Roy was SO good to keep our walks and driveway all shoveled while he was here - he really worked and got all the frozen ice off. I really enjoy shoveling snow but I'll have to do it when it gets dark if I want to do it.

Our ward is really wonderful to us - they divided some of the members away from us but the division wasn't as bad as everyone thought it was going to be. The church is growing so fast here they can't keep up with enough buildings for everyone.

I can't tell you how much your support means to us. We don't want you to neglect your families though - when you have time to come see us, bring everyone!!! Roy - Dr. Brown said he was disappointed that he didn't get to meet you - we told him you were impressed with Dr. Blair though.

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