April 27, 1992 Orem, Utah

Dearest Johnny; 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 went out in front early this morning so I could get our flower beds all ready for planting before it got too hot. I am SO slow that by time I came in, it was one o'clock. I had a lot of neighbors come by to visit and that took up some time too. They are so sweet to me and would do anything to help but I just have to do this myself until I really know what needs to be done. I enjoy doing it but it just takes time!!! Keith Smith wants me to hire a nursery to come in and put that "Round -Up" on all the ground and then put that ground cloth down and THEN plant the flowers. He says that would prevent all further weeding - I'm going to try in Daddy's way this year - he has always had a prettier yard than Keith has!!!

I worked out on our back hill most of last week - it was just full of weeds and grass and it looks really nice now. The top two tiers have beautiful pansies on them but I'll have to pull them up soon so I can plant those yellow inca marigolds that we have had good luck with. I'm not going to plant pansies this Fall like Daddy has always done - I have to pull them up right when they're the prettiest because if I don't get the incas in now they won't be as pretty. We tried waiting one year and they never did grow very good.

Yesterday after church, I came home and thought I would be alone for all afternoon. John had gone to Moab and I didn't expect him home until evening. I decided to "attack" Daddy's closet. I haven't even been able to open that door. I cried with every hanger I took down and then to my surprise John came home early. I was really a mess all afternoon. Ann called and said she wanted to come over and I said, "You can come but I don't entertain you". That was a mean thing to say and I'm sorry. I don't believe you can even imagine the amount of company I have had and each one wants to hear all about Daddy's illness and those who couldn't come to the funeral want to hear all about that. If I don't have company, I have phone calls. This is a no win situation - I feel bad if people don't call or come and I feel bad if they do. I KNOW things will get better soon.

To top things off yesterday, a member of our bishopric called and wanted to come see me at 5 o'clock. I have kinda' expected to be called into the genealogy extraction program - the lady I would be working for is such dear friend and she just lost her husband a couple months ago and she said she had asked for me. I couldn't believe it when Bro. Littledike called me to be the Laurel Leader in the Young Women's Organization in our ward. I almost cried but I said I would. He left and I went outside to pick some pansies and then I went to Lehi and put them on Daddy's grave.

I was really in a frenzied state of mind and came home and started working more on Daddy's closet and the phone rang. It was our neighbors - Paul & Dorothy Theobald - they have that HUGE motor home and had just come home from Palm Springs and St. George. They said, "Oh good - you're home, we're on our way over". They were really sweet and we had a good visit. After they left, I came upstairs and made a little trail so I could get to the bathroom from my bed - I took a sleeping pill and went to bed. The upstairs is still in a huge mess but I feel better and have put Daddy's clothes in special places for you all to look over and see if you can use anything - the Multiple Sclerosis people are coming on May 4th and by then I'll have something I KNOW you can't use ready for them. I won't give clothing to Desert Industries anymore - I know that isn't being a very good Mormon but I don't think they take care of nice things!!!

This morning when I was out in front working, Shawna Theobald, my sweet neighbor came over to help me and I asked her if being Laurel Leader was a big job. She practically screamed - she has been Young President for quite awhile and she said she was going to call the Bishop and tell him she would take my place - she said, "there is no way you can do that and you should never have been called". She said they will expect me to go to girl's camp with the girls and many other things. We'll see what happens!!! I know the Bishop thinks I need to be kept busy when what I would really like some time to be bored - Ha!!!

John & I had the most fun day on Friday. He dressed in his cap and gown and we went to the Marriott Center for this Engineering Commencement Exercise. I was REALLY impressed with everything and after it was over, I think he was happy he had agreed to go. They were over about noon so we went to "Diegos" for a chimichango and then he went to work. After work he packed his car with his bicycle trail is really hard but he had fun.

I had a fun week. I went to our Family Home Evening party last Monday - I didn't stay long but it was fun. Wednesday, John escorted me to the sky room at BYU for a wedding reception and that was really nice. Thursday, I went to Hannah Oldroyd's home for our luncheon club - she served a fabulous chicken thing and I got the recipe and will share it with you after I try it.

Last Tuesday (or maybe it was Monday) Dianne Power and I went to the Olive Gardens for lunch. We talked a mile a minute for four hours - she is a DARLING friend. She was here for Brick's graduation from BYU - he is going to Emory Law School in the fall. She brought me a gorgeous china flower pot with artificial flowers in it. Dianne told me about their new home in Georgia and it sounds just fabulous - it's right on the golf course. She looks better and seems healthier than she has in years. They don't have any carpet in the rooms where she spends most of her time and in the rooms where there is carpet. It is the kind that doesn't have any chemicals in it for stainfree, etc. when they painted their home, they put lots and lots of baking soda in the paint - she says whatever they did has really helped her allergies.

Bob - thanks for calling last night. (He called while the Theobalds were here so we didn't talk long but he suggested that we get together for Memorial Day.) I checked my calendar Bob and it is Monday May 25th. I need to drive to Brigham City sometimes and put flowers on my parent's graves - I really could do that on Sunday May 24th. I would like to visit little Christopher's grave also. I don't know that I need to go to Manti - Daddy & I have always gone there too but maybe I could do that another time. They have promised me that our monument would be up on Daddy's grave by Memorial Day and that should be our family focus this year. Bob suggested (I promise it was his idea) that we all fix a picnic dinner and eat at "The Farm". Brimley will probably still have his horses there - his lease goes until May 30th. Maybe some of you would be in charge of organizing some games for the children like softball. I am very serious in having that as our family get together place during all the months that we can - let's put our heeds together and see what we can come up with that would be fun for the children.

I've got to tell you this. Flo Beth Keller, the Young Women's President just called to tell me how happy she was that I accepted that calling. I didn't have the heart to tell her I was having misgivings. Flo Beth's husband, Roger, is going to go to Israel for six weeks and do some extensive research for the church. I called Shawna and told her - she said, "I wish you luck".

I ran into Ann in the parking lot of Food 4 Less one day last week and we visited for a little while. She called last night and said she had been sick with the flu - I pace myself but Ann is the kind that goes until she drops!!!

Jeannie has been so sweet to call a million times this past month and so has Roy. Roy has made some Little Rock calls for me about Daddy's insurance and I have appreciated that. He had three insurance policies, each valued at $10,000, and everyone has been very cooperative and helpful. John faxed the information for the National Service Life one and the man from Prudential came over the day after I called him for me to sign some forms. I am still writing thank you notes - all together I have probably written one hundred and fifty and I have received about fifty cards that I haven't written thank you notes for - I don't write thank you notes for cards, do I? Many people in Arkansas sent contributions for Cancer Research and I have received memoriams for that.

Roy - we're SO happy you are coming to go fishing with John & Rick - YOU WILL LOVE THAT AREA. I would love Patrice & family.
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