May 11, 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:
The day after my first Mother's Day without Daddy!!! Everyone keeps telling me the holidays and celebrations will be the hardest but with a wonderful family I will survive. Thank you all SO much for all you did and you don't have to do that much again - I know it will get easier as time goes by. We had a wonderful Mother's Day get together and dinner at the Bob Mellors on Saturday and I loved every minute of it - the food was delicious!!! The weather didn't cooperate but the children were all really good for being "cooped up" all the time. WE MISSED PATRICE, EMILY & TIMOTHY!!!
Yesterday afternoon, Ann & Ron invited John & I to come for hamburgers and that was a wonderful day too. The Weinerts came also - Bob was on call and it was time for Claire to spend that day with her mother. They put up their awning and we all ate out on their patio - it was beautiful but a little chilly.
Roy - thank you SO much for all you did to help me. He took the list I had made for him and accomplished everything. We drove to the cabin early Monday morning and found it to be in good shape. They haven't turned the water on yet - at least it isn't turned on by us. We turned all our taps off and burned the mice that were in the mouse traps and put a little water in the toilet - there was a strong odor coming from it and we decided it was because the water has been off for so long. Other than that it looked just like it did when John took Daddy & I there in February. The dock is out of the water and I don't believe there will be enough water in the lake to even put it any closer. The lack of water in the lake is kinda' scary - there are quite a few dead carp on the bank - I thought sure they would be all gone by now. I'll take that one day at a time!!!
When we came home from the cabin we went to the farm to get the truck - Roy took the jumper cables to get it started and it drove just great. We took it into Lehi to get it safety inspected and they rejected it. After discussing it at length with John & Roy, we decided to just park it on the farm and not have it fixed - it would cost about $250 to get it fixed and I'm not sure it's worth it. I cancelled the insurance on it. We'll think about that for awhile and if we decide we could use it I'll get it fixed and if we decide we won't use it, I'll put a price on it and sell it. It really is a good truck for someone who will keep it up and use it.
While the truck was being safety inspected, Roy & I went to the Toyota place to see about trading in both the van and the Camry and getting a new car. We found out that they don't make Camry All-Trac cars anymore. That really answered my question about whether or not to get a new car. The Camry is really and excellent car for me and I'll just keep it until I feel it is wise to get a new one - it only has 30,000 miles on it. The van has almost 53,000 miles on it - I put an ad in the paper to try to sell it - I put the price of $11,900 and that is probably too high but it's easier to come down than go up - HA!
In the middle of doing all of this, Roy went to the Mall and bought me a telephone answering service. He installed it and built a little shelf so it is right beneath the telephone. I JUST LOVE IT and I can't believe how much "pressure" it takes from me. Daddy would have put that right up with apple pie, the flag and motherhood - Ha!!! If I can figure out how to do it, I'm going to change my message - make it REALLY short like Bobs. Roy was "bushed" by the time the day was over and so was I.
Wednesday morning, Roy took the van to the glass hospital and had the windshield replaced - it had been broken for quite a long time and I'm surprised in the difference it makes in the appearance of the van. Then he went grocery shopping and ran some other errands and got already to go to Montana for the planned fishing trip with John. WELL - they got a late start because John had to have his brakes fixed and it took longer than he had planned. They left here about 6 p.m. and told their guide in Montana they would be there probably about midnight.
Thursday morning about 7 a.m., I got a phone call from the guide. He asked for John and when I told him he was in Montana on a fishing trip he said, "I don't want to worry you, but I waited up for them until about 11 p.m. and when they didn't come I left the light on in the cabin and they still haven't come in". I was just sick!!! In about ten minutes the phone rang again and when John was on the other line, I just about cried. They had gone to the wrong cabin and everything was just fine.
They had a wonderful fishing trip - Roy said that Thursday was just about as perfect a fishing day as you could ever expect. Friday was a little stormy and then on Saturday they awakened to a snow storm. That was good though because it caused them to leave a little earlier and get to Bob & Claires early.
John took Roy to the airport and I have said a "MILLION THANKS" that I didn't take him. I had to teach a class but I said I would take him and get home by 11 in time to teach it if John couldn't do it. John beat me to it and would you believe I had a FLAT TIRE on the way to church. If I had made Roy miss his flight I would have just died!!! I just pulled over and someone came by and took me to church - I called John about 10:15 a.m. and he was home from the airport and he changed the tire and all is well. EXCEPT - when I came home from church I discovered all of John's clothes gone from his closet and his comforter and pillow gone also - YOU GUESSED IT - He had moved out!!! I just thank him for making our house a home while he has been here!!!