September 8, 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 just came home from Relief Society where I helped with the Relief Society Luncheon. Kathleen Hansen was the chairman and she decided to have a "Back to School" theme - her tables looked so cute with lunch sacks and baskets of apples and different school supplies scattered around. She had two large mannequin children that she had bought from Mervyns many years ago and she dressed them cute and put them on the stage as a centerpiece - she called and asked if she could borrow my "cow" sweat shirt for one of them. I never could figure out the significance of cows and back to school but she had figures of cows on all of the sack lunches too. She said she had seen me in my cow shirt and had admired it - it really looked darling!!! We served "hoagie" sandwiches with that delicatessen turkey breast meat and then all the trimmings, cupcakes for dessert and milk in little cartons. We planned for 60 and there were only about 25 there so they took the food to people in the ward who were needy (I didn't think we had any needy people in our ward). They made those 72 hour survival kits again because the ones we made earlier have expired. I didn't sign up to make one because I knew I would be busy in the kitchen and at the end of the meeting Vontella Smith came and gave me one - she had signed up to make one for me - she drives me crazy but she is really a sweet woman!!!

I had such a fun evening last night - I hope you all had a fun Labor Day. I left home about 5 o'clock and picked up Jean Thayne who is also a widow and we drove to Parley's Canyon in Salt Lake to the mountain home of Mel & Emma Lou Thayne. Jean was married to Mel's brother and he passed away thirteen years ago. My wonderful friends who graduated with me from Box Elder were also there - (some of them). Mel & Ellen Mae, Merlin & Roberta, Malcolm & Marian, Clinton & Eris and then Jean & I. Everyone brought some food and the dinner was SO good - the Thaynes had baked a ham & turkey. I took Giese bread, rolls & butter so mine was easy. We ate out on their porch and the scenery was just spectacular and then we went inside by the fire to have dessert and visit. Emma Lou told the story behind some of her poems and then she read some of them to us - it really makes a difference to hear them from a "Pro". She & Mel have just returned from Russia so they told about their experiences there too. I don't believe I have ever enjoyed an evening any more. We visited about old times and new times and I didn't get home until after 1 o'clock this morning. I was SO tired and when I first looked at the clock this morning it was 8:17 and I was supposed to be at the church at 8:30 - needless to say, I WAS LATE. I had to go to Albertsons and pick up the meat too. When we first got to their cabin last night I noticed that Mel looked a little different - He had a large kind of growth at the side of his eye and I wondered what had happened to him. Malcolm took one look at him and took him aside and with his fingers applied pressure and a large piece of something popped out - it bled a little and then it was all over. It kinda reminded me of the time they visited us in Phoenix and they had about ten friends with them - Malcolm performed surgery on a lady in their motel room - he said he would do it free if she would let everyone watch. He just removed a small growth but I thought it was quite risky!!!

After I mailed my letter last week I realized that I had forgotten to mention the hurricane that had hit South Florida and parts of Louisiana. I couldn't believe that I had forgotten to say anything about it because I really worried about it all week. I followed it closely and it was right in the path to take a direct hit in Gulf Shores where Chris & Wayne live. As it turned out it missed them and it also missed David & Anna Bass in Louisiana but it surely did a lot of damage to the places it did hit like Homestead, Florida. My heart was really gone out to those people as I have watched the destruction on television - they are calling it the worst natural disaster in a century.

I told you in my last letter that I had been asked to take a school teacher in my home to live with me - I had told them no!!! Well - last Friday morning Corena Steel (the lady who had asked me) came and visited with me for three hours to talk me into it. She said this girl was a wonderful worker and wanted to work for me to pay for her rent and then later on that day she brought her over for me to meet her. She is a darling girl and wanted very much to live here. I told Corena that I would have to ask my children first and I was surprised to hear their reaction. I have worried about it for the past four days and finally this morning I told Corena that I had decided against it. I am really relieved - I feel silly living in this big house all by my self when there are so many people needing places to live but as Ann reminded me "Mom - you couldn't even get along with Brenda" and she is right. I LOVE to have my family here and that's why I want to stay here so you can all have a place to stay if you want to. I don't really believe I'm hard to get along with.

I went to the cabin on Friday afternoon. When I got there, about 7 o'clock, I just sat down and read and relaxed. I always wanted Daddy to relax for a little while when we got there but you know him -he ALWAYS wanted to work!!! I went to bed early as usual and slept until about 10 o'clock. I couldn't believe it but it was so cool and quiet and I guess I was tired. About noon I ventured outside and went to the bowery to offer help for the dinner that night - they didn't need me so I went back to the cabin and read and rested some more. I went to the dinner at 5 o'clock and it was WONDERFUL. They had roasted 8 turkeys on that bar-b-cue spit right outside our cabin and cooked six roasts. They served at least 300 people. They danced from 8'till 11 but I went back to the cabin and watched BYU beat UTEP. I went to church in Scofield the next morning and then came home about 5 o'clock. The lake is still dry but it is pretty looking out our kitchen windows because it is all green - Byrd has stretched electric wire across the meadow to keep the cows from coming close to the cabins. Ron & John say they will go up to the cabin in a couple weeks and winterize it - all the water needs to be drained so the pipes & water heater won't freeze & burst.

The Woolleys brought dessert over about 6 o'clock and gave me a beautiful Family Home Evening Lesson. I was SO impressed - Jessie & LeeAnna were in charge of the lesson and Susanna had made a gorgeous and delicious chocolate cake for dessert. I haven't had a genuine Family Home Evening lesson for a long time and it was WONDERFUL.

We're all disappointed to learn that Roy & Patrice have decided to not move to Utah. There was an anesthesia job opening in the area where Bob operates and they offered it to Roy. I talked to Roy and he said they agonized and agonized over it but finally decided it was best to stay where they were for awhile. If there is anything I have learned through my "many" years it is that no one can make a decision like that for you - you have to feel good about it yourself and only the people personally involved can know what is best. What a great compliment to Roy & Patrice that the entire family wanted them to be with all of us - I never remember feeling that any of my brothers or family really cared where Daddy and I lived. I know they will not take that lightly and I also hope they will know that we still love them and hope they will come and be with us whenever they can.

I need to take another class in the difference between future and past tense and other ways to expressing what I wanted to say - but I hope you all know what I mean.

I love each one of you so very much. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Let me know how I can help you.
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