November 9, 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:

We are having a beautiful day here but I can't help but be angry at the weathermen!!! Their predictions are nine times wrong out of ten and I take them so seriously. I pulled up all my beautiful flowers a good month too soon and today we were supposed to have three to four inches of snow on the valley floor and at least a foot in the mountains. I have been worried about the cabin - I thought Bob & John were going deer hunting up there so I got some more anti-freeze for the drains and some more mice bait for them to put in the cabin. Their plans didn't materialize so right after church yesterday I drove up there to do it. The cabin looks just wonderful and it was so pretty up there - all the mice bait was gone so I know we have mice to contend with. I wish I had left the drains the way John fixed them and then I wouldn't worry but Byrd came over and suctioned all the anti-freeze he had put in and put in some other kind and I didn't think it was enough. The kind John put in was the kind you use in cars and Byrd said it stopped the "action" in the drainage system or something - I know that was the kind always used to use. We have another skunk but I didn't go under the house - Michael - you will have to set your trap next Spring.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB!!! Will you be 38 this Friday? It's Friday the 13th too - I hope you have a WONDERFUL DAY!!!

The big news for this letter is JOHN IS IN JAPAN!!! I always keep one ear alert to the garage door because John drops in often just to say "Hi" so I'm reminded often that he is out of the country. When I told him how thrilled I was that he was going he said, "Oh Mom - no big deal. The world is a much smaller place than you think it is". I will always think that Japan is far away. He went with John Wright who is President of Viewpoint and I hope they are successful in bringing some business back. They left on Saturday and will be home Wednesday or Thursday so it's a short trip but a wonderful opportunity for him and he was excited. He had a hard time finding his passport but he finally did and it was still current - he told me it was good until 1995.

Annie is just about back to her normal self. They came over last night for Family Home Evening and I am embarrassed when I see how much smarter their children are than I am in their knowledge of the Book of Mormon. Ann had devised a "game" for us to play and I just about flunked!!! I will drive her to her doctor's appointment this afternoon and she's hoping he will gave her permission to drive again. I have enjoyed driving some of her carpools (Ron has driven a lot too) and I am amazed at how busy she is and I know all you other mothers are too - you just plan don't have time to visit me until school is over!!!

Emily - I love it when you call and talk to me - Roy says "she is full of it" and I believe it. She is so enthusiastic and interested in everything. She said to me last night - "Grandma B. I miss PaPa". When I told her that he loved her very much and was very proud of her she wanted to know how I knew that. It's going to be hard to keep ahead of that little gal. We're excited for your trip at Christmas time and I'm SO thrilled that you will be here on Christmas day - I kinda' understood that you would have to leave the day before Christmas. I'm hoping for LOTS of snow so we can sled and build snow men, etc., etc. Patrice - thank you for your sweet letter - I loved hearing about your Halloween and Roy - I'm proud of you for taking such an active part in the party for the children at your church (he and a friend built a Haunted House that was very successful). Emily was SO excited as she told me about choosing a duck and if you didn't like the prize that went with it, you could choose another one. I hope you took pictures of Timothy as a clown and Emily as a pretty witch - I just love Halloween.

Jeannie, I haven't heard from you this week. I called Bob to see how I should vote and he had talked to you and said you were all fine. The election is over and Bob wouldn't give me any advice - he said he was going to vote for Perot - as it turned out Perot got votes from Bob, Roy, John and Ron. I enjoyed watching the returns and told everyone how often I had been to the Governor's mansion where the celebration was and then found out it was all held at the old State House in downtown Little Rock. I always insisted on taking friends who visited us to that place - I hope they remembered that. I am worried about Bill Clinton as President but he was destined to win some time I'm afraid.

Last Thursday was a very special treat for me. Jessie and her quarter played a selection, "Vivaldi", with the Utah Valley Symphony Orchestra and I just sat and cried all the way through it - it was so difficult and they didn't miss one note. Their teacher is concert master of the orchestra and she is not one to show emotion but she was obviously very pleased. It was held in the Historic Provo Tabernacle and it was for the older age children in the grade schools in this area. We got there early so we had seats on the very front row of the balcony and it was just wonderful - John came too.

I'm looking forward to attending the performance of the "Nutcracker Ballet" where Barji will dance. I have never seen her perform and she has been in other ballets too. This will be on December 18th and I have my calendar marked.

My friend, Marian Jeppsen, called and invited me to go to the football game with her again on Saturday. We spent from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. together and it was WONDERFUL. Malcolm had meetings and she said she had heard all his talks and jokes so often he told her she could miss this time - Ha!!! We were in the "Celestial Room" of the Cougar stadium again and that is a real treat - delicious food served for three hours!!!
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