November 16, 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:

A pretty day here in Orem - if it weren't so cold I would think it was Summer - we don't have any sign of Winter in the yard. The roses are still blooming and the grass is so green - we really need some snow. There was the cutest article in yesterday's paper about how wrong the weather predictions are and it ended by saying the weathermen could tell us when it was actually snowing outside so we didn't need to look out our windows but that was about all.

I went to Wal-Mart this morning and while I was there they announced for the owner of a brown Camry to come to the front desk - they gave the license number but I didn't remember what mine was. By the time I got there the policeman was gone but they had all the information for me to call him. Someone had backed into my car and they said it was hit so hard it actually rolled out into the lane. I couldn't see any sign of where it had been hit and when I called the policeman he said if it ran alright on the way coming home I was okay because he couldn't see any damage to it either. I hate things like that!!!

John came home from Japan on Thursday night. It was SO exciting - he called me one morning from there and I was outside so he left a message on the recorder and he said it was Thursday morning there and he would leave to come home that afternoon and would get here Thursday afternoon - as he said, "kinda' like a back to the future sort of thing". He said his friend who lives over there took them around Tokyo one evening so they got to see some sights. He loved it!!! He left Saturday morning to go to Seattle to visit one of his friends and is due back home sometime today - he is a "traveling man".

Friday night, Bob's birthday, John and I went up to Layton. Bob had called and said he had reservations at the Maddox restaurant for Claire & Himself and John & I to celebrate his birthday. The dinner was just absolutely wonderful - I had their fried chicken and I believe I embarrassed everyone because I ate it with my fingers but it was worth it. It was good to see their family. Brett played some of his "jazz" pieces on the piano and I am amazed at how good he is - he really gets into it. Michael was so excited about his hockey game the next morning and showed us all the "gear" he wears when he plays - I hope it was a fun game Michael. Little Katie was so excited as she showed us pictures of their trip to Disneyland, Universal Studios and Sea World. I loved your letter Claire, telling us al about your trip and also the pictures. Claire said that Katie was really frightened on some of the rides at Disneyland and also in some of the other places - that really surprised me because she is so daring!!!

Thank you for your phone call, Jeannie. I wish you could have come down with Rick on Saturday -(Rick had to help with a heart pacer operation in Payson). I'll bet Laura and Mary Ann had fun playing together. I felt bad to be so close to your home when we went to be with the Bob Mellors and then not see you but we'll see you soon at Thanksgiving.

The Woolley family came over on Saturday morning to put my outside Christmas lights up. I was determined to not put them up on the roof this year - John took them down last year and just about slid off the roof and I decided that was enough. Daddy loved them up there but it's just too dangerous. Ron has one of those extension poles and he put them way up high in that largest tree in the front and then in the tree next to the house. They also put the small lights all over the bushes in front - it is just beautiful and looks like Temple Square. I guess there is an unspoken rule that you can't turn on the Christmas lights until after Thanksgiving but I'm anxious to have them on. When the children were here for Family Home Evening last night we turned them on so we could see how they looked.

I want to thank Ron for all the help he has given me lately. He went to the farm and took off the seats from Daddy's fishing boat so they wouldn't get ruined - then he took the battery out of the truck and brought it to his home to recharge it. Saturday he went back to the farm and put the battery back in the truck long enough to turn the truck around so the water could drain out of the back of it and he also changed the tire on the truck. It didn't matter how old or probably useless things were - it was very much a part of Daddy to take good care of them and it makes me happy to have that continue. I love the farm (and the cabin) and I could sell them in a minute!!!

We will miss the Roy Mellors at Thanksgiving time - I loved our little visit the other night Patrice. I'm wondering if maybe Suzie is planning to be with you - I hope so. I would love to have Thanksgiving at our home. I think it would be fun to plan some games to play with the children so they wouldn't feel so isolated from the adults. We could eat upstairs and play games downstairs. The Woolleys will be in Jerome and Claire's parents are on a cruise in the Orient.

Cissy & Charles Beyers are in Utah visiting their daughter, Shawna, in Centerville. They called and said they would come visit this morning - then they called early this morning and said she was ill and needed for them to stay with her. She has had surgery on her throat - some kind of webbing. They plan to come tomorrow instead - it will be fun to see them.

The two little Primary girls who adopted me as a grandparent have come to visit at least three times a week. They are just darling and I have enjoyed them. I took them to "Porter's Place" over in Lehi for dinner one night last week and they loved that. I would like to take my "real" grandchildren there sometime.


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