November 23, 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 have a beautiful snowy day here today. It started snowing yesterday afternoon and it snowed most of the night - it's a very wet snow and melted quickly - wonderful moisture!!!

I just came home from having my car serviced. Rick Warner has bought the Toyota Company here and they were having a special on "winterizing" so I called and made an appointment. I was surprised to find that I also needed to have the oil changed - Daddy always said that the only thing I ever thought about with a car was that I could turn the key and it took me where I wanted to go. I'll learn!!!

I told you in my last letter that Cissy & Charles were going to come see me on Tuesday. Well - that's the day that Ann & Jean & I had set aside to meet for lunch and shopping but I thought that with Ann's surgery she would prefer to wait until next month. I was wrong - Ann & Jean had already planned for us to meet in Park City. I called Cissy and told her so I missed them this time - they are planning another trip out here in March because their oldest grandson will be leaving for his mission so I'll see them then.

I MUST TELL YOU ABOUT OUR TRIP TO PARK CITY. The plan was for us to meet Jeannie at the outlet shopping center there at 11 o'clock. I didn't think it was wise for Ann to drive that far so I insisted on driving and you know that I am a slow driver. We got there right at 11 and Jeannie was waiting for us. We just had a wonderful time - we each one went our separate ways and would run into each other occasionally. There is a new little "eatery" there so we met there at 1:45 and just gobbled down our lunch because Ann had said she had to leave at 2 o'clock because she had carpools to run. We left right at 2 and Jeannie went to Farmington and Ann & I drove and we drove and we drove. We were talking a mile a minute and I looked out the window and it looked so desolate and I said to Ann, "You know, this looks just like Montana". She had a funny look on her face and said, "Do you suppose we have missed the turnoff?" Just about that time we saw a sign that said, "Welcome to Wyoming". WE WERE IN EVANSTON!!!

We hurried and drove into a service station so Ann could call home - it was already 3 o'clock and time for her to drive her carpool. I went into the service station and asked for directions to get to Heber - the attendant looked at me and said, "Honey, you're a long way from Heber" but she gave me directions. The funny thing is that Ann had told me while we were eating that she had to drive home because she would drive faster. We got back in the car and again we drove and we drove and we drove.

Ann kept saying, "I wouldn't be so frustrated if I knew what we did wrong". I absolutely could not keep from laughing but neither one of us knew where we were. We finally drove into Ann's home and Ron was sitting in his car in front ready to take the next carpool and it was a couple minutes before 5 o'clock. Ron was laughing and he said, "I know exactly what you did wrong". I told Ann it was the funniest thing that has ever happened to me and she said, "Well, I'm glad I was part of it then" - I don't believe it was quite so funny to Ann. I had to tell somebody so I called Jeannie and she had been home for hours and Ricky said she was already taking the girls to violin lessons. Then I called Bob and visited with Michael - I don't believe he quite understood how funny it was!!!

I have had a fun week but a busy one. I went to the Orem Women's Club meeting on Wednesday - what an interesting meeting. A young boy, ten years old, performed a piano Mozart Concerto from memory that was unbelievable. His father was with him and he said they had lived in Houston and became acquainted with a Russian pianist teaching piano and taught their five children. The children became so thrilled with music that they wanted to continue their lessons when they moved to Utah - with five children needing to practice they finally bought five pianos - can you believe that? This young boy now takes from a lady here in Provo who is recognized as one of the best teachers - Irene Perry. He is going to perform with the symphony orchestra in December. A Humanities Professor at the Y gave the rest of the program and he presented slides of early American artists - it was really good.

Thursday I went to my luncheon club meeting. Ellen Allen who has been very ill with cancer had it at her home and her daughter prepared the food and served it. Ellen has a son who is a talented vocalist and he had made a video for her 80th birthday and we watched that. It was a fun afternoon.

Friday I went to the medical auxiliary annual luncheon and fashion show at the Excelsior hotel. The fashion show was presented by Nordstroms and it was simply gorgeous - the food was good and it was fun to be with my friends.

Friday night I went to the church to help put on some quilts for the worldwide celebration of "Walk in the Light" for the Young Women of the church. Daddy had made me some quilting frames many years ago and we used them all the time in Little Rock. The stands are especially nice because they are tall and your back doesn't ache while you quilt - they're adjustable so they can be low if you sit down. Well - we put up two quilts and when we went back to quilt on Saturday, someone had taken my stands and put them on their quilt. I was REALLY angry but decided to not do anything about it. The celebration was for all the wards all over the world to make quilts and also little drawstring bags to put personal items in to send to the needy. Our ward made two quilts, and 58 bags and there are 9 wards in our stake and each ward did that many. After that part of the celebration we all went to the Stake Center where they served dinner and had a special program that was very nice. I was exhausted when it was over and came home and went right to bed. Now - I have to bind the quilts - ugh!!! I have found that the girls love all these activities but when it comes to doing the work it is done by the leaders - I'm sure it has always been that way.

Yesterday morning at church we had a missionary homecoming. It was for a young man who had lived in another ward before he moved to our ward shortly before his mission. They had to open the doors going into the cultural hall and it was just packed. I was a little late in getting to church so I sat clear at the back. After Sacrament Meeting they announced the program for Sunday School as they always do and they said, the prayer will be given by Barbara Mellor. I just about fainted - they had a short song so I didn't have time to prepare and I had to walk all the way to the front of the chapel. The president of the Sunday School had asked me to give the prayer on the 22nd at least a month ago and I had put it on my calendar and then forgot it!!!

I went to an Eagle Scout Court of Honor last night for two of our neighbor boys - John Theobald and Chad Frisby. Daddy had been trying to get them started on their eagle projects for at least the last three years and they have been so slow but finally got it done. They were so sweet to bring me invitations. The Court of Honor was just outstanding and I hope all you fathers are taking pictures of your sons in their scout activities so they can be put into a slide presentation. Steve Frisby does a fabulous job with that along with music accompaniment and it was so enjoyable. Susanna had called me earlier and told me they couldn't come for Family Home Evening because of her Young Women Walk in the Light celebration.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I will go to the Weinerts and the Bob Mellors will come also. The Woolleys will go to Idaho to be with Ron's parents. John says he may go to Farmington but he would prefer to go someplace warm - Ha!!! I hope Patrice's Mom is joining their family in Little Rock.

My little Primary girls are coming over this afternoon - they want to go get pizza so I said I would make that banana cream pie that is so easy. That recipe can be made with sugar-free pudding so it doesn't need to be high caloried.

I love you all so very much. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN ICY ROADS and let me know how I can help you.

P.S. You don't have to read all this - I won't quiz you!!!




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