March 22, 1993 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 beautiful morning here in Orem!!! I made a list of things to do today starting with going out to rake some garden debris to put in the garbage before the truck came by to pick it up but he came about 7 o'clock so my schedule was changed before I even got up -Ha!!! I worked out in the yard all day on Friday - I cut the raspberries down right to the ground and cleaned up the garden area and I really had a lot of "stuff" to haul up to the front of the house. Just as I was about to start loading everything up on a tarp Paul brought his truck down and loaded everything on it and took it away for me - IT WAS WONDERFUL!!! Everyone is SO anxious to get outside and do some gardening - we have had a long and cold Winter. Last year at this time Daddy was enjoying our daffodils blooming and they haven't even started this year.
Claire - thank you for your sweet letter telling me about your children's piano recital in Salt Lake. I am SO proud they are doing things like that and I can't believe they don't get nervous when they perform - I hope they stay that way. Bob - I'm anxious to hear about your trip to Mexico. I'll bet you came home dog tired and then had to go right back to work. It was a gorgeous weekend to spend at the "Homestead" and I know the children had a wonderful time. Your cruise sounded wonderful!!! I would come home from one of those looking like a "blimp" and I think it's great that you didn't gain weight. (Claire said the food was out of this world but they had a jogging track so she didn't gain weight). I REALLY need to start walking again - my friends here walk at 7 o'clock in the morning and now that it's warmer maybe I will do that.
Patrice - thank you for the darling "St. Patrick's Day" card signed, I know, by little Emily. I love it!!! I feel bad that I forgot to wish you a Happy Day that day - I have never had any relatives who are Irish but you would think I would learn in six years that I do now!!! I went to class that day and wore the only "greenish" pant suit I own and there were two boys who wore green shirts but other than that I didn't observe St. Patrick's Day. Did you have corned beef and cabbage - I'll bet you did. I'm anxious to hear about Emily's birthday party - she sounded so excited about the Easter egg hunt she was going to have. Birthday parties at that age are SO HARD!!! I thought it was smart that Timothy got a few gifts too and Emily was just as excited about that as she was her own.
Ann & Jean & Barji - thank you so much for coming to the Fashion Show and luncheon. I was SO proud to have you with me and it made it special for me. That Saturday was really the first warm weekend day to spend in the yard and I know it was a sacrifice for you to come. I won a door prize and I believe that was the first time I have ever won anything like that - it was two tickets to a theater here in Orem. After the Fashion Show, Barji went home with Ann and then to gymnastics with Jessie. Jeannie & I went to a craft bazaar at the high school close by me and then we went to the high school close to Ann where they were also having a craft bazaar. Ann had to work in the "food booth" at her bazaar for Susanna & Jessies' P.T.A. I had a WONDERFUL day!!! Barji and Jessie were invited to dinner and church with the counselor they had a BYU last Summer so Barji stayed with them and Jeannie drove home alone.
John - thank you for "dropping by". You looked so handsome yesterday all dressed up - it "made my day" to see you - Ha!!! Ann said you were on your way to Salt Lake to attend the blessing of Reid Folsom's baby. I'm SO thrilled for them - what did they have and why did they come to Salt Lake for the blessing? (Reid is John's friend from Montana who is in Dental School in Iowa).
I had a fun day yesterday too!!! The Woolleys invited me to dinner and they also invited John. Ann & Jean and I had gone to Salt Lake last Tuesday to just "goof off" and Ann had bought a rice cooker at the Oriental food store there. She already had one but she has Oriental friends and they told her she needed a larger one so she was trying it out. She had stir fry on rice and it was delicious. She uses a special rice and I bought some too but I didn't get the rice cooker - I'm anxious to try my rice cooked in an ordinary pan!!! After dinner we all went on a "hike" up above their home to see a cave that Russell & Jimmy had discovered. I couldn't believe it - it was a REAL cave and we kinda' crawled down into it but then we could stand up. They had brought flashlights so we could see but when we turned them off it was "PITCH BLACK". I had to be home by 4 o'clock so I couldn't go any further but Ann & the children went up to another cave where the children earlier had found clothing indicating someone was "spending time" there - Ha!!! What an adventurous and fun place!!! Ron came back down with me - I was AMAZED that he could do all that after just 6 weeks from his surgery. I love to go hiking and I will have to take the children to "Flat Bottom" in Brigham City some time - do any of you remember that?
Our Relief Society had their Birthday Celebration last Thursday and they had the couple who operate the "Hale Theatre" here in Orem come present the program. I couldn't believe this couple - they are in their 80's and put on four skits portraying the early days of the church and it went an hour and they didn't use one note. They served dinner representative of food served in Nauvoo in the early days; potato soup, corn bread, slaw & carrot salad.
Our ward is invited here tomorrow after our temple session - I will start making cookies this afternoon. The "Broderick" home sold to a non-LDS family - he is Greek and she is Swedish and she is a chemist teaching at BYU and she owns two chemical companies and he is a counselor - two teenage sons - they will be an asset!
I didn't want to start another page but I need to tell you how Barji got back home to Farmington. While we were eating dinner yesterday, Mary Ann & Rick called to tell the Woolleys they would meet them at the Prove airport to pick up Barji. It was such a beautiful day for flying and Rich was bringing his plane to get her. THAT BOGGLES MY MIND!!!
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.