April 26, 1993

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 wrote my letter in such a hurry last week - right in the middle of my writing it, my neighbor came over with a big piece of strawberry shortcake and I visited with her at the door because I wanted to get my letter in the mail. I don't know what it is with me but this letter just has priority in my life. I came home from mailing it and called Dianne because I hadn't told her about Frances - I had decided to wait until after the funeral so I could tell her about that. Well - while I was talking to her, Paul & Dorothy Theobald came to my door and they were crying - I knew immediately that Shauna's sister had died. I just left poor Dianne hanging on the phone as I said, "Oh, she died!!!". I hurried and wrote to her the next morning.

Shauna's sister was 34 and has two little girls - 14 and 6 years old. Her heart condition was similar to those of the sports players who die during their games or exercises and she didn't have any prior illnesses. I have tried to help over there but things are going okay now. Shauna has the two little girls for now and they fit in nicely with her family.

Thanks to both of you, Patrice and Claire, for your wonderful letters and pictures. I just love pictures and feel like I have had a little visit with you. I have also talked to each one of you this week and that has been fun. I appreciate and love you very much for thinking of me.

I LOVED your letter too Brett - that's the very first letter I have ever had from you and you are such a good letter writer. I would love to have a "pick nick" with you on May 9th but I would like to propose something. I know that May 9th is Mother's Day and I would like for all of you to honor the Mothers in your families that day and then help me on May 15th and call that my Mother's Day - okay!!!

I called Byrd Gordon Saturday and asked him when they would be able to get the water turned on at the cabin. He said he was pretty sure it would be turned on by the 15th and he would call and let me know. He had driven up to Scofield West last week and said he couldn't drive down to his cabin - he says there is still a lot of snow up there but he thinks with the rain and the wind that it will be gone pretty soon. THIS IS MY PLAN. I will ask John if he could hook up the flat bed trailer onto the car on Friday, May 14th and bring it over here. Saturday morning if we could all meet here and then load the furniture onto the trailer and take it to the cabin. I KNOW that is going to be a big and I hate to ask you to do it but I also KNOW that we will be happier with our own furniture at the cabin. I will the "stuff" to make hamburgers at the cabin and also the lemonade and I would like for each of you to bring something to go with that. I REALLY NEED JOHN, BOB, RON & RICK - I know Ron won't be able to do any lifting so we will ask him to be the organizer!!!

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR ANY OF YOU.

I was SO thrilled to hear from Patrice that they are going to be here for Memorial Day. Roy has two weeks vacation and they are planning to take it in the West. I hope we will be able to have our annual FAMILY MEMORIAL DAY OUTING at the farm again this year. I feel this is a very special way to honor Daddy too because he knows when we get together and we'll decorate his grave. I have driven past the farm many times lately and it is just beautiful. I will get a "NET' and a volley ball and maybe some of you will bring some bats, balls and mitts for some softball games. Roy & Patrice are making reservations to spend some time in Yellowstone too. I'm hoping they will spend most of their time here but I will also understand that they will want to do other things. Remember Roy that I have lots of sleeping bags and camping "stuff" - it might not be the latest thing but it works. Let me know what you will need and I'll try to find it.

I believe the Woolleys spent the past few days in Jerome with Ron's family. I wasn't really sure when they were going but I stayed "home alone" last night and watched "Murder, She Wrote" and I didn't hear from them so I know they must have been gone. This has been such a busy week for me that I Kinda' lost touch with everyone. I hope they had a wonderful time.

I did talk to Jeannie on Saturday and they are doing fine. She spent the day taking children to various practices and "try outs". Mary Ann was trying out for a softball team and don't you know she will be good - the Weinerts are all very well coordinated. They were also caring for one of Barji's friends.

Bob, John & Rick spent the weekend in Montana doing some fly-fishing. Rick had planned to fly them in his plane but the weather turned bad so they decided to drive - I tried not to worry but I was SO relieved when Bob called me on Saturday to tell me they were having a wonderful time - the weather was terrible but the fishing was excellent. I'm assuming they got home last night.

I don't know if any of you knew that John was considering going on to graduate school and getting his master's degree. They have an executive MBA program at BYU that allow students to continue with their work while getting a graduate degree - everyone I have talked to about it says it is highly acclaimed. John took the test and he just got the results back the day he left for Montana - he was thrilled because his score was 96 out of 100. He says he may have to take accounting this Summer in order to qualify - the head man of ht accounting at BYU is our neighbor and that might help - Ha!!!

I really shouldn't start another page!!!! I have a million things to do today. I am having Family Home evening here tonight and I need to get ready for that. I have decided to serve rice pudding - a very geriatric dish - Ha!!! Whenever we go to Chuck-A-Rama as a group they always choose rice pudding for dessert. It is SO difficult to serve something that please everyone-some can't eat anything with seeds like strawberries, some can't eat nuts and some can't eat chocolate - etc., etc., etc.!!!

Gordon McEeun is in the hospital with pneumonia and I understand his heart is really weak and his kidneys are failing. He has gone through so many things like this before and has come out of it and I hope he does this time too.

Do you remember how cross I was at those young window washers who came to wash my windows last Fall? I had asked them to caulk my windows and they used 30 cans of caulking and I found more on my patio and walkways than on the windows. Well - when I went to open my windows in the den the other day, they are caulked shut - Ha!!! I really don't need to open them but I like to because I can wash the outside of the two center windows that way.

I was in charge of the punch for the Gold & Green Ball last Friday night. You know me - we had SO MUCH punch we could have served everyone in Orem. They wanted that ice cream frappe so I had 6 gallons of ice cream, 6 gallons of sherbet, 12 cans of pineapple juice and 12 cans of 7-Up. We really didn't have any go to waste though and usually they end up pouring out a lot. We just made it up as they used it. We have 2 gallons of everything left and they plan to use some of it at a Mutual party on Tuesday night - I may buy the vanilla ice cream because that is the only thing that won't keep. I was at the Stake Center from 4 o'clock until midnight in high heels and I was exhausted but it was fun!

My yard REALLY looks pretty and I have so many compliments. I have tulips blooming that I didn't know I had. I will have to get the flowerbeds ready soon and really start weeding on the hill. We have had a very cold Spring.

The financial planner I am working with wants me to change some of my investments. That is such a difficult decision - I know it is one I have to make on my own. He seems so confident but if he is wrong, I will suffer the consequences, he won't!!!

I have changed the hiding place for my house key. I used to keep it in the vent right outside the door by my washing machine but I want to lock that gate more now. The new place is in a "fake rock" that is under a bush just to the right of the front door-it is mixed in with other rocks but you can tell. Have me show it to you when you come.

You will probably not read all of this and I don't blame you. 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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