July 19, 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:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RON ON FRIDAY AND JIMMY ON SUNDAY!!! I hope you have special days with breakfast in bed, etc., etc.!!! I will always remember when Jimmy was born - I guess we were more involved in his birth than any of our other grandchildren - it seems like yesterday instead of 7 years ago - TIME GOES FAST!!!
Ron - thank you for "bugging" the appraiser - his secretary finally brought me the appraisals one day last week. I said "Hallelujah" when she handed them to me and she said, "I know, it's been a long time". They weren't as high as I thought they could be but I certainly am not one to complain to have assets like that and I am most appreciative!!! Our home was appraised at $173,000; the Lehi lot at $11,500; 5 acre pasture at $35,000; and the 26 acre farm at $138,000 for a total of $357,500.00. He didn't appraise the 120 acres in West Canyon - he said the only property that was exchanged there was done within families. I found the market value analysis done for Aunt Marvel's estate and it was valued at $200-$300 per acre so I am assuming that the total property value would be about $400,000. He said in the appraisal that all the property would increase in value because of the location and economy of the area. Daddy would be pleased that our home increased $23,000 but really he put in twice that much in labor and materials to improve it. Our home is really quite small in square footage but that is reflected in heating and cooling costs and I'm glad about that!!! I LOVE MY HOME.
I loved our phone visit Roy and it was good to talk to Emily & Timothy - that little Timothy talks a mile a minute. They were making pudding popsicles and he was SO excited!!! I ordered your books "Mellors Through The Years" and she said she would send them directly to you so let me know if you don't get them. I sent her a check along with your address. She had just come home from the hospital but she seems very optimistic about her cancer. (Roy ordered three more books so he could have some for his children -that is probably a very good idea but $50 per book seems like a lot of money.) Edna said she had received two more orders for books the morning I called. You have such a HAPPY FAMILY - I love to hear so much activity going on.
I loved talking to you too Jeannie!!! She was caring for the Woolley children and she said they were all having fun - Lagoon, swimming, etc., etc.
Bob & Claire have been at "Aspen Grove" this week for the Ezell family reunion and I know you have had a good time. You have had beautiful weather - it sounds like there are a lot of things planned for the children and that would be special.
The Woolleys came over last night for Family Home Evening and we had fun visiting but once again we didn't have a lesson. The children started watching "Murder, She Wrote" and the adults visited and then they had to go home because there were having a neighborhood meeting at their house at 8:30. Aldara said she enjoyed going to "camp" - there are going to miss her when she goes home.
John has "dropped" in several times this week and he is doing fine. He always looks SO nice and I love that - there are so many "freakish" hair styles among the young men now at church and I know it's just a faze they will grow out of but I'm glad "my" young men have normal hair cuts.
I had such a good visit with the Powers. Dianne & Garry and Trace & his girl friend Leslie, came over on Friday afternoon. Dianne & Garry have bought a home in California - it sounds really nice and they are going to have a swimming pool put in. Their home in Georgia is for sale for one million, three thousand dollars (I don't know how to write that figure) and they are buying one in California for $800,000 that Dianne says is very small in comparison. They have moved too much to suit me but they surely have nice children who seem well adjusted.
Linda Smithers called me on Thursday night - she was visiting her daughter, Deniece, in Bountiful. I invited her to come for lunch with the Powers the next day (hoping the Powers would be back from California by then). As it turned out - Linda decided she couldn't come because she was going to a High School reunion in Burley, Idaho that evening and she was worried she might not make it in time. THEN, the Powers called me from Las Vegas saying they wouldn't be here until later that afternoon so my boiled chicken for chicken salad is in the refrigerator for another time.
Chris and Wayne came in yesterday afternoon. When I got up this morning about 7:30 they were waiting for me - Chris had been ill all night and Wayne said they hadn't had even an hour of sleep. Wayne said he was so afraid it was Chris' heart and he wanted to take her to an emergency clinic. I wanted to take them to one of the emergency hospitals here but Wayne insisted they should go to a clinic so we looked in the phone book and found the "Comprehensive Family Clinic" on University. They followed me and they were there by 8 o'clock and when I hadn't heard from them by 10 o'clock, I called the clinic and they said they had left an hour ago and Chris was fine. They came in just a few minutes ago - they diagnosed it as pleurisy and gave her some pills and they had gone to Wal-Mart to get them. She has gone to bed now and Wayne is watching his television shows!!!!!!!!!!!!
We need to "get our act together" about food for Lake Powell. I think it would be better if we plan rather than have each one of us duplicate the other's meals. I'll probably be home from camp and Scofield this weekend.