February 14, 1994 Orem, Utah
Dearest John; Roy, Patrice, Emily, Timothy & Jesse; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:
Happy Valentine's Day!!! I have "eaten my way" through another holiday - Ha!!! It's SO funny, it seems like every holiday I gain five pounds - I have NO self control!!!
Our Relief Society made darling valentines for every sister in our ward and then we divided them up to deliver - we each had 30 that we were to write something personal on and leave them on their doors. I delivered mine quite early this morning and it was simply beautiful as I walked around the ward - I can't believe our weather.
John came by early this morning and left his car - he called me last night to see if it would be okay so I was expecting him but I didn't get to talk to him. He left for Monaco this morning and he is traveling with John Wright and his wife, Dana and they came by to pick him up so he wouldn't have to leave his car at the airport. I wish Julianna could have gone with them but there will be other trips for her to go on. It is SO nice to have such a fancy car in my garage but he didn't even leave me the keys so it is safe - Ha!!!
I am really glad that Saturday is over - we have to have a visiting teaching workshop once a year and it is a pain because no one wants to come, especially on Saturday. There has been SO much effort put into this and I worried myself silly that we wouldn't have a good attendance. I went over early on Saturday morning to set up the chairs and I put up 24 and we kept having to put up more - we had about 45 come and it was WONDERFUL. Some of the sisters who have beautiful singing voices put on a little skit and it was darling. Then we honored the past presidency with different sisters telling about their lives - there had been a lot of effort put into that too and I was disappointed because two of the four didn't come - they had planned family activities. Then we served lunch and I was very pleased about how that turned out - we served those hot chicken olive sandwiches, a fruit cup and brownies. I left my home about 7:30 that morning and got home about 2 in the afternoon and there were three messages on my phone asking for meals to be taken in to people. I am going to have to do something to make that easier!!!
I had such a wonderful day on Thursday. Ann and Jean came here about 10 o'clock and then we went shopping and to lunch. I got some lace to make little valances for my windows in the living room - I have put one valance up to see if I like it but I'm not sure SO I'm not going to do anything. I can just hear Jeannie saying "Oh, no, we have to look at those draperies longer!!!". I can think of a million excuses why I'm not going to redecorate in there but the bottom link is that I'm not unhappy with the way it is and until I am it is kinda' dumb to change things.
I don't believe John & Julianna are going to have their reception here. May 7th is just too risky to plan an outdoor reception - it could be pretty but it would still be cold. Ann & Ron have offered to let them have it at their home and I think that will be perfect. That will leave my home free for changing clothes and children resting, etc. Julianna and John came over one night last week to tell me about some of their plans - let me tell you what they told me. I don't really know if it is my place or not but if it isn't, please forgive me. Julianna would like Ann, Jean, Claire and Patrice to be in any dressy clothing of their choice. She would like for Susanna, Jessie, LeeAnna, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann, Sarah, Laura, Katie, and Emily to dress in Laura Ashley dresses in her colors which are coral and periwinkle. Julianna is having "head decorative things" made for them. I'm telling you because I know how difficult it must be to find just the right thing in your children's sizes. She would like for Ricky, Russell, Jimmy, Michael, Brett and Timothy to be in "Sunday Best". Julianna also has two little nephews. I believe Baby Jesse will be the most comfortable. Julianna brought me a picture of the dress her mother will be wearing and I will try to find one similar to it in the color I like. She will have three bridesmaids and they will have their dresses made and then Bob & Roy will be in tuxedos. I am SO excited because they are planning to have LOTS of pictures taken - Ha!!!
I believe Bob and Claire are home from their cruise by now. I hope you have had a wonderful time. I'm SO glad our weather is good so you won't have too much of a letdown. I hope your children have not had any problems.
I haven't heard from Roy & Patrice this week but I know you are doing good too. I know all the people in the East will be happy when this Winter is over - it has been hard for everyone except those of us living in Utah. We did have a snow storm last week that dumped a lot on the ski slopes and that's good.
I went to a play at BYU last week - "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and it was actually funny because there were three of us who went and not one of us knew what was going on. It reminded me of the time Daddy & I went to a Shakespeare play up there and I could never get him back to another one. I keep saying I am going to study more of Shakespeare and then go to the plays in Cedar City but it will have to be way in the future.
I am having the Family Home Evening group here tonight and I have made a cherry cheese cake - it looks wonderful but they are so finicky they probably won't like it. One couple is in St. George for the month so there will only be six of us. Our group has dwindled and we tried to get two more couples to join with us but they object to playing cards so they didn't join.