February 28, 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:
The last day of February and as the weather people say on television, our weather is more like the end of March!!! We have had a lot of moisture lately though and we're grateful for that but the temperature is REALLY mild!!! I HAVE LOTS OF BOX ELDER BUGS!!! I honestly don't know what to do about them - the pest control people won't spray this early in the season so I have been out spraying with diazinon and then vacuuming up the ones on the windows. It was so funny, one day last week Shauna Theobald was out swatting them on their home and I was out vacuuming them on mine. I called my neighbor, Vonnie Smith and asked her if she had any at her place and she said she had seen one or two!!! I am tempted to have my trees cut down - it wouldn't do any good if the Smiths keep theirs though and they don't have them sprayed like they should.
I had such a fun time on Saturday. I REALLY appreciate Bob going to the cabin and inviting me to go with them. I had a lot of Relief Society invitations to deliver throughout the neighborhood so Laura, Brett & Katie helped me do that when they first came down and then we all left for the cabin. It was an absolutely gorgeous day!!! We couldn't go past the gate but Bob had brought a sled with a rope on it so they loaded it up with food, etc. and the children pulled it down to the cabin. It was hilarious to watch Bob and I as we went down the hill - the children were so light they could just run down but we sank two feet with every step. We didn't have to shovel the snow away from the door in order to get in and that surprised me and the cabin is just in perfect shape - it looked SO nice.
Bob brought his shovel so he went right out and started to shovel the snow from the deck - we REALLY need to do that at least once during the Winter because there was a lot of snow on it. He piled the snow right at the side of the deck and the children built a fort with a tunnel through it and they really had a good time. They also made a sled run right by it and went sliding down the hill. It was SO beautiful up there and a lot of snow on the lake. There were A LOT of ice fishermen and a few snowmobilers. I had heard on television that it was a scary lake because it was thawing near the edges so I was surprised to see that many people out on it.
Bob & Brett shoveled the snow away from the fireplace and then they built a fire to cook hot dogs on. It was fun to watch Brett place the wood in such a way that it would burn - I could tell he had been taught by a Boy Scout leader. Laura & Katie were getting wet with the snow so they went in the house and played games where it was warm.
Brett climbed in through that door under the cabin and found that they had captured something in the "Havahart" animal trap. It was so funny because they couldn't tell what kind of an animal it was - it was too dark in there and the battery had run down in the cabin flashlight so Bob had to go to his car to get one. They found out later it was a raccoon and Bob disposed of it so it would be gone before it got warm up there.
I had to leave before it got too dark but the rest of them stayed overnight. I was SO surprised yesterday when they stopped by to see me about 6 o'clock. I didn't think they would stay that long. I have never seen happier children - I did not hear one whine or complaint - they just accepted conditions as they were and made the best of it. There is no water in the cabin so you know they didn't have the best of conditions. Laura told me how good they had slept and Bob said they even opened a window. There is a certain charm about being up there - it is so quiet and peaceful!!! Bob took that old stove out of the living room and I'm anxious to see what it looks like - I'm sure there must be a spot on the carpet that will have to be replaced and I believe we have some scraps somewhere.
I felt bad for Bob because his car hit a huge rock on the way to the cabin and it broke some "grilling?" under his car. We were headed South and a car traveling North passed me and hit this huge rock - Laura and I heard this loud noise and then we saw the rock rolling. It rolled back and hit Bob's car. Laura and I drove on but when we noticed that Bob wasn't behind us we went back to check on him. He had stopped because he said the noise was so loud when they hit it that he was worried that it had broken his radiator but it hadn't. Repairs like that are SO expensive - I'm just glad he had a better car than his Lexus because that would have been much worse. We missed Michael and Claire - Claire had to play for the choir on Sunday and Michael went with friends to Salt Lake.
John has been over several times since returning from Europe. He even went to Israel - he didn't have time to go see a lot of things while he was there. He said his traveling really makes him appreciate America and he was SO glad to be home. He and Julianna are trying to get all their plans finalized and it's fun to hear all about them. They are SO happy!!!
The Woolleys are doing fine. They didn't come over for Family Home Evening last night - I had to go to a Relief Society Fireside. I believe John and Julianna were going over there to discuss plans for the reception. I talked to Susanna and she told me they were buying a new car - a rodeo???
I haven't talked to the Weinerts or the Roy Mellors this week but I know you are all doing good. Ann, Jean and I are going to meet in Salt Lake tomorrow morning and that will be fun. I talked to Chris Jordin over the weekend and she said you have been having cold weather in Little Rock. I know you keep mighty busy with work, church and you little family.
Dianne Power was in town this week and I went to their condo to visit with her. She is always SO sweet to call me when she comes to town - a very dear friend. She had MILLIONS of pictures of Garic and Nickys' little baby boy - Bren Power. He was born on December 2nd. I took the pictures of little Jesse that I had but I would REALLY love some current ones - I hope you're taking lots of them. Their son, Brick, and his wife are expecting a baby in a month - Brick is in his second year of law school here at BYU. Trace is getting married in the San Diego Temple the very same day that John and Julianna are getting married. Their twin daughters, Janni & Jamie are darling girls - they're the same age as Barji and will be going to Girl's Academy at BYU this Summer.
I had a phone call from Cissy Beyers on Friday. Shauna got her kidney transplant earlier in the week and they are here to help her recover. They are SO thrilled to have the waiting part over. There was a 16 year old Utah boy killed and his parents donated his organs - the doctors said it was a perfect match. I plan to go see her sometime before the Beyers go home.
I HAVE TICKETS FOR THE OREM WOMEN'S CLUB LUNCHEON AND FASHION SHOW ON MARCH 26 AT NOON. I HAVE 6 TICKETS AND WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ANN, JEAN, CLAIRE AND JULIANNA AND MAYBE A GRANDDAUGHTER OR TWO - I MAY BE ABLE TO BUY MORE IF I KNOW IN ADVANCE SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU CAN OR CANNOT COME. ZCMI IS GOING TO DO THE FASHION SHOW THIS YEAR WITH THEIR OWN MODELS SO IT SHOULD BE NICE AND THE FOOD IS ALWAYS GOOD. I WON'T HAVE MY FEELINGS HURT IF YOU CAN'T COME BUT I NEED TO KNOW.
I didn't plan for this to be such a long letter. I just had too much news.
PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Let me know how I can help you. I love you all very much.