May 23, 1994 Orem, Utah
Dearest John & Julianna; 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:
A beautiful day here in Orem!!! Last week was really not very pretty - it was cold and dreary most of the week. I put in all my annual plants and now I just hope they grow. I went outside a few minutes ago to look at my roses because they never bloom and don't seem healthy at all - they were covered with aphids!!! I have been using that rose food that is supposed to kill all bugs and stimulate their growth but it obviously hasn't worked. I sprayed the roses with that liquid sevin - I hope it works. My roses were just beautiful the Summer after Daddy passed away but they haven't been pretty since then. I went to that gardening class to learn what to do but I am doing something wrong!!!
Roy & Patrice - are you getting ready for your trip to Connecticut? I know the children are getting excited. I thought all last week how fortunate it was that you were here the week before when the weather was better. I finally got up the courage to put the dolls away from Emily's room - I have loved to see them the way she had them all placed and I liked to pretend she would be back soon to play in there. I hope you know how much John and all of us appreciated the effort you took in making the trip out for the wedding - that meant SO much to us and I know it cost you a small fortune!!!
Bob & Claire - I was so surprised to learn last night that you had been in Moab. (Bob called yesterday and left a message and when I returned his call he told me that he and Claire had gone on a raft down the Colorado river with a group of their medical friends). I know the water must have been really cold but he said they had had a wonderful time. Claire - thank you for your sweet letter - the enchiladas were the worst ones I have ever made and I will never do that again but you were nice to say you enjoyed them.
Rick & Jean - I'll bet you are really busy with end of school activities. I'm wondering if the children will all be in the sports programs this year - soccer, tennis, softball, etc., etc. I hope they will be because it makes the Summer so much more fun for all of you.
Ron & Ann - thank you for the delicious dinner at your home yesterday. Russell had a Boy Scout Awards Program so they couldn't come for Family Home Evening so they invited me for dinner after church. We ate out on their patio under their new awning and it was SO good - Ann had fixed "new" potatoes with that gravy with peas and Russell cooked the steak. Their children all help and it's really fun to be with them.
John & Julianna - I haven't seem much of you this week. John comes in for his mail frequently and says "HI". I know Julianna is busy fixing their apartment so it is "homey". They dropped in on Monday night to tell me about their honeymoon and I guess it was just wonderful - the looked so tanned and relaxed. I had saved some of their wedding cake and frozen it for them and then they didn't take it with them so I put it back in the freezer.
Bob and Claire stopped in Scofield on their way home from Moab to turn on the water in the cabin. They discovered a break in a pipe by the new water heater so Ron is going to take me up there this afternoon and fix it. I REALLY hate for him to take his time to do that but he said it was either today or after he comes home from Lake Powell in a couple weeks. Bob said he would be able to fix it in a couple weeks but Ron said he would do it today. I have been anxious to go up there but I haven't wanted to ask Byrd to help with the water and I will never understand how to do it myself. Bob said there were a million of those little "midgies" around the cabin - there always are but sometimes they are worse than other times. I got one of those bug zappers but I have never used it - I'll try it when I go up there to see if it will help. Byrd called me a couple weeks ago to tell me they were putting telephones in the cabins - I haven't decided whether or not we would want one but I guess I need to decide soon.
This weekend is Memorial Day and I remember the special time we had last year when we were all together. The Relief Society Presidency has to speak in church on Sunday and I didn't dare beg off this time since I had begged off for Mother's Day. I will have Daddy's grave decorated for Sunday but will wait until Monday to travel to Brigham City to put flowers on my parents' graves and do the other graves in Lehi.
The Woolleys will be in Lake Powell - I don't know what John and Julianna have planned to do. If any of you in the North Country want to drive to Brigham City with me on Monday let me know and I'll stop by for you.
I went to "Spring Lake" on Saturday afternoon to go to a wedding reception for Trace and Leslie Power. They were married in Los Angeles on the same day that John & Julianna were and had a formal reception there in their stake center. Leslie's parents have just moved to Spring Lake which is just a little South of Provo and have built a new home there. It was very interesting ªit is really out in the country and the setting was just beautiful but the home isn't completed yet and I couldn't help but admire them for letting so many people go in to it. There only room that is finished is their living room and it has white carpet in it. There were horses all over the yard. Dianne and Garry and Jaine & Jaime were the only Powers there - they had all been together for the one in California. It was fun to see what they served - they had ham sandwiches, homemade cookies and candy and carrot cake. IT WAS FUN!!!