January 2, 1995 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:

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH ONE OF YOU!!! I hope this will be the best year yet for all of us. Last year was a special year with John & Juliannas' wedding and our first family reunion in Sun Valley and other fun things but too many people I loved died towards the end of the year.

I had such a Happy Birthday. Ann, Susanna, Jessie, LeeAnna and Julianna and I met Jeannie, Barji, Mary Ann & Sarah at the Peery Hotel in Salt Lake for lunch on Tuesday. After a delicious lunch we all went to the Crossroads Plaza Mall to shop for a couple hours. We all went our separate ways but it was fun to run into each other periodically - especially the children!!! Ann brought me home about 4 o'clock and Ramona and Shirley drove up right in back of us - they came in and visited for a little while and that was fun. Elaine was sick and couldn't come. THEN my Family Home Evening group had a little birthday party for me with a beautiful birthday cake - we played rook and that was fun too.

I have REALLY had a fun and busy holiday season. I have had a lot of company. It started with the Beyers calling to say they were here and I kept trying to arrange time to see them and then the Powers family came from California and the Sondrups family came from Georgia and the Willardsens came from California. I had breakfast at Brachman's Bagel Shoppe with Barbara S., her mother, Helena, and Dianne one morning and that was SO much fun. Some of their children were with them and it is always interesting to see other people's children and see how they "turn out". Megan Sondrup was born in Little Rock while her mother was Relief Society President and the entire ward cared for her for about three years. She is now a senior in High School and a darling girl - she is staying with friends in Connecticut to finish her senior year even though her parents and two younger brothers have moved to Georgia. I think anyone who works for UPS deserves all the "perks" they get because of the constant moving they have to do. Barbara says that Kevin has received the position in the company that he has had his eyes on since joining the company so he's happy but Barbara isn't.

Dianne and Garry came over one morning and spent about three hours with me - we had so much fun talking about old times in Little Rock and all our children. They are REALLY thrilled with their little granddaughter who lives here - Brick will graduate from law school here in April and he and his wife have a darling little baby girl. Brick is graduating with honors but they say he has yet to find a job - he wants to find one in the West. Their son Garic lives in San Jose and has a little baby boy. Garry is always SO interested in hearing about you Roy and I was happy to have your Christmas card picture to show him. I can't believe I haven't mentioned that before because I was THRILLED to receive it and it is a WONDERFUL picture of all of you. I was SO happy that you promoted Arkansas too - when John saw it, he said "Boy, that brings back a lot of memories".

Ann & Jean exchanged children for a couple days and that was fun for me. Ann picked me up and I rode to Salt Lake with her to get Barji and Mary Ann - she sent Russell and Jimmy home with Jean to play with Sarah and Ricky. Two days later they did the same thing and got their own children back. It sounded to me like they all had a wonderful time - the older children went skiing and the younger children went swimming. My grandchildren are surely lucky to have such wonderful parents and aunts and uncles to provide so many opportunities for them.

Friday evening, Carol, Carol Ann & Rosie came and brought me gifts - I am embarrassed at all the gifts they always bring.

Saturday was a free day for me so I tackled all my Christmas decorations and boxed them up until next year. Two little girls who have come to visit with me all year came and helped me and they were a lot of help. I still have to take the lights down from outside and will probably get at that tomorrow.

Bob called me on his cellular phone while he was passing on the freeway close by Orem on Friday night. He and one of his friends were on their way to the "Four Corners" area to go fly fishing - he said they had a nine hour drive ahead of them. I hope so much that they have had a good time and I also hope that Claire has had a good time. I know that if PaPa were still alive he would be thrilled to pieces to have his sons interested in fly fishing and he would be right there with them.

John & Julianna went to Las Vegas over the weekend - I'll bet that place was really exciting!!! I'm excited for Julianna to start teaching - I believe she starts tomorrow. Second grade in South Jordan. John went snow mobiling earlier in the week.

I went to Salt Lake this morning to go to the annual New Year's breakfast at Clint and Eris Holmes' home. I REALLY enjoy going to see some of my old friends but it is hard without Daddy - they serve at a long dining room table that is set up for couples and no matter how hard they try it is just awkward. We have mutual friends who have a Winter home in Phoenix and it is always fun to visit with them - they are good friends of Hazel and Maurice Tanner. Most of you don't remember them but one of their daughters was a friend of Ann and her name is Anna. I learned this morning that Anna's daughter is very ill with cancer. After I left their home I went to see Don and Cheryl - they weren't home but I visited a little with Chad (I believe I awakened him and it was about noon).

RICKY WILL RECEIVE HIS EAGLE SCOUT AWARD ON SUNDAY!!!

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