March 13, 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 BIRTHDAY TO EMILY THIS COMING SUNDAY - you will be seven years old - it's hard for me to believe that time is going SO fast. I hope you have a WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY!!!
My daffodils are all blooming and I can see them from the den window. Daddy & I planted them in the Fall, four years ago and the first year they bloomed was when Daddy was in the hospital bed and he could see them. They are bigger now and they give me happy memories. I really like Fall better than Spring but it's fun to see things blooming.
I am SO excited to go to Little Rock!!! I have talked to Patrice several times and she is SO sweet to plan a little open house for me. She sent out invitations last week - I don't know if anyone will come but it will help me in not having to go see friends - they can come see me this time. Little Jesse has the chicken pox now - they planned that just right - Emily got them first, then Timothy and now Jesse and he will be over them by the time they leave on Friday to go to Gulf shores. The last time I talked to Roy, he and Emily had "hiked Pinnacle" - I would like to do that while I am there. Do you all remember the many times we did that - one time I remember so well was during a Thanksgiving when some of you were in college and home for the holidays. Patrice says that many trees are in bloom - I'll bet it is pretty there. I also hope to go to church with Emily while I'm with them. It will be fun to spend some time with Suzie too. Your trip to Gulf Shores sounds SO much fun - I hope Chris & Wayne will be there. I find myself getting SO homesick for Little Rock and I'm really glad I can still go there once a year.
The Woolleys came over last night for Family Home Evening and we had a fun time but after they left I realized that I hadn't spent the time I would like to with the children. Ann & I started to visit after the lesson and the children and Ron were watching a special television program so we kept visiting. I REALLY want to know what is going on in Susanna's life and I didn't even to get talk to her. I need for her to come over just by herself!!!
John comes by once in a while for his mail. One day last week he received a letter concerning jury duty so I called to tell him he had better come get it. It had JURY DUTY INFORMATION on the outside envelope. He hasn't been called to serve and I hope he won't be - he is one busy young man. Julianna has been ill with a sore throat - she had a substitute teacher arranged for today so she could stay home and get well. She is getting ready for parent teacher conferences so she needs to get well - I remember those days.
I haven't heard from the Bob Mellors this week. I have missed Laura and Katie - I have resolved to let them all sleep in my big bed the next time they come - I have felt bad that I didn't let them this time. It was SO fun to have them with me.
I believe the Weinerts have been in St. George with friends. Jeannie told me they were going but I can't remember when she said they would be gone. They have had terrible flooding in the St. George area so I hope their trip is later. It has been so sad to watch the news and see the great flood disasters in Southern Utah and also in California.
This morning has been a special morning to watch the television. They said last night that they would make the announcement about where the new MICRON plant was going to be built and also they would announce the new First Presidency of the church.
Micron has been deciding between several sites for the last six months and finally settled on three sites - Oklahoma City, Nebraska, and Utah County. There has been a lot of news about it in the papers but it's kinda hard to know what to believe and what not to believe. They have been interviewing people from Lehi asking them how they would feel if a site there were chosen and they showed the site they were looking at. I REALLY hoped they would choose Lehi but I honestly didn't think they would - they have been saying for many years that something would go in there and then it would fall through. WELL - this morning they announced that they would build a billion dollar plant there that would initially hire 3500 people.
I am SO thrilled for the people of Lehi - they have really needed something to build their economy and this will be wonderful. The site is West and North of our farm but in the general area. I talked to Don about it last week and he was hoping it wouldn't go through. He said it will completely change things for him and it will - he just loves his vegetable garden there and he grows fabulous things. I don't know how long it will be before there will be residential areas built where our farm is but it's bound to happen. It's kinda' sad in a way to see that way of life change. Daddy and I always said that the people of Lehi loved the way their lives were and they wouldn't let things change - I guess they couldn't control this.
I had told Joy I would call her when the First Presidency was organized so I called her immediately - they don't hear the news like this in Little Rock for several days. She wanted to talk so I missed a lot of the first news conference the President of the Church has had in 20 years. President Hinckley called President Monson to be his First Counselor and President James E. Faust to be his Second Counselor. They also announced there would be some organizational changes made - I don't know what they will be.
This is a busy day for me. I had our regular presidency meeting, now I go to the tax accountant and then Family Home Evening here.