July 10, 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 RICKY THIS COMING SUNDAY - WOW!!! SIXTEEN YEARS OLD AND ANOTHER DRIVER IN THEIR FAMILY!!! I hope you have a wonderful birthday Ricky - I'm SO glad you have been taking driver's ed and I KNOW you will be a good and careful driver!!! I'm proud of you for working at Lagoon too - every young person needs to learn how to work and the sooner the better.
I had such a Happy 4th of July. I went to the Ward Boy Scout Breakfast that they have every year - they had it in the front yard of the Howell's home. They had the flag raising at 6:30 and then sausage, pancakes and fruit after that until about 8:30. It is always SO nice to be with the other ward families at this. Then I hurried and went to the parade. I have a favorite place I like to stand and I got there before the parade started - it was almost too cool and I wished I had taken a sweater.
Susanna & Jessie were marching with the cheerleaders from Timpview and I was SO excited when they got in front of me and I shouted out to Susanna - she said, "Oh, there's my Grandmother" and then their team did a "cheer" in front of where I was. Jessie's team did the same thing and it petrified me because they threw Jessie way up in the air and then caught her. She would have landed right on the cement road if they had dropped her.
I hadn't planned to stay for the entire parade but Ann called me the night before and told me that Russell & Jimmy would be carrying the American and State Flags at the end of the parade. I am glad I stayed because it was an excellent parade and I thoroughly enjoyed it - I couldn't believe the huge flags Russell and Jimmy were carrying - AND the parade was long!!! I was proud to have my grandchildren in probably the biggest July 4th parade in the country.
I took my car into the Toyota place for the 60,000 mile checkup on Wednesday. I told them I hadn't had one minute's problem with it and I didn't want any problems. They fixed EVERYTHING and even though I don't know very much about cars, I can tell the difference when I drive it. Adrian Fredericks, my sweet neighbor, offered to take it in for me so they wouldn't fix something that didn't need fixing but I wouldn't let him. They also ordered the "Toyota" sign that was stolen from the back.
Patrice - thank you SO much for sending me the article about Marc Jordin that was in the paper and also the program from the church services and your sweet letter. The article about him was so like him - very down to earth. I have talked to Chris several times since his death and she sent me the sermon from the funeral. They have a woman minister and I was very impressed with the sermon. Chris is going to be just fine. She wrote in her letter that Dick Cobb ignored her like the "paint on the wall" at a church breakfast she went to - I thought that was interesting.
I am SO glad Patrice is home from Dallas. I thought about little Jesse all last week - he is at that very dangerous stage and although I knew they would have good care for him, he wouldn't be watched like Patrice watches him. I KNOW that Emily and Timothy were a lot of help to Roy - they are SO responsible!!!
Bob, John & Rick - THANK YOU FOR FIXING THE DOCK!!! Bob got all the materials and went up on Friday afternoon - John went up on Saturday morning and Rick went up on Saturday afternoon. I believe some of the children went up with their fathers and then Claire and Julianna went up on Saturday and took dinner for them. Rick came by on his way home yesterday (Sunday) to drop off LeeAnna and he said they had had such a good time and had caught a lot of fish. Bob called on his way home and said they needed to get home so they didn't stop - he said they really had fun. They went to Sacrament Meeting in Scofield on Sunday - that is such a neat experience for the children.
Sarah is with the Woolleys for a few days while Jeannie goes to their Young Women's camp. I am going to take Sarah and anyone else who wants to go with me up to the cabin tomorrow.
Laura - how was your trip to New York? I know you had a marvelous time and I'm anxious to hear about it.
I KILLED A SNAKE IN MY GARAGE LAST THURSDAY MORNING. I got up early that morning and went in the garage to get some tools so I could get the weeding done before it got too hot. I reached down to pick up the handle of a hoe and I just about fainted - I didn't touch it or I would have been a "goner". I waited for a long, long time hoping one of the young men in the neighborhood would come by and I could get him to kill it for me - it was too early and everyone was asleep. I didn't dare leave it to go get help because if it had slithered away and I didn't know where it was I would never go in the garage again. Finally, I mustered up every bit of courage I could and got the axe and cut its head off. It was about 18 inches long and had a pattern to its skin ªeveryone says it must have been a garden snake. They are clearing the orchard to build houses and I guess they have disturbed some snakes' homes. I couldn't believe that it bled - I didn't know snakes had blood. I may move if I ever see another one.
I WENT TO THE MELLOR REUNION IN LEHI ON SATURDAY. The only people I knew were Carl & Dimple Mellor who own the banquet place where it was held. They are the greatest people - they had made bar-b-q and hot rolls for everyone and then others brought salads. I paid all your dues so you'll get notices of reunions.