August 26, 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:

I didn't write my letter last week - you probably didn't even notice - Ha!!! I had time to write a note but I had so many things to write about I decided to wait until I had more time. SO now I am writing it on Saturday!!!

The big news I wanted to elaborate about was John's MBA graduation - that was such a special time for me and I continue to be very, very proud of him (and Julianna for supporting his many hours away studying). Jeannie, Barji, Mary Ann & Sarah left their home about 6 a.m. so they could get here in time - they were here by 7 o' clock to pick me up. I was so happy and surprised - I had decided to give them until 7:15 and then I was going to go by myself because I didn't want to be late. We picked up Julianna because John had had to go earlier. We stopped at the Marriott lawn because there were a lot of graduates gathered there and we found John so we took a lot of pictures before he had to go get in line.

We came home and then Rick came - he was sorry he had missed the graduation but he didn't get finished with his work at the hospital in time. I haven't talked to anyone to verify this but I believe he took John in his plane to Montana for a short fishing trip and I know that was great!!!

Jeannie and her girls spent Friday here - the cousins were together most of the day and when Jeannie and I went shopping. I went to a wedding reception and Jean & Ann visited together.

Early Saturday morning we all left for St. George. Jeannie took me in her car and Annie also drove her car - the cousins kept changing places with each other and they were SO good - they could sleep in their vans and were very comfortable and enjoyed each other SO much. We stayed at the Holiday Inn in St. George. We got there shortly afternoon and went for a HOAGIE YOGI and ten to the Outlet Store Mall and shopped. THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN. We found "Lots of Bargains" - Ha!!! Every time I go shopping with my girls I realize how much out of step I am with today's styles. They were shopping for their childrens' school clothes too.

We got back to the Motel about 5 o' clock and got dressed to go to dinner and also to "Yuacahn" to see the spectacular "Utah". The dinner we had was in such a quaint and lovely restaurant - I had one of the best salads I have ever had - I don't know how the others enjoyed their dinners. Yuacahn is about ten miles out of St. George and I was overwhelmed with the magnitude of it - there has been a great deal of money invested in it. The play was in a huge amphitheatre and I just absolutely love it - everything about it was spectacular!!! After the play we went back to the motel and went right to bed - WE WERE ALL WORN OUT.

Sunday morning we didn't have time to go to church so after breakfast at Shoneys we went to the St. George Temple Visitor's Center for a spiritual time - we saw a video and listened to the missionary - it was very good. Then we went to Brigham Young's Winter Home and that was REALLY special. I find myself thinking about that place often - they are keeping it is great condition for free tours and I admire that.

We got back to Orem about 6 o'clock. I worried about Jeannie doing so much driving and then having to go another hour but she wouldn't let me drive.

Monday morning I had my Relief Society Presidency meeting here and while we were meeting, the High Priest Group Leader called and asked if he could come to the meeting. Before the meeting was over we found ourselves in charge of the food for the Ward Adult Summer Party that was held last night, Friday, August 25th. I knew I was going to have company for Education Week and I didn't know how I was going to assign food to 12 people but it worked out and the party was great.

I cleaned house Monday and got the guest bedrooms ready and did some shopping - I found myself making cheese soup Monday night - I thought that would be a good thing to have on hand because Ellen Mae loves soup.

Tuesday morning I was going to meet Ellen Mae on the campus but just as I was leaving about 7:30, she drove up. We were worried about finding a parking place and wanted to get there early - we found out later that we didn't have to get there quite that early!!! We met Dianne about 8 a.m. and we just had a WONDERFUL day - we tried to take in everything and we were just exhausted when we got home. Ellen Mae and I looked at each other and just said, "Goodnight" and we were in bed by 9:30.

Wednesday, I got up early and took "food assignment notes" to the 12 people and put them on their doors. I had lots of things to do that morning and forgot to leave my front door unlocked like I had told Linda Smithers Hill I would do. She had called me and told me she would be in Salt Lake about 5 p.m. - I called Deniece, her daughter, to verify all this and she said "Mom won't even get in until 7:15". I knew there was no way she could get here until about 8:30 or 9. I had to call my neighbor, Shawna and have her come over to unlock the door. We got home about 10 o' clock and Linda, Deniece and Deniece's two children were here and had found the playroom and they were waiting for us. We visited for a little while and then Deniece and her children drove home to Bountiful and Ellen Mae, Linda and I went to bed.

I must tell you too that Barbara Sondrup's mother wanted us to go see her - she lives right across the campus and I see her often but she wanted to see Dianne and Linda. She had come to see my earlier in the week to tell me she has a "boy friend" - her husband died about a year ago. The only time she could see us was on Wednesday at 5 o'clock. Well - Dianne had become ill during the early afternoon so she had gone back to their condo which is right across from the campus but she said she would try to meet us at Helena Sondrup's home at 5. Ellen Mae and I walked over there and Dianne came soon after. Helena is almost 80 years old and her boyfriend is 90 - it was VERY funny to see pictures of them together lovely dovey. She said neither one of them had intentions of remarrying but they were "having a ball" - they were leaving the next morning for Yellowstone. He is in good health and drives all over. Isn't that great - FOR THEM!!!

Thursday morning Ellen Mae, Linda and I drove to the campus, we had to go early because Linda hadn't registered yet. Dianne wasn't feeling very good so she didn't come until about 10 o' clock. We had another WONDERFUL day going to classes, eating and visiting. Barbara Andrews is in town and she had called and asked if she could come over to see me - I had her choose the day and the time and she said she would be here Thursday at 7:30. Linda and Dianne got tired of the classes and decided we should all to "Chilis" for dinner - we left and went to the Powers' condo to get Dianne's car because Ellen Mae and I had parked in the Marriott parking lot which is a long way a way. Well - Brick had Dianne's car and we waited and waited and played with Brick and Lauras' little baby daughter. He finally came but it was too late for us to go to dinner and get back home in time to see Barbara Andrews SO Ellen Mae decided to go home (her plans were to go home early Thursday anyway). Dianne stayed at their condo and Linda & I came home to be here for Barbara Andrews.

I fixed us some soup and just as we were eating the phone rang and it was Barbara saying she wouldn't be able to come. I could have KILLED her - Ha!!! She didn't have a very good excuse either. We finished our soup and then we called Dianne and decided to go see the "Bastian Mansion" and then for a yogurt. They also went with me to the church to get all the supplies for the ward dinner last night - paper plates, plastic forks, napkins, etc., etc.

Friday morning (yesterday) Linda and I had fun working together in the kitchen. Deniece and her children were coming to get Linda and Dianne wanted to see them so she was coming over with her little granddaughter and I thought she was brining Jaime with Jeannie too but they didn't come. We decided to make a pasta salad and a carrot cake. Jeannie - your idea of leaving out the oil in Frances James' cake REALLY works. I told Linda about it and she didn't believe it would work so we decided to try it. It was delicious - we just about doubled the carrots. They all came about noon and we just talked our heads off and had such a good time. They left about 2 o' clock. I am very worried about Dianne - she doesn't look good and I can tell she doesn't feel very good either. She is allergic to the environment and in the classes she always had to sit as far away from people as possible and as crowded as the classes are that of practically impossible. I never wear perfume when I am with her - she gets excruciating headaches and nauseous. Their twin daughters are teenagers now and Dianne says she can't slow down but she needs to.

I went to get the hamburger buns and other things that people couldn't bring for the dinner and was at the picnic place by 5 o'clock. We planned for 120 but so many people called to say they couldn't bring their food assignments I didn't think we would have very many - there were at least 100 there. PEOPLE ARE FUNNY!!! I was SO tired I went right to bed about 10 o'clock and didn't get up this morning until about 9.

I am trying to "catch up" today. I was SO happy to talk to the Roy Mellors this morning - I just knew you would all be worried to death because you hadn't received my letter this week - Ha!!! You all about SO happy - I talked to Timothy first for a little while and what a doll - he just visited and visited like an adult. He said he couldn't start school until his Grandma Suzie came home (it's cute that Roy & Patrice have used that as a time schedule for him) and she is still in Connecticut and he said that very clearly too. Emily had just come home from a 'Sleepover" and she was truly one happy and excited little girl - there were 15 at the party and they had gone swimming first at Cammack Village. Emily has been going to school for a week and she is in a "trailer" and has a woman teacher and she LOVES it. Your "Church Camp" sounded WONDERFUL - they went to a lake between Oklahoma and Texas for 6 days and stayed in a nice motel cabin with kitchen facilities - activities for the children and conferences for the adults and some fishing too!!!

I'm excited to go to Layton tomorrow for Katie's piano recital. I LOVE going to things like that and I am SO pleased that Katie wants me to come. Claire says I may be the only one there and that's okay with me - they must have it before September. They are excited about their trip to Hawaii in a few weeks - WHAT A TREAT FOR ALL OF THEM. Bob - I'm anxious to hear about your trip to Durango, Colo - everyone says it is gorgeous there!!!

Anne - thanks for your phone call. I knew you wouldn't appreciate my returning it after 10 p.m. so I didn't!!!

I'll close by telling you all once more - I AM SO VERY PROUD OF MY FAMILY!!! I hear constantly about problems within families that I have never even dreamed about and Daddy & I LOVE YOUR!!!




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