October 23, 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 TODAY TO TIMOTHY WHO IS 5 BIG YEARS OLD; TO SUSANNA TOMORROW WHO IS 17 OLD YEARS OLD; AND TO ROY AND PATRICE ON WEDNESDAY WHO ARE TOO OLD TO MENTION!!! I hope each one of you has a very wonderful time on your birthday. It was SO fun to talk to Timothy - he told me that his Dad is out of town for four days and when he got back they would have three birthdays to celebrate. I think often of how interesting it is that Roy & Patrice have the same birthday and Suzie and I have the same birthday - our relationships were made in Heaven!!!

It was fun to talk to Emily, Timothy and Patrice this week and I have a recording on my machine from Roy so I have heard from each one of them - I also talked to Jesse but don't ask me what he said - I did get the Grandma B part through and if my hearing were better I would have understood more. Roy is in Atlanta for an anesthesiology meeting and will be home on Wednesday. I know that Timothy just counts the days when his Dad is gone - I could tell the way he talked to me that he REALLY misses him. EMILY, I HOPE YOU WILL REMEMBER TO SEND ME A COPY OF YOUR NEWSPAPER. Emily was writing a neighborhood newspaper entitled "The Stonewall News" on her computer when I called them.

Jeannie, Ricky, Barji, Mary Ann & Sarah - THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO SEE ME YESTERDAY!!! I loved your visit and I hope you got home in time for your Young Men and Young Women Fireside. I had to go to a Relief Society Fireside last night too so they didn't stay very long but it was wonderful to have them come. We all went to the Care Center to see Aunt Elaine and take her some cookies. Her son, Matt and his wife Haley and bay daughter, Elaine were there and it was fun to see them again - I had never seen the baby and she is a little doll. I don't believe Jean and the children had ever seen any of them. Elaine is doing much better and will probably be released soon - I have told them I would care for her in my home and they may let me. She doesn't want to be a burden for anyone but I am the most likely one to do it and I would be happy to. Elaine is a very sweet person and if she tries to get up and about too soon she could be in trouble. We met Shirley as we were leaving - she has had shingles and isn't feeling very well. Barji, I LOVED your piano playing!!!

BYU played Wyoming on Saturday and believe it or not - BYU won. It was close and I thought sure they would lose at the last minute - 20-23. Rons' parents came from Idaho for the game and I was SO glad it was a good one - actually it wasn't very exciting but at least we won. The U of U game was very exciting - Utah beat Air Force miraculously in the last few seconds. Young Russell understands football now so I know he enjoyed the game.

I awakened yesterday to five inches of snow on the ground. I couldn't believe it - the weather forecast was for a great change in the weather but I was surprised when it snowed that much. They say it broke a record for the most snowfall so early in the season. I LOVE snow and this was especially good because it was full of moisture. I tried for about two hours to turn off my sprinkler system but I couldn't do it - I could never find the valve that was supposed to hook onto the turner offer. I have called John to see if he would come do it for me - he is probably out of town. It was 29 degrees last night and I'm hoping it didn't freeze the pipes. I MUST LEARN HOW TO DO THAT!!!

Our "Hoedown Home Making" was the most successful thing we have every done. We had young couples come who have never been to anything. We planned for 60 maximum and had 85 - we kept putting up more tables and finally ran out of chili, corn bread, crackers and apple juice - we had enough dessert but that was all. I wasn't in charge of the food and since I always have more than we need the rest of the committee was eating humble pie. They LOVED the line dancing - I was too tired to try it but next time I would like to learn how. We had a caller come form BYU and she was just darling - she was a little "sexy" but I don't believe anyone minded. We had set up two quilts for those who didn't want to dance but it was so much fun watching the dancers and the caller that no one quilted - the people in charge of the quilting have their noses out of joint but I have learned that it is impossible to please everyone.

Chris called me last night to tell me that she has a bad cold and won't be able to come see me. This is the third or fourth time she has done this to me and I am disappointed but not surprised. Chris has gone through a lot lately - Marc has died, her sister and brother have both died and she has had an automobile accident. Chris doesn't have the support system that I have and in truly makes me grateful for each one of you and how you have helped me. Her sons, Robert & John, went to Idaho for the graveside services and then went back to their homes yesterday. She told me she wished she could get an earlier flight back to Little Rock but she couldn't change her ticket - I don't know why. I have seriously considered driving to Idaho Falls tomorrow and just visiting with her for a little while and then coming back - I may still do that. I'll call her tonight.

It was fun to introduce Miss Utah at our Orem Women's Club meeting on Wednesday. I can truthfully say I have never heard anyone play the piano as well as she can. She won four talent awards at the Miss America Pageant and I can see why - she is also very beautiful so it is hard to imagine the competition there is at the pageant. Her sister came with her and she played the fiddle - she is also very talented. Their parents, grandparents and other relatives also came. Someone told me that Amanda, Miss Utah, lifts weights to strength her wrists. She is so very tiny it is amazing to see what she can do. Her sister, Jessica, looks like her and their mother does too - very young!!!
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