November 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 BOB TODAY!!! I can't believe I have such old children - Ha!!! I hope you have a wonderful day with lots of deserved attention - breakfast in bed (fortified oat flakes), a big birthday cake, and a few gifts. I haven't heard from you guys for awhile but Jeannie tells me you're doing fine.

I just came home from our Presidency Meeting at Anne Smith's home. She is "down in her back" so we met at her home. We have at least one million things scheduled for the next couple months and it is going to be hard with her not able to help. She feels SO bad and I can really relate to that - I will NEVER forget the back problems I used to have. She is expecting to have surgery and I have been grateful that I didn't have it. They took an MRI of her back and she has a herniated L5 disc, whatever that means!

I was able to do all the things I wanted to do last week - especially the first part of the week in getting to Ellen Mae & Mels' granddaughter's viewing and funeral. I didn't know where the funeral home was in Bountiful and it took me a little longer to get there because of that but it didn't matter - there were about 500 people in line by the time I got there. I was SO thrilled to have Jeannie come - THAT WAS VERY SWEET OF YOU JEANNIE!!! As I walked in I met my two former high school friends, Mel Thayne and Merlin Larsen and as we were visiting, here came Jeannie. Merlin went to get Ellen Mae from where the casket was and she came and took the four of us to see Jennifer so we didn't have to stay in line. Jennifer was a beautiful girl and she had a maroon dress on which I thought was unusual because I always thought everyone wore pastel colors. Ellen Mae called me the next day to tell me that she had signed a donor card and the dark color concealed the damage to her body.

Jennifer's funeral was the saddest one I have ever been to. I went to our church to help with the funeral of the man in our ward and then my friends from Provo, Doris Ann & Shirl Bishop, came and got me to take me to Centerville. The funeral here was at 11 a.m. and the one in Centerville was at 1:30 p.m. They held Jennifer's funeral in their Stake Center and there was standing room only - I believe they let the High School out so the students could attend. Jennifer's Mother, Father, little sister and her boy friend all spoke and then they had musical selections from her friends. Doris Ann & Shirl took me to dinner in Salt Lake on the way home - they're sweet friends and it was good to be with them after such a sad day. It was also good to see Ellen Mae & Mels' other children and their sister and brother-in-law, Gene & Wayne Rich from Logan.

Ellen Mae and Mel bought tickets last June for all their adult children to go on a cruise with them. They were supposed to leave this coming Saturday and Ellen Mae called me last night and said that Jackie (Jennifer's Mother) doesn't want to go - she wants to be with her other children for Thanksgiving and she is also having problems with the accident injury - her shoulder is frozen and is very painful. They didn't buy the cruise insurance so they will lose that money - that's insignificant!!! Mel's brother, Glen, had a farm accident on Friday and cut three of his fingers off - they are having a rough time!!!

I can't believe al the sad things that have happened during the past two weeks. A young man, 37 years old, died unexpectedly on Saturday morning. His in-laws live in our ward and his father-in-law is a doctor. He had driven to Salt Lake and stopped at a 7 to 11 store and died in his car - they are thinking it was a combination of a flu virus and a heart condition - he has three little children. We are providing food for the family. Then yesterday, a man in our ward died. He has been near death since we first moved here ten years ago so that isn't sad. We are doing his funeral on Wednesday - arranging food for over 100, serving it and cleaning up. His son, Kline Bradford, served on our mission with us.

I am getting so I don't even like to answer my telephone anymore. We will have our Home Making meeting on Thursday, the Home Making Counselor is down and the Education Counselor asked to be excused to go to a concert her daughter is performing in so that leaves you know who!!!

Roy & Patrice, I hope your new house plans are going great!!!

Sarah - I AM EXCITED TO SEE YOU PERFORM IN THE NUTCRACKER!!! Lee Anna is going to come with me. I will call you later on in the week to get directions on how to find where you are performing. I believe it is in the Dee Center but you know how I get lost.

The Woolleys came over last night for Family Home Evening. It is always fun to have them come - the past week or so have been dreary so their wonderful happy faces were a welcome sight. We watched "Solomon" on video and it was good. The children all watch Louis & Clark and Ann & I visit and she gives me some good ideas on what to do with Relief Society Activities. Their ward had a fun, fun activity on Friday night. They had groups of ten assigned a "Musical" and they were to use that theme to decorate and for food. The table Ann & Ron were at had the musical "Grease" - Ann made her a "poodle skirt" and she said it turned out darling and Ron wore a black leather coat. They got hamburgers, malts & French fries from Wendy's. They do fun things!

Claire - I went to a R. S. breakfast on Saturday morning and I believe they serve your recipe for "Eggs Fantastic". WONDERFUL!

John is at a Trade Show in Las Vegas this week - they're busy!!!


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