December 17, 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 am writing on Sunday this week - I am having my Presidency meeting at 9 o'clock in the morning and then I will get ready for Family Home Evening here. The Woolleys are not going to come tonight - we decided early in the month that there were too many conflicts this month to get together. I have to go serve at the Bishop's son's Eagle Scout Court of Honor tonight.

I had such a fun time with Laura & Katie last week. They were so contended and played by themselves for all the time they were here. I hope they will always be as sweet and considerate to each other as they are now - they did not quarrel one minute while they were here. They helped a lot at the ward dinner - we had to go early because I was in charge of making sure the three food tables were kept replenished with the green and fruit salads and desserts - the Bishopric served the sloppy joes. They had over 400 people come. The entertainment was different but the children were spell bound during the 45 minute "routine" - Laura and Katie didn't have very good seats but they enjoyed it. James Arrington who was "Farley" in the Farley Family Christmas Party portrayed the different characters of the family and would put on different costumes and he really kept the children's attention.

I spent most of the day on Wednesday fixing vegetables to take to the Manning's dinner and then they ate about 1/4 of what I took. Jeannie had given me a recipe for a vegetable sauce - it was a white sauce with Swiss cheese and DiJon mustard in it. It was just WONDERFUL but I was afraid to put it on the vegetables and bake it with sesame seeds on top as the recipe called for because so many of the people in that group are watching their cholesterol. I served it as a "side dish" and it was really interesting to see everyone pile it on their vegetables - broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts - I could have followed the recipe. I also took glazed carrots with a ginger seasoning. Ellen Mae cooked a big roast and made delicious rolls and then everyone brought things to go with it. Emma Lou brought dessert - apple and pumpkin pies from Marie Callender - with ice cream. We ate fudge and chocolate mint candy while we visited - so much for their cholesterol!!!

Laura & Katie and I left here about 4:30 and stopped in at the Berrys to wish them a Merry Christmas - I had made some open faced sandwiches for their party. I wanted the girls to see their tree - it is simply gorgeous - it's an artificial one that goes clear to their high ceiling and then they have a "Village" and an electric train that goes around it - they have a lovely home and it was all decorated. We were supposed to meet Marian & Malcolm at 5:30 at the Hampton Inn in Salt Lake. We got there in time but they weren't there so we had to wait - I thought that was funny when we were the ones who had to hurry so fast. They finally came and we put all our things in their trunk and went to Kaysille. Laura and Katie giggled all the way - Marian & Malcolm said it reminded them of their grandchildren - it reminded me of John & Carol - they used to giggle a lot. Claire and Brett were there to meet us.

It was REALLY fun to be with my Brigham City friends - they are all 70 years old (except for Emma Lou and she is 71) but they sang Happy Birthday to me. Clinton's wife, Eris, has some kind of disease - she used to be a great tennis player but she has quit that because the bones in her feet are all crooked. Malcolm says it isn't osteoporosis (sp.?) and they don't know what it is. She has lost a lot of inches in height. On the way home, Marian and I talked about how good Emma Lou looks and we decided she must have had a face lift. I didn't get home until after midnight and I was TIRED!!!

I went to our Friendship Club Christmas party on Friday night at Quinn & Dorothy Hatch's home. They have a big room where they put up their Christmas tree and they have decorations throughout their home and they have a very large home - they do a lot of pottery work and other things and that is all evident in their home. She had fixed a ham and then everyone brought other things to go with it. That is such a nice group of friends - we sat around the tree and sang songs and shared Christmas experiences.

Yesterday, Saturday, I started making table cloths for our Relief Society Christmas party which will be this Thursday. We have decided to put up 20 round tables which will serve 7 each. We only had 12 table cloths so I decided to make some new ones. The only material we could afford that was wide enough is tricot - I don't know how many of you have ever sewed on that but it is plain murder. I just put a stitch around the edges with my serger so I didn't really hem them but I believe they will look okay. The material is VERY thin but we will have decorations on top - I hope they work because it took me all day.

My niece, Holly Pinegar ?, and her mother Shirley who is Daddy's sister called and said they wanted to come see me on Friday morning. I was addressing Christmas cards and my house was full of clutter but I couldn't say no. The doorbell rang and when I opened it there they were singing Christmas carols - seven beautiful little girls and Holly and Shirley. They came in and we came downstairs to the play room - Shirley and Holly and I visited and the girls played. They have been living with Shirley and Glen in a very tiny apartment for about two months after living with Shirley's brother Jared and his wife and family for over a year. HONESTLY - it was like having a pre-school group of children who had been tied up for two months come into your home - I don't know if I will ever get things straightened. They had brought me some cinnamon rolls they had made. They hope to move into a home in Woodland Hills soon - I hope so too!!!

This is really a journal type newsletter and probably not one bit interesting to any of you.

I haven't heard from the Woolleys, the Roy Mellors, the Weinerts or John & Julianna this week - it would have been easier to say that I have only talked to Claire - Ha!!!

I believe John & Bob are fishing somewhere in New Mexico but I'm not sure. Julianna had planned to go to Phoenix to visit her sister sometime and I believe she is there now. I KNOW the Woolleys and Weinerts are fine and probably swamped with Christmas preparations. I believe John & Julianna are going to the Bahamas Islands sometime this week but I'm not sure. John sold his white sports car and they are VERY happy about that.

I KNOW the Roy Mellors are busy with remodeling plans and since they now have occupancy of their home, they are probably spending a lot of time there. That would be such a fun thing to do and I'm anxious to hear more about it - I'm SO thrilled for them.

Chris & Wayne sent raw oysters and fresh shrimp again this year. They sent it overnight express but I am still worried about eating the oysters. I called and left a message on John's voice mail to see if he and Bob would come eat them but I haven't heard from them so I am going to make oyster stew in the morning. They also sent a box of things from their yard - some kind of citrus. I haven't opened it yet but they called and Wayne said it was a "brag box" - he is very proud of having success with that this year. They called from Arkansas - they are with Rick and Linda. Linda is recuperating from her breast cancer treatment and was on television recently talking about it - Chris said she did such a good job - they had taped the program so Chris & Wayne could see it. They are going to Dallas to be with Linda & Ken on Christmas morning. They live like gypsies but love it.

I don't even have my neighborhood gifts wrapped yet - it has been hard for me to get the Christmas Spirit when we have had Spring like weather for the last two months.

I had a beautiful Christmas card from Dee's wife Judy and her new husband - it is a VERY flattering picture of both of them and they seem very happy. They sent a newsletter and they are going to sell Judy's home and build - I'm happy for them.

The area in which I live is like Temple Square - I don't believe there is a home anywhere close to me that isn't decorated to the "hilt" and it is beautiful.

Once again - please take time to truly enjoy the real meaning of Christmas - play with your children and relax - Ha!!!

I love each one of you so very much. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO and let me know how I can help you!!!


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