January 2, 1996 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, Lee Anna & Jimmy:

I'm going to write a very brief letter so I will have continuity in my letters. Ann tells me that I am a "creature of habit" when it comes to these letters and I guess I am - part of it is that I forget so many things - I have to write about the same time of week all the time or I won't have anything to write about. Does that make sense???

I hope each one of you will have a very Happy 1996. It seems like yesterday that I was writing Happy New Year for 1995. The time goes SO fast for me!!!

I have had a fun time celebrating the last few days. Carol Ann came to see me last Saturday to wish me a Happy Birthday. She will always be very special to me - I admire all she does for her family and everyone else. I have a hard time keeping up with one home and she cares for a home in Rialto, a condo in San Diego, a condo in Palm Springs and a condo here in Provo. Art's dental business is going very well - she says it is actually going better in Palm Springs than anywhere else. He will have a lot of family help when his sons finish within the next year or so. Rosie is expecting a baby next May and so is Marie, John's wife so she will be even busier. She has had Memory's little four year old daughter for the past month. Carol Ann looks beautiful - I didn't tell her how good her eyes look but I noticed.

Ramona, Elaine & Shirley came by to wish me Happy Birthday too but I wasn't home - they left me a box of delicious candy. Elaine uses a "walker" but at least she is upright - she will probably move into a retirement home because she won't be able to drive anymore. Carol called me from Manti and my brother Don called - everyone is SO good to me!!!

Sunday evening I was invited to a dinner party here in the neighborhood. The lady giving it is 84 years old and most of those attending were in their 80's so we were home by 9 o'clock but it was a lovely thing for her to do. We ate, visited and sang Christmas carols around her Christmas tree. I felt bad because the Woolleys came over and I wasn't home - I didn't call them because I was so sure they wouldn't come on New Year's Eve. Most of Provo celebrated on Saturday night because of New Year's Eve falling on the Sabbath.

Monday morning I went to Salt Lake - Clinton and Eris Holmes always have a New Year's breakfast and invite friends to come at different intervals. They invite the "Brigham City Group" to all come at a certain time. I REALLY didn't want to go this year because it is such a "couple thing" but I force myself to do the things I think I should. I was SO glad I went even though the fog and sleet at the Point of the Mountain was scary. My friends, Del & Phyllis Holmgren came from Bear River and I haven't seen them for a long time and we had such a good visit. Eris & Clinton get peaches from Brigham City each Summer and freeze them - they always serve the same thing - pancakes with peaches and whipped cream, ham and orange juice. DELICIOUS!!!

I stopped in at the Woolleys to wish them a Happy New Year and Ann & Susanna were the only ones home and they were on their way to a movie. Ron had taken the other children to Alta to go skiing. I think it is WONDERFUL for the children to learn how to ski and do it often - as I have often said, "If you're going to live in this climate, you need to do the Winter sports".

I talked to Bob & Claire the other night and they said that Michael goes skiing every Saturday to take lessons - he goes on a bus so they don't have to go or provide transportation. I think that's NEAT!!!

Jeannie - thank you for your phone call. I wanted SO much to come to your Sacrament Meeting to hear Mary Ann play a violin solo. I just didn't see how I could get everything in - I had to be at a church meeting at 7 a.m. - my counselors all had out of town company and I didn't feel right about asking them to substitute for me. Our meetings start at 11 a.m. now but I will still have those early meetings but they won't start until 8 a.m. I know you did a beautiful job Mary Ann and I'm SO proud of you for being able to do that - I hope you will keep practicing like you do now. I hope all my grandchildren will keep practicing their talents because it is SO important.

I'm EXCITED - Bob & Claire have asked me to care for their children the end of the month while they go to Florida. Bob is going to an allergy clinic of some kind and Claire is going to go with him. I have worried that they didn't trust me with their children because they have NEVER asked me to stay with them. I feel like I know Laura and Katie and it will be fun to get to know Michael and Brett. I just hope they won't expect too much help with their homework!!! Claire - I'm sure I will be talking to you before the 26th when you will leave but I will appreciate a detailed list of their activities so I won't have to rely on them telling me their schedules. IT WILL BE FUN FOR ME!!!

I believe Julianna's Mom is going to be with them this week sometime. I hope they will have a fun time together - she isn't able to come out very often. Drop by to see me if you have any free time. She is planning to visit with her Mother who lives in Salt Lake so I know her time in Provo-Orem will be short.

Roy & Patrice - I have the picture of your new home on my refrigerator along with your Christmas pictures and I LOVE to look at them. I hope all your plans for remodeling will work out the way you want them to. I miss you but especially do I miss Emily, Timothy and Jesse.

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