January 8, 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 probably won't have time to finish this letter but I'll get started anyway. We had our Presidency Meeting here this morning and it went long and now I have to go care for a woman who has toxemia and is threatening to deliver her baby six weeks before it is due. This woman also has a 13 month old little girl who has to be cared for. The doctor told her she had to stay right down in bed or she would risk having a stroke and losing the baby. It is funny because she was here visiting her mother-in-law when she started having problems - we don't even know her but they have asked our Relief Society to help them and it could go on for six weeks - she has asked for help from 2 'til 5 every day. The sisters were all so good yesterday - we passed a sign up sheet around and they filled up all the places until Feb. 5th. and today is my turn.
Last week I took care of a lady who fell down her steps and tore some ligaments in her ankle. She is working at the Meridian School in Provo and her doctor told her she could work in the mornings so I picked her up each day at school and took her home and fixed lunch for her. We have had meals going to her for four days and will continue through this week.
I am almost afraid to answer my phone worried about who else needs help.
WE ARE HAVING SPRING LIKE WEATHER. I have watched the weather news the last couple days and I can't believe what is happening in the East and also the South. The snow blizzards they are having in the East are terrible and are causing all kinds of transportation and other problems. All the snow we are supposed to be having is going North and East from us - I would love a good snow storm - we haven't even had one this entire Winter. They have snow in the ski resorts but I wonder how long that will last.
Keith McKell passed away in Little Rock last week. I called Floy on Saturday and we talked for a long time and she is doing good. He was in the hospital for some kind of intestinal blockage and his kidneys failed - he really hadn't been ill for very long. Joy called me after the funeral on Friday and she said everyone was there - the Griffins, Beyers, Cobbs, Wings etc. Dick Cobb spoke and she said it was beautiful. Do any of you remember Layne Jones? You would remember his in-laws but I can't remember their names - I'm getting SO old!!! Any way, he is the Bishop of the 2nd ward where the McKells lived and he is also a good singer. He sang a solo and so did Laneice Lewis (she is the wife of the first black man to join the church in Little Rock).
Utah has been celebrating their Centennial and it has been fun to watch all the activities on television. Ricky was involved in a program where he helped unload luggage from a train as part of the re-enactment. I'm SO glad he had a part in it. I hope the rest of my grandchildren watched it on television or were in some way involved in it in their schools because Jan. 4, 1896 was an important part of the history of Utah. I guess the practice of polygamy was a big reason they had to wait so long for statehood but they didn't delve into that too much - Ha!!!
I went to a missionary farewell open house last night for Tyler Albrecht - he is going to Germany. Do any of you remember John and Barbara Kunzler who took over the Montana Billings Mission from Daddy? They are very good friends of the Kunzlers and were to the services yesterday morning. John had a brain aneurism about three years ago and he is still in a wheel chair. I was so depressed as I visited with him yesterday - he can't talk and just sits and cries. His wife Barbara told me the last of their sons will soon be leaving on his mission (they have 6 sons and 2 daughters) and she won't have any help in their home except from the Government. Their sons have had to do everything for John and Barbara just cried as she told me about it. John is quite young - in his fifties. He was a professor in the school of engineering at BYU. I guess everyone has challenges of one kind or another.
I talked to Jessie last night and she said Ann was ill. I called to tell them I wouldn't be home until after 6 - I didn't want them to come and find me gone again. I called to check up on her this morning and no one answered so I am assuming she is in bed trying to get well or is all well and has gone to work - I hope she is at work.
Jeannie - thank you for your sweet note. I am wondering if Ricky is working at the golf course - it is warm enough to golf!!!
Roy - it was good to talk to you and your home plans sound like so much fun. I know it's a worry but a fun kind of worry. When I talked to Floy she said you were having really cold weather. They buried Keith in Tuckerman and she said it was COLD!!! I hope you get enough snow to make some snow people - Emily was so cute as she told me about the ones you had made last year and they love that.
John came by for one minute on Saturday. He brought his new car to show me but I couldn't go out because I was coloring my hair and in a mess - all I know it is white and four wheel drive. I hadn't heard from him for awhile so I thought he was in Las Vegas at a trade show but he wasn't. They are doing fine.
I haven't heard from Bob & Claire but I know they are busy - there is a real epidemic of childhood respiratory illnesses in Utah. Claire - have you chosen your Counselors yet? I hope you get as good of ones as I have!!!Üj