February 19. 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:
Happy President's Day!!! We didn't used to have as many holidays as you do now but I know the children are out of school today and since one of my counselors has children she didn't want to have a meeting this morning - we have postponed it until Wednesday morning. I can remember PaPa saying they planned all these holidays to give the government employees more time off - Ha!!!
I REALLY enjoyed having Mary Ann and Sarah stay with me - the only problem I have when the children come is that I miss them terribly when they leave. I'm glad they want to go back to their own homes but it makes mine seem SO quiet. They were ÂÂere WONDERFUL ªI am VERY proud of all my grandchildren - they are SO thoughtful and fun to be around. We played a lot of card games - I enjoy that and it was fun to FINALLY learn how to play "Skip-Bo" - I'm still not sure we are playing it exactly right and will have to ask Mel and Ellen Mae when I am with them next. We played "Phase 10" - the game I played with Laura & Katie when they were here.
Jeannie & Rick & Barji came by about 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon to get them. They had had such a wonderful time in Phoenix and it was SO much fun to hear about their trip. Jeannie and Barji rented a car one afternoon and found our old home there. It has been 32 years since Jeannie has been back and she wasn't sure she could find it but she did - she found the Tavan School first and then drove right to 4623 Pinchot Avenue. She was out walking in front of it when the woman who lives there noticed her and went to talk to her. When she found out she used to live there she invited her in. She said she cried and I KNOW I would have completely "lost it". She told me about some of the changes they had made inside the house but Jeannie said she remembered her old bedroom and everything about it. It is painted yellow now with brown trim - when we lived there it was blue with pink trim. She said it is still beautiful. I asked about the "fig" tree that Daddy had planted but she hadn't noticed it - when we went by after our mission he made sure he found it and it was flourishing - just West of the house. MEMORIES, MEMORIES!!! I imagine Ann and Bob would remember everything but I don't know about Roy - he was just in kindergarten when we left.
They brought me some fresh dates and it was a huge bag and I have eaten at least half of them. Have you ever been REALLY hungry for something and not been able to find it? I LOVE dates and all I can get are the hard dried up ones - these are big and plump and fresh and SIMPLY DELICIOUS. Do you remember our date palm trees??? I used to make date shakes all the time. These are comparable to the pecans Roy & Patrice send me from Arkansas!!!
Thank you all for remembering me on Valentine's Day. Carol Ann has always sent me a box of chocolates from her "candy store" in Rexburg, Idaho - don't ask me how she ever found that store. She didn't do it this year and I was kinda' glad because she does too many things for me - WELL, I got a letter from her the day after and she said it was on its way - Valentine's Day creeped up on her. There are not many things that creep up on Carol Ann!!! She said in her letter that their son Joe has been accepted into the Loma Linda Dental School. She is rearranging their home so he can move in and they are also making room for Rosie and Clarks' baby when he is born in the Spring. She is a wonderful mother.
Elaine is having more surgery on her leg today. She has a new doctor - the x-rays that were taken when it was broken have been lost - Elaine says her original doctor "botched" things up so badly that she thinks he lost them on purpose. Her bones have not healed and this doctor is either going to put a pin in them or else graft some bone from her hip. I have offered to help but I don't know what will happen.
Bob & Claire - it was fun to talk to you. I would like to hear more about that talk I took notes on (Bob says the interpretation he gets from others who heard it, is that the valiant spirits in the pre-existence had to fight so hard to come to earth that they became very aggressive.) Is that right? I find myself getting like Granny Mellor - probably because I have more time to think than I used to - OLD AGE!!!
Roy - I'm sorry I missed your call but it was fun to hear your message and Mary Ann, Sarah & I played it over many times to hear Emily's voice in the background. Patrice - I loved talking to you and also the children - that little Jesse is talking "Up a Storm" and Emily & Timothy are always SO sweet even though I interrupted their video of the "Karate Kid". Chris called me yesterday morning - she said that Marsha can't say enough nice things about you Roy - she said everyone at the hospital knew that you were very strict but they respected that. Chris isn't complimentary about many things so that is very important.
The family that is moving into our neighborhood sounds like a SUPER family. They both taught at Brown - microbiology - and are now at BYU. Their names are Ken & Angel Busath.
The Woolleys are doing fine. They had Mary Ann & Sarah over on Saturday night and when I picked them up there were a lot of cars in front - Susanna had some friends over!!! A FUN & HAPPY HOME!
John & Julianna are doing fine. They dropped by for a minute while the girls and I were playing cards. They are looking forward to a "Hunter Reunion" in March, in Sedona, Arizona.
I WILL ORDER 14 TICKETS FOR THE OREM WOMEN'S FASHION SHOW ON MARCH 30TH UNLESS I HEAR FROM YOU - IT WILL BE AT NOON!!!Üj