May 6, 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:
We are having absolutely gorgeous weather - cool and sunny!!! I hear a lot of people complaining about allergies but since I have outgrown all of mine I don't worry about them. It's kinda' funny to see the pollen count on television right along with the temperatures but I guess this has been a really hard year for those who suffer from hay fever, etc. I wonder why my Father didn't outgrow his hay fever - he had it until he died!!!
We had such a WONDERFUL time with the family on Saturday for Katie's baptism and she is so adorable. I love to hear little children giggle - probably because when I was young I used to giggle and drove everyone crazy. She got the giggles during some of the talks and had such a hard time stopping - she was sitting right in front of me with some of her little friends and they were having such a good time. I was very proud of our family who came out in full to support her - Rick was in a bind at the hospital and Ricky had to work at the golf course but everyone else was there. I can't believe I forgot my camera!!!
Bob - I have never heard a more beautiful blessing than the one you gave to Katie, and John I have never heard a more beautiful talk on the Holy Ghost. Grandpa Ezell gave a beautiful talk on baptism also. Katie's baptism will be the last for our family for a long time and I have LOVED each one of them.
The dinner at Bob and Claires' home was wonderful too. It was warm enough for us to eat out on their patio and the children just love being together. Claire put a large quilt out on the lawn and it was fun to see the children all sitting on it - I haven't seen that done for a long time - probably because of the chiggers in Little Rock - Ha!!! I can't help but think how the menus have changed through the years. Claire had fixed her delicious bar-b-cue beef for sandwiches with cole slaw and that is a favorite of mine and I'm sure there was very little fat in any of it. Ann's chips and dips were all fat free and Jean's desserts were varied - one a fat free trifle and the other a chocolate cake. I WANT TO KNOW WHY I CAN'T LOSE WEIGHT!!! Bob is too thin, I think, but he looks good and says he feels good. I remember all the "double dipped" Kentucky fried chicken that Daddy was so good at cooking - a thing of the past!!!
Bob had a "print out" of an article entitled "Tips For A Successful Marriage" and he shared it with us. I was sitting a little ways away from my daughters and daughters-in-law and they were just hysterical. It was taken from a 1950 Home Economics textbook. I asked Bob for a copy so he made one for me and when I read it I just have to say I AGREE WITH MOST EVERYTHING IN IT. I can just hear you all say "you are really old fashioned" but I am almost adamant when I tell you that I truly believe the biggest problems in marriages today are caused by those who don't want to abide by the principles in that article. It works both ways though - the husband must do his part in equal ways. It was my turn to conduct in Relief Society yesterday so I told about that article - many of the newly marrieds in the class came and asked for a copy of it so I am going to give it to them. You must remember that I was married in 1947 and our marriage was about the most ideal marriage of any I know of. ENOUGH OF THAT!
Yesterday was such a fun day. Sarah called me just as I was leaving for church and said she was doing a report on Arkansas. She wanted to borrow some of the things I have and said they would come for them in the late afternoon. When I got home she called and said they would fly down for them. I went to the airport to pick them up and they said they had time to come home for a little visit. Rick and Jean put my trampoline cover on - I had taken it in to be re-stitched and there was no way I could put it on by myself. Julianna came over to do a little sewing and THEN Ron and Jimmy came and he and Sarah always have so much fun together. Ron took them back to the airport about 7 p.m. because they didn't want to fly when it was dark. The Woolleys usually come over on Sunday night but Susanna and Jessie had rehearsals for something and Ann had promised to help a lady in her ward give a party for her husband's 60th birthday.
John - thank you SO much for fixing my sprinkling system. He came over one night last week and it was dark so I held the flashlight and he took it all apart and cut and glued and put it back together and IT WORKS!!! It was really a big break like it had been hit by a car or a shovel or something. I was impressed that he knew how to fix it. He's in trouble now - Ha!!!
Roy and Patrice - we miss you at our family get togethers. I will always remember hearing about the Forrest and Mellor get togethers when we were in Arkansas ( they weren't very frequent though) and I would get homesick. I don't tell you about them to make you homesick - it's all I have to write about - Ha!!! I envy you a lot for living in Little Rock - I LOVE it there!!!
Bob and Claires' remodeling is just about finished and it is just WONDERFUL!!! I am surprised at how large their basement is. They have bedrooms for Laura and Michael, a bathroom, a large family room with a huge television screen, a kitchen bar, a workroom and a storage room. It makes their home twice as big. The children were all watching Apollo 13 - I wanted to stay and watch it - I'll sneak up there some day.
YOU ARE ALL INVITED TO MY PARTY ON MAY 18th. I am having the food catered by the Carl Mellor Catering Company from Lehi - Dinner will be at 5 p.m. and I have hired the son of one of my neighbors to entertain at 7 p.m. It is always more fun for me if my family is here to help me "pull it off"!!!Üj