July 15, 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 BIRTHDAY TO RICKY TOMORROW!!! Seventeen years old - I can't believe it. I hope you have a really happy birthday. I believe of all our grandchildren we probably spent more time with Ricky as a tiny baby than we did the others - he came back to Little Rock when he was about a year old and we had so much fun with him - I remember how hot it was and how PaPa used to squirt the hose on him to keep him cool. When he was really young he was with us and we put him in a crib in the girls' room and he was right by a full size mirror - he would entertain himself for hours by just looking at himself in the mirror - a sign of things to come - Ha!!!
This is Lake Powell week so we're all busy getting our recipes and food ready for it. One thing for sure - John's boat is ready. He came over yesterday and shampooed the carpet and shined the entire boat and trailer - I told him that no one will dare to get in it. I'm SO happy to see him taking good care of it - it's funny to have everything working on it - we NEVER did have a boat wherever everything worked!!!
There was really a nice article in the paper about Viewpoint last Saturday and they quoted John a lot. I cut it up and had it copied for you but it really doesn't do it justice because it covered most of the business page of our paper and I shrunk it to get it on one page. Last night about 10 o'clock, the phone rang and it was my neighbor, Paul Theobald. He said, "You have a son named John don't you?" Then he asked who he worked for and when he finally got it straightened out, he said "Wow, he is famous". He takes the Salt Lake Deseret News and the article was in that paper too on Sunday. I'm proud of John - he works hard and enjoys what he does.
Julianna has been in San Francisco for a few days visiting with a friend from college. She came home last evening and said she was glad to be home but California was fun too - she enjoyed the seafood. She is "off track" now but has to start going back to prepare for when she starts to teach - she's hoping they will let her leave on Wednesday to go to Lake Powell.
The Woolleys came over last night for Family Home Evening and Ann gave the lesson. She divided us into two teams and I'm always happy when I'm on the smart team - we won last night because of Jessie and Russell. They are always SO well prepared and I LOVE it. Ann made a delicious fresh peach cake - I don't even try to compete with her anymore!!! Our local peaches aren't on yet but the apricots are just now coming on and we have more than we had last year - I hope some of you are drying them!!!
I try to arrange my traveling to Lake Powell and other places so I won't be any trouble but I just can't do it. Last night, the Woolleys told me I drive too slow to caravan with them so I said I would leave an hour earlier than they do - they said that wouldn't work because there are four turnoffs and they were sure I would miss one of them. SO I will go to their home by 6 a.m. on Wednesday and go with them © they are taking two cars. Bob also called and invited me to go with them - I truly do appreciate it. The Bob and John Mellors and the Weinerts will meet at the McDonalds in Spanish Fork at 7 a.m. and caravan. I believe the Woolleys plan to go to the McDonalds in Price for breakfast so we'll probably all meet somewhere along the way.
I want to come home on Sunday because that is just too long for me to stay and also because Chris Jordin is flying to Kalispell, Montana and will have a two hour layover in Salt Lake on Tuesday. We will be able to visit and that will be fun. She called me the other day to tell me that the President of the Bountiful Temple who is a very close friend of Marcs has had all his temple work done for him - he was baptized by proxy for Marc. That kinda' surprised me because I would have wanted to be present when that was done if it had been my husband. Chris is now making plans to go to the Dallas Temple for her endowments. I asked her if she thought Marc would accept the ordinance work being done for him and she said, "I know he would". Life is funny isn't it???
Speaking of temples - none of you have responded about coming for the Mt. Timpanogos Temple Open House on August 19th. The Woolleys are going on their own because they won't be able to go on the 19th. It won't matter one bit to me if you all want to go on your own - I just want you to know I have 15 tickets for the 19th at 10 a.m. That is Monday and it is our Stake Day. I will be working at the temple on August 31st as kind of a tour guide.
Roy and Patrice - I MISS YOU - ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN!!! I keep finding things I planned to do with them or fix for them to eat. My memory is getting SO bad I will write everything down the next time you come. I'm sending you the section of our paper yesterday that had a painting of the Lehi Roller Mills - I don't like it nearly as well as the one on the note cards you gave me. I REALLY love them and I'm glad to know where I can get them. I have found a silver "wrap around" ring - does that belong to you?
I am enjoying lots of squash and will soon have some ripe tomatoes. My garden is fun but this Summer has just been too busy to take proper care of it - you can hardly see the produce for the weeds.
You will be receiving announcements of Jim and Jana Willardsen's marriage - Ann called for your addresses. I sent a nice gift from our family so don't feel obligated - a card would do!!!Üj