September 1, 1996

Dearest John & Julianna; Roy, Patrice, Emily, Timothy & Jesse; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, Lee Anna & Jimmy:

It is Sunday afternoon and I am having fun trying out my new computer. I have never had more fun than I have had the last two days. Bob called me on Friday morning and asked what I was doing and I said "nothing special" and he said, "I'm going to be down in your area this afternoon and I'll stop by and see you". I couldn't believe it because he NEVER has enough time to come just to visit BUT I was thrilled to pieces.

I wasn't supposed to be but I ended up being in charge of all the food for the High Priest and Elder sponsored party on Friday night and I had to be in the neighbor's yard where the party was going to be by 6 o'clock. Looking back on it I wish I had just called and said I was sick because I could have spent at least a couple hours more with Bob.

Bob got here about noon and I fixed him a little lunch and then he said, "You just go ahead with what you are doing because I want to set something up". He went out to his car and started carrying in boxes - I had no idea what he was doing!!! He told me that he and John wanted to get me set up on E-Mail so I could communicate with the rest of the family easier than mailing letters and I couldn't do it with my present computer. We went down to John's bedroom and he started clearing off John's desk and before I knew it he had set up the most WONDERFUL new computer. It is a Packard Bell and looks like something from outer space. It was so NEAT to have a new computer but even better than that it was so NEAT to spend the next four hours with Bob having him try to explain to me how it works - it was WONDERFUL!!!

About 4 o'clock he had finished and I wanted him to sign at the bank so he could get into the Safety Deposit Box in Lehi so we drove to Lehi. I know he would have preferred doing something else but it has been really important to me for my sons to be able to get into that box and he has not been able to come down during banking hours before. I also wanted him to be able to find my medical directive and then when we got the box, we couldn't find it. I will have another one made soon and make sure it is in there because I surely don't want tubes and things on me to keep me alive. It means a lot to me to have important things in there and I am going to go through other documents I have here and get them over there.

I came home and Bob went to Layton. The church party was good and everyone brought their assigned food and there was plenty. I'll have to tell you something that happened though that took away from the good feeling during the entertainment part of the party. Constance Erickson who is my friend from the BYU Law school was the emcee and she was nervous and in telling a joke she said something like this, "Now that you have been down in the slimes I believe you can be brought up a little higher, maybe even to being a Democrat". WELL - there was dead silence and then a woman in the group who is a staunch Democrat got up and walked out. THEN, her husband told a bad lawyer joke. Constance took the lawyer joke in good spirits but the damage had been done. It went from bad to worse and I don't believe there will be anymore impromptu emceeing done at our parties. There is such a funny notion that in order to be a good Mormon you have to be a Republican when in reality there are many church authorities who claim to vote Democratic. This is definitely a "Utah" thing because I wasn't aware of this until we moved here.

Saturday morning while I was outside watering my plants, John appeared!!! I haven't seen or heard from John for three weeks. He was here to help me with my new computer!!! They didn't have the printer Bob wanted when he was here on Friday but they had said they would bring it to my home that night. Well, I wasn't home because of the party so they couldn't come. John went to "Circuit City" and picked up the printer and came here and set it up. John spent the entire day of Saturday with me and I LOVED IT. I AM OVERWHELMED with seeing all the things this thing can do. I had to go work in the Temple for one of the openhouses so I had to leave by 5 o'clock but John stayed here. He typed up the most detailed directions on how to type this letter so if it works you will get it - otherwise I will have to type it again on my old computer. I believe I would have to be STUPID to not understand his directions!!!

This opens up an entire new world for me and I am SO excited to spend as much time as I possibly can learning more about it. I had a meeting with Bishop Patch this morning and he told me they will release me next Sunday but I can't tell anyone. I recommended my Education Counselor to take my place and he said they have called her and she has accepted but he couldn't tell me the counselors she has chosen because they are out of town and that is why they couldn't release me today. I bore my testimony in church this morning and told about the computer - I think many people are suspecting my release. I feel REALLY good about it!!! Bishop Patch said I would have a couple weeks to rest without a calling - I think they will probably call me to serve in the new temple and I will LOVE that. My Home Making Counselor just can't function at all - I can't believe that she has given up so easily - she has always been so dynamic and full of life and now all of a sudden she is bedridden with a bad back!!!

Working at the temple last night was so much fun. They kept telling us that we couldn't make it a social occasion - we weren't supposed to talk to people - just usher them along through the lines. They expected about 30,000 to go through just yesterday - I didn't hear how many came. It is just BEAUTIFUL!!! Bro. Shelton who used to be our neighbor in Lehi is on the Open House Staff and when he saw me he came over to visit - those of you who remember him will remember how he is quite "loud" - I was worried that someone might come and ask us to leave.

Would you believe I have to have a Relief Society Board Meeting at my home this Wednesday??? It had already been scheduled and Bishop Patch doesn't want me to cancel it. It is so awkward because the new President, Kim Harris, will be in charge after Sunday and yet we have to pretend we don't know that. Besides that, I have to make and send out all the invitations and get refreshments and fix up an agenda!!!

This computer is SO much easier to type on - the keys fit my fingers better or something. I am going to start my "Family History Book" and can hardly wait. HOW CAN I EVER THANK YOU FOR BEING SO THOUGHTFUL - I just hope I won't let you down by being stupid and not being able to learn how to use it!!! There are a million classes all over the valley so if I don't learn how it will be my own fault.

Bob told me that Laura didn't make the volley ball team for her school and she was disappointed. That is SO much a part of life and SO important to learn that lesson early in life - we just pick ourselves up when that happens and try harder the next time and keep doing it!!!

Congratulations to Ricky for making the Davis High School Varsity Golf team. I told Jeannie that I hoped I would be able to see him play sometime and she said, "Mom, it's different being on a golf or tennis team - they don't have cheerleaders or anything".

I went to the Timpview Junior Varsity Football game last Thursday to see Jessie and her cheerleading squad cheer. They put on a half time program that was outstanding - their cheers are all so synchronized and they are GOOD!!! I loved it.

I went to the Promised Valley Playhouse in Salt Lake on Thursday night with my friend Ruth Cardon. She had bought tickets a long time ago - they have been sold out for months. They put on "Utah" depicting things that have happened during the past 100 years for the Centennial. It was absolutely fabulous - I am SO glad I was able to see it.

The Woolleys aren't coming over tonight. I had a message on my phone from Ann when I came home from church saying they were going to the cabin and I am SO happy. She said the Weinerts were already there and they were going to spend the day together. Rick called yesterday morning while John was helping me with the computer and said they were going and they would probably stop in to say "Hello" on their way but they didn't ever come.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JULIANNA THIS SATURDAY!!!! This should have gone on the first of my letter but I am still learning how and I don't know how to change it. They have moved into their new home and John said they LOVE it. John especially loves their backyard - it is right next to the mountains and very private. They also have a "Hot Tub" in the backyard. I am anxious to see it.

I would send this E-Mail but John wasn't able to connect it when he was here. There was a number for him to call for help but they closed early in the day on Saturday so he said he would try again on Monday. A man from Circuit City is going to come help me tomorrow night and maybe he will be able to do it.

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