Dearest Family, April 27, 1998

I am at the computer by myself which is a VERY rare thing - usually there are others standing by me waiting for “their turn” - Ha!!! It is difficult for me to concentrate like that so I imagine my letters to you are quite dumb. Janet and Darlene have gone on a little “outing” with some of their teachers and Helen is sick in bed - her daughters left on Sunday morning and she has been in bed since. I heard her tell someone on the phone that she caught the flu from Janet and again I marvel at my good health - Darlene is still sniffling. Saturday night after we checked into the hotel in Lopburi it was about 10 p.m. - Janet went into the bathroom so I decided to just lay down on the bed until she was finished so I could get ready for bed - the next thing I knew, Darlene awakened me when she went to the bathroom and it was 4:30 a.m. They just can't believe I can sleep so good - I was SO TIRED - I don't ever remember going to bed without brushing my teeth or saying my prayers before - Ha!!!

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WONDERFUL LETTERS!!!

MARY ANN - I don't print many of the letters I receive but I printed the one you wrote to me so I can read it when I get discouraged - thank you SO much for your sweet letter!!! You really have a gift for expressing yourself on paper - not many people can do that. I wish SO much that I could see your play and also hear you play your violin.

LAURA ANN, BRETT AND CLAIRE - LAURA, I love the Ann in your name - do you go by both names now? I want to meet your friend Talia - does she have a dark complexion? You must have been a very good campaign manager - I'm proud of you. BRETT - they have EVERYTHING here in Thailand but I'll have to admit I have never see a “laser pointer”. Maybe it is even made in Thailand - check and see. You are lucky to have a Mom who can make you a jester costume - what is your castle made of? I would like you to see the million castles they have here in Thailand - they call them palaces but they are the same thing.

CLAIRE - I feel bad that I took your personal address off my computer list - the others in the apartment kept making comments about my having my whole family on the list that came on the screen so I took it off to just have my five childrens' names on it - DUMB, DUMB!!! I guess I think you can just get my letters from Bob's computer. You sound SUPER busy!!! I decided a long, long time ago that there were real contributors in the church and community and then there were those who just talked a good job - Ha!!! I remember “canvassing” Leawood many times asking for money to build the “Island” so our Garden Club could have flowers in the entrance. Some of the people felt like they were giving me money for my own personal use. When I go to visit Roy and Patrice and see how beautiful that island still is, then I realize it was worthwhile.

BOB - I loved hearing about your Wyoming fishing trip. I like for you to go there instead of to New Mexico - I guess because I remember how much Daddy used to love to fish in Wyoming. Isn't it wonderful that we have leaders to remind us of the most important things in life like your Bountiful Temple President? We all get so caught up in the auxiliaries where we are working that we think they are the only things that matter in the church. No - we still can't access pictures - I haven't tried but sometimes we still get the “not enough memory” icon on. We think they upgraded our computer when it was in the shop because it works faster now and we have a “voice recorder” on it that we haven't had before and we can also play music discs.

ANN - Thank you so much for your letter telling me about your trip to Las Vegas. Ron - I hope you have a good trip to Hawaii - it sounds like fun but I know those business trips are not everything they seem to be. Susanna - you're home and working at “MOM and ME” - is that right across the street from Food For Less? It seems like I can remember a store by that name. I think you and Jessie are perfect for clerk jobs like that. Lee Anna - Head Cheerleader for your freshman cheer squad - I'm SO glad that I will be able to watch you cheer. Russ - playing Junior Varsity Soccer and doing yard work - GREAT!!! Jim - are you really as adorable as your Mom says you are? _ Ha!!!

JEAN - Thank you so much for your long and WONDERFUL letter. I'm SO proud that Barji was honored among 8 other Seniors for her “integrity” - that's the most important honor that could be given. Ricky - every time I go to the computer I think I might have a letter telling about your mission call. You have done such a SUPER job in your school work and I am SO proud of you - I don't want you to be called to serve in Thailand - it is too hot!!! Wouldn't it be neat if you were called to serve in Montana??? You will LOVE wherever you are called.

Roy & Patrice - my roommate Janet has a daughter living in California who is very active in the Unitarian Church. She writes glowing reports about her church and how much she loves it - Janet's other two daughters are very active in the Mormon church - I thought that was interesting.

John & Julianna - I wrote to my Orem neighbors, Chuck and Eileen Little, and asked them to tell me if the daffodils bloomed this Spring. I write a Family and Friends letter and I take turns sending it to the Littles, the Mike or Paul Theobalds - that way I just have to send one letter - Ha!!! Janet, Darlene and I went to Ayutthaya on Saturday to teach and then on to Lopburi for church on Sunday. We came home last night (Sunday) and tonight we are having a dinner party for 32 people. This is the group of people who took us to the Beach Resort and when I heard Janet invite them for an American Picnic of fried chicken, etc. I about fainted but we are doing it the easy way. We have ordered the chicken and rice and Darlene made baked beans and potato salad and I just finished making those no-bake peanut butter cookies. The Thai people eat on the floor quite often and that is what they will do here and then we will play Bingo with the game Patrice sent to me. I am finding out that I have been way too formal in my parties - maybe I'll change when I get home.

I have told you about “Gulati” the tailor. I have had him make me some skirts and blouses and a couple dresses and I think he does a good job. I went to him this morning to pick up some things and I asked him if he would be able to make some clothes for my family when they come to Thailand. He said “yes”!!! His shop is right across from the Marriott Hotel so when you come Claire, if you want him to make you something he will. My skirts and blouses have been 2,500 bahts and that has included the material - that's about $60 American dollars. I don't know how much my dresses will be - they weren't ready this morning so he is having them delivered to me and when I asked him how much so I could have the money ready for him he said, “Money is not the important thing - I want you to be satisfied”. I believe I told you that he and his son who run the shop are “Sikhs” and they wear turbans. I have found that it works better if you buy your material from him too and he has quite a bit of nice Thai silk. He would also make things for Bob and Michael if they wanted. He made things for Helen's daughters and it only took 2 days. He takes your measurements but he has someone else sew them - you don't choose the pattern, he has books for you to look through - it's fun!!! I want you to do everything there is to do here.

I went to the Villa this morning and they had “Kraft” processed cheese so don't worry about bringing Velveeta. I laughed when I thought about when I insisted that Daddy take Bob some “Fortified Oat Flakes” in Colombia and they took a picture of a grocery store shelf stacked with them there. I can't find Crystal Light here though. Claire - could you bring me some of those plastic things that hold earrings on? I know they sell them at the malls where they have the earrings in the middle of the malls. They won't sell them here without the earrings.

MICHAEL - YOU MUST REMEMBER TO NOT DRINK THE WATER HERE UNLESS IT IS BOTTLED!!! They will have some in your hotel room for you to brush your teeth with, I'm sure. I am making a list of things I want you to see and do - YOU WILL LOVE IT.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY, VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL. Grandma B

Dearest Family, April 27, 1998

I forgot to mention the most important thing the Bob Mellors have been involved in. Your new carport sounds great - I didn't know you had enough room at the side of your home to add that much but I'm glad you did. I can just see Michael and Bob working together to get the stumps out - that is a big job!!!

I also forgot to tell you that my roommate, Janet, left her purse in the taxi one day last week. She was carrying a lot of grocery sacks and her purse fell off her shoulder and she didn't realize it until she got in the apartment. She was sick - she went to the police and we called and had it broadcast over the radio but everyone says she will NEVER get it back!!! She lost her money and also her credit cards and she couldn't remember which ones she had brought to Thailand so she had to call her sister in Utah and have her cancel all of them. She said she didn't have a whole lot of money with her.

That's all the news. I love you, Grandma B