Dearest Family, July 2, 1998

Patrice - thank you so much for your wonderful letter!!! It is SO neat to hear about your fabulous produce - I AM PROUD OF YOU. They have made 6 quarts of salsa, frozen lots of green beans and have planted winter squash - pie pumpkins, butternut squash and spaghetti squash. I had a letter from Chris and Wayne yesterday and they said again how much they enjoyed your visit to Gulf Shores mainly because Roy reminds Wayne so much of Lynn - your gardening proves that you are much like your Dad. I have heard from other Little Rock friends about your heat - I remember how some Summers were much hotter than others - I hope it cools off for you. It is SO funny here - I forget how hot it really is until I wash my face and feel the heat coming from it - if I didn't know better I would think I had a fever - Ha!!!

Robert Tucker - I hope you will tell him “hello” for me - I miss him and it has been too long since I have seen him. I will always feel badly that he didn't come to Utah for Lynn's funeral but don't tell him that. I hope you have a good time at Lake Hamilton - BE CAREFUL ON THE WATER WITH THE CHILDREN!!!

I am impressed with the art lessons Emily and Timothy are having - studying the masterpieces is way beyond me but I think it is WONDERFUL!!! TIMOTHY - CONGRATULATIONS for winning the free-throw contest in basketball - that doesn't surprise me - I think you are going to be a real athlete.

I had a letter from Dorothy and Dan Woods and they told me that Suzie has been teaching them computers - they REALLY like her and say she is very patient with them. Give her my love.

BOB - THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RESENDING THE PHUKET PICTURES!!! I agree the one with you in your wet suit was the most glamorous. That is the first wet suit I have ever seen that had short legs - YOU LOOK GREAT!!! It scared me to look at it with all the tanks in the background. You never did tell me what the small boat was for - did you go fishing in it??? CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND CLAIRE ON YOUR 2OTH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY - it doesn't seem that long to me. Thank you too for making me feel good about my ring purchase - Michael, you are a dear to not want to hurt my feelings (Bob said he didn't want them to have it appraised in case it would be fake and I would feel bad). It is WONDERFUL to have someone like Michael on my side - Ha!!!

We have had a good day - I must close and go to the Ministry to teach for 1 1/2 hours. I'll have to tell you what I did today - I usually swim between 5 - 6. Well, this morning I got up and took my calcium pill and got dressed and when I got out into the hall where the light was good I looked at the clock and saw that it was only 4 a.m. I can't lay down after taking that pill so I went ahead and went swimming - I couldn't see the clock because it was too dark at the pool and I swam until 5:30 instead of just one hour. Anyway - I am tired and besides that we had three teachers come in last night to bring us a Chinese dinner and then to teach us how to make “Papaya Salad” and they stayed until late.

Have a wonderful weekend if I don't get time to write another letter. I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY, VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL. Grandma B

Emily and Timothy's' art lessons sound SO good