Dearest Family, July 7, 1998

HOORAY! The computer is free for a few minutes. Helen and I had to go to a BIG school thing last night and when we came home Janet greeted me with “I have just shown the pictures Bob sent to my class” - she was SO thrilled - THAT WAS VERY, VERY NICE BOB. It is so funny - when I saw the first one I said, “Oh, I love the home” and then I felt silly when it occurred to me that it was Bob and Claires' home. I remembered after that you had written that Janet's sister and sister-in-law were going to go to your home for a little Thailand visit. Diane looks very much like her Mother and Janet was REALLY HAPPY to be able to show her night class their pictures. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!

I wanted to cry when I looked at Susanna and Ricky standing together - that has been such a WONDERFUL relationship and it will continue to be but it will be hard to not have them together at all our family things. Susanna looks so tiny next to Ricky and Ricky looks so big - they have all grown up while I have been in Thailand. I am concerned about Russell too - does he have a patch on one of his eyes? I couldn't help but notice too that LeeAnna and Susanna look a lot alike now. I JUST LOVED THE PICTURES - WHAT A TREAT!!!

John - I hope you will forgive me! I had told my roommates that my son John was like his mother who enjoyed eating and when they saw your picture they all said, “John isn't fat”!!! You have trimmed down and look great - I like your hat. I am concerned about Julianna - where was she during the celebration? I also didn't know that “Godzilla” was such an Asian thing - I have had the opportunity to tell many of the teachers in my classes that my son works for the company that helped produce that movie.

ANNIE, JEANNIE, BARJI AND JESSIE - I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU TO COME. I will work out the transportation for you from the airport when I receive your schedule. I won't be able to meet you like I did the Bob's because taxis can only hold 4 people. I will see what the Chateau De Bangkok has available because Helen's daughters took a taxi by themselves and they took them to Ruen Rudi instead of Ruam Rudi and they had a hard time getting here. You will LOVE that hotel and it is right next door to where I live - you will be much better off than staying with us - everyone who stays with us gets sick for at least two days and it ruins their trip - they just don't get the rest they need. I will plan some fun things for us to do BUT I will not let other people plan them for us - Janet has some of her teachers scheduling trips for when her family comes and I DON'T WANT THAT. I definitely want us to go on the floating market tour that the Bob's went on - you will enjoy that.

RICKY'S FAREWELL - I had to laugh when I read that Jeannie said “It is such a big deal”. I know Bob remembers when he left Little Rock to go on his mission. Daddy had to ask permission to have him say goodbye right at the last minute of our Sacrament Meeting. Daddy was Stake President at that time and he could have done it differently but you know how he felt about things like that. PLEASE, PLEASE don't let it get you down - I can't imagine a better meeting than to have your family all say just a few words. I wish SO much that I could be there. Ellen Mae wrote and asked me when it was - I know they want to be there for it. What do you plan to do after the meeting - will you invite your ward members to come to your home for something to eat?

MICHAEL - CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING CALLED AS THE PRESIDENT OF YOUR PRIEST QUORUM - I think that it just WONDERFUL!!! I am proud of you and I know you will do a super job. Your Mom sent me a “cut and paste” paragraph from a letter I had sent to the family - I believe it was supposed to go to you.

MARY ANN - I LOVED YOUR LETTER - it meant so much to me because I know how busy you are and I appreciate your taking the time to write to your old Grandma B!!! What a marvelous Summer you are having and a very productive one - you will be happy all your life for the time you have spent practicing your violin. I am SO anxious to hear you play again - you have had some very special opportunities. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!!!!!!!

SUSANNA IS LEAVING TODAY FOR JERUSALEM - I can't believe it. I hope so much that she will write to me e-mail - that would be so exciting.

I'm anxious to hear from the Roy's about their visit with Robert Tucker. I hope your weather has cooled off - how far do you have to travel to take care of your garden? I get so homesick for Emily, Timothy and Jesse - I don't want them to grow up without me. I have a book about a little boy who grew up in the Northeast part of Thailand and I have passed it around in our teaching group because it is hard to find - it is a prize winner that has been translated into English. Anyway, I just got it back and I'm not going to loan it anymore because I want to save it for Emily to read. Chan is from that part of Thailand.

We have the next two days off - some kind of holiday and the schools are out. Thailand celebrates more holidays than any place I have ever heard of. Two of our teachers want to take Helen and me someplace - I would prefer to stay home but I don't want to be a “wet blanket” so I will go. We went to this big honor thing last night - they call us “window dressing” to make the big wigs look good. They served a 7 course Chinese dinner and I thought about Michael with every bite - we had squid, octopus eggs, fried rice with EVERYTHING in it, morning glory soup with snails in it, fish stomach (tripe) and some things I didn't dare ask the name of. They asked Helen to sing (she has a lovely voice) and she turned to me and said, “Shall I sing I Am A Child Of God” and I told her I didn't think they would appreciate it so she sang “This Little Light of Mine” and I'm not kidding when I say it went over like a “lead balloon” - the only music they really wanted was Thai music.

I can't think of anymore news. I appreciate you all so very much. Janet and Darlene are through teaching the end of August so Marc just called and told them they would be going “Way South” to put on a workshop for a couple weeks in September. We are all kind of in a state of apprehension not knowing what to expect. Helen and I are scheduled through September 17th. I think after that we will work on the Resource Center stuff until the new group comes in Oct. 5th.

Ann - I told Lek I wanted you to go to the BMA office for a little while during your visit - would you like that? If BYU ever decides to have student teachers come over here it would be beneficial for you to meet some of the people there.

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