Dearest Family, September 6, 1998 8:15 a.m.

JULIANNA - HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW!!! I hope you have a WONDERFUL DAY doing something you really love to do. I haven't heard from you for SO long but I think about you every day as I use the books you have so thoughtfully sent to me - I would like to do something that nice for you!!!

BOB - thank you for your message. I can't tell you where I am going to live because I am absolutely lost in that area. All I know is that the driver takes the Don Muang Exit and it is towards the airport. All my American teachers are advising me to not accept that apartment but to hold out for a townhouse with two bedrooms and a kitchen so I don't know what will happen. I am going to talk to Marc today and maybe he will advise me. I will have to live in the general area though. I didn't see any hotels or anyplace like that and I didn't see any shopping places but there is a large market close by - fresh vegetables and fruits and things like that.

JEANNIE - thank you for your wonderful long letter. I am SO thrilled that Barji and Jessie are happy at Utah State - Barji's dance schedule sounds pretty busy. It REALLY made me homesick to read that you went to the Utah - Utah State football game - that used to be such a big rivalry when I was in school!!! Utah State hasn't had a very good football team for a long time - is it better now? When I read about Mary Ann moving into Barji's room very quickly it reminded me of when Ann left to go to BYU and Christy Haggard visited shortly after and we did something that I would never do again but I can't remember what it was - Ha! I know I cried for many days when I realized that Ann had actually moved out. It doesn't work out that way though and that's good - they are gone for a little while but they always come back until they marry - THANK GOODNESS!!! It doesn't seem possible that Mary Ann is going to be driving - WOW - I'm missing out on too much!!! I would love to see Sarah and Laura cheerleading - how fun for them to be together even though they are in different schools and different grades.

Ricky sounds VERY HAPPY and busy. It is so strange to read about his friend going to Cambodia - that is very close to Thailand. I think it is wonderful that Ricky is doing his own laundry AND HE IS SO POSITIVE TO SAY IT IS EASY!!! I should write to Ricky and tell him about the day he was born - THAT IS SUCH A VIVID MEMORY IN MY LITTLE OLD BRAIN!!! We were all so grateful that he had actually been born but I was worried sick that he was going to die in his crib and I made a bed at the side of it and slept with my hand on his back so I could feel him breathing - do you remember that? (Ricky had written and asked his parents to tell him the day and place he was born). He is such a thoughtful young man to be concerned about the money it was costing you to send him things to the MTC.

It makes me sad to think about you showing your home. I don't believe the Roys know that you are selling your home and building a smaller one - I didn't know for sure until Ann and Jean visited me here. I know your home is very large but I LOVE IT. Claire tells me that the home you are building is in a very beautiful place and perfect for you.

I had such a fun time at China Town yesterday. We spent most of the day there and then went to a History Museum. THEN - we came back to the apartment and I had invited my Saimai friends to come to dinner - Lamchuan and Somjit have been cooking Thai food for us and they wanted to do it again. We ended up having 13 for dinner and I will have to describe the food in another letter. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS - even Michael would have loved it!!!

I must get ready to go to church. I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY, VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL. Grandma Bxxxxxxooooooooo