February 21, 1999 Farmington, Utah

This was a day made just for me - I came home from church about noon and I was SO cold that I turned on the fireplace, dressed in my "bunny suit", ate a bowl of soup and then took a 3 hour nap. When I awakened about 4 o'clock there had been a snow storm and it was so pretty outside but it was cold and I was very happy I didn't have to go anyplace. I had an e-mail message from my last companion in Bangkok and she said if I wanted to get warm I should go back to Thailand - it was 90 degrees when she wrote and I'm sure the humidity was that high too. I REALLY miss my mission and Thailand but I don't miss the heat!!!

Would you believe my garage is empty and room for another car? I have all the boxes unpacked but things are not completely put away yet. MY MANY, MANY THANKS TO BOB AND MICHAEL WHO GAVE ME ANOTHER OF THEIR SATURDAYS - I HOPE THEY KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE AND APPRECIATE THEM. They came early on Saturday and took off all the doors to the storage area downstairs - Bob said they are not very good doors. They worked and worked and sawed and sawed and now the doors are opening GREAT. They were so tight and close to the carpet it was almost impossible to open them - the Brownings knew this but explained they wanted them tight to keep out the dust - Bob and Michael discovered it was because it was too hard to fix them. THEN they hung more pictures. I wanted the high school pictures of Ann, Jean, Bob, Roy and John on the wall going up the stairs and Bob had to put his step stool over a stair and have Michael hold it so he wouldn't fall - it was scary but they look SO good and I am SO happy to have them there. They also hung the grandchildren's cork pictures on the wall going downstairs. I had no idea it would take me a month to get settled - I know Bob must think I am as slow as a snail. I have enjoyed some of the unpacking but it has taken me unusually long because I have seen things I didn't know I had - memories from my childhood. I have found pictures of my Mother, Father, Lela and Bob that are treasures I am always feeling unhappy to think of the work Julianna had to do - it took her a LONG time I'm sure but I appreciate it so very much.

The "Glenn Miller Program" put on by Utah State University was one of the most outstanding things I have ever seen. I went to Logan with Jean, Mary Ann, Sarah & Laura on Thursday night and we met Ron, Ann & Lee Anna there. The program was staged as a "cruise" and we had a delicious buffet dinner first - it was very elaborate. The band played all the old Glenn Miller tunes that I remember from my high school and college days and people from the audience were invited to dance. It was fun and most of the people danced - RON INVITED ME TO DANCE - I felt like a teenager again!!! The "Sunburst Dancers" were absolutely fabulous - I just can't describe how good they were and Barji was the very best. They featured all the holidays and for the Fourth of July all the dancers came out with drums that they played as they danced - it was spectacular!!! The St. Patrick's day dance was WONDERFUL and Jessie was a leprechaun (sp.?) and featured as a "guest artist" - really she was just perfect as she danced and played her violin. I WAS SO PROUD OF MY TALENTED GRAND DAUGHTERS. Ann told me today that they are going to put on another performance in the Salt Palace on March 10th - I want to tell my Utah County friends to be sure to go to it. The weather was TERRIBLE - it snowed all the way through the canyon and Jeannie did a great job of driving. It had stopped snowing and the roads were clear on the way home and we were happy about that.

I HAD ANOTHER GREAT TREAT ON FRIDAY NIGHT. Mary Ann plays violin with the Utah Youth Symphony Orchestra and they played a special concert in the tabernacle on Temple Square. I had no idea they would be as good as they are. I am SO proud of Mary Ann - she gets up every Saturday morning by 6 a.m. to drive to Salt Lake for her violin lessons but it has surely paid off for her. She is asked to play at many special events and she is GOOD. What a treat it was to be in the tabernacle again (I haven't been there for a long, long time) and it was completely filled. The conductor is a woman and I have never seen such a talented conductor - you could just feel the spirit of the pieces by watching her. Sarah didn't go because she was invited to a party so Jean and I were together. We stopped at "Nielsen's Frozen Custard" drive-in in Bountiful on the way home and had a caramel, cashew frozen custard that was "out of this world". RICKY - we thought of you and just about had your favorite - is it the cherry chocolate frozen custard???

Mary Ann & Sarah brought me a plate full of chocolate chip cookies tonight. I am gaining too much weight because whatever they bring I EAT!!! Jeannie had to go to a meeting and Rick has been in Florida all week (he'll be home tonight) so they made cookies with one of their friends, Matt Steed (his grandmother is my neighbor here in the condos). I love it when they drop in but they DON'T NEED TO BRING ME THINGS TO EAT!!!

I am looking forward to this weekend with my long time friends. Dianne is coming from California, Barbara is coming from Georgia, Marilyn is coming from Texas, Chris is coming from Little Rock and Linda is coming from Salt Lake. They will stay with me Friday and Saturday nights and then we will go to Park City to spend Sunday and Sunday night. We have a lot to catch up on and it will be WONDERFUL to be with them again. We were all SO close in Little Rock about 15-20 years ago and our families have all grown up so it will be fun to hear about everyone.

Ricky - we are SO proud of you and the work you are doing!!! John told me that the son of the man who is leasing the Lehi farm has a son who has just been called to the Bangkok Thailand Mission. I'm still hoping one of my grandsons will be called there. We all love to hear about your experiences from your Mom & Dad.