March 8, 1999 Farmington, Utah

I forgot to write my activities on my calendar so it will be hard to remember what I did last week. I haven't written a special part to Ricky since I have been home so I will do that. When I was Relief Society President we were all assigned certain missionaries to write to and I found that was SO hard but when I was on my mission I learned how important "MAIL" is so I have tried to write to Ricky and I hope some of you are too. I don't know any of Ricky's friends so it is difficult to make my letters interesting to him.

Bob helped me put up all my pictures and we put the last family picture taken before Papa died right above the piano in the living room. Yesterday I had a man and his son come for the fast offerings and they looked at the picture and wanted to know who everyone was. WELL - I couldn't believe how old that picture is. When I came to Ricky's picture I said "that is my grandson who is in El Salvador on a mission" and they said "Wow that picture was taken a long time ago". We need to have another family picture taken so I can have one with Julianna and Jesse on it and an "up to date" picture of all of us. I am proud of you Ricky and your parents tell me you are really loving your mission and the people in the place where you are serving. I haven't been around any missionaries since I left Thailand and I miss them. Virginia was having two come for dinner last week when I was with her but they haven't asked me to do that here. Your pictures surely look like you are in good health so I think the food must be agreeing with you.

"A three year old went with his Dad to see a litter of kittens. On returning home he breathlessly informed his mother there were two boy kittens and two girl kittens. "How did you know?" his mother asked. "Daddy picked them up and looked underneath" he replied. "I think it's printed on the bottom".

A mother and her young son returned from the grocery store and began putting away the groceries. The boy opened a box of animal crackers and spread them all over the table. "What are you doing?" his mother asked. "The box says you can't eat them if the seal is broken," the boy exclaimed. "I'm looking for the seal".

I had such a good time with Virginia and Janet at the flower show in Salt Lake last week and then we had lunch at the Garden room in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building - that is a beautiful place. I went with my neighbor Margaret Anderson to the Steve Young Benefit Auction for the "Forever Young Foundation" on Saturday night. It was held in Snowbird and I haven't been there for a long, long time - it is a fabulous place. Steve Young is a relative of Margaret's (I believe her son is married to Steve's niece's daughter) - does that make sense? Anyway they are good friends and the table sponsored by Margaret's family was right next to Steve Young's table. He kept getting up and bumping into me and then he would pat me on the shoulder so I am a celebrity - Ha! He is a very nice man. The Forever Young Foundation sponsors sporting events for children who are physically handicapped and Steve danced with one of the little girls at the end of the program and it brought tears to everyone's eyes. Margaret bought two huge paintings - you bid on them and then the highest bidder got them. I bid on a small necklace but someone else bid higher so I didn't get it. They served dinner and I have never tasted better food unless it is prepared by my family.

Yesterday, Sunday, was a WONDERFUL day. I drove to Provo after my church and went to have dinner at the Woolley's home. Annie is such a great cook and I feel so good in eating her food because I know it is as low calorie as you can get - I am trying to get better at that. John and Julianna were there and it was so much fun to visit with all of them. Ann and Ron are doing a huge remodeling job on their home and it will be a GREAT improvement when they are finished. I knew they were going to knock out a kitchen wall and extend it into their backyard but I had no idea they were going to add on another house - Ha!!! When I was there yesterday it reminded me of when they built their home and Papa and I would go see it - I couldn't envision what it was going to look like. It will be fun to see it when it is finished.

Then I went to John and Julianna's home and they are remodeling too. They have knocked out the wall between their kitchen and their den and they will make that one big room with a bar and eating place - that is something I wanted to do when I lived there but I could never get up the nerve. They are in a big mess but their plans sound WONDERFUL!!! They have taken off the wall paper in the kitchen, dining room, den and also in the master bedroom and that is such a big job. I believe they plan to make the living room into a television and family room. I love the tile they are going to have in the kitchen, entrance, dining room and hallway.

Bob and Claire came over one night and Bob put my computer on a different phone number. I didn't realize it but I have been on a long distance number and my last phone bill was TOO big. I had moved just far enough away from where he had connected it in the apartment to make my internet use long distance. The Bob Mellors are doing GREAT. I believe Bob is in the process of moving his office this week. Claire had a good time in Arizona playing tennis.

Mary Ann comes over to visit with me quite often and I love that. She is going to a special dance at her school this Friday and she told me about that. I LOVE to hear about my grandchildrens' activities. Jeannie and Rick think they will be in their new home by the end of March and they are happy about that - their little condo is just too small for all of them but they have been good sports.

I am wondering if the Roy Mellors have gone to Gulf Shores for their vacation. I owe Chris and Wayne a letter - I find it hard to write letters to people who don't have e-mail. I know Roy, Patrice and their children are going to Alabama but I have forgotten when. I'll bet Little Rock is getting pretty now - have your azaleas and flowering trees started to bloom yet?