May 25, 1999 Farmington, Utah

I just came in from watering my tomato plants - the Woolleys gave me two tomato plants in an "earth box" and it is SO fun to watch them grow and they have blossoms on them now. I am SO happy to finally have pretty weather. I talked to John for a few minutes last night and he had talked to Roy so he told me about their garden and their tomato plants - I believe John told me that Roy and Patrice have planted 45 tomato plants - WOW!!! Your Dad would have been in seventh heaven with that kind of a garden. There is nothing better than fresh vegetables from your very own garden. Bob was at the farm one day last week and he saw Don planting his garden. Don has REAL problems with his back so he isn't going to plant a big one this year. I am tempted to have a garden on the farm - I think it would be fun to grow pumpkins.

I was happy to receive your letter Patrice and I'm glad you will want to go to Antelope Island when you come. Emily - congratulations on your graduation from 5th grade. I know you will miss your school - I LOVE that school!!! I can't quite figure out where the Pulaski Heights Middle School is - will you be bussed? I want to hear all about your trip to Huntsville, Alabama for the Space Camp. ROY - I AM PROUD OF YOU FOR CHAPERONING SOME 5TH GRADE BOYS - did you get any rest? I think you would really enjoy the space camp though - what kinds of activities did they have for the students? Jesse finishing pre-school - it's hard for me to believe he is that old!!! I have also LOVED Trinity - your children have had such a good experience there. Timothy - to finish 2nd grade is a BIG DEAL!!! I'm glad you will have three more years at that good school.

Bob and Claire came over last night just to visit and I LOVED that!!! They also brought another box of my things for me to unpack - the second one this week - Ha!!! It is SO funny when I find these things I vaguely remember them but I would NEVER miss them!!! I shouldn't say that to Bob though because he LOVES to take things to D.I. I guess I am a "pack rat" because I HATE to give things to D.I.

John traveled all last week so Julianna took care of the little puppies. I am dying to see them but as Claire reminded me last night, they shouldn't be held for awhile longer until they are older. John said their eyes are opening now. Julianna will have the Summer off and I am so happy - I thought she was in a year round school but she isn't. They are making great strides with their home - John said they have finished all the painting and have taken all the floor coverings off so they are in a big mess but things are shaping up. They are both very involved with their church callings and that makes me SO happy!!! They are both working with the young people - Julianna is with the MIA Maids in Mutual and John is with the Priests - I can't think of any better leaders for the youth of the church.

I went to give Sarah a hug on her birthday and I will never forget the look on Rick's face as he stood holding a shovel and looking at the BIG JOB ahead of him with his yard. He said, "First of all Jeannie wanted a new home and now she wants grass" - Ha!!! Sarah got a new trampoline for her birthday and she is SO thrilled - she has never had a trampoline because they didn't have room for one in their other yard. Their home is lovely and I dropped by yesterday for a few minutes and it was so fun to see the four "girls" in their kitchen preparing lunch - sweet atmosphere!!! Rick was downstairs and I couldn't help but think how much he misses Ricky and yet how proud he is that he is in El Salvador doing what he is doing. They had just received some pictures from Ricky and he looks SO good and SO happy. His new companion is a little taller than he is and the people they are working with are sure to think they are like giants because they are so short.

I had a fun week last week. The man from whom I bought this condo was in town for Margaret's husband's charitable golf tournament. I asked him about trimming one of the shrubs in the front yard and while I was gone somewhere he trimmed it for me - he is such a nice man and he really misses living here but he says his wife is happy in Houston.

I went to a DUP luncheon on Wednesday and I couldn't believe the hostesses' home. She and her husband bought 25 acres West from where I live about 30 years ago "for a song" and they have planted pine trees all around it and they have all kinds of things growing and beautiful peacocks strolling all over. I didn't even know this place existed. I have kinda' felt sorry for this lady because she comes to church alone and seems rather downcast - I don't anymore - Ha!!!

A highlight for me this past week was going to Brett's concert at his school. Claire called and invited me and when I told my friends I was going I said, "I don't have the faintest idea what Brett plays or even where his school is" - THAT'S BAD FOR HIS GRANDMOTHER!!! I knew he played the drums but I didn't think he would play them in the school orchestra. I met Claire at Katie's soccer game and we went to the concert together. Brett plays the xylophone and he looked SO sharp and I was VERY IMPRESSED with the concert. I LOVE that kind of music and they have three different levels of players and they all played - IT WAS EXCELLENT!!!

I have had a birthday party for Ellen Mae every year since we moved back to Utah but this year she absolutely said "NO". SO - we did it together. I had a birthday cake made and had the saying "HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Everyone Who Is 74 Years Old" written on it. I sent invitations to 12 couples and one by one they kept calling me to decline - so many of my friends have REAL health problems - knee replacements, back degenerative problems, surgeries, hives and on and on. I was just about ready to call the whole thing off. We ended up by having 12 people come and we just had an absolutely MARVELOUS time but I don't think I will ever do it again!!! I will have to choose some younger and healthier friends - Ha!!! I am going to write who came for my journal: Ellen Mae and Mel, Clinton and Eris Holmes, Del and Phyllis Holmgren, Helen Jane and Roy Lemon, Merlin and Roberta Larsen, and Dale and Melva Baron. The weather couldn't have been better and my patio is just perfect for parties. I even made some Thai fried rice and it was good. Ellen Mae always does far more than her share and then I had asked each couple to bring a salad - the food was "OUT OF THIS WORLD". Annie - do you remember the last party I had like this? At the last minute I called and asked you if we could have it at your home because the weather had turned so cold. You just turned your entire home over to us and had tables and table cloths and centerpieces all fixed before I could even get to your home. That was probably the best party I have ever had and EVERYONE I invited came. Carl Mellor catered the food.

I had the fifth grade boy come on Thursday last week. He is a very sharp young man and I can't quite understand why he needs tutoring but I will do it. Margaret has asked me to go to her place in Star Valley, Wyoming for a few days - she hasn't said exactly when but I think she plans to go tomorrow. I want to be home on Saturday so I can decorate the graves for Memorial Day. I need to go to the cabin and get it ready for Chris and Wayne - BUSY - BUSY!!!