June 26, 2000 Farmington, Utah

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MICHAEL TOMORROW AND TO BARJI ON FRIDAY!!! I hope you both have WONDERFUL birthdays - I believe Michael celebrated today!!! I don't like to see my grandchildren get SO old but I know it is inevitable and I'm VERY proud of you!!!

This has been such a fabulous day and one I didn't want to see end. It was Michael's missionary farewell and I know Bob and Claires' buttons were about to burst - he gave one of the best talks I have ever heard and he looked SO handsome!!! Katie and Laura played a piano duet that was just beautiful and they did not make one mistake. Claire had told me that Katie was very, very nervous but she surely didn't act like it. I was SO proud of my family today - the Woolleys all came from Provo, John came from Orem (and he didn't get home from his big trip until late last night) and all the Weinerts were there. We missed the Roy Mellors!!! Claire's brother and his wife and four children came from Aspen Grove where they are having a family vacation.

Alice and Bob Ezell (Claire's parents) invited everyone to their home for a delicious luncheon after the meeting. It was funny - Bob and Claire were worried that it would turn into such a BIG ward party that they didn't want to have it at their home BUT I believe there were many of Michael's friends who came anyway. They are such nice young men that we all enjoyed having them with us AND Claire had plenty of food. The Ezell's home and yard are just beautiful and even though the weather is hot we ate outside on their lawns and it was very, very cool!!! We had so much fun watching a video made by Brett, Jimmy, Katie and Sarah - I hope they make a copy for me because I will probably never see them act like that again-VERY PROFESSIONAL.

Bob had to stay at their ward for meetings so he didn't get to visit with all of us like we would have liked but he came after the meetings. He is SO much like his Dad!!! He spent most of the day yesterday hooking up a new computer for me and this is the first time I have used it. He said my other one was old - I'm used to old things and don't even know they are old - Ha!!! This one is just WONDERFUL - I especially like the noise it makes when I connect. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH BOB!!! I wish I could do things for you and your family that would help you as much as the things you do for me that help me - bad sentence but you know what I mean!!!

It is very special to have Barji and Boyd, and Susanna and Steve with us - they just fit in like they have been with us for forever. Susanna was 'SORE" because they had been water skiing yesterday - Steve is just learning to ski. We are having perfect weather for water sports - lots of sun and cool nights. Boyd is spending a lot of time practicing his golf - I keep looking for him in my backyard but I haven't spotted him yet. He visited with "Sergio" at Thanksgiving Point last week and it was fun to have him tell me about it.

I went to a wedding reception last night with the Weinerts and that was SO much fun. It was for Margaret's grandson and his bride and it was at the Oakridge Country Club. It was informal with the bride and groom walking around talking to their guests and they had music (I don't dare say what the group was called) and they danced. I LOVED to watch all of them dance to the "chicken dance" - I had never seen that before. The food was delicious!!!

Cheryl has called me several times this afternoon. She took Don into the emergency room because he couldn't breathe. She just called to tell me he will have open heart surgery in the morning. He has three clogged arteries but because of his diabetes they can only do a bypass. They can do so many things for hearts that I am sure he will be okay but he has certainly gone through a lot and I don't believe this is the end of his problems - he doesn't look good!!!

Ricky - I have thought about you all day as I remember that I didn't get to attend your farewell meeting. I remember your Mom bringing a tape of it to Thailand and how much I enjoyed listening to it. I know you are making the last month of your mission your very best. We all miss you!!!