July 30, 2000 Farmington, Utah

Each time I turn on my computer now I am so thankful it is on such a big and easy to read screen but I feel SO silly!!! I thought I had pushed a button to make it this way and come to find out Bob has installed some kind of different thing to make it this way and I didn't even know it. I REALLY am very limited in my computer knowledge and appreciate SO very much the help I receive so I can act smart. THANK YOU VERY MUCH BOB.

WOW - WHAT A WONDERFUL WEEK WE HAVE HAD!!! I really cannot believe how "picture perfect" everything has been and I marvel at how well the Weinerts planned and executed everything - every detail was taken care of and I call it the flawless wedding and reception and I know Barji and Boyd feel the same way. Jeannie called and asked me to be at their home on Friday morning at 8 o'clock - I had planned to just drive to Salt Lake by myself. As I drove there I met Mary Ann and Sarah on their way to the beautician to have their hair done - I got in Jean and Ricks' car and Barji left to go get Boyd. We followed Barji and Boyd and then we caravanned to the temple together. It was just "clock work" once we got into the temple and I couldn't help but appreciate how much everyone depends on the volunteer workers there - it is almost impossible to make a mistake. There was a huge crowd in the temple and I don't know how many weddings were taking place that morning but I would guess at least ten.

I was THRILLED to have so many of my family in the sealing room - Ann and Ron, Bob and Claire, and Ricky and I. The Summerhays family was well represented with most of their family members there and they have seven children and four of them are married or have been on missions so they have taken out their own endowments. John was delayed in New Orleans and couldn't make it. I was impressed to have so many of the Weinerts' friends there - they took off work and their other obligations to come support them. The sealing room was filled and they had to bring in benches to seat everyone. Elder Robert Hales of the Council of the Twelve performed the ceremony and it was beautiful.

We all met again outside the temple for pictures and I know the photographer took a million of them. We had to wait "our turn" to have the family pictures taken on the steps which is the favorite place of all the brides and grooms for their pictures. THEN - we walked to the Lion House for the wedding luncheon and it was so very special. It was hosted by the Summerhays family and they had planned every detail to perfection. They had me seated by a special friend of the Summerhays family who lives in Altus, Oklahoma and it was fun to become acquainted with him. He is 78 years old and has been involved in many business ventures - he started the Pepsi-cola company in Thailand in the 1950's and worked with them for many years before going with K-Mart in Oklahoma from which he has retired. He has a special interest in Boyd and has gone to most of his golf tournaments. His name is Petro Petroff and he is outstanding - he even gave an extemporaneous tribute to Boyd and Barji. The food was delicious and then they had a program that was just WONDERFUL - four of Barji's friends sang a beautiful song, Mary Summerhays has a beautiful voice and she sang a solo, Mary Ann read a very, very special poem she had written for them, Rick and Jean and Lynn and Ann both gave tributes to the bride and groom and then they responded. I LOVED IT. Lynn Summerhays is an excellent emcee.

I was THRILLED because John got to the luncheon before it started - we had all been looking for him. We had about an hour and a half before we had to get ready for the reception so we just went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and tried to relax. They had a special room reserved for us to get ready in and that was such a big help - it was close to the "Empire Room". They started taking pictures at 5 o'clock and they were finished before the reception started - I was very impressed with that because I have been to so many receptions where they were still taking pictures. It is difficult to describe adequately how elegant the reception was - they had flowers on each of about thirty tables besides other flowers all over the room on big pedestals. The buffet table was filled with the most delicious desserts you could ever imagine and I know there were about fifty different ones. They also had fruit that was displayed in the center and they served two different kinds of drinks at the end of the tables - one was a carbonated fruit punch and the other was water.

The line started promptly at 6:30 and they were lined up way out into the hall until after 9:00 p.m. Our family kinda' congregated at the bottom of the stage so we wouldn't take the places at the tables and it was so much fun to just relax, eat and visit. They had a wonderful pianist playing all the time and Mary Ann played many violin pieces and she did an outstanding job. Many of my friends came and of course I loved that - two of my Thai teachers came and I could tell they were SO thrilled to be invited. They will tell all my friends in Thailand about it when they go home. They had an outstanding video of the wedding couple when they were young and also the temple pictures - I don't know how they were able to get them developed so quickly - that was shown all during the reception.

Boyd and Barji looked just exquisite and they were gracious from the beginning to the end - I was very proud of them because that is such a hard thing to do. I know they are still exhausted but they came to Ricky's homecoming today and then to the open house at the Weinerts. I believe they have gone on a little honeymoon to Sun Valley for a few days before Boyd wants to start practicing for a golf tournament. I hope they will come stay in my basement for a few nights.

Ricky's homecoming report today was again "picture perfect" - I have never heard a better missionary report and he didn't use one note - the only time he looked down was when he read from the scriptures. He is such a good looking young man and so kind and thoughtful. The open house at the Weinerts was just WONDERFUL - they served a delicious lunch and also some wedding cake and their home was filled with their friends and our family. I AM SO PROUD OF THE WOOLLEYS, JOHN AND CLAIRE FOR ALL THEIR VERY GENEROUS AND SWEET SUPPORT - I hope we will always be that way. Bob, Laura, Brett and Katie are backpacking in Glacier National Park so they were excused and of course we missed the Roy Mellors but they will be with us soon.

NOW WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO SUSANNA AND STEVES' WEDDING ACTIVITIES. What a very, very handsome couple they are and I love to be with them. I learned from Barji and Boyds' wedding that we will be finished at the temple probably about 1:30 p.m. - I think it would be fun to come back to my condo for a little lunch and some relaxing and even a dip in the pool for Timothy and Jesse before going to Provo for Susanna and Steves' reception. We would need to leave here about 3:30 - 4:00 in order to get there in time for pictures. Please think this over and let me know what you think. It will take us about thirty minutes to get here from the temple. I just want to make it fun for the children. I am trying to figure out if this is a good plan - the family will need to be together for pictures at the temple but they won't need to be there until probably about 12:30.

MICHAEL - your Mom has shared parts of your letters with us and we are THRILLED you are doing so well and that you are making so many new friends. You are so skilled at making good friends and I know you are a great asset in your district. I am sure you will learn the language well enough to communicate with the people in Italy and they will love you. We miss you at our family activities but as your Mom says "He is where he is supposed to be right now". She left the open house early enough so she could get a letter written and mailed to you before 5:30. Your Grandma and Grandpa Ezell came to the reception and they look SO good - they're surely proud of you!!!