September 18, 2000 Farmington, Utah

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RICK TODAY!!! I hope you have a very happy and relaxing day. I know you are glad it isn't a special birthday like the one you had last year (Rick turned 50 last year) and Jeannie had a surprise party for you that you will probably never forget - Ha!!!

Jeannie and I just came home from the airport where we went to say "goodbye" to Michael as he left to go to Italy. He looks absolutely WONDERFUL - I can't believe how much weight he has lost and I believe he wanted to lose it. It was so nice to meet his companion, Elder Klauss from Dallas. There were many Elders in the airport and Claire said she thought many were going to Italy. Michael's departure time was changed so some people who wanted to say goodbye couldn't rearrange their schedules. Three of his good high school friends came and it was fun to visit with them. I was VERY happy to be the one staying home this time but Michael was excited and we are all thrilled for him - he will be a GOOD missionary and his Mission President will be happy to have him. I'm excited to hear about the country and the people in Italy - I know Michael will write to his folks often.

This past week has been a fun and busy one for me and I hope all of you had a good one too. I didn't do anything special. I do go to our Relief Society Enrichment meeting on Wednesday night - that's the first one I have been to for a long time because I have been working on those nights. We have a new President and she is young and a kindergarten teacher and she taught us some children's games - I REALLY realize how old I am when I go to things like that. Her husband had made HUGE A Frames with the bar in the middle - she had a sister stand on that bar and try to move the A frame with the help of ropes held steady by sisters on the ground. The message was that each sister needs support in her calling as a visiting teacher. She had other games too trying to put across that message. It's interesting to discover the "flavor" of each ward I have moved into - this one is filled with young couples with lots of children for me to tend in the nursery. There were 13 children there yesterday and only two of us to care for them - they were really good though.

I went to the "Roger's Theatre" where I saw "The Music Man" - it was excellent and it's always fun to be with my condo neighbors. I attended the "in-service meeting" yesterday at our former Stake President's home - he has this new calling and I admire him because he was very well prepared and did a good job. We also got a new Bishopric in our meeting yesterday - they are very young men and will do a good job.

Margaret came over a few minutes ago and brought me "half a big pizza" - it is delicious. She does so many thoughtful things for me - she kinda' reminds me of Janie Bass who was such a dear neighbor to me. Do you all remember Janie? If you remember her, you will remember our dog Reb and his "Janie Bass bark". The minute she would open her back door and head for our gate he would start barking so we knew to prepare for her. I had an e-mail from Dorothy today and they are liking their new home in Little Rock but she says she doesn't know any of her neighbors - that would surely be a different experience from our neighborhood in Leawood where we had parties at least once a week.

I am enjoying Brett's soccer games. His team has a beautiful place to play and so far they are winning. His games from now on will be on Saturday mornings and I won't be able to go to them because I don't get home from the temple until they are almost over. I loved watching Michael with Brett, Laura and Katie this morning at the airport - you could tell he had REALLY missed them and I know they had missed him.

I received a copy of our family picture from Annie and it is SO good - we are such a beautiful family - Ha!!! I want to look at some of the other proofs to see if I can find one that is better of Steve. The one I have is not as good of him as I would like. Annie - please send me the other proofs and I'll make sure I take good care of them. I have talked to the man who took the pictures and he said he could "digitize" Michael and Brett into the group quite easily. I LOVE to look at the wedding pictures from both weddings - they are SO special. I received a beautiful floral arrangement from Betty Logan - I believe she is Steve's Aunt and I met her while I was in Florida.

John was in New York all last week - he says he is doing GREAT!!! I miss seeing him and wish he would come visit me. The roads between here and Provo are not all that bad now so that's not an excuse. The roads right around where I live are terrible - I left my condo at 10:30 this morning and got to Jeannie's home at 11:05 - it usually takes me at the most ten minutes. They are black topping the roads in every direction I go. I also miss Roy and Patrice, Emily, Timothy and Jesse - I know you are doing good now too because it sounds like your weather has cooled off. Bob and Claire are going to Washington D.C. this Wednesday for a week - Laura is going to be "in charge" and she will do a good job.

I am going to have my D.U.P. (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers) meeting here on Wednesday - there will be 20 of us and we will be crowded but we are crowded in all the homes where we have our meetings. I am going to make a chicken salad (Jean's recipe) and my co-hostess said she would either make a cake or banana bread. I am also going to make a "treat" - at Relief Society they served chocolate covered grapes and they were delicious. The lady who made them dipped small grapes in melted white chocolate.