October 16, 2000 Farmington, Utah

I just came home from visiting teaching - I have a new companion and she is a "talker". Our first appointment was at 9 a.m. and I am just now getting home about noon. She and her husband served a mission in Clinton, Arkansas and she told VERY authoritatively about how corrupt the legal system is in Arkansas and how drugs are so prevalent in all the neighborhoods. I found myself being very offended as she talked because I think you can find what you are looking for no matter where you live. I will always LOVE Arkansas. I know that Roy and Patrice will agree with me that there is more culture in Little Rock than in most places.

I had an e-mail from Carol Ann this morning telling me that Jim and Jana had a good report from their visit to the pediatric hospital at Loma Linda and they have upgraded the condition of their baby from severe to moderate. I have found that all the Mellors complain so very much about things that most people handle by themselves. I sincerely hope the baby will be normal but if it isn't they will surely be able to adapt and help the baby. Carol Ann also told me that her mother, Aunt Carol is being married October 28th in the Manti Temple - I don't even know his name.

JEANNIE is in Denver this week - she has to "re-certify" for her dietician job once a year and she is doing it in Colorado this year. I am kinda' surprised that she has traveled alone. I had promised to help Mary Ann as she got ready for the homecoming dance at Davis High School but I didn't get to their home until after she had gone. I was supposed to be there at 6 p.m. and she left a little before that (I didn't get there until 7 but she would have already gone anyway). I visited with Sarah and tried to talk her into coming to my home to spend the night but she had already invited two friends to come spend the night with her so I stayed until they got there. Rick was in Las Vegas but was due home yesterday, Sunday. I talked to Mary Ann yesterday and she said she got along fine - her neighbor, Shawna, helped her with her corsage and her date's boutonniere. They are old enough now to take care of themselves - I just like to think I am needed - Ha!!! Laura went to the dance also - it was a special time for both Mary Ann and her.

I had such a fun, fun time on Saturday afternoon. CLAIRE invited me to go with her and Brett and his friend, Taylor, to a program at Kingsbury Hall on the U. of U. campus. It was "STOMP" and I'm sure all of you know what that is - I didn't but I'm SO glad I was able to go so I can be "in the loop" - Ha!!! I find myself thinking of it all the time and I simply can't imagine a group of young people being able to make such interesting rhythm sounds with their hands and other things you could just find around the house like newspapers, brooms, mops, garbage cans, plastic tubes, plastic bags, etc., etc. The Hall was just packed and they kept encoring the group - they just went wild. Brett and Taylor tried to imitate the rhythm as we came home by hitting the backs of the car seats and stomping their feet - I haven't talked to Claire but I just hope she made it home without going crazy.

JOHN - Thank you so much for your phone message. You sound like you're doing GREAT!!! John has put his home up for sale and I know that is going to be time consuming. I keep thinking you will find Tar - the other day when I was in the grocery store there was a big sign with a picture of a small toy poodle and the saying "PLEASE help us find our little dog that we loved so much - A REWARD". I guess many people lose their dogs and it is heartbreaking - especially when it happens to you. You surely do spend a lot of time in New York and I hope you will be careful.

ANNIE - Thank you for your letters with the nursery ideas, the recipe and the news about my Provo friends who had just been given a humanitarian award - I appreciate them so much. We have another sister who has been called to serve in the nursery and she is SO good and she will make my calling so much easier. She brought some "dress-ups" yesterday and the little girls had a ball during the entire time - I will take some of my boy "dress-ups" when it is my turn to do the lesson. I am just TOO old - I have forgotten how to play with 2-year olds.

BOB - Thank you and Brett SO much for coming to help me with my shelf where the micro-wave used to be. There is absolutely no hurry in getting that fixed - I found some tiles left over from the counter tops that I can put in that spot but I will wait until I find out exactly where to put them. I have worried about the mice at the cabin - Bob told me he hadn't put any "de-con" around and without that to kill the mice I find them inside the cabin. I got twelve big packages (probably too many) and drove to Scofield last Tuesday. While I was there I decided to bring the micro-wave and little refrigerator that weren't being used home with me. I am using the micro-wave in the kitchen and it works perfectly - I believe it was one of the first ones made and Marilyn Harris sold it to us in Little Rock while she was working for Magic Chef. It is MUCH larger than the one that was here and I like it. Bob and Brett carried the refrigerator downstairs - UNDER PROTEST - Ha!

I went to CLAIRE'S Relief Society with her last week and I'm SO glad she invited me. Bob had arranged for the project director of "CHOICE" the group he goes with on his humanitarian work to come explain to the sisters how they could get involved in helping to serve people in poor countries. He fully explained what Bob does in the hospitals and it's really the first time I have known exactly what is involved. I was VERY impressed with this young project director. Claire has a good Relief Society - I must stop comparing my ward Relief Society with the ones Jeannie, Annie and Claire belong to. We have a new Presidency and they try SO hard. This week when I went we sat at a table and ruined about 50 shirts taking the buttons off them - I was just sick as I thought about all the young boys and men in Thailand who could have worn and enjoyed the shirts. The General Relief Society Presidency is making "sewing kits" to send to poor countries and they need buttons. Can you tell I am getting VERY OLD and quite like Sister Wilhite in our Little Rock Relief Society????

BARJI - Thank you SO much for your sweet message - I LOVED IT. I think about you and Boyd so often and I believe I heard on the television that Boyd's Uncle did well in the Senior Golf tournament. My eye is healing SO good and I'm glad to have it over with and wish I had gone sooner. One of the sisters I visited this morning said her grandfather had it in both eyes and thought it was miserable - I'm going to have to find out how to prevent it from happening in my right eye.

I am going to have a "sleepover" with my brother, Don, on Thursday. Cheryl wants to go to Las Vegas with her daughter who is turning "40" and she can't leave Don alone. Their son will be able to be with him on Friday and over the weekend so I will just stay Thursday night. I will take him to therapy on Friday morning and then come home that afternoon. Their son's wife is going to have a baby on Friday morning and she will be at a hospital close to where Don and Cheryl live.

Michael - we think about you all the time and hope you are doing good. Have you become "oriented" to the area in which you live yet? Your Mom said you have a good bicycle now. I receive letters from my friends who are presiding over one of the missions in Russia and they are THRILLED with their missionaries - they are getting ready for a cold Winter in Russia but they say the Birch trees are simply gorgeous now in their bright yellow leaves.