December 17, 2000 Farmington, Utah

I guess the big news for this letter is that we finally have a new President - George W. Bush. I would not like to be in his position with becoming President when so many people wanted Al Gore. I was "glued" to the television set waiting for the Supreme Court decision on "recounting the votes in some Florida counties" but I was at the Relief Society Christmas party when it finally happened and I was at dinner with my visiting teachers when they gave their speeches. Oh Well - it has all been re-televised many times since. I liked what Bush said when he said, "I think things happen for a reason" - that is kinda' my theme song too. I don't believe the stock market was very happy though do you? I REALLY believe Gore would have been an excellent President too and our country is very lucky to have two good candidates.

I am enjoying the letters we are receiving from JOHN - I am going to become educated about things I would never have known without his experiences. THANK YOU SO MUCH JOHN!!! It's hard for me to believe he is actually in Israel when his letters come like he is still in Orem. I have always thought the scenes from the wailing wall were just "staged" but I guess they aren't. It is just amazing to see the pictures coming through so beautifully - the Dome of the Rock just glistened - I love and appreciate my great computer SO much. John is lucky to be able to go on so many tours with such knowledgeable people. I have many questions to ask him and it will be a very special Christmas Eve to have him home with us.

SUSANNA AND STEVE - Thank you SO much for coming to the Conference Center last night for the choir's Christmas program - I know it was hard for you to get off work and then struggle with all the traffic. BOB, CLAIRE AND LAURA, Thank you SO much too. It meant a lot to me to have you come after Ellen Mae and I had been in line for four hours to get the tickets. I have mixed feelings about our seats - actually they weren't very good but the television screen was VERY close to our seats and that made it really good. I got a stiff neck from turning to watch the live program and then turning to the screen to see it up close - Ha!!! Gladys Knight is SO good and is surely a favorite of the audience. I didn't know who Roma Downey was until she was introduced - she's the star of "Touched by an Angel". I enjoyed the orchestra very, very much - it was fun to see all the French horns in it and also oboe players. It made me think of Lela who was SO good at oboe playing and that is such a difficult instrument. They also had many flute players and they reminded me of Emily. The program couldn't possibly have been any better - the center holds 21,000 and it was almost full. That is a spectacular place and then we walked close to Temple Square to get to their car and the lights are just fabulous. It was fun to see the cameras "in action" - I have often wondered how they get all those good close up shots.

ANNIE - it was good to talk to you the other night. I can't keep up with everyone and was surprised to find out that Jessie and Russell are home from college. They will have quite a long holiday. Jessie had a little infection in her eye and has had treatments with her doctor. It must not be a very serious problem because she can still go skiing - Ha!!! I'm SO happy we have a lot of snow - some years we have a lot and other years it is very sparse. It is also very cold so it will stay on the ground for quite awhile. I believe we have what they call "the lake effect" because we have had snow coming down most of the day today. I LOVE IT!!! Have you found Wicket yet? I have forgotten to mention in my letters that he ran away and you hadn't been able to find him as of about a month ago. I hope you have a good time with your Young Women when you go to Salt Lake to see "The Testament" on Tuesday - you will LOVE it.

ROY AND PATRICE - I held my breath this morning when they announced on television that there had been a tornado in the South last night. Alabama really was hit!!! It makes me feel so bad when I see the destruction tornadoes can do in such a short time. I hope you are all ready for a busy holiday season with Joan and Liz and their husbands coming in to celebrate Suzie's birthday - it will be a WONDERFUL time for all of you!!! How does Sammie fit into all this? I find myself thinking about Tar quite often - I feel sure he is in a good place and his lucky owners are happy to have him. I know Mokie is happy where he is. This has not been a very good year for us and our dogs!!!

JEANNIE - Thank you for your phone message. You are sweet to say you like the Christmas apron I made for you. I decided a long time ago to make aprons for Ann and Jean but I honestly have never been more disappointed than I was with that one. The picture on the pattern is so cute and looked easy. I didn't have very much more to finish it so on Friday I started early in the morning intending to have it done by noon and then do some baking for some people in my ward. WELL - all I can say is that it just didn't work out. I finished it and tried it on and it was SO funny and didn't fit at all. I took it completely apart and re-cut it and just started over. I finally took it to Jeannie about 9 o'clock Friday night and I had done nothing else all day. Could it be that I am just getting old and can't understand directions any more? I used to be able to trust Simplicity patterns but now I am going to write to them and tell them that pattern is just crazy.

I was VERY, VERY SAD on Wednesday to have a phone call from the daughter of our Scofield friend, Byrd Gordon. He had passed away quite suddenly. He had the flu and she said he contracted meningitis. I planned all that night to drive to Elmo the next day to attend his funeral but our weather was just terrible so I changed my mind. Other Scofield friends have called me and I am surprised at how sad I am. He was such a fine man and wanted to help me in every way he possibly could. I got his obituary and he was 80 years old - I didn't think he was that old. Daddy really liked him and they had so many good times together "on the lake". I regret that I didn't ever go out on his houseboat with him - he was SO proud of it but I just didn't do it. He had been to Alabama several years ago to be with Chris and Wayne and they had invited him to come again this Winter and he planned to do it. Scofield will never be the same without him.

You are all invited to my condo on Christmas day for "something". I'm not going to set any definite time because you all need to relax and just come when it is convenient for you. I froze some Brigham City peaches last Summer and I plan to make special pancakes with peaches and whipped cream (fat free cool whip) on top and then I will have ham and Thai fried rice. I hope all of you in Utah will be able to come - we'll miss the Roy Mellors. JOHN I would LOVE to have you move in with me when you are here - your Orem home must be a very lonely place right now and I have such good beds and it is warm and it is Christmasy!!!

MICHAEL - This will probably be a Christmas you will never forget. He got transferred from such an excellent place to a new place that Bob and Claire don't know much about. There is an American family "on base" in Italy and they have adopted Michael and are disappointed that he won't be able to spend the holidays with them. Your Mission President knows what is best for the mission and I know you will accept this new assignment happily and work just as hard as you have in the past. I LOVE to hear your news from your folks when I am with them and you are doing GREAT!!!