January 28, 2001 Farmington, Utah

I spent the weekend in Park City with Margaret and Pat Guthrie. They waited for me to come home from the temple yesterday and then we left. We had such a good time and it was just beautiful up there - very cold but bright blue skies. It was fun to watch all the skiers on the slopes - Margaret drives us all over to see EVERYTHING. You wouldn't believe all the construction in preparation for the Olympics. "The Canyons" hotel is just enormous and it seems to me that there have been many, many homes built this year. Margaret's home there is so very, very nice and she can accommodate many people very comfortably. Steve Young and his wife and baby spent last week up there. We walked up main street last night and saw people who had participated in the Sundance Film Festival. We had dinner at the "Grub Steak" restaurant and then bought fudge at the "Chocolate Fudge Factory" for dessert. Margaret built a fire in her fireplace and it was so cozy and warm and we had fun visiting and drinking Stephens caffeine free Cappuccino. I slept until almost 10 a.m. this morning and that was a treat - I could do that at home too but I don't. I don't get any sleep on Friday nights so I don't feel guilty - Ha!!! We had a little Sunday School this morning and then we went to the "Stew Pot" for lunch and then to the Outlet stores to do a little shopping - I found a bargain of corduroy pants at the Liz Claiborne Store.

I went to Sarah's Regional Dance Competition last Monday night and I just can't believe how good she and her entire group are - they are professional. There were about 6 dance teams involved from all over this region and it was held in Clearfield in a huge gymnasium. Sarah's group came in second and I think that is excellent but I honestly believe they should have won first place. Their costumes are absolutely gorgeous and their routines looked SO difficult but they didn't make any mistakes. They use very long poles in one of their routines and twirl them like batons and I expect someone to drop one but they didn't. Sarah had her braces off the next day so this has been a special week for her!!!

They asked me to be on the "Condo Board" this year so I said I would. I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew. I went to my first board meeting on Tuesday and accepted the job of taking care of the swimming pool. I don't know yet what that will involve. The man who cleaned it each morning and also tested the water last year can't do it this year and it's going to be hard to replace him. Most of the work is hired done by a professional pool company but the daily cleaning is done by the condo residents.

Virginia had invited me and two other former Thailand missionaries to go to her condo for lunch last Thursday. I said I would make a cake and the others were planning to take something too. WELL - Thursday morning it just snowed and snowed and wouldn't stop - later I learned that we had 7 inches here. Virginia finally called and said we shouldn't try to drive on the bad roads - I was relieved. I had already made my cake so I proceeded to eat most of it all day. We are planning to get together this week sometime if it doesn't storm.

BOB -Thank you for coming to my condo this weekend and straightening out the garage. It was fun to come home tonight and see the "Lehi landmark hitching post" hanging in my garage - that's a good place for it and it brings back many happy memories for me - Aunt Marvel would be pleased that we still have it!!!

JOHN - is coming home this weekend. I want to fix dinner on Sunday for anyone who can come. I will wait until I hear from him to see if he will have time to come to Farmington and then I will let you know. I am anxious to hear first hand how he is liking his new job and living in New York.

ANNIE - I am SO glad you have been released as Young Women President. You have done such a fabulous job and I know you will do that same thing as you teach the young men who are Jim's age and it is time you worked in his class. I think it is very important to work in the auxiliaries where your children are if you can. Roy - do you remember when I taught the "Targeted" class in Primary in Little Rock and you were the only one in my class most of the time? Ha!!!

JEANNIE - I hope you are feeling much better. She has had a bad cold and sore throat all week. She really didn't feel well enough to go to the Temple Devotional last Sunday but she went anyway. I called on Monday to see if I could bring her something for dinner and she said she was preparing dinner for a family in her ward - that's Jeannie!!! Mary Ann came over for a few minutes the other night JUST TO VISIT and that was SO fun - she said her Mom was better.

ROY & PATRICE - I hope you are all doing good. I talk to Chris often and she says you have had a hard Winter but things are "looking up". I hope Suzie is doing good too. I'm so glad you have one of Mokie and Tars' dogs - I am converted to Labradors after being around Mokie and Sammie. Tar was a little hyper for me!!! That dog experience was good for me. I thought about Wicket the other day - Annie, have you ever heard anything about him? I expect John to have another Labrador some day.

Michael - Your Mom shared part of your letter with us and it is exciting to hear about your work in Italy. You are surely a good missionary and I'm especially happy to hear things about your Mission President - he sounds like a super guy!!! It sounds like the language is coming easier for you and he has confidence in you - THAT'S GREAT!!! I hope Fredrico can get all his bad habits under control - I'm proud of people like that who have such a desire to do better.