March 12, 2001 Farmington, Utah

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO ALL OF YOU AND ESPECIALLY TO MY "IRISH FAMILY" IN LITTLE ROCK!!! I always look forward to hearing from Patrice about their food plans - you know me and the food part of celebrations interests me more than anything else - Ha!!! She doesn't always prepare corned beef and cabbage - I know that!!!

This will be a short letter because I don't have much family news. Margaret had invited me along with other friends to spend last week at her mountain home in Etna, Wyoming and since I had had that darn flu I really hadn't made up my mind about going until almost the last minute. I wanted to drive my own car so I could come home if the flu came back but they wouldn't let me do that - it is four hours away. Anyway, I went in Margaret's car and came home with Ray and Roseanne Tenhoeve because they were coming home on Friday and I wanted to be here for my temple assignment on Saturday morning. I had a WONDERFUL time - a real vacation!!! They had all planned the food so I was just a guest and we had delicious meals. It is an unusual and very interesting group - one couple served two missions in Africa, another couple served two missions, one in Mexico and one in Nauvoo, one couple served in Russia as a Mission President, one couple served in Switzerland and then Margaret and Delonne served in Canada and again in church hosting. There were five couples who have grandsons serving missions.

We went snowmobiling and I built a snowman - we went into Jackson Hole one day to shop and just visited and watched videos. The friends who were there are such special people - eight couples and Margaret and I. There were 16 people for a delicious steak dinner on Thursday night - each couple had their own bedroom and bathroom - I slept in one of her dens and shared her shower but had my own bathroom. She put one couple in her bunkhouse which had room for four people. Her home is just amazing and she makes sure everyone feels welcome and is comfortable. She has a huge fireplace in her living room and she had colored logs burning all the time. We had four snowmobiles available and the snow was perfect and the skies were bright blue all the time we were there.

I have heard from John and he is doing fine - I hope he sells his home soon - if I had Margaret's money I would buy it!!! I have heard from Annie - thank you SO much for your card. Jeannie and Rick have been in Las Vegas with Barji and Boyd but I haven't heard from them since they came home. I haven't heard from the Roy Mellors.

Claire - thank you SO much for your pictures and letters. I love to read the news from Michael's letters - he is doing GREAT!!! I hope he gets transferred soon because he wants to be. I must tell you about an experience I had at the temple on Saturday morning. My assignment for an hour was at the head of the stairs where all patrons come before they go into the chapel. It was about 7:15 a.m. and who should come up the stairs but BOB - I won't soon forget that!!! I am given different assignments all over the temple but to be at that place at the right time had to be very special. Bob and Claire left yesterday on their cruise and I know they will have a FABULOUS time.