July 8, 2001 Farmington, Utah

Bob, Laura and Brett came to pick me up at 5 o'clock on Friday afternoon and we drove to Provo - actually Laura drove and I am impressed with her driving - she is very careful and good and has been well taught. John and his "crew" drove up about the same time and it was SO good to see them - it seems like an eternity since I have been with them. John came in with his famous avocado, fresh corn and freeze dried tomato dip that we all love. Annie had made a delicious dinner - pork bar-b-cue with cabbage slaw on buns, potato salad, broccoli and vegetable salad, honey dew melons and brownies. It was so pleasant and beautiful in their back yard so we all ate out there and just visited and relaxed. I was thrilled to have EVERYONE who could, come to be with us. We missed Jessie but I was absolutely thrilled to read a poem she had written about Papa - I want all of you to read it when you come to my home. She has captured so many memories they had together and she wrote it because she shares his name and it is just priceless - thank you so much Jessie!!! We also missed Michael who is doing such a GREAT job on his mission in Italy, and Russell who is meeting his challenge of the MTC preparing to go to Madagascar. It is SO funny to get together as a family now compared to the way it was a few years ago - on the Fourth, there was a lot of food left so Annie said she wanted to prepare the meal herself so there wouldn't be so much left over BUT there still was. We laugh as we think how we have lost our BIG eaters - John eats like a bird but he surely does look good, Michael and Russell, our other big eaters aren't here right now and even though we kinda' count on Jimmy he doesn't eat quite enough - Ha!!! I was complaining to Jeannie the other day because she brought me a delicious chicken roll sandwich and my neighbors had brought me enchiladas, guacamole, and a VERY rich chocolate dessert the day before. I told her that I was never going to lose weight and she said "But Mother, you are so fun to feed" - I love to eat so I'll just have to be fat.

I'm SO happy to have Boyd and Barji, Susanna and Steve with us - it's wonderful to add to our family and have them fit in like they have always been with us. Susanna and Steve helped me get down from the canyon - Bob and Rick helped me go up. I can't believe how old and "out of condition" I really am - I thought I was in pretty good shape but I wasn't that night - I'm going to blame it on eating too much just before the climb. I am thrilled that Boyd and Barji have decided to not go back to Oklahoma State - they will finish their education in Utah and it will be SO great to have them close. I LOVED having Lee Anna, Ricky, Mary Ann & Sarah with us too.

The program "Funny Girl" was just WONDERFUL - I really do enjoy live entertainment. The weather couldn't have been better - we were very lucky to not get rained on because it was raining just about every other place in Utah. Jeannie - thank you SO much for making all the arrangements. Claire had taken Emily and Katie to Bryce Canyon on Thursday and they met us at the Woolleys on Friday. I didn't ever talk to Katie about their trip but Emily just loved it - she said they got to go horse back riding and saw a rodeo so I know they had a GREAT time. Bob and Laura brought me home and I slept all the way - we got home about 12:30 and I had to get up at 4 to go to the temple so I was happy to get some sleep.

I went to an "old timey" reunion in Perry, Utah yesterday afternoon with Margaret. There was a coach at Box Elder named Earl Ferguson and he ranks right up there with LaVell Edwards in this part of Utah. He coached from 1920 to 1960 so they had a special tribute for him and invited all his former players. I REALLY had a ball meeting so many "OLD" people and I sat right across from his son and his wife - I talked to so many people who knew my folks and my family and it was WONDERFUL!!! I am proud of my Brigham City Family and the great love people have for them even after all these years. It's very interesting that all the people I talked to yesterday knew about Bob being killed in the war and about Lela dying so young and of course they all knew Dee and Don BUT not many of them knew I existed - Ha!!!