November 5, 2001 Farmington, Utah

Another beautiful morning in Utah today - we have had such a wonderful Indian Summer and this is my favorite time of the year. I'll have to admit that I miss raking leaves and I keep thinking of the people in John's home in Orem and wondering if they are hiring the young neighbor boy to rake them like John did. I have fond memories of when my grandchildren would come and jump in the piles when I raked them - Mary Ann, do you remember doing that? I also think of the many car loads of leaves I used to take to the farm in Lehi to dump them. I know you are all making good memories of the things you do daily because those memories are very, very important when you get OLD!!! The gardeners here in the village have done a good job and they have many more to rake up.

Yesterday was another one of my favorite things in life and I appreciate the support of my Utah family - we missed the Roy Mellors and John at a family dinner last night and of course, Michael and Russell. Bob's birthday next week and my Stake Conference gave me the opportunity I loved to stay at home on a Sunday and cook for my family. I thought all night about how everything is right in the world when a group of young people can get together and laugh and enjoy each other like they did last night. I was SO happy that Barji and Boyd could come because we have missed them at other things lately but we missed Susanna and Steve - Susanna had to work at the hospital - she has to work one Sunday a month and yesterday was that Sunday. Katie had spent the weekend in Logan with Laura and Laura was so sweet to bring her home (Claire was supposed to go get her) - and that way Mary Ann could come too. Jeannie and Sarah came early to help me get everything ready - I had hoped Ricky could come but he had an Elder's Quorum meeting in Logan that started at 6 p.m. I know everyone had millions of things to do and it's GREAT they would take time to be together. Ron, Annie, Lee Anna and Jimmy had to drive from Provo but they didn't complain. Jimmy really looked "banged up" from football - I guess that's part of the game!!! Congratulations to Brett and the Davis High School Band - they went to a competition in Las Vegas and won first place - a well deserved recognition!!!

We talked about Russell and Michael and learned lots of things about their missions - they don't celebrate Halloween in Italy or Madagascar and Michael is in a difficult place to tell about the church. I'm sure the Catholics have a strong hold where he is and that is a real challenge to missionaries but if anyone can have success in a place like that Michael can. I keep looking for the pictures Russell sent home to be put on the web site but Ron said last night that his scanner was broken and he will get them on it soon - they're wonderful pictures!!! Annie said last night that she thinks Russell is in a "perfect" place for him and that's GREAT!!!

I laugh when I think of the story Mary Ann told about one of her friends on the campus - AND it isn't one bit funny - Ha!!! This friend was doing something with super glue and got it on her fingers and then when her eye itched she automatically put those fingers up to her eye. They took her to the hospital with her hand up to her eye because she couldn't move it away. The doctor had to cut her fingers away and then operate on her tear ducts - I'm sure there is something that would dissolve the super glue but it would do too much damage to her eye. Super glue is great stuff but it is also VERY dangerous so be careful.

I hope you all had a Happy Halloween. I gave candy to about 25 children and that is a lot more than I have ever had - they were all dressed so cute and they were so polite and appreciative of a little candy bar. I bought the funniest "gourd" (sp?) I have ever seen - it looks like a goose. I made a Jack O Lantern and put them both on my wall along with a Halloween candle decoration - it was fun.

Many of my condo neighbors have been VERY upset lately and since I am on the condo board I have been involved more than I ever want to be again. The country club decided to make a golf cart cement pad along the grass in back of my condo and all along the other condos throughout the village. We're not unhappy about the pad but they asked our President for permission to go through our property because of the easy access to this area. I don't believe the President had any idea what they planned to do - they brought huge trucks including cement trucks across an area that was SO pretty and they made a BIG mess. They had to cross a gas line pipe and everyone was worried about that so I called the gas company to report it. The gas company came out and they were also upset and made them "mound" that place with dirt - so now we have a big dirt mound and ruts of mud instead of a nice grassy place. They still have a lot to do before they will fix it so it will be Winter and we will just have to live with it. Our President didn't want to get involved with the condo owners and the man in charge of the grounds was nilly willy so they called me.

Jeannie and I went to the play "Arsenic and Old Lace" at the Roger's Theatre in Centerville on Thursday night - she was sweet to go with me. Claire's parents were there also and Claire told me last night that they just loved it. I thought it just dragged on and on but it was very well done and I know it is a classic so maybe I was just not in the right mood. Claire said she had seen it in Cedar City at the Shakespearean Festival and she loved it too. I have just LOVED the musicals I have seen at the Roger's Theatre.

I tell everyone about four members of my family going on a Humanitarian Mission this next week - I THINK THAT IS JUST WONDERFUL!!! Bob and Roy will go to Guatemala on Saturday, the 10th - Bob as the ear, nose and throat surgeon and Roy as the anesthesiologist. Rick and Ricky will go the middle of next week - Rick has been able to get some pacemakers donated from Medtronic and Ricky will be his Spanish translator. I hope SO much that they will take many pictures and will share them with us. I also think it is WONDERFUL for them to have the support of Claire, Patrice and Jeannie - it's not easy to have the Father away from the home for a week. Bob laughed last night as he said he hoped Roy wouldn't mind living on rice and beans for a week - Ha!