December 2, 2001 Farmington, Utah

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANNIE TODAY!!! I hope you have had a WONDERFUL day today and I know you have - I'm betting that Susanna and Lee Anna (and maybe Jessie) have pampered you with a birthday cake and the trimmings and Ron, Jimmy and Steve have done something special too!!! I hope you will hear from Russell that he remembered your birthday. I would like to look twenty years younger than I am like you do - I don't know where you get that from but I know it isn't from the Forrest side. I want you to take good care of yourself so you can still say that twenty years from now.

We are living in a 'WINTER WONDERLAND here in Utah. I don't remember when I have seen so much snow and it is beautiful. We need the moisture so badly that it is welcome and the Olympic organizers are thrilled. They keep announcing that snow isn't really necessary for the games because they say they can "make" snow but I can't imagine the Winter games without snow.

Arkansas has surely had some difficult weather too - I'm not sure if they needed the rain but according to the weather news they have had flooding and icy conditions. I guess this is what Winter is all about. It's funny, I have talked to my Little Rock friends several times this past week and they haven't even mentioned the weather. They have called me about my friend, Chris Jordin, who has been in the hospital with a heart problem. She had a "stint" (?) put in because they found blockage - of all my friends Chris is the one who takes better care of herself than any of the others so I was surprised. She is doing good now.

The suicide bombings in Jerusalem are so sad - John, do you recognize the mall where they occurred? I am crossing my fingers that you will NEVER have to go to Israel again. I think about your co-workers and especially those from Israel and I'm sure they must be very concerned. I admit that I don't understand the cultures of the Taliban people but one thing is for sure - they don't value life like we do.

Bob came over one day last week to put my new computer monitor on and while he was here I told him I wanted Family Christmas cards made from our Thanksgiving picture but two of my crazy grandsons in the very front of the picture had made their mouths all black. He took the picture home and "fixed" their mouths and he also put the Roy Mellor's last Christmas card picture on it and it WORKED!!! Claire ordered them for me and I'm SO excited to get them. They are miracle workers!!!

I went to the Farmington Festival of Trees on Friday night and it was very nice. They had many beautiful trees to auction off and LOTS of crafts to sell and a good dinner first. They use the money they make from it to help abused young women and the Davis County people really support it. The big Festival of Trees was changed from the Salt Palace to a place further South and since the roads were so bad we decided to not go to that one. Jeannie came over this afternoon and she told me that Mary Ann and Laura played during the day on Saturday for that one - I'm SO proud they will do that. Mary Ann on the violin and Laura accompanying her

They are predicting more snow for tomorrow - I hope it will clear off for Wednesday so we can have the D.U.P. party at the Weinert's home - everyone is very excited to go for it. That's all the news - a fun but not exciting week. I LOVE EACH ONE OF YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Grandma BXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOO