June 23, 2002 Farmington, Utah

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MICHAEL ON WEDNESDAY - we're SO happy to have you home!!! You will be 21 years old - WOW!!! I'm anxious to hear about your college life and your math class, etc., etc. I know you are enjoying Logan - that used to be my most favorite place in all the world when I was in college and I still just love. I hope you like your apartment and all your new friends.

Boyd and Barji - thanks for your messages this week. I think so often about you and also Steve and Susanna and how your lives are going to change dramatically in a little over a month and I'm SO excited for you. I talked to Annie a few minutes ago and she told me that Susanna still has 84 more hours to complete her nursing degree - she has to work in a hospital as a sort of internship. She says she isn't on her feet all the time though and that's good. Annie also told me that Jessie is in San Diego looking for a place to live this next year - she is going to go to school to work on her master's degree but I have forgotten the name of the college. Jeannie told me that Mary Ann is in New York for a few days - I believe it may have something to do with her "running" but I'm not sure. It's hard for me to keep up with everyone.

Roy and Patrice - I'm SO looking forward to your visit!!! It will be hot but not as hot and humid as it is in Little Rock and it always cools off at night. When I talked to Annie I asked if they were ready for Lake Powell and she said, "Mom, we're not nearly as involved in our preparations as we used to be - AND I'M SO GLAD!!! It will be just as much fun and you can always live on peanut butter sandwiches if you have to. The main thing is to relax and enjoy each other without A LOT of stress and to be CAREFUL!!! I won't be able to relax until you all get home safe and sound. I know you all know my friend Ellen Mae - she called me two nights ago with such a sad story. Her sister Gene with whom I grew up had a daughter killed on her way to Lake Powell with her family. This daughter is in her early 40's and has four children - they were pulling a boat and had stopped to launch it and somehow a strong wind came up and blew them into the traffic lane where they were hit by another car. The husband and one son are in the hospital with serious head injuries so they are delaying the mother's funeral until the end of the week. This family is from Logan and Gene's husband, Wayne Rich, taught math at Utah State for many, many years.

John - thanks for your message too. John is going to be traveling a lot this month so he is going to try to arrange it so he can stop over in Utah while the Roys are here and I hope he and Laura and Bren will be able to come to my home on July 11th for a little family get-together. You're all invited and Annie says she and Jim will come and anyone else from their family who can. I know that is going to be a super busy time for the Bobs because he'll be getting ready for their trip to Guatemala but I want anyone who can to come. It stays light until almost 9 p.m. so let's say any time after 6 p.m. and IT WON'T BE FANCY!!! Roy doesn't like for me to plan his vacation but I can't stand for their family to be here and not have all of us get together.

I talked to Jeannie for a long time last night and all she will say about her feet is "they're okay" which means they are not REALLY okay. She is still wearing a "boot" on one of her feet and she says it is comfortable as long as it is in the boot but hurts when she takes it off. Annie and I are definitely planning to go on the "Mellor Reunion" and maybe Jeannie will go too. She has written to Mark Pinegar asking if they will have motorized vehicles for those who can't walk and he has assured her they will. I am sure that Glen Pinegar will go and probably Ramona and they won't be able to walk three miles. Mark said these vehicles will accommodate 8 people. Annie told me today that she is going to a meeting tonight with Mark to see what she can to help with the reunion. They are going on a Woolley reunion next weekend in Boise, Idaho for three days. I have made three Pioneer bonnets and they're quite cute but the brim is so wide you can't see where you are going - Ha!!! I wish our entire family could go. I had an e-mail from Carol who is in Hawaii and she indicated that no one from her family will be able to go. It will be interesting to see who volunteers to be in charge of the next reunion - I'm voting for either Paula or Nancy - Ha!!!

I was sad to find that Earl Miller had died and even sadder to find out that nothing was done for him here in Utah that I found out about. I would have thought that some of his children would have planned a memorial of some kind. I know there is unhappiness involved because of Elaine but right is right!!!

There is SO much sadness in the news about the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart. I find that I don't like to leave the television set for very long in case I might miss a "News Bulletin" saying they have found her alive which is what everyone in the world is hoping for. I simply cannot imagine anything like that happening any place and to have it happen quite close to where my Utah family lives makes it even scarier. She is such a beautiful young woman and so "angelic" playing the harp - it breaks my heart when I see pictures of her parents and other family members. I am VERY proud of the community support that has been given from every source - religions of every faith. It is difficult for me to relate to the people who are criticizing the attention this kidnapping has been given nationally compared to other kidnapping victims who have not had this much coverage. I am grateful to live in a place where people value human life above all costs. It is VERY difficult for me to relate to the suicide bombings in Israel - that makes NO sense whatsoever!!!

I am SO sad to hear about the terrible fires in Arizona. One of my missionary companions, Darlene Williamson, lives in Show Low and I don't have a phone number for her. I have called another companion, Jan Asper, who had her phone number but she isn't home. There isn't anything I can do about it but I would like for her to know I am thinking of her.

I went to Salt Lake on Friday to have lunch with Dianne Power and Linda Smithers and that was a lot of fun. We met at the Garden Room where Ann, Jean, Claire, Laura and I met for lunch a few months ago - I hope we can do that again sometime soon. Linda said she is happier than she has ever been in her entire life - her linen business is thriving in Salt Lake and she is dating some good men. Dianne is also very happy - they are working with a builder to build them a condo in Salt Lake. I worry about Dianne - she is constantly wanting MORE. They have a gorgeous home in California and now they want a place in Salt Lake - they already have a condo in Provo for their BYU children. Do I sound like an OLD WOMAN???

I went to the Missionary Farewell for Matt Steed today and it was VERY nice. Matt is the former boy friend of Mary Ann and he is the grandson of Margaret. That family has sent four young men on missions - Matt is going to Venezuela. I was SO proud to see Rick conducting the meeting and he does such a good job!!!