December 8, 2002 Farmington, Utah

Dearest Family,

I just came home from Bob and Claires' home. Claire had invited me to come for a Grandparents' Christmas dinner and memory program and it was just WONDERFUL. She had prepared the most delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings and Bob and Alice Ezell were there too. We had all been asked to prepare favorite memories of being with the children and then Bob and Claire shared some of their memories too. I was SO happy to hear of some of the memories they had remembered about being with PaPa and Me - Laura remembered the fun times she had had at the cabin and Michael, Katie and Brett had equally as good memories. Bob said one of his memories was of the time he had been punished for skipping school - I hope that wasn't the only memory he had - Ha!!! Bob Ezell is a great historian and he had gone to his computer and made copies of some pages from his journals concerning the children. It was SO Christmasy being in their beautifully decorated home and Laura had brought one of her roommates home and she is just darling. Laura has to work at Great Harvest so she had to go back to Logan tonight.

Jeannie - I'm sorry I missed you tonight. It seems like months since I have seen you but I know how busy you are - it won't be long now before you will have some free time and you won't know what to do with it. I am SO excited for Mary Ann - Bob told me tonight that he has cancelled all his patients and will take Thursday off so he can help with everything - THAT'S REAL SUPPORT!
I can surely drive and will be available to take anyone with me on Thursday so let me know.

Annie - I was SO proud to read that Russell has been made an Assistant to his Mission President. That is a GREAT honor and he will do a super job!!! I was happy to receive your e-mail and it sounds like you are working overtime to help your associate teacher who is ill. I'm proud of you and Ron for having the students in his ward come to your home for Family Home Evening - they will never forget that and it helps them so much. I hope Mimi is better by now and I'm happy that Sue is going to be responsible for her - Russell needs that help. I also hope his new wife is better. I haven't heard of the flu going around in this area - hope it doesn't.

John - it has been fun to be in touch with you this week. I'm sorry I couldn't help you with the problem you were having with your website. Bob said tonight that he had done what you had asked him to do so I won't worry about it. I'm excited for you and Laura and Bren - hope your cruise is exactly what you want it to be and I hope you won't get sick. There have been many cruise ships that have been stricken with illnesses so BE CAREFUL!!!

Roy and Patrice - it has been fun hearing from you this week too. Chris and I have talked occasionally and she says your weather has been cold and icy. We have talked because of Linda's wedding. I called her one morning and she told me about a Relief Society dinner that was planned that night and they were worried they may have to cancel it because of bad weather. I remember those days and we just had to travel to Rodney Parham - they have to go out to Otter Creek to the Stake Center. Do you remember Tom and Barbara Brown? Their daughter, Sharon, was at Chris' home when I called so I visited with her for a little while. Sharon has a daughter at BYU - it would be fun for Lee Anna to become acquainted with her. She has four other children who are married and live in various places here in the West.

This has been a very busy and fun week for me. I went with some of my condo friends to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building Rooftop for dinner on Monday night and after dinner we walked around Temple Square and then on Main Street to see the Christmas displays in the store windows. It was a beautiful night and the lights on Temple Square are just gorgeous.

We had our Christmas D.U.P. party on Wednesday at noon and that was very nice. It was a potluck luncheon and the food turned out good - I always worry about potluck things. The lady who had it at her home had decorated everything to the hilt and the entertainment was very special - the daughter of one of the members sang Christmas songs.

Wednesday night was our Relief Society Christmas dinner and party. There is a lady in our ward who wants to do all the cooking for everything and she does a fabulous job. She served a special rice dish with golden raisins in it - she said she would give me her recipe and I'll pass it on to you. She served baked chicken breasts, green salad, rolls, the rice and then trifle for dessert.

Thursday night I went to the wedding of Linda Smithers and Bill Stringfellow. It was held in Deniece's home and it was just lovely. They had three large round tables in Deniece's living room and they had gold table cloths, gold China, gold flatware, gold goblets and chair covers with large gold bows in the back. The dinner was delicious and Linda had friends who had come from Las Vegas as well as other parts of Utah. Do you remember Brad Smithers? He was there with two of his sons - his wife had to stay in Las Vegas with their other son. Danielle couldn't come because she had to work - I heard she had been laid off as a flight attendant with Delta. I really like Linda's new husband and I hope so much that his health will be good. They are in Maui now for their honeymoon, then they will go to San Jose and pack up his things to move to Utah and then he will start chemotherapy for his bone marrow cancer.

Friday I went to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir program at the Conference Center. Walter Cronkite was the guest narrator and it was one of the most inspiring things I have ever attended. He was absolutely overwhelmed with the conference center and the warm welcome he was given. There were 22,000 people who gave him a standing ovation when he walked on the stage and he could hardly speak. This program was presented Friday and Saturday nights and then again this morning.

Saturday I went to the Capitol Theatre to see the "Nutcracker" presented by Ballet West and it brought back so many memories when we all went to see Barji, Mary Ann and Sarah perform in it. That is such a beautiful musical program and the costumes are "out of this world". Margaret had a granddaughter perform in it and she was SO cute.

Sunday - this morning I went to Sacrament Meeting but didn't stay for Sunday School or Relief Society. I came home and wrote some Christmas cards - then my Home Teachers came and then I went to the Bob Mellors for their special dinner and program.

I laugh when I think about how busy I have been. I really don't have to go to everything but I don't want to miss anything. I keep thinking about how quiet January is going to be - Ha!!!

I LOVE EACH ONE OF YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Grandma B XXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOO