Dearest Family,
HAPPY 23RD BIRTHDAY TO BARJI TOMORROW - I
believe I say this every year when her birthday rolls around - I always
remember when Rick called to tell us they had a little baby girl and
then he said "And guess what we are going to name her?" I couldn't be
more proud than I am of having Barji with my name and it has in fact,
made me like my name better - I always thought it was TOO long and I had
a million "nicknames" but none as good as "Barji". I hope you have a
WONDERFUL day with a birthday cake and all the trimmings!!!
WHAT AN EXCITING TIME FOR OUR ENTIRE FAMILY
TO HAVE THE WOOLLEYS ON THEIR WAY TO MADAGASCAR!!! I hope they are
successful in sending e-mails to all of us from there and also pictures
if possible. I'm sure all of you have seen the commercial about the man
who has "lowered his cholesterol" and goes around telling everyone -
WELL, I have been like that for the past couple weeks. Every time I
talk to anyone I say "I have a daughter and son-in-law who are going to
Madagascar soon to get their son who is finishing his mission there".
The big difference in that analogy is that when I tell people that,
their eyes about pop out of their heads and they gasp and say "Magagascar,
where's that???" I really get their attention!!! My biggest concern is
that Annie will get sick and not be able to do all the things Russell
has planned for them - I remember how sick she was in Thailand the first
few days. I'm SO glad they are going to that wild animal park - that is
something they will never forget and it is also something Annie would
not have chosen. I am hoping they won't be tired of telling about their
trip and won't want to repeat everything to me - I'm sure they will have
LOTS to tell while you are all in Lake Powell. I think you should take
a tape recorder on the boat.
This has been kind of a funny week for me -
I haven't known where some of you were and that's unusual. Ricky is an
absolute "jewel" and has worked so hard scanning my album pictures but
all of a sudden he didn't show up and I didn't know where he was. I
know that the Weinert's ward youth group went to Moab on a "River Run"
but I didn't know Ricky was going - I am assuming that is where he has
been. Claire ALWAYS sends me e-mails during the week and I haven't
heard from her all week - she called this morning and told me that she
and Bob celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary with a trip to Bryce
Canyon so that's where they have been. Jeannie was in Sun Valley, Idaho
the first part of the week and then left on Thursday morning for Moab so
I know the Weinert's family home has been in chaos. Ricky went to
Wendover with Boyd for a golf tournament one day - I'll bet that was
HOT!!! Annie has been SO good to tell me about their plans so I knew
where they were AND John calls often so I have known where he was. I
NEVER know where the Roy Mellors are - HA!!!
John's truck was in my driveway when I came
home from church this afternoon and that is always a welcome sight for
me. He wanted to "back up" the albums that have been scanned - I always
worry that things on the computer will get lost some way so that's a
relief to me to have the info
on discs. I am REALLY enjoying going
through all my albums and "reliving" the times we had as a family - I
call it a "newsreel" of my life - Ha!!! It gives me joy to realize
there was a time in my life when I was productive - I feel so
unproductive now. My friends, Ellen Mae and Mel, came over one day and
they couldn't believe the project - I told them that picture taking and
saving has been my hobby all my life and now to see it preserved is very
meaningful to me. Other people have more important hobbies but I'm
proud of this and appreciate John helping me SO very much!!!
I went to a "Temple Party" last night at a
church bowery in Bountiful and it was a patriotic theme and was very,
very nice. The people in charge had arranged for a unit from the Utah
Air National Guard come present the flag ceremony and it was SO
impressive and especially for a relatively small group. Everything was
planned as a "Tribute to Patriots" and I enjoyed it SO much. The food
was grilled chicken breasts, all kinds of salads, rolls and ice cream
bars. The Relief Society in our ward is planning a Patriotic Summer
Party and the husband of our Relief Society President is going to make "Milkcan
Casseroles" - sounds different but they say it will be really good. I
have volunteered to make homemade ice cream and hope I have more success
than I did last Summer when I tried to make it for my family - it won't
be for a couple weeks so maybe I'll practice.
One of Annie's best friends in Phoenix was
Mary Sue Johnson and they were together at a High School dinner reunion
not long ago and Ann found out that Mary Sue's son lives in my ward here
in Farmington. I have been looking for them for several months but
couldn't find them until this morning when they gave the prayers in
Sacrament meeting. I have known the son's wife's family since moving
here and they are such special people. I introduced myself to Andy
Knight after the meeting and we had such a good visit and he told me
that his Mother, Mary Sue is coming to visit in about three weeks so
I'll get to see her after 39 years - wow!!! Andy is such a nice looking
young man and they have two children. The couple that spoke in
Sacrament meeting this morning have just moved into my ward and they
lived in Little Rock for several years while he was in Law School there
- their last name is Larsen and it was fun to hear them describe how
much they loved Little Rock and the people there. A SMALL WORLD!!!
Michael is home tonight for his "Belated
Birthday Party" along with some of his friends. I appreciate your
invitation Claire - I'm trying deparetly to lose some weight and I know
I couldn't resist the Baskin & Robbins ice cream birthday cake. I'm not
much fun to eat with anymore and the strange thing is that I'm not
losing very much weight - I'm eating better but not losing weight!!!
John says that doesn't count - Ha!!!
That's all the news - I think!!! I LOVE
EACH ONE OF YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN
EVERYTHING YOU DO - Grandma B XXXXXOOOOO