Dearest Family,
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RICKY ON WEDNESDAY
- July 16th - A MIGHTY HANDSOME 24 YEAR OLD!!! Ricky will be in Lake
Powell with the family and I hope someone makes him a birthday cake but
since the weather is SO hot and using the oven is taboo I don't know
what kind of a cake it could be - maybe he could float a candle in a
glass of lemonade.
WELCOME. WELCOME HOME TO RUSSELL FROM
MADAGASCAR!!! I went to Provo today to welcome him home and I was
really SURPRISED at how good he looks. I kinda' expected him to look
sickly or emaciated or something but he looks much better than he did
when he left I think. He has such broad shoulders and has grown alot.
John was there when I got there and they showed us some pictures they
had taken and it was a WONDERFUL evening - I love pictures and they did
such a good job of taking the ones to show Madagascar in a way where we
can all learn about it. I guess the thing I learned the most was how
they make bricks out of mud and then carry them on their heads to build
their homes. - unreal!!! The scenery in the pictures is beautiful and
the pictures of the Lemurs are interesting - I told Russell I was
surprised he didn't smuggle one home. They also showed pictures of the
Safari in South Africa - wild African lions, elephants, giraffes,
hippopatomuses, crocodiles, monkeys, etc., etc. They said there was a
rifle in the jeep where they were riding in case of an emergency -
scary. I am THRILLED that Ann & Ron went so they will enjoy Russell's
experiences for forever - they met many families that Russell taught and
when you consider the language barrier it is a miracle they could
welcome Russell's parents into their homes. It was GREAT to see
pictures of these families and also pictures of his Mission President
and the Humanitarian Missionaries.
Susanna, Jackson and Jessie were at the
Woolleys today and I LOVED that. Little Jackson is a BEAUTIFUL little
boy and he is starting to walk - he is going to pass crawling by and
just start walking and then running - Ha!!! Susanna says that she &
Steve really like Phoenix even though it is unbelievably HOT. LeeAnna
wasn't there today because she was with her friend/boy who is supposed
to go to the Czech Republic on his mission next week but he is
struggling with health problems and must get better before he can go.
WELCOME HOME TO BOB, BRETT AND JIMMY TOO!!!
They came home yesterday from Guatemala where they have been helping
those poor people who have ear, nose and throat problems. Jimmy said
Bob did 40 more surgeries than he did the last time they were there and
Bob made plans to go back in November to help more people. I AM SO
PROUD OF THEM!!!
FARMINGTON IS ON FIRE!!! A homeless man
deliberately set the dry grass on fire in the mountains just East of the
Weinert's home and it has burned more than 2,000 acres. He said he set
the fire because he wants to go to jail where he will be taken care of -
we all think they should put him on the mountain with a shovel to help
fight the fire. It has been burning for four days and there is smoke
still coming from the mountain. They have had to evacuate many homes
and I know the Weinerts have been busy helping their neighbors - their
home was never in danger. We have the brine shrimp odor from the Lake
west of Farmington sometimes and the smoke smell is so much better than
that so I have opened my windows at night and when I awaken during the
night I imagine I am on a campout and it is fun - Ha!!!
Patrice - I was SO happy to find your letter
tonight. She had written it from a library in Santa Fe, New Mexico so
they are on their way to Lake Powell. I can't imagine a finer group of
people to be with for a week's vacation than my family and I HOPE YOU
ALL HAVE A MARVELOUS TIME!!! The high temperatures are breaking all
kinds of records so I know you will stay in the water most of the time.
I hope you find a good place to dock the houseboat - the water level is
low but they keep saying on the news that there is plenty of water for
water sports. I'm looking forward to having the Roys with me for as
long as they can stay. I worry a little about my condo being very boring
after an exciting time at Lake Powell but we'll go to Lagoon and that's
always fun and they will enjoy swimming in the pool.
John came today to "back up" all the
pictures that Ricky has scanned for me. John said there are 2,700
pictures so far (I think that's right). He has done less than one half
of them but we'll get them done sometime and there is no hurry. It has
been such a wonderful thing for me to be involved in - I am surprised at
some of the pictures I have and they look so much better on the computer
than they do in the albums. I really appreciate having John give me so
much help. I could only see that three albums had been saved so I
frantically called John and he came up and found the rest and digitized
them. Ricky has been such alot of help too - he went to Cheyenne, Wyo.
with Boyd for a golf tournament this week. He is a very conscientous
worker and John says he is very computer smart!!!
I went to Brigham City last week to attend a
funeral for my cousin. Her name was Ada Johnson and her husband was my
Father's nephew. She was 84 years old and had been in a rest home for
several years. I kept thinking I should go to Brigham City and get some
genealogy from her but I waited too long. She has a son living there so
I may go see him sometime. It was fun to go to her funeral because all
the people there were friends of my parents and I had such a good visit.
I also went to our Relief Society Summer
Pioneer Party. It was a "milk can" dinner - the man who cooked it put
all kinds of vegetables and ham in milk cans and then cooked them on a
stove for a long time. I made homemade ice cream and it turned out -
that's really the first time I have had success with it and I was
happy. I made Mary Lou Bernstein's tuiti fruiti recipe and it was
delicious.
I can't think of any more news. I will
worry every minute that you are in Lake Powell and I'll be glad when you
get home but I know you are aware of the dangers and you'll be careful.
I LOVE EACH ONE OF YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Grandma B
XXXXXOOOOO