Dearest Family,
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BARJI ON WEDNESDAY
- 24 YEARS OLD!!! I saw Barji on Tuesday and she is anxious for their
baby to come but she is doing GREAT - uncomfortable but that's
understandable. I am anxious too - another little baby to add to their
beautiful family and I know Preston will accept having attention given
to his little brother or sister (I don't believe they are all that
certain it is going to be a baby girl). I keep thinking about little
Caroline Ann - how fortunate I am to have so many exciting things
happening in our family at this time in my life. I HOPE YOU HAVE A
WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY BARJI - I'M VERY PROUD OF ALL YOU ARE
ACCOMPLISHING!!!
THIS IS LAKE POWELL WEEK!!! I know you are
all involved in your preparations and I hope so much that you will be
extra careful in your travels and all your activities at the Lake. I
plan to meet Brett at 3 p.m. at the Woolley's home in Provo on Wednesday
and then come back on Thursday with Claire and I'm looking forward to
it. You all enjoy the water sports and I enjoy just seeing all my
family together and THAT WILL BE PERFECT FOR ME!!!
EMILY - thank you for your sweet letter. I
was SO thrilled to hear from you and I hope your parents will have news
about you when I see them this week. I still can't believe you are in
Costa Rica for the Summer - you will have such good experiences and I
hope you will keep a journal. The very best way to learn a foreign
language is to do exactly what you will be doing - "SINK OR SWIM" -
HA!!! I'm glad you have had as many Spanish classes as you have had - a
good base. I always remember Bob saying that he thought they taught him
the wrong language at the MTC when he got to Colombia because of the way
people spoke it.
This has been a busy but fun week for me.
One of our high school friends who lives in California came to Utah for
a family reunion and she wanted to get together with as many of her
former classmates as possible. Her name is Marjorie Knudson Coffee and
her parents used to own the "Idle Isle" in Brigham City - her relatives
still own it. I went to Brigham City with Ellen Mae & Mel and there
were 14 of us and it was SO good to see and visit with many of my
friends. We're all getting close to "80" and it shows!!! My good
friend Del Holmgren can talk after his stroke but noone can understand
him. We laugh as we remember that he "swears" quite a bit but now he
can say anything he wants and we won't even know if he is using good
words or bad ones!!! One of the ladies is in a wheel chair and she just
returned from the maiden voyage of the "Queen Mary" cruise ship and her
daughter who was with them just about drowned while she was scuba diving
and they had to fly her to St. Thomas and then home so their very
expensive vacation was ruined. It was a VERY interesting evening but
fun!!!
Annie and I went to the 90th birthday party
for Lynn's sister, Ramona Crawford on Tuesday night. Her granddaughter
Pam Farnworth has a lovely home in Orem and she had the party there -
their backyard is very nice and there were LOTS of little children
(cousins) playing and that made it special. Ramona doesn't look or act
any different from the way she did about 12 years ago. I have been
accessing pictures on my picture project of the time right after Lynn
died and I had a luncheon for my Friendship Club and she came - she is
REMARKABLE!!! Her daughter Margaret came from Virginia (I think that's
where she lives) and it was good to see her - she brought her daughter
who is a student at Utah State. Annie and I visited with Chris & Missy
Crawford and their daughters and their husbands. That was good for me
because I have never been able to keep them straigfht, Jessica Lynn, ?
and Molly - Jessica has a little baby boy and he is VERY plump. Kim
Crawford was there and I could tell he was very worried - their daughter
is 5 months pregnant and in the hospital trying to stop her labor
pains. His son was with him and he is just darling - very personable.
His mother-in-law was also there - she is a former neighbor to Ramona &
Winston. Mike Crawford wasn't there but his son, Cole was and he and
his wife are very nice. Mel Crawford and his wife came just as we were
leaving so I didn't get a chance to visit with them. I was disappointed
that Carol & Shirley didn't come. It really was more for Ramona's
immediate family.
THIS IS NEWS - Chris Crawford told us that
Jimmy Willardsen has been sharing his dental office for several months
and will probably be a partner for Chris. Chris said that Jimmy really
wants to move to Utah from Las Vegas.
My condo friends went to Star Valley to
Margaret's home and they left on Monday morning. I felt obligated to go
to Ramona's party so I didn't go with them. I left on Wednesday morning
with a map Margaret had drawn for me and went to Star Valley by myself.
It was SO easy I couldn't believe it. I have gone so many different
ways when I have gone with Margaret that I was quite confused but
driving it myself made it very clear. One of our friends is on oxygen
and also heavy medication because of some broken ribs she got in an
automobile accident several weeks ago - THAT WAS AN EXPERIENCE!!! I
have never seen oxygen like that - her husband carried a big oxygen tank
around with long, long tubes so she could move around but she didn't
want to. Margaret's home is lovely and I had a good time - Star Valley
is a beautiful place. We got home late Friday afternoon - we had dinner
at Maddoxs in Perry, Utah and that is always fun.
Last night I went to the Layton Outdoor
Concert with Patt & Darrell Guthrie and I LOVED that. It was given by
"Herman's Hermits" - Peter Noone was the singer and the music was rock
and roll from the "60's". He has to be in his 60's and he gave 200
percent - the amphitheatre was just packed. I was especially impressed
with their drummer - he was '"ALMOST" as good as Brett!!!
I appreciate Jeannie & Bob & Claire coming
over every Sunday evening - I have always written my letter before they
come so I don't mention it. I will also understand when they "can't
make it". Jeannie told me about Mary Ann & Davids' trip to Canada -
Mary Ann had called her Dad for Father's Day and said they were having a
GREAT time. John called while Jeannie was here - he has been traveling
to California quite a bit lately but he says they are short trips. It
will be good to see him at Lake Powell - I wish he would bring Laura &
Bren with him - they would love it.
I also appreciate Claire forwarding me news
from Laura. She is doing just WONDERFUL in Maine - I guess the young
people who are in her "camp" are from very well to do families. I hope
she is keeping a journal too.
Good Luck to the Bob Mellor family as they
prepare for Michael & Stacis' wedding. I am SO impressed that Claire is
going to make dresses for Katie & Laura - Claire is an excellent
seamstress and they will be beautiful. Some of our friends who were
with us in Star Valley had just come home from Washington for their
granddaughter's wedding and she had crocheted a beautiful "garter" for
her - they plan to pass it down for other granddaughters for a tradition
- WHAT A GREAT IDEA!!! I have a hard time crocheting around a simple
blanket.
That's all the news - I think. PLEASE BE SO
VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. I LOVE EACH ONE OF YOU SO
VERY, VERY MUCH. Grandma B XXXXXOOOOO