Dearest Family,
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PRESTON ON THURSDAY
AND TO RON ON FRIDAY!!! Preston will be two years old and I'm sure he
will have an exciting day with his Summerhays' cousins who are close to
his age. I have seen him lately and he doesn't seem to be in the
"terrible twos" - I think that is a difficult age but children grow out
of it quickly and Preston has such a sweet and easy disposition. Ron
will be "thirty something" and shows no signs of slowing down - I'm
sure he will have an exciting day with his family and also his ward
members (they always have a way of finding out about their leaders'
brithdays).
I was happy to learn from Annie that Jessie
and Lee Anna were going to Chandler, Arizona to help Jackson celebrate
his 2nd birthday and for Jessie to see Caroline Ann for the first time -
HOW EXCITING!!! I hope to see some pictures of her before too long. I
haven't seen Baby Grace Summerhays yet - this has been a busy week for
everyone and I know Barji, Boyd & Preston need time to help them all get
adjusted to a new little baby in their home. I love the name they have
chosen - Grace!!! I don't know many with that name but it's a beautiful
name and an easy one to say and Jeannie said they will call her "Gracey".
There are many babies' names that are SO different and I guess I'm old
fashioned but I like the ones that are easy to say. I think teaching
school has had influence on me too - some of the different names end up
with VERY different "nicknames.
I had a fun day on Thursday with many of my
family attending the luncheon given to honor Staci. It was fun to meet
many of her relatives too and she surely has a WONDERFUL family. There
were thirty of us at the Oakridge Country Club and I appreciate very
much having Annie come clear from Provo just a day after she had had
"varicose vein" surgery on one of her legs. She kept telling me that
she was just fine but any kind of "intrusion" on your body has a hard
effect on a person. She was in charge of giving the questions for a
game we played and did such a good job - the game's purpose was to help
us know a little more about Staci and she was SO cute as she explained
some of the answers. She started riding a horse for example almost as
soon as she could walk. I sat by her Aunt Regan and she is also
planning a wedding for her son the first part of August and his fiance'
had come to the luncheon with her from Provo - they don't live too far
from where Annie lives. One of the questions was "How many cousins do
Michael & Staci have"? Staci has 41 and Michael has 27 - she comes from
a large family. I also enjoyed meeting and visiting with her Mother's
Mother - Grandmother Leonne Duerden - she is just darling and seems VERY
young!!! It was SO good for me to become a little acquainted with
Claire's Sister Carolyn and her daughters - I learned that she has 7
daughters and only 1 son and I didn't even know that. Her daughter,
Sarah, came from Logan with her little baby and I know that is not
easy. Lee Anna had just returned from her trip to Washington D.C. to
visit her friend, Zenock Bishop. She said she got to see many
historical things and she had a GREAT time - I was mixed up and thought
she was going this week. Zenock's father is the congressman from my
district and is doing such a good job - everyone is sure he will win his
next election. I LIKE HIM.
Jeannie wasn't able to come and we missed
her and also Barji. Jean is theYoung Women's President in their ward
and she was at their Summer Camp in Layton canyon (I think that's where
it was). Those from Michael's side of the family were; Grandmother
Alice Ezell, Carolyn Furner, Joanna Holmstead, Sarah Cook, Noel Furner,
Janel Furner, Rachael Furner, Laci Furner, Teresa Furner, Lee Anna
Woolley, Sarah Weinert, Mary Ann Parker, Katie Mellor, Ann Woolley, Mom
Claire Mellor and Grandma B. Those from Staci's side of the family
were; Grandmother Betty Christensen, Grandmother Duerden, Mom Maxine
Christensen, Regan Duerden, Alison Duerden, Diana Johnson, Danielle
Johnson, Kyra Johnson, Brittney Christensen, Julie Duerden, Leone
Duerden, Lona Estes, Laura Jorgensen, Staci and Mom Maxine Christensen.
Ali Fisher was ill and couldn't come at the last minute. Lona Estes is
Betty christensen's daughter and she is also a professional seamstress
and has made some of the bridesmaid's dressed - she brought one and it
was beautiful. I believe Claire is making two of them for Katie &
Laura. IT WAS A FUN DAY AND I WAS PLEASED WITH THE OAKRIDGE LUNCHEON
FOOD - that is always a worry!!! I wanted to get there about noon and
Claire said she would be there at 12:30 - that would have been enough
time except that when I went for Staci's corsage the lady hadn't even
started it so I had to wait for about 20 minutes for her to make it. I
would liked to have had time to greet the guests at the door but we were
still arranging the favors and place cards when they came - OH WELL!!!
Thanks to Rick too for letting me use his "membership card". They are
going to tear down the club and that makes me sad - they are going to
build a new one South of where it is now and on the parking lot.
Margaret had asked me to go to the "Pioneers
of Progress Award's Banquet" that night at Little America. I really
didn't want to go because I didn't feel like I was invited but she
persisted so I went. IT WAS JUST FABULOUS!!! They presented awards to
James J. Sorenson for "scientific & technology", Donald Ward for
"education, etc." Michael Ballam for "historic and creative arts" and
three others. We were seated at Michael Ballam's table because he is a
good friend of Margarets and had invited her - there were MANY people
there and I finally felt comfortable because of my associations with DUP
people - they were one of the many sponsors. Some of you might remember
Mr. Sorenson because he received a great deal of publicity a few years
ago - he is the wealthiest man in Utah and wanted to contribute a large
sum of money to the University of Utah with the stipulation that they
name one of their buildings after him - they refused so he refused the
money - Ha!!! He does a great deal of humanitarian work with his
money. Michael Ballam had all his children with us at the table and
that was fun - he has an operatic voice and many of them do also. He
has a son with spinabifda and is in a wheelchair - they take him
everywhere and that is inspirational - he is about 10 years old. His
singing teacher was seated next to Margaret and she told about how the
University of Indiana asked her to teach him when he was a student there
but she refused because she didn't have room for him in her schedule.
She said one day he appeared at her door and asked to let him sing for
her - THAT IS THE END OF THE STORY. She also said she trained him to
sing tenor when he was singing baritone - you have to hear him sing to
really appreciate all this. He is very famous and has done alot with
the opera in Logan.
I believe John comes home this weekend from
Costa Rica - I have thought about "Tar" all week and I hope he has been
able to find a cool place - IT HAS REALLY BEEN HOT HERE!!! I'll be
happy to have John back "in the country". It would have been good if he
could have seen Emily but he didn't seem to think that would be possible
- I know she is doing good. I hope Roy, Patrice, Timothy & Jesse are
doing good - I KNOW IT IS HOT IN LITTLE ROCK. I have LOVED watching the
Lake Powell CD - it's unbelievable to me to see how good all of you are
on "wakeboards, skiis, sea dos etc." I'm glad none of you have had ear
problems like you did last year - I laughed as I watched Bob treating
everyone with the solution to prevent them but I guess it worked and
that's good.
WE had a WONDERFUL rainstorm last night and
everything looks SO green and pretty this morning. We need MANY more
rainstorms like that to fill up all the reservoirs, dams, etc. I am
going to Salt Lake this afternoon after church to visit with our friend
Clinton Holmes who has been in the hospital for about two months. Ellen
Mae & Mel and I are going. I told my neighbors I would take their
daughter, Janie, with me to church because she loves Primary and they
don't go to church - reminds me of my Little Rock days - Ha!!!
I have been watching the Mormon Tabernacle
Choir broadcast from Temple Square - they are celebrating 75 years of
continuous broadcasting. There are 360 members in the choir and they
are all volunteers - that is remarkable I think. They had a big concert
last night in the tabernacle in Salt Lake. That's all the news - I
think!!!1
I LOVE EACH ONE OF YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO.
Grandma B XXXXXOOOOO