Dearest Family,
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LAURA ON
TUESDAY!!! Laura will be 22 years old and I am surely proud of all she
has accomplished in such a short time. She has her college degree, a
good job and has run a marathon for the multiple scerlosis foundation
among many other things - GOOD JOB LAURA!!!
Ann, Jean and I celebrated Lynn's birthday
last Monday with his sisters and other relatives and we had such a good
time. Shirley invited all of us to have lunch at her apartment in
Alpine, Utah and I couldn't believe all the people who came. Carol &
her husband Bill Williamson came from Manti, Carol Ann Willarsen came
from California and her daughter, Memory and Memory's daughter, Emmy who
lives in Utah came with her. Nancy Hooper and Paula Pack (Lynn's
sisters in law) came from around Salt Lake City. Shirley's daughters,
Holly and Christine were there with their daughters and Mark Pinegar's
daughters came but I can't remember their names. There were lots of
babies too. Shirley & Glen have 40 grandchildren so there is ALOT of
activity ALL the time. Shirley is very thin but in good health.
Jared & Stephanie Pinegar built a very
lovely home right next to the mountains in Alpine and they built a
special apartment in their basement for Shirley & Glen. Glen wasn't
happy there so they got him an apartment in the city and from what
everyone says Shirley is free to do the things she has always wanted to
do now - that's a bit of gossip I guess. She works in the Mt.
Timpanogas Temple, does genealogy and does things with her friends - she
had just come home from a week in Tooele with a group of friends. Glen
came to the party to see everyone and have lunch and take a nap and then
he left.
Ramona couldn't come to Shirley's place so
we all went to the "Assisted Living" home where she is. She is such a
"classy lady" and it's kinda' hard to see her in her declining years.
She knew some of us but not everyone - Carol Ann called me after the
party and she said she wouldn't be surprised if that would be the last
time we would see her alive. We sang Happy Birthday to Lynn and other
family members who had birthdays recently.
I hope all of you received the WONDERFUL
pictures Jeannie took of everyone - she had prints made for me so I will
include them in my picture project. THANK YOU JEANNIE!
DID YOU ALL RECOGNIZE THE BACKYARD PICTURE
OF OUR FORMER OREM HOME??? Sarah came over to visit for a little while
and she didn't know what that picture was - they have surely made MIGHTY
changes in the yard.
Annie & Ron - Thank you SO much for putting
flowers on Lynn's grave for his birthday - I know you didn't do it for
me but it makes me VERY happy. I didn't take any flowers so the flower
pot you mentioned was taken by someone else - maybe John took some!!! I
thought about Lynn all day on Friday but I didn't get to Lehi. He
REALLY loved his sisters and they loved him.
We stopped at Coscos in Salt Lake to get
some ice cream for the party and we ran into Jessie and that was fun.
She said they didn't have ANY food in their apartment so she was
shopping. I still want to have them tell me more about their trip to
Turkey. Jeannie & I stopped at John's home in Highland on our way to
Alpine but he wasn't home AND we didn't see the donkey but we saw his
two little kittens. They are going to have to get much bigger if John
expects them to catch many mice - Ha!!!
I went to a very lovely D.U.P. luncheon on
Wednesday. The President of the Company lives down the street from
where the Summerhays live in Farmington and she had the luncheon for the
others who will work with her - I don't know what I am doing but I said
I would help. I don't believe I have ever seen a more lovely home.
This is a second marriage for her and she is 83 years old and looks and
acts like she is in her forties. I have heard SO much about the
Farmington "Grist Mill" and you can see it from her dining room window.
I also learned there are many Grist Mills throughout Utah.
When I first moved into the condos there
were two little girls who lived here with their parents. I always felt
sorry for them because they didn't have playmates here - they visited me
often and were SO thoughtful to bring me gifts when they went places.
Their father was a dentist (Sid Wray) and quite a bit older than their
mother and we didn't see much of them. The oldest girl was married
yesterday and Margaret and I went to her wedding reception - it was
really, really nice!!! We had gone to a shower for her earlier in the
week and I didn't much want to go last night but I'm glad I did.
Margaret knows everyone in Farmington
(really in all of Utah) and I met many people I was happy to meet. I
met Teri Merrill who works for Bob - she used to live in the condos and
would like to move back now that her children are grown and out of their
home. She couldn't say enough nice things about working for Bob - she
is worried that he is going to wear himself out with his bicycle
riding. I worry about that too - HE GOES TOO FAR!!!
Brett - I also met a friend of yours.
Laurel Child asked me if knew you since we had the same last names. She
said she was in the Davis Band with you and I believe she also knew you
at BYU. She was happy to hear you are in Brazil and said to tell you
"Hello".
She is a beautiful young woman and SO nice
and friendly.
When we were at Shirley's party Carol Ann
told me that her son Jared was in Romania. I have never figured out
exactly what he does but it involves pictures taken of him and others
riding motorcycles in exotic places. Carol Ann said the same picture
company that covered Lance Armstrong's bicycle ride is the one Jared
works for. She called me on Thursday and said he had had a serious
accident and was on his way home. He will be okay but wanted to get
medical help in the States rather than Romania. Carol Ann is in Manti
with her Mother for this next week and then she and her daughter Rosie
are going on a trip to New York.
Bob & Claire have been out of town and will
be home tonight. I have forwarded to you the letters I have received
from them and they have had a good time. I was THRILLED to receive the
news they sent from Brett - it sounds like he is getting a glimpse of
what it is like in third world countries and I love his descriptions.
I'm not sure if Brazil is considered a third world country but I'm sure
part of it would be.
Jeannie had a bridal shower for the daughter
of one of her neighborhood friends this week. She made beautiful
invitations with lots of gold in them - she is SO artistic. She didn't
have alot of help - this daughter's father was the Bishop when Rick was
in the Bishopric.
Mary Ann - THANK YOU SO MUCH for the ultra
sound picture of your little baby girl. I can see she is going to be a
BEAUTIFUL baby and I am SO thrilled for you and David. Mary Ann
continues to work and study so she can finish her college degree along
with being a Mom - if anyone can do it, Mary Ann can!!!!
I believe John must have been out of town
this week - I haven't heard from him and that is unusual. I had a
letter from Dianne Power and their son Garic is moving to Austin, Texas
from California for a new job. I'm thinking the Roy Mellors are looking
forward to starting back to school in a few weeks - I hope their schools
are air conditioned. I remember teaching in some of the Little Rock
schools without central air and it was SO hot - BUT not as hot as in
Thailand!
We will all be relieved when the Discovery
lands safely tomorrow morning. I have thought about the astronauts in
space and the sailors in the bottom of the ocean without enough oxygen
and I realize what a "wimp" I am - I want to keep my feet on the ground.
I think that's all the news. I LOVE EACH
ONE OF YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN
EVERYTHING YOU DO. Grandma B XXXXXOOOOO