Dearest Family,
CONGRATULATIONS TO JIMMY - as he leaves on
his mission to Brazil. All the Utah family that could attended church
services in the Woolley's ward this morning where Jimmy gave his talk
and it couldn't have been better. I was SO impressed with the thoughts
that went into expressing his desire to live the gospel and be a good
missionary. He compared the choices he had to make in his Summer job
with the choices he had to make in his life to prepare for his mission.
He has been working on the Provo river as a guide for people from all
over the country who come to Utah to "run" the river and he had to
follow directions as to which route for them to go to avoid disastrous
problems. He couldn't have said it better - good advice for each one of
us. As his Mother, Ann, said - IT WAS DEFINITELY JIMMY - and we were
all very proud of him. I was surprised in how good a speaker he is - I
could hear every word. I spoke with some of the members of his ward
after the meeting and they each one said "people in Brazil are going to
love him" and he will love them.
Bob just brought me home from the Woolleys'
home where we had an absolutely WONDERFUL time together as a family. I
was supposed to keep Bob awake as we drove home and I was SO sleepy I
don't believe I did a very good job BUT WE MADE IT!!!! I am still
sleepy but I wanted to write my letter before I take a nap. Claire
picked me up about 8 o'clock this morning and we went to Ann's Relief
Society meeting and their Sunday School before Sacrament Meeting. GOOD
MEETINGS!!! Bob had bishopric and welfare meetings so he couldn't leave
that early so he and Katie came later. JImmy's friends all went to
their home last night for their "farewell party" and Ann said there were
about 150 young people - they had pizza, those long Subway sandwiches
and hot fudge sundaes!!!
There were over 30 people there today for
dinner - tenderloin pork bar-b-cue sandwiches, slaw, vegetables, fruit,
corn on the cob, orange punch, hot fudge sundaes made with "toberone"
(sp.?) chocolate and whipping cream - EXCELLENT.
Brett - the meetings and being with Jimmy
made all of us think about you when you gave your WONDERFUL talk before
you left for Brazil a few weeks ago. Your Mom & Dad and all of us are
very proud of you and we're happy you have completed your CTM lessons
and can spend your time being with the people in your area. I can't
believe the success you are already having with baptisms. It is SO
gratifying to have two grandsons in the Mission Field and my prayers are
always with you.
I want to name all who were at the Woolleys
after Sacrament meeting: Ann, Ron, Susanna, Steve, Jackson, Caroline
(from Arizona), Jessie, Jared, Lee Anna, Chris (Lee Anna's fiance'),
Russell, Jimmy, Jean, Rick, Ricky, Barji, Boyd, Preston, Gracie, Mary
Ann, David, Sarah, Danny Flint (Sarah's boyfriend), Ricky, Bob, Claire,
Katie, (we missed Laura who couldn't come), John, Grandpa Russ, Joan,
Earl (Ron's sister and brother in law who had brought Grandpa Russ from
Idaho, Mimi, Sue, Calvin Grondahl,
Carrie Grondahl ? and her husband and little
daughter Erin with naturally curly hair, Jeff Grondahl, Eric Grondahl
and his fiance' Camilla. I hope I haven't forgotten anyone. We always
miss the Roy Mellor family and wish that Little Rock wasn't so far
away. I'm SO glad we had "group" pictures taken - there were many
cameras so some of them should turn out. This day is a "Historic Day"
and I wanted to have it documented even though noone ever wants to
have his picture taken.
This week has been such a fun week. Jeannie
had the cousins' "bridal shower" for Lee Anna on Thursday night at the
Weinert's home and I was SO thrilled
because every one of my granddaughters was there except for Emily and
she's just too far away!!! Susanna, Jackson & Caroline came from
Arizona last Monday to spend the week with the Woolleys before Jimmy
leaves for his mission so she was there. Laura is SO busy in Salt Lake
getting ready for a new job and new apartment but she took time to come
too. We had a delicious dinner (Claire brought GREAT desserts) before
Lee Anna opened her gifts and then we tied a beautiful quilt for her &
Chris. It was a VERY special treat for the "girls" to be together.
I can't believe that Ron is recuperating
from his appendectomy last week. He didn't say anything about it today
and he looks GREAT!!! I asked Ann if it were an emergency and all she
said was "sort of". They have SO many things going on in their lives.
They are remodeling the basement of their home and making it into an
apartment. Lee Anna & Chris will live there while they are going to BYU
and it will be just beautiful. They will have their own entrance,
washer & dryer, kitchen, a study room, etc., etc.
Emily - I lOVED our little phone visit and
hearing about the courses you are taking at Central High School this
year. WOW - I don't see how you are going to have time to breathe. I am
SO proud of you for wanting to learn everything you possibly can - you
have always been that way. I hope you will "SQUEEZE" some social time
in your life. This is quite an exciting year for your family - you and
Timothy at Central and Jesse starting a new school too. I don't like
changes and there have surely been alot of them lately. Emily, Timothy
& Jesse started school last week - it's HOT in Little Rock right now.
John - Thanks for your phone calls this
week. I'm thrilled that Reid Folsom is going to Guatemala with you as a
dentist - he is one of my most favorite friends from Montana. I
appreciate your interest in the Peter Murray letters about the Memorial
for my brother Bob. Those letters have been among the most interesting
things I have ever had happen to me. The pictures on the internet have
been SO good and it looked like there was ALOT of pomp and circumstance
connected with the Memorial - quite surprising to me after 63 years. I
don't know of anyone else who has had that sort of thing for their loved
ones killed in World War II - I'm sure there have been many but I don't
know of them. My friend Marian Jeppsen had a brother killed in Germany
at that time and she hasn't heard anything - her family didn't bring his
body home for burial and I think that's sad.
Claire - Thank you SO much for all your
wonderful pictures on the internet. Michael & Staci are settled in the
apartment in Pocatello and Claire sent me pictures of their moving van -
I forgot to ask her about the HUGE turtle on the van. I hope it doesn't
belong to Michael and Staci - Ha!!! Bob is still riding his bicycle -
60 miles last week in one trip.
Jeannie - Thank you SO much for the prints
of the pictures you took at the shower. You have turned into an almost
professional photographer and I'm proud of you. I like prints for my
picture project.
I'm not really familiar with the store
"Cabella" but it has opened this week and it is on the road going to
John's home and there has been SO MUCH television coverage about it.
Bob & Claire went to see it last night and they said it is just amazing
and something "Lynn would have loved". I plan to go see it sometime
soon.
I am watching the television news coverage
of the hurricane, Katrina and it sounds like it might just devastate New
Orleans. This has surely been a bad season for hurricanes. I had a
letter from Chris & Wayne and their children have been with them
"non-stop" since they got back from their trip West. They are VERY
happy in Texas and away from the hurricanes. They are going to Gulf
Shores the 30th of August so Wayne can take his boat and change it for a
different kind he can use on the lake where they live. I'm SO happy for
them.
Our temperature is supposed to be 97 degrees
tomorrow - THAT'S HOT!!! It cools off into the 60's at night though and
it is just beautiful. I go swimming every morning and the pool is
supposed to close on Labor Day and I will miss it!!!
I LOVE EACH ONE OF YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Grandma B
XXXXXOOOOO