Dearest Family,
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SUSANNA TOMORROW,
OCT. 24TH AND TO ROY AND PATRICE ON TUESDAY, OCT. 25TH.!!!!
Susanna will be 27 years old tomorrow - she
is the BEAUTIFUL mother of two BEAUTIFUL children and has such a happy
and successful life!!! (Steve is BEAUTIFUL too).
Roy & Patrice are "thirty something" and
they also are the parents of three BEAUTIFUL children and have very
happy and successful lives.
Timothy - I hope you are having a HAPPY
BIRTHDAY today. I hope you received my birthday card. I had the Post
Office track the little package I sent to you, your parents and Jesse
and they reported they tried to deliver it and since noone was home they
had to take it back to the Post Office.
An artist and talented writer couldn't
describe our weather adequately - it is absoultely gorgeous here in
Utah. I have never seen such bright golden trees and bright blue
skies. I am sad when I see pictures of the devastation in Mexico and
other places that were hit by the hurricane Wilma. I have never been to
Cancun but many of my friends have been going there for vacations each
year and it has REALLY been damaged by floods, winds, etc. I remember
when Annie took her children there shortly after Lynn passed away and
asked me to go with them - I didn't go. Ron had unexpected business
plans and couldn't go with them - he joined them later.
I talked to Chris & Wayne recently and I was
surprised when they told me their home in Gulf Shores had escaped much
damage when Katrina and Rita (hurricanes) struck that part of the
country a couple weeks ago. Wayne has been down there to go fishing
with his "buddies" and Chris went along to read - they stayed in a
mobile home belonging to one of their friends and plan to go back
often. Chris told me she was going to leave Texas next Summer in May
and not go back until September - I don't know what that means. She
said their lawn was completely dead and the lake by their new home was
practically dry because of their drought. Their granddaughter, Jennifer
(Linda & Kens' daughter), is going to move to Salt Lake next week to
start a new job. That will bring Linda & Chris to Utah often I think.
Lee Anna - thank you SO much for your sweet
notes. I can just imagine how busy you have been writing thank you
notes and trying to keep up with your school work - they're a pain!!!!
I remember Annie telling me that both you and Chris had to attend some
school classes the morning of your wedding - I can't believe that but it
shows how diligent you are in finishing your classes for your degree and
I'm proud of you.
I thought about Lee Anna, Chris and their
parents last night as they attended the wedding open house in
Pleasanton, California. I hope they will write and tell us all about
it. It is such a nice thing for Chris' parents to do so the Woolleys can
become acquainted with the Marlais' friends. Chris' parents and
siblings were SO patient and gracious to become acquainted with the
Woolleys' friends in Provo. Things will "settle down" now and they will
all have WONDERFUL memories of the wedding activities that will last a
lifetime.
John - Thank you SO much for your phone
call. I appreciate SO VERY MUCH when you "keep up with me"!!! I
decided to send copies of the wedding photos that I have to Dorothy &
Dan in Little Rock and I received an immediate response. I haven't been
in touch with them for quite a long time - they were upset with me
because the last time I went to Little Rock I didn't call them. I ran
into Charlotte Gadberry and she told them she had seen me - Ha!!!!
ANYWAY - Dorothy wrote back and said "John is SO handsome". I agree.
I'll forward her letter to you. Their family is doing good and Terry
has bought a home in Tennessee - they will go there for Thanksgiving.
Brett & Jimmy - I REALLY enjoy the letters
your parents share with all of us. We had a missionary report on his
mission in our ward this morning. He served in Tucson and Alamagordo,
New Mexico (sp.?) and he loved his mission. He told many interesting
stories. I hope SO much that you are having GREAT experiences and that
you will write down the interesting parts so you can report on them
sometime. The missionary who spoke this morning has a WONDERFUL family
and the chapel was full - even at 8:30 a.m. It's interesting for me to
contrast the difference in the missions of those serving in the States
and those in foreign countries like Brazil. I'm just glad you haven't
been in the areas that have been devastated by the hurricanes.
Susanna - Thank you SO much for your
messages. They were expecting Steve's family to be with them this
weekend. I am wondering if the hurricane heading for Florida might
change their plans. WHAT A WORRY!!!
I went to my monthly D.U.P. meeting on
Wednesday and it was held in the home of a sister who grew up in that
same home and she is close to my age. It belonged to either her or her
husband's family - I'm not sure. It is on the "old" road here in
Farmington and I just love it. She served blackberry pie from berries
grown in her yard and also fresh plums instead of the candy we all
served. As I was leaving her home I saw several buckets of plums so I
"helped myself" and put some in my purse - Ha!!! Most of the members in
my D.U.P. camp are related to each other - it's funny but it's true.
One of my friends here in the condo village
invited me to go to a concert at the conference center last night. The
tickets to these concerts are free but they are limited to the first
22,000 who apply for them on the internet. The concert last night was
sponsored by the O.C. Tanner company and it was just BEAUTIFUL - "A
Celtic Celebration". The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Utah Symphony
Orchestra made up the background for other special performers. The CEO
of the O.C. Tanner Company is Carolyn Tanner Irish and she is the head
of the Episcopalian church here in Utah. The Tenor who performed wore
his Catholic Cross around his neck and the family group was also
Catholic I think. The man who gave the prayer is Methodist. So
refreshing to see the GREAT tolerance we should all have.
I'm sure Patrice and her family are probably
familiar with the Irish Tenor, Ronan Tynan. It was hard to hold back
the tears as he sang "God Bless America" - he has a powerful voice and
is such a humble man. The booklet given to us at the door told his
story: he had to have his legs amputated below the knees after an
accident but that didn't slow him down; he went on to get his medical
degree in orthopedic sports injuries and he has also won many musical
awards. He sang at President Reagan's funeral and many of the 9/11
benefits.
The "Leahy Clan" also performed and they
were equally wonderful. There are 11 siblings and each one is talented
as a fiddle player and tap dancer - one of the girls plays the piano. I
LOVE fiddle playing and last night we saw some of the best - I saw
fiddle players for three nights when I was in Colorado Springs and they
were VERY good too. They have Irish and Canadian roots and live
in Canada.
The Wasatch & District Pipe Band also
performed - they are from the Bountiful area. I normally don't enjoy
bagpipe music but last night they were combined with the Utah Symphony
Orchestra and it was REALLY beautiful and the performers are all young.
All the performers were overwhelmed by the
response from the audience in the conference center. Can you imagine
what it would be like to have 22,000 people give you a standing
ovation??? I have never heard the picolo player in the Utah Symphony
Orchestra perform a solo and it was especially good.
That's probably much more news than any of
you wanted to read - Ha!!!
I LOVE EACH ONE OF YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Grandma B
XXXXXOOOOO