Dearest Family,
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BOB TODAY!!!! It
is a change for him to not celebrate his birthday in Guatemala BUT I
know he is happy to be home to celebrate it. He is "39 Something" and
he surely does deserve a WONDERFUL birthday - Claire has invited me to
come over for a little family birthday dinner this evening and I'm
looking forward to wishing him a Happy Birthday in person.
The big news for this letter is that
everyone had a good time in Guatemala and is now home safe and sound. I
have worried about this trip and I don't know why. There is SO much
turmoil in the world and very dangerous things are happening in strange
places - do I sound like Aunt Marvel? - Ha!!!! The letter Bob sent from
Guatemala told about some illnesses they were experiencing but it didn't
sound like it interferred with their work. I can't tell you how VERY
happy I am about your diligence in helping the poor people in the
villages in Guatemala and I'm anxious to hear more about it - I'M SO
PROUD OF ALL OF YOU!!!
Roy - I was THRILLED to have your message on
my answering machine when I came home from church this morning - my
church services are from 8:30 'til noon so I missed your call. There is
NOTHING I would like more than to have your family come visit me the
week before Christmas (or anytime). I don't have anything planned so
that will be just perfect. I can't even remember when Patrice was here
last - it has been a LONG time!!! Christmas time is such a special,
special time with LOTS going on and maybe there will be snow!!! There
will be alot of excitement with Danny & Sarahs' wedding plans too. I
wish you could stay for their wedding reception. Roy said he had a good
time in Guatemala - I wish I had been home to talk to him.
I had another VERY interesting "Internet
Experience" this week!!! I don't know how many of you remember my
brother Dee. Dee and Don were my twin brothers and Dee died about 6-7
years ago. Dee & Judy had 8 children and I haven't heard from any of
them for a long time - I used to hear from their daughter Janele when
she lived in Spanish Fork but I haven't even heard from her for several
years. Cheryl hears from some of them but I don't. WELL - last Tuesday
I received an e-mail from their youngest son, Drake and would you
believe he had found my website on the internet. He starts out his
letter in this way - "I just wanted to say THANK YOU for setting up this
sight. I'm not sure if you remember me or know who I am - so here I go.
I am Dee's baby. Okay, well, his youngest son, Drake Layne Forrest. I
was actually looking online for military information regarding my
father's brother. I am making a shadow box for Judy with all of Dad's
awards, Tracy's (another son) and my military awards. I decided to then
look for information on both Grandpa & Uncle Bob in order to make myself
a military case representing all of our military careers. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU for setting up this site". I WAS THRILLED and I
want John to know what a GREAT service he did for me and my family when
he set up this website.
Drake went on to tell about his life. He
has been in the service for 13 years and spent one year in Iraq. When
he came home his wife asked for a divorce and he said he still doesn't
know why - they didn't have any children. He is now living in
Arlington, Virginia and works for the National Guard Bureau and he likes
his work but is trying to connect with relatives to discover more about
"who he is". I told him that I was surprised that he could get on the
website because I thought it was protected - he told me he could only
get part of it because he didn't know the password. If you are
interested in knowing what he found just go to "Google" and type in
Robert Wilson Forrest - I was SO happy to do that and find quite a few
pictures of my brother Dee along with their family picture. Every day I
realize what a WONDERFUL thing the internet has been in my life and it
is difficult for me to understand why many of my friends don't want
anything to do with it.
I am SO happy to have all the information
about the program for my brother Bob's Memorial in Australia. My son
Bob helped me get all the pictures Peter Murray has sent printed and I
took them along with Peter's letters to Kinkos yesterday and had them
copied so I could send them to Drake. I'm grateful to have those in my
"picture project" too because that is important genealogy for my
family. I talked to Cheryl yesterday and she had taken Don to the
hospital for eye surgery and then he recuperated at their home - he had
the same thing I did with my eye lashes growing towards my pupils and
that is painful. We have some of the same ailments and I'm just hoping
I don't get Parkinson's disease.
Claire has worked tirelessly in helping me
with my "picture project" and I appreciate that SO much. I had to have
my hearing aid repaired so I went to the Tanner Clinic one day last week
and found myself in Bob's office. They have remodeled since I have been
there and the audiology department used to be separate from his office.
He REALLY has a nice office and patients' rooms. When I introduced
myself to the receptionist she said "Oh, I understand you do alot of
picture scanning". The first thing I thought of was that Bob had told
his office staff that Claire spends most of her time helping me with my
pictures - Ha!!! I believe Claire has just about "wound up" the picture
project and I know she and John are both relieved it has been
completed. I may add some more later on but as far as I'm concerned IT
IS DONE!!!!
I am LOVING my digital camera and Claire
came over one day last week to teach me some more things. She REALLY
worked hard at it but she could see she had a very dense student so she
finally said "just call me when you want to send a picture on the
internet or "burn" your pictures so you can have them printed". It is a
VERY complicated process and I'm proud that Jeannie has learned how to
do that.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I received a
wedding announcement from Shirley & Glens' daughter Christine Price.
She sent it to me for our family instead of sending each one of you
individual announcements and I can understand that. Christine & Paul
Price's son, Rex Pinegar Price is marrying Shalee Nicole Davis (and
Evans) on November 26th in the Salt Lake Temple. The reception will be
at the Jordan River Stake Center, 2150 No. Point Meadow Dr., Lehi, Utah
84043 on FRIDAY THE 25TH. The ring ceremony will be at 6:30 and the
reception 7:00 until 9:00 P.M. They are registered at Target, Pottery
Barn and Bed, Bath & Beyond. They also sent a picture of the couple
being married and I will save it for you to see if you want it - very
cute. Their home address is: Paul & Chris Price, 617 Barranca Court -
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762.
Brett - I went to the Davis High musical
"Les Miserables" on Friday night and it was outstanding. The Davis High
Orchestra played for all of it and I was impressed because the music was
very difficult. I'm going to send you the program for it because I'm
betting you will know some of the performers. That's the first time I
have seen the new auditorium and it is VERY large and VERY nice. I
thought about you and the many times I have been to functions there
where you have performed with the orchestra. It was just packed and
will be on next week too. My neighbors have a young daughter who played
the part of the young Cosette and she was SO good!!!
I went to the Roger's Theatre on Thursday
night to see "Broadway After Dark" and it was excellent. There is ALOT
of musical talent in this area. I played bridge with Ellen Mae & Mels'
bridge club last night - Ellen Mae PLEADED with me to substitute so I
did but I don't play often enough to do very well. They have some fun
friends and I had a good time. I went to Willard to have my hair cut
and spent the morning with Helen Jane - she had the CUTEST thing on her
living room wall. You all remember the "Christmas chains" we used to
make to decorate our Christmas trees. She had sent colored paper strips
to each of her grandchildren and children and told them to write what
they were most thankful for on them - she then made them into the chain
and decorated her wall with it so they can see it when they go to her
home for Thanksgiving. She has a BIG family so it was a BIG chain.
Mary Ann - Thank you SO much for coming to
my condo with Preston & Gracie on Wednesday morning. We all walked to
the park that is close by me and we had such a good time - actually
Preston rode his "scooter". Mary Ann is going to be a WONDERFUL Mother
- she is SO good with Barji & Boyds' children and they love her. That
little Gracie wanted to play in the "wood chips" under the playground
equipment and she got her socks all dirty!!!
Sarah & Danny - Thank you SO much for your
visit. It's fun to become better acquainted with Danny and I hope they
will come often - THIS IS A VERY BUSY TIME FOR THEM. Sarah gave me a
tentative date for her "cousins's bridal luncheon" - December 17th -
will that work for all of you? Let me know.
Jessie - Thank you SO much for your visit
yesterday. Lee Anna is teaching third grade in Provo and she wanted to
borrow some "Native American" things I had saved from our Montana
Mission to show her students. I found the box I had stored them in
seven years ago - I hope they are still useable. Jessie is doing good -
she said the semester has gone much too fast for her - she's teaching
English at the University of Utah.
That's all the news - I think. I LOVE EACH
ONE OF YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN
EVERYTHING YOU DO. Grandma B XXXXX00000