Dearest Family,
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANNIE AND TO STACI
ON SATURDAY!!! I hope you both have VERY, VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!!!! I
can't believe how old Annie is - she was born in 1948 so you can figure
it out!!! She looks like she is in her thirties so I know she won't
care if you know - I will always think of her as being VERY young.
Staci is VERY young and has accomplished SO much - a college degree, a
wonderful business career and soon she will be a Mother. It's WONDERFUL
for you to set high righteous goals and then achieve them as best as you
can.
I had a VERY, VERY SPECIAL THANKSGIVING and
I hope you all did too. I don't believe I will EVER forget this
Thanksgiving. I appreciate all your thoughtfulness in sending cards and
good wishes. I was THRILLED to have John call me and say he wanted to
"fry" a turkey - I had heard about frying turkeys but had never done it
or even tasted one that was cooked that way. He came to my condo on
Thanksgiving day about noon with his turkey fryer and ALL THE
TRIMMINGS!!! He had bought his fryer at Cobelas and unpacked it on my
backyard lawn and it looked MIGHTY complicated but he assembled it
quickly. He also bought a big box of condiments - special seasonings &
sauces and all kinds of salts and spices. He studied the directions
very carefully and I was happy about that - I had watched television
that morning and all the programs were on frying turkeys and the risks
involved so I had my fire extinguisher ready - Ha!!!
I was a little worried about the success of
the turkey so I bought a ham!!! John was also worried so he bought two
ducks and a chicken!!! As it turned out we had two ducks, a chicken and
a turkey and they were all absolutely delicious!!! I WANT TO DO IT
AGAIN!!! We ate every bit of the ducks - John had brought a special
orange duck sauce and I believe they were even better than the Arkansas
ducks. Jeannie, Rick, Ricky, Sarah, Danny & John were with me for
dinner. I had fixed "the usual" yams, potatoes, salads, etc. but I was
SO disappointed in my "faithful" cranberry salad - it didn't "set up"
and I have finally figured out what I did wrong. I used low fat cool
whip instead of whipping cream - I won't do that again. It was too
liquid so I kept adding marshmallows and it ended up being a pink
marmallow salad. I also won't buy those HUGE baking potatoes again -
they didn't get done and they were a mess. Annie - I used your dressing
recipe and it turned out good and we all laughed about the time you used
the sage from West Canyon.
We played "dominoes" after dinner and you
all know how much I love playing games - it was fun!!! THEN, Bob and
Claire came over and we had a good visit, THEN Mary Ann & David came
over and I LOVED IT!!!! Mary Ann has been told by her doctor that their
baby could be born VERY soon - like maybe this next week. That will be
SO exciting for all of us and a BIG relief for Mary Ann - she looks like
she is about ready to POP!!! I was THRILLED to receive the pictures
that John sent to everyone - I wish I had taken more. Jeannie took ALOT
too!!!
Claire - THANKS SO MUCH for the video of the
Guatemala trip. I have watched it twice and it is long but SO good and
it makes me SO VERY HAPPY to see all of you together. I love to see the
pictures of Ron on the roofs of buildings "fixing things" and all of you
doing "your jobs". I believe the pictures of people standing in line to
get in to see the doctors tells the whole story and how worthwhile it
is. I want Bob to explain alot of the things to me when he comes over -
what did they do with that large lump on the back of a man's head, why
were the pigs "tethered" to a pole like they do little riding
horses, etc. I also love seeing the pictures of Jimmy with the
Quatemala missionaries and the fireside that was held.
Emily & Jesse - THANKS SO MUCH for your
cards. I am SO excited to have you come spend time with me. Our
weather has REALLY turned cold and snowy so I'm sure you will be able to
find some skiing if you want to. It snowed ALOT yesterday - I went to
help at the Kaysville Nativity Program yesterday afternoon and when I
came out of the tabernacle my car was completely covered with snow.
There was a "WRITING CONTEST" here in Utah
for young writers to express in poem or story their memories of
experiences that had meant alot to them. As I read the winner's entries
I couldn't help but think that Jessie's poem to Papa would have won
first prize if it had been entered. I just cherish that poem Jessie. I
also cherish the story Emily has written about my sister and her
struggles with leukemia. Mary Ann is another one who is talented in
writing poems and I'm proud of all of you.
I went to another shower for Sarah yesterday
afternoon. This one was held at the home of Danny's Mother and it was
VERY, VERY nice!!! Danny has MANY Aunts, Uncles, neices, nephews,
cousins, grandparents, etc., etc. and I REALLY appreciate the
opportunity to become a little acquainted with them. I couldn't stay
very long because I had to go to Kaysville for the nativity thing but
Jeannie said Sarah received some lovely things. Sarah will belong to a
WONDERFUL and VERY large family.
Ann Cobb and I went to Salt Lake on Tuesday
to meet Dianne & Garry Power at their townhouse in Cottonwood. They
REALLY have a beautiful home and Dianne is such a talented decorator
that it is especially beautiful. We had fun visiting and looking at the
picture albums of Jannie's (one of the Power twin daughters) wedding -
it was elaborate. THEN we went to lunch at the "Loco Lizard" - a
Mexican restaurant close by their home. Jannie & Jamie both live in
Provo while their husbands attend BYU and their son Brick and his wife
and children live in Alpine so Dianne & Garry come to Utah quite often.
Roy - they wanted me to be sure to tell you "hello".
Brett - your Mom and Dad say you are doing
just GREAT and that is WONDERFUL. I hope you will tell all of us what
you did on Thanksgiving - I'm thinking some Americans invited you to a
turkey dinner - is that right? We went to an American's home in Thailand
when I was there for Thanksgiving and they had to find their turkey in
the Phillipines or somewhere because they didn't have any in Thailand.
I hope you had a good dinner no matter what it was!!!
I'll be happy to hear some news about the
Reeves family from the Woolleys when they return from Arizona. I
believe they are coming home today - it's a long trip on the "Black
Canyon Highway". We used to put all of you when you were children
asleep in the back seat of our car at night and then drive all night and
get in Utah the next morning - you were refreshed and full of vim and
vigor and Lynn & I were exhausted - Ha!!!! I know Susanna, Steve,
Jackson and Caroline have LOVED having all of you with them and I know
you have enjoyed being there - beautiful Summer weather!!! I know Lee
Anna & Chris have had a good time in California too with Chris' family.
Jessie and Jared - did you stay in Salt Lake???? I'll bet you found a
place to ski. The Weinert family went skiing on Thanksgiving morning
but I have forgotten where they went. Bob went bicycle riding to Snow
Basin - he said it was beautiful there!!!
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