Dearest Family,
"The weather outside is frightful" - it has
snowed all day and there has not been one bit of sunlight. I like this
kind of weather but I want SO much for it to be pretty while the "Roys"
are here!!! I'm SO anxious for them to come!!! The fact that it is
snowing lightly in the valleys means they are getting ALOT of snow in
the mountains and there will be good skiing if they want to go.
Margaret has had a LARGE table stored in my garage and I told her I
wanted it moved before the Roys came so they could put their car
inside. They just came and moved it. They have a HUGE storage building
very close so there really is no need to store things in my garage.
First of all, I want to apologize to David &
Mary Ann for giving the wrong name for their beautiful baby girl - it is
Anna Jean - not Emma Jean!!! I don't know why I wrote it that way
because I have known they were going to name her Anna, a name that I
just love. I'm thrilled they gave her the name of Jean too and I kinda'
hope they will use both names. I have always regretted that we didn't
name Ann - Lela Ann after my sister and Jean - Barbara Jean after me - I
know I could have talked Lynn into doing that. OH WELL!!!! I love the
name Ann Caroline too - or is it Caroline Ann. I can't keep up can
I?????
We had such a fun bridal luncheon yesterday
and we missed those who weren't with us. Susanna and Emily just live
too far away - I would love to have them closer but I remember those
days when I lived too far away and I had just as much fun as the members
of my family who were closer to the "Big family" so I don't feel sorry
for them. We missed Mary Ann too - it was just too close to when she
had her baby and we all understand!!! I want to write who was there:
Ann, Jessie, Lee Anna, Jean, Barji, Sarah, Claire, Laura, Katie,
Staci, Margo (Danny's Mom), Megan (Danny's sister), Emily (Danny's
sister in law), Marilyn (Danny's grandmother) and Maureen (Danny's other
grandmother). It was at the Oakridge Country Club and they did a GREAT
job in setting everything up and the decorations were beautiful and the
food was good. I worried they would have bright red poinsettias on the
table that would conflict with Sarah's "hot pink" colors but they had
just perfect gold and neutral Christmas balls with "fushia" napkins. I
was SO thrilled that Staci could be with us - she drove from Pocatello
on Friday night and that was good because we had a big snow storm
Saturday morning. She said that Michael was in Seattle taking a HUGE
test - I'm betting he is sick and tired of taking tests. I appreciated
Katie coming too because that was the day of Davis High's big Christmas
dance and she was excited about that.
Sarah's cousins, Jeannie, Annie, Claire and
I all went to Barji's home after the luncheon for a shower for Sarah and
to tie a quilt. Claire & Jeannie had set it up the night before so it
didn't take long to tie it and it is beautiful - I must find out how
Jeannie did it so it was all bound when we finished. Sarah and Danny
received so many very practical gifts and Sarah kept saying "we don't
have one of those" as she opened everything. I understand their
apartment is just perfect - it is in Bountiful. Barji's home is so
lovely and she is a very gracious hostess - we all loved seeing Boyd,
Preston & Gracie too. We had chocolate and cinnamon cakes with whipped
cream topping. I LOVED being with Jessie & Lee Anna - I'm not with them
very much - THEY LIVE SO FAR AWAY - HA!!!! Each time I look at Lee Anna
I want to call her Susanna - they look so much alike.
Last Sunday night I went to Bob & Claires'
stake Christmas program - they always put on a VERY special musical
program and I enjoyed it SO much. They didn't come over and Jeannie &
Rick didn't either but I believe they will come tonight. I don't feel
"connected" when they don't come.
John - Thank you SO much for your phone
calls. He is SO good to keep me up to date about where he is going and
I appreciate that SO much. He is going to San Francisco tomorrow and
then to Texas but he will be home on Wednesday night and he plans to
meet with the Roys on Friday in Highland. He keeps up with the "Lehi
things" too and told me Stan Lewis has put on a new gate at the farm - I
have wanted that done for a long time. I don't want the farm to look
shabby like noone is taking care of it.
Brett - this will be a Christmas you will
never forget. I can't imagine what it will be like where you are the
only American in the entire area and your companion probably has NEVER
known a Christmas like you have had. I remember how the children in the
schools where we taught in Thailand sang "Old McDonald Had a Farm" as
they danced around a makeshift Christmas tree - they didn't know any
Christmas songs. I surely hope you tell your parents about "Christmas
in Brazil" when you write to them. I also hope you have some Christmas
music you can play and teach them - you are doing a GREAT job!!!
It was fun to hear about Ron's new MTC
calling from Annie yesterday. They will practically live at the MTC for
the next four years and Annie said that is okay with her if they just
don't have to feed the missionaries - Ha!!!! She has been feeding them
for the last three years so I don't blame her. She said their schedule
is to be at the MTC all day on Sundays and then Tuesday and Wednesday
nights and some Friday nights. They will LOVE it and the missionaries
will love them!!!
I went to the "Empty Nesters" Christmas
party last week and we were entertained by the "Sunshine Generation".
This group is comprised of children from about 3 to 6 and they were SO
cute - they were all dressed up and sang Christmas songs. It was a
potluck dinner and there were only about ten of us there but we were
glad we went.
Susanna and Steve - your Christmas card is
SO darling. I'm wondering if you are going to Florida during the
holidays. Jessie and Jared - your Christmas card is SO darling too. I
had just put out the little holders I have for my Christmas cards when
yours came and I LOVE IT!!!!
It is SO beautiful to look out the window
and see the snow falling. The weather people say we won't have snow for
Christmas Eve so this will have to last for a few days.
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