October 1997

October 15, 1997

 Dear Family,

I have found it! The smallest bathroom in the entire world! Considering I have not traveled the entire world nevertheless I feel confident that there can not be a smaller, for a smaller could not be called a bathroom (or actually a toilet room) as it would not be possible to fit the toilet in the room. (My computer informs me that I can not spell toilet!) It is to be found in Scipio, Utah. I inform you thus so that you may stop if you are ever passing through and view it as a curiosity, or if very necessary use it, tho' my recommendation would be for you to be sure your sensitivities were more carefully guarded and use some other facility previous to this point, for if you sit in this particular "room" your knees are under the sink, and if a man were to make an effort to stand his bottom would be exposed to stone. Mothers with children would be well advised to avoid it all together for it would be impossible for them to in anyway assist their little ones and there little ones would see it as an enchanting place, similar to a washer or dryer box and the parent would be hard pressed to draw them away!

How is everyone. Hopefully you are all well. Brent lites the fire under me to do this so if you enjoy this letter at all, you must thank Brent!

I guess most of you have heard about Grandpa recent bout that scared us to death again. We were going to go to Fishlake (thus said bathroom), and the nite before he had Grandma call Monte and tell him that he was not feeling well. Ralph took him over to the hospital for some blood tests and when the hospital got the results they were not good so called Monte right away. So Monte called G. and told her to increase his medicine for the diabetes and to watch the kidneys because they were also very bad, but to go ahead and go because there was not much we could do. He was not well down there and we all worried much. On Tues. morning (all but they and Kent and Sharon left Monday) he "collapsed". Kent had to lift him up and they dressed him and he was very bad, so they packed up the trailers and headed home and then Kent and Sharon took them back down to Monte and they put him in the hospital. He made another miraculous recovery and on the "deer hunt" he did very well. He is up and about. Grandma drove the trailer out to Fishlake. She is an amazing woman, and you can all be proud of her. They are both suffering from the arthritis, and have difficulty in the cold especially, so I hate to see winter come for that reason, but I will not be sorry to stop mowing the lawn! Grandma has a new dryer. Gone is the one that Grandpa fixed with the steel bar to keep it closed. I can't believe it. Totally wasteful. They also bought a new car! Down in Richfield, when we were at Fishlake. Sharon found it. Sharon just likes to change cars. Anyway it is a beautiful car. Forest green, '96 Lincoln Town car with tan leather interior. The trunk only goes down part way when you close it and then sucks itself in the rest of the way. To avoid loud noises I assume. Anyway, everyone wants to drive them anywhere. Grandma is afraid of it tho' because she hasn't had time to read the instruction manual yet.

Kent and Sharon: Alison has been up here to help plan. It's her party nature coming out. She could not Stand to Miss the action. She took Cheryl's boys home with her till the wedding! Arrrg! Proof! She is Crazy! On the other hand Cheryl shows an uncommon amount of sanity. Kirt spent the summer with the Salt Lake Acting Company and he has the lead (Jimmy Stewart role) in Desert Star's Christmas production of "It's a Wonderful Life". He has been asked to head up a Park City Acting group, forgot which one for next summer and he is working too. I am glad on of all of us with acting talent is actually doing something that actually resembles acting. He is really doing well. Heath is teaching Seminary in Parowan and Cathy is now the Personnel manager at Wal-Mart. Cool! Heath doesn't find out if he makes permanent until March. So everyone pray, because the competition is VERY tough. Add him to your prayers. Still he is doing really good. Builds Liahonas, hill Cumorahs, other stuff. Good for him. Brent is in the Bishopric and the other day stood up to sustain a woman to the nursery, which gave her two jobs, so he cautioned the people not to feed their kids to much sugar before they come to church. There was another part to the story but even Sharon can't remember it! Honestly! Brent also made the Law Review! Very good! Andrea is getting married to a good kid. I was impressed with him at Fishlake. Sociable, helpful, good at work and play, what more can you ask? I am thankful for the in-laws too. They are going to live with Kent and Sharon for a while. Jarom got a job with IHC and he is going to school in January, so is Kirt.

Wayne and RaNae: Wayne has been substitute teaching in the Jordan School district this year. He is doing very well and likes the work but is discouraged about the quality of life for very many of these young people. He says he has already seen things that would simply break your heart. As RaNae was dropping Wayne off at the West Jordan Middle school she watched a little girl get hit by a car. She got out and helped until the paramedics got there. She doesn't think she was hurt to bad, thank goodness. Amy and Scott are doing ok, both working and living with Scott's mom. Joshua is engaged! And he said he'd never marry. Chad is still doing very well in school, on the honor roll, and working and in the school play! Burning the candle at both ends. RaNae says that Natalie is doing really well at school and just eats it up. All of the kids are in public school this year. Camille has just gotten a raise and is a manage-in-training at Mac Frugals. So she is really happy, plus she enjoys the work. I just got a permanent, and boy does it stink!

Brenda and Gary: Brenda teaching still of course, Gary continues to work too, and that's their life! No, really there must be something going on. (But mostly unless someone is born or dies life is work! You get 1 week off for birth and 2 days for death and that's it.) The big news is Chris and Allyson going to Russia for 2 years. They left yesterday. Chris is doing carpenter work in the Embassy and Allyson has a job too, also in the Embassy I think. Brad spent the summer fighting fires in Central Utah. He stayed with Holly and Lee in their new house. They live in Meadow. A wonderful little town and really love it. Of course brainy Lee is doing well at his work. It is nice to marry someone who is finished with their school! Holly is visiting teaching a lady that used to live in our ward that I visit taught! Is the world small or what? Brad is back in school in Logan and Neal is going to the community college and anxiously waiting for his mission

quarters she will be doing that. Mark is doing well. They have had about 6-8 baptisms

that is not bad. He says it takes a long time to get through the discussions because of broken appointments. Mostly they don't even think in terms of keeping the apt. When you set it they just mean you can stop by if you want, and if they are there, great! He has been out 7 months. Nothing can be said about Michael except that it is his birthday next

week and even tho' he is going to be 17 he is still keeping our insurance rates sky high!.

call. Jennifer and Randy and Madison are fine. That Madison is a doll, but she will not let me hold her or talk to me! How dare she!

Diana and Ralph: We're ok. We went out to Fishlake and also over UEA out to the Gorge We did not drive to clay basin once! We did shoot and the second day we did it

started to snow big wet, cold flakes. It is really coming down. Anne is pulling for 4 of the men. The women had all quit. Anne was getting pretty cold so she called that she was going to pull 2 more times. Michael calls pull! Then Paul calls pull! Then Lynn calls pull! Lynn calls Pull! He turns around. Anne is gone and you should have seen the blank look on the faces of those men. It was pretty funny. So we quit. We had a treasure hunt of course, in the cold and snow. It was a story this year about the rock monster named George. Anne couldn't come out until Thursday so Sara hooked a ride to " Logan with Allyson and stayed with Anne and they drove out Thursday nite. Which reminds me to tell you a funny story about Chris. I guess he left their car in some place that was not appropriate and it got towed. So the next day he goes in to get it. I guess he was kinda upset and a bit out of sorts and so the conversation goes like this:

"You've got my car, and I want it."

Young receptionist, with blank look, "Sir, I don't have your car."

“You have my car and I want it now."

"Sir, we don't have your car, I promise"

"You've got it and I want it!"

"What does it look like?"

"It's a brown (something) truck, and you towed it yesterday!"

"Oh, you want Checker towing! That's next door!"

Grandma says she can't believe that Chris would ever get angry or anxious, but she thinks none of us have ever told a fib, either.

Anne is back in school and she is doing her special ed endorsement. The next three

We all ought to get bicycles. Sara is doing great in school and getting so she can tell a funny story just like Holly. We don't know when the store is going to shut down. Kent tells us soon, but so far no work is started. We are thankful to have had the summer.

Lynn and Gail: Gail's family just celebrated their parents 50th anniversary. Nice party. Lori is living at home with Adam, who has really begun to talk. He is a cute little boy. Amanda is going to have that baby any day now. We are pretty sure it is a girl because both Grandpa and Ralph say it will be and they have a 100% prediction record with their own children. However, it is important to note that they had nothing to do with the conception here, where in their own cases they did. Greg has been being tended at our house lately (Amanda has been working for us.), and it has been so fun to see someone playing in the sand box again. I sent Michael to buy a mighty dump so he would have a truck. He is pretty cute out there. I got him a little garden shovel and showed him how to fill the truck and dump it. He got it, fast! Jake is working at Heritage Tractor (Swain's) and waiting for the baby to be born. Kay got a full time job working at a title company and bought herself an escort (the sport model) brand new and clean! Kay is working for a bridal place and likes it. Paul is in Madrigals and Concert Choir and doing really well and finally sent his eagle papers in, when's his birthday? Any day now. Not much else in Lynn's family.

My hand is aching badly enough that I think I shall not write any more, besides the letter is too dang long!. Thank goodness we have family though.

A really important note for those living anywhere close or who might be coming in for the Holidays. We are going to discontinue , or maybe we are letting people choose, can't remember for sure, the Christmas eve party. Seems to much stress. However, we are going to continue to try to get together during the holidays. It is my year this year and I have procured my church building on the Saturday previous to Christmas. That is the 20th of December and will start at 6:00 with dinner. We are going to do some really fun games and one other thing I don't want to reveal to early. I am hoping that it will be very fun, and that many of you will be able to be here to join with us. I am hoping that a Saturday nite will allow more of you to make the journey. Families at home should take note too.

All my love,

Diana