Dear Karren and Jim,                                                               7-29-05
 
         Hi. I’ve been going to write for a while, but just keep busy with other things. I apologize I know you called 4th of July weekend and I just did not respond with a call or ANYTHING. Oops.
 
         Anyway, we are caught up at work again so thought I would get something together this morning. We were in Greer for reunion on 4th weekend. We left Friday and came home Tuesday. Actually, that is not entirely accurate as we had people coming and going every day. Rebecca was there only 1 day and Emily only 2. The twins, Jessie and I were the only ones at camp all weekend. It was great- cool and quiet and peaceful. The only bad part was no rain this year. Darn. This was the smallest reunion in several years, with only my sisters and I from out family. Our brother, Darrel, came in on Monday afternoon and got to stay the rest of the week. Wally’s family was there, but not Wally. All my girls were able to be there, but not boys. They both had to work, also Casey was working and April at her family reunion.
 
         Thomas is enjoying his job at the port of entry. Is working midnight – 8 right now and tells me anything is better than working days and having to get up early. He is NOT a morning person. He and April are expecting a baby in early February. She is very high risk, but doing well now. She just went for her first check-up on Rachel and Julie’s birthday. Don’t know if you’ve heard that Mysilvia has been accepted at the ASU Business School. She is really excited about that. She had your white tiger quilt on when I was there 2 weeks ago.
 
         Rebecca has not been feeling real well. I think mostly headaches very often. She is also pretty disgusted with owners at work. They have promised trying to find a head chef with no action. At this point, it looks as though they have found a house for her. She may be moving out there within the next month.
 
         Brad and Casey are doing okay. Casey has been promoted to deli manager at Safeway. She had already been doing a lot of the work, now just gets paid for all the work.
 
         Amy and Blaine doing ok. Amy finished working for Rebecca this week and went back to Gurreos where she was before – she says something is different and it is not as fun as before. There are new personnel and maybe that is it. She is still wanting to find something with insurance.
 
         Emily is cleaning and packing – trying to get everything ready for school. NAU starts the 29th. She is working until the 21st. Found out when we went to register that for her hotel restaurant mgmt degree she has to have 800 hours of experience after high school, so all of her work hour this summer will help college. That was exciting. She is going in with 24 hours complete, so has a start. A couple of her classes are sophomore level.
 
          Rachel and Julie are registered for school. They start August 9th. They do have 2 classes together and are ok with that. I am beginning to feel old with me babies in high school. That feels older than being a grandma.
 
         I am just plugging. Have been released from teaching S.S. and am now the Mia Maid adviser. It should be interesting. Have 7 girls including Rachel and Julie. Last Friday we had a hazardous substance scare as the county – just at time to go. They ended up making 54 of us stay. We were there until 7:30. Found out that we would be getting paid overtime. Thank goodness for small blessings. On Saturday I fell and bruised both arms and look like I’m a victim of abuse If it was winter I would just wear long sleeves.
 
         We had pioneer church Sunday. Electricity was off so we met under the new Ramada at the school. Only had Sacrament meeting.
 

7-30-05
 
         Well, maybe I can finish tonight and get this in the mail. This past Friday and Saturday was Stake Youth Conference, They asked me to fix dinner for 70 people – out doors. I made gravy and peach cobbler at home, then Amy, Blaine and I made dutch oven bisquits. Turned out good, but thank goodness it is over.
 
         On Saturday I had been asked to teach a quilt block making class. That was fairly successful and we had fun. It was a Relief Society super Saturday with luncheon, etc.  I am really glad all the above mentioned things are over and done. Maybe I can get back into my rut. We are going school shopping tomorrow. It’s hard to believe that summer is over – for all intents and purposes anyway.
 
         Went to Phoenix to my respiratory doctor on July 18th. He had taken me off meds to see how I’d do. Was coughing my head off and wheezing when I went down. So... he has put me back on advan and had to get me a week of predenoze to get me straightened out. I go back again on August 15th. Still coughing some, but doing better.
 
         Well, I need to go to bed, so best hush. Just wanted to keep in touch. We love you,
         Susan, Mark and girls
 
Post Script:
         April had a miscarriage.