Dear Kids,

Conference is coming up.  Saturday night, April 2, we’ll have our traditional bread and soup dinner here at our house, and then the women can watch the women’s session of conference.  Heather pointed out that everybody could benefit from it, so of course we won’t shut out any of the guys.  Or little boys.  Anyway, that event is coming up fast.

And then Easter is coming up quickly, too.  It’s in five weeks.  Nora has volunteered to have the Easter picnic at her house, and at the park across the street.  It’s such a great place to have the Easter egg hunt.  Oh, yes, that will be on Saturday, April 16, probably around 2 or 3 in the afternoon.  Donna and Bevan will be in Boston, for the marathon, and their kids will be at Nora’s house, so the center of gravity will already be there.  We ought to have plenty of excitement.

Miscellaneous news:  Sharon finished her practicum, which was twelve night shifts at a hospital (I forget which one.)  She’s very relieved to have that over with, especially since she had to juggle it with her school work.  Now she’s applying for jobs.  She’s sending her applications to three smaller hospitals that are fairly close to her house, and my guess is that she’ll get offers from all three.  More news:  Stuart is into wrestling, and he had his first pin.  Nora said his opponent was a small stocky guy who weighed about the same, but Stuart’s “spaghetti” arms and legs wrapped right around him and pinned him.  Way to go, Stu!  Still more news:  Del has officially and legally changed her name from Ellie to Delta Ann Ackerson.  I asked Allen if that costs a lot, and he said Yep.  She wanted to get it done before her 18th birthday, and Al paid for it as a birthday present.  She’s gone by Del for at least three years now, so I guess she knows her own mind.  I still remember when we changed Al’s name from Allan to Allen.  My Grandpa Allen, the cop, had some influence in that.

It’s still cold here.  Nighttime temperatures have been down in the single digits, down to 2 degrees one of the nights last week.  But we’re supposed to have snow this afternoon, and then things will warm up.  Into the 30's.  We’re starved for spring, but it will be a while yet.  Scout tries every chance to get in, but we pet him and then toss him back out.  Sonia says she’ll sleep on Dad’s chair all day every day until she sees green grass outside.  She misses the grasshoppers and bugs she loves to hunt. 

I start more chemo tomorrow.  It’s all good.

Love, Mom