Dear Kids,

It’s Super Sunday!  We’re meeting at 4 pm at Nora’s house, even though Allen is in charge.  Bring whatever you want!  Don’t worry if  it’s crazy.  The food you bring is always delicious!

Bentley has his travel plans!  Who could believe his mission would be over so fast?  He’ll be arriving home July 20, but he won’t be speaking in church until August 14, because of family reunions and fast Sunday.  I’m sure we’re all excited to see him again, and hear all he has to say.  He certainly won’t say it all in church–he’ll be talking about his mission for the rest of his life, just like the rest of us have been doing.

Donna and Anna went to camp last week, and Donna was the official camp cook.  She had 21 girls to feed, as well as leaders.  She says it was hard but fun.  They were at the Heber Valley camp, so they weren’t too far from home, but camp is camp.  I’m glad they both had a good time.

I got Flat Stanley from the library and read it in less than an hour.  I really liked it.  We’ll be talking about it at book club on July 10, here at our house.  Emma will lead the discussion.   Be there or be square!  There are lots of copies of the book at all the libraries. 

And the Allen reunion is a week from Saturday.  I put all the information in my last letter, and I’ll include it again next week.  It’s always fun to see all our far-flung cousins.  Laurie has a great yard, and there will be plenty to do. 

I’ve been trying to get rid of the ground squirrels at the cabin–the ones around the big moose.  I want to plant some shrubs and flowers there and I don’t want those squirrels eating the roots.  I bought a 5lb container of cayenne pepper from Amazon, and I dumped some of it down each one of their holes.  I hope it makes them scram.

I had a cat scan of my lungs last Monday, and I’ll be meeting with Dr. Lewis tomorrow afternoon.  I’ll be interested in what he has to say.  I’ve been feeling pressure when I try to breathe, so it’s probably time to go back on chemo.  Whatever.  I’ve had a great vacation from the stuff.

Life is good!  I love you all!  Mom

 Dear Kids,

Congratulations and Happy Father’s Day to all you fine sons and sons-in-law of mine.  I really appreciate how well you are taking care of your families, and the good examples you set for them.  Keep it up, you great guys!

It’s Super Sunday next week, June 26.  Al is in charge, but we’ll be meeting at Nora’s.  4pm, bring whatever you like, and we’ll have our usual mad bash.  

Yesterday afternoon I tagged along with Dad and Al and Jenny to Dad’s birthday dinner and movie. We saw Top Gun Maverik at the Gateway theater, and it was fantastic, but probably too much tension for old people like me. We also checked in with Del and her sidewalk art, because she was participating in the competition there at the Gateway. Her entry was really good, but Dad and I didn’t stick around for the awards, so we don’t know how she did. Go, Del!

Thanks to all of you who participated in book club last Sunday.  Our next official meeting will be July 10, and we’re reading Flat Stanley.  Emma suggested it, so we’ll nominate her to lead the discussion.  I haven’t read it yet, but I have it on hold at the library.

Here’s a heads-up regarding the Allen family reunion on July 9, which is less than 3 weeks away: The reunion will start at 10 am in Laurie’s back yard.  Bring your own food, drinks, and yard games.  There is a pool and Laurie wanted me to say that if young children will be swimming in the pool, their parents need to be in the pool with them.  There is a park nearby that has pickle ball courts. Laurie’s address is 2273 S.  Lookout Ridge Drive, Mapleton, Utah 84664.

Dallin shot a ground squirrel at the cabin.  He got a bb gun for his 9th birthday, and he’s been itching to shoot things.  He wondered if he could collect the $5 bounty that I offer for magpies but I had to tell him no.  Magpies are way harder to shoot, especially with a bb gun.  The ground squirrels have taken over the dirt hill around the moose in the front yard, and I’m going to try using cayenne pepper to urge them to move.  A last resort will be poison.  It would be too gruesome to have Dallin shoot them all.

Paul’s entire family has covid.  Paul caught it from one of the guys he works with, and evidently Stefanie and Josh and Chloe caught it from him.  I hope they all get well soon.  Paul said it gave him the worst sore throat he’s ever had. 

I hope you’re all lovin’ summer!  Have fun with all your goings-on!  Love, Mom 

Dear Kids,

Don’t forget book club is this afternoon at 5pm, here at our house. We’ll be talking about The BFG, and if you didn’t get around to reading it, come anyway.  Donna got a cartoon BFG video from the library, and she’s going to show it after our discussion.  She has made “Human Beans” for refreshments, and I’ve made Gally Gelumpigans. It’ll be fun.  

And two weeks from today we’ll have Super Sunday, courtesy of Al.  I’m not sure yet where it’s going to be, but I’ll let you know in plenty of time.  I assume it will be at a park, like last year.  It’s always great when our family gets together.  

Vanessa started the Squaw Peak 50 mile trail run yesterday at 4 am, but she wasn’t feeling very good.  Trent had had some flu-like symptoms, and she was hoping she wouldn’t get it, but it was already setting in.  Can you believe she made 25 miles anyway?  What a woman of iron!  She had Sarah pick her up at Hobble Creek canyon, at the half-way point.  She was very disappointed because she had trained so hard, and she had plenty of water and food, and everything was going to be better than last year.  But I had been wondering if the heat was going to be a problem.  I’d had visions of her collapsing and passing out from the heat, so I was very relieved to hear that she’d dropped out.  But I’m sorry it didn’t work out for her.  Maybe next year!

John’s having his tonsils and adenoids out on July 1.  We hope it’ll go well.  You think of it as a kids’ operation, but John said it’s actually pretty dangerous.  People tend to collapse and stop breathing two days later.  I wish I didn’t know that!  I’m sure all our prayers will be with him.

My breathing is still fine, and it’s been 2 months since I’ve had chemo!   I’ve had a lot of fun working at the cabin, pruning bushes and putting dirt back around the fire pit.  My good times probably won’t last forever, but I’ve really been enjoying every day.   I have a cat scan scheduled for a week from tomorrow, to see how my tumors are doing.  If I have to go back on chemo, I can handle it.

I appreciate all your prayers for me, and the really good people that you are.  Love, Mom 

 Dear Kids,

Thanks to all of you for making our anniversary party so wonderful!  Thanks to Sharon and Monica for flying in for the occasion.  Thanks to Kim for picking up the food!  Thanks to Sharon and Dad for decorating.  Thanks to all of you especially for coming!  It was truly a fantastic occasion.  

The next morning we drove to Pocatello for Sarah’s graduation, and it was great.  It lasted less than an hour!  They do graduations right in Pocatello.  Dad and I left before the after-party really got going, but I was way tired from the day before.  Still, we could see that a ton of hamburgers and hot dogs were going to be grilled.

Friday afternoon we drove to Alpine for Morgan James’s wedding, and it was a gorgeous occasion.  There were eight bridesmaids and nine groomsmen!  All my siblings were there except for Ben and Mark, so we had a lot of fun visiting.  I know some of you came to the reception later, where the next generation hung out.

Now Dad and I are playing catch-up.  We finished the fire pit at the cabin yesterday morning, and it was nice to put in the perma sand and spray it down, after having that project underway for so long.  My friend Lisa Elms is borrowing the cabin for her family reunion June 16-18, so I didn’t want to have such a big unfinished project in the way of all those visitors.

Coming events: Family book club will be here at our house next Sunday night, June 12.  We’re reading The BFG.  I finished it in record time because it was so good.  Be there or be square!   The Allen family reunion is barely a month away, on July 9 at Laurie’s house.  Her address is 2273 South Lookout Ridge Drive in Mapleton.  I’ll pass on any new information as it gets closer.  And of course our Ackerson reunion is July 28-31 at Bear Lake.  Monica is in charge, and she’ll get out our assignments in plenty of time.  

Look, my whole letter has been taken up with events.  What else is there?  Oh, our cats, who demand a lot of attention.  Scout has trimmed down by eating mice, and his fur is nice and glossy.  Sonia isn’t really into grasshopper season yet, but she catches flies and spiders around the house.

I know you’re all doin’ great and lovin’ it!  Mom