Dear Kids,

Changes, changes.  We’ve had to change the location of Super Sunday next week, and also of our anniversary party on June 1.  First, Super Sunday: we’ve moved it to Nora’s house so their family can participate, and then do Ben’s Seminary graduation at 6pm.  So we’ll meet at Nora’s at 4:00.  There will be something special to honor the high school graduates, although I don’t know what.  Nora and Donna are in charge of that.  Otherwise, bring your normal dinner contributions.  It’s always a great meal–no matter that it’s so random.

Then, our anniversary party: since we changed the date, we can’t have it at Francis Park, because somebody else already reserved it for that day.  So I guess the cabin will be the next best place?  Or does somebody have a better idea.  Let me know if you can think of something else, because it’s coming up fast.  We’ll probably eat around 6 pm, but you can come lots earlier if you want to hang out or hike.  This is the best time of the year to enjoy the cabin, because it’s so green.  And it stays light until about 9pm.  So it will be a lot of fun.  If you’re reading this, you’re invited. 

We had a great discussion for our family book club last Sunday.  Everybody liked Chocolate Fever.   For June, Donna’s family is in charge (although it will still be at our house) and Dallin has chosen  The BFG by Roald Dahl.  I love that book! (Although there’s at least one disturbing part.)  I’m pretty sure there are plenty of copies at all the libraries.  Our club meeting will be June 12.

On Friday afternoon Dad and I went to the Heber airport so Dad could help John launch his glider.  I was planning to check the freezer for maybe another dead cat, but the freezer door was open and the refrigerator was turned off.  It’s still the beginning of the season for glider pilots, so I’m sure they’ll turn everything on eventually so they can keep their drinking water cold.   But I don’t expect to ever find another surprise like that cat.  John and Dad spent a long time setting up the glider, because it was John’s first flight of the year.  But once John got up, he said the conditions were fabulous.

Just like our family.  Fabulous.  I’m lucky to be the matriarch of such a group!

Love, Mom

 Dear Kids,

It still snows at least once a week, but our grass is green and spring is here.  The cats have been rolling in the dirt.  Dad needs to get out the lawn mower and rev it up.  He’s been working on putting a new gas tank on the yerf dog, which takes him to the cabin two or three times a week.

Our family book club meets today at 5 at our house.  I’m excited to talk about Chocolate Fever.  Everybody is invited, even if you haven’t read it.  We’ll have brownies and pumpkin cookies for dessert, plus anything that anybody else brings.  It’ll be fun.

And Super Sunday will be two weeks from today, on the 22nd.  Allen can’t host after all, since he’s in charge of the police barbecue that day.  Humm.  I sort of remember the same thing happening last year.  So Donna’s turn is next, and Al will be in charge for June.  Donna, I’ve kept forgetting to ask you.  How about it, for the 22nd?

And our anniversary party on June 1 is coming up fast.  I keep forgetting to call the city to change the park to that day, (city hours are very short), but the party will go ahead no matter what.  I’m excited to have all you grown kids here, plus some of your spouses and children.  I never imagined being married 50 years.  On Friday Dad and I went to the Provo temple to do a session, and seeing  the flowers and the green grass and the fountains brought it all back to me.  Back then the temple was brand new, and now they’re already planning to rebuild it.  When we got out of the session we drove down to see the Vineyard temple that’s under construction.  That’s where we’ll go when the Provo temple is down. 

I have to give a talk about Mothers in church today.  How’s that for having a great Mothers Day?  Actually, I like talking in church.  But it’s still a little stressful and I’ll be glad when it’s over.

Lots of love to all of you.  Mom

 Dear Kids,

I think most of you have gotten the message that our 50th anniversary party has been changed to Wednesday, June 1.  That’s because Sarah’s graduation in Pocatello is June 2 at 3pm. Thanks to Sharon for contacting everybody and arranging for the new date.  I’m really glad that everyone can make it, even Monica.  We’ll have to get a good picture of Dad, myself, and you nine kids.  I haven’t contacted the city yet about reserving the park for the 1st, but if it isn’t available, we’ll meet somewhere else.  This party will happen!

And next Sunday will be the second meeting of our family book club, talking about Chocolate Fever.  I realize it’s Mothers Day, too, but hopefully that won’t get in our way.  5pm, our house.  Be there or be square.  I think reading together is one of the best things a family can do, and I’m grateful to Nora for getting this ball rolling.  

Last Monday I had my CT scan, and Thursday I met with Dr. Lewis, my oncologist. He was really excited to show me how my tumors have shrunk.  The main one we’re watching, the “canary in the coal mine,” had shrunk from 1.8 to 1.5 centimeters, which might not sound like much, but it’s 20%.  And that’s just the diameter.  If you think of it in 3D and do the math, (4/3 π r-cubed) the volume shrank by 42%, which is spectacular.  Besides that, some of the tumors looked like doughnuts, because they were dying from the inside.  Needless to say I’m really happy.  I’ll be off of chemo now until the first of July, so I’m planning to do lots of plain, ordinary things like hiking and working at the cabin.  

Paul and Stefanie and their kids stayed over here Friday night because they had an appointment at John’s office Saturday morning.  It was really fun to get out my toys for the kids.  (One tote at a time, of course.)   Paul and Josh got out the legos and put together a little car with a man.  Paul wanted to take it home, so I said he could.  Some things never change, and I guess fascination with legos is one of those.  

I hope you’re all doing great and enjoying this pleasant spring weather.  Yeah, we had snow this week, but it melted within an hour.  There’s no stopping summer!  It’s coming! (Sharon’s family has had warm weather for weeks, but we won’t stew about that.)

Lots of love, Mom

 Dear Kids,

McKay’s baptism yesterday was really a nice event.  Besides the baptism itself, one highlight was Dallin and McKay singing a duet.  Who knew?  Another highlight was Allen arriving in uniform with all his police gear strapped around him.  The boys were thrilled.  Al was on duty, so of course he had to have all the gear.  It was great.

Donna and Bevan got home from Boston Monday night, and all their kids had done fine at Nora’s house.  Bevan’s time in the marathon was 3:15.  BTW, Vanessa’s talking about doing the Squaw Peak Trail run on June 11.  It’s 50 miles of punishing turf.  She has new strategies for this time around, and she thinks it might not be so brutal.  Let’s hope.

Upcoming events: (1) Family book club here on May 8 at 5 pm.  We’re reading Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith.  Be there or be square.  (2) Super Sunday on May 22, at a spot to be chosen by Allen.  We’re going to be honoring the 5 high school graduates for 2022. (Aaron, Ben, Sarah, Emma, and Del) (3) June 2, remember, is our 50th Anniversary party, probably at 6 pm, at Francis Park.  There’ll be Bam Bam barbeque and lots of fun.  (4) July 9 is the Allen family reunion at Laurie’s house in Mapleton.  I’ll have more details when it gets closer.  (5) The Ackerson family reunion will be at Bear Lake July 28-31.  Same spot–Rendezvous Beach.  One detail we didn’t know last time is that every car past #12 has to pay a $50 camping fee.  So if you can manage it, one car per family.

My last chemo was nearly two weeks ago, and I’m having a CT scan tomorrow to see how my tumors have done.  I’m betting they really shrank, because I’ve been breathing so well.  I’m sure all your prayers have been helping me, too, especially the prayers of your kids.  Heavenly Father really listens to them.

Thanks for all you kids do for Dad and me.  We really appreciate it.

Lots of love, Mom

 Dear Kids,

Happy Easter, everyone.  The Party at Nora’s house yesterday was a blast, and the only hang-up was Dallin getting lost, temporarily.  Thank goodness he was only playing football with another family over in the park.  With his hoodie up, it wasn’t obvious that was him.  Dad located him.  (Dad had on a Centerville Police hoodie Allen gave him for Christmas, and he looked very official, looking for a lost child.) Dallin only felt bad that he missed the Easter egg hunt, but McKay shared his eggs with him, and several other kids did, too.  All’s well that ends well.

McKay’s baptism is next Saturday morning (the 23rd) at 10:30 at Nora’s church.  There will be a lunch afterwards at Nora’s house.  Since we’re having so many events in April, we’ve decided to put off Super Sunday until the end of May.  It’s Allen’s turn next.   It will be interesting to see where he decides we’ll meet.  All you kids have done a super job of hosting.

The first meeting of our new family book club went really well last Sunday.  I think these books can become an important part of our family culture, like Nora bringing black cookie dough to make Jenny Linski cookies, and some red for the cat’s shawl.  Everybody knew what that was all about.  Our next book, suggested by Nora, is Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith.  I read it already, and I really enjoyed it.  It’s short and funny, and I think you’ll all like it.  There are plenty of copies in all the libraries around here.  We’ve sort of decided to hold book club on the second Sunday of each month, so it won’t be too close to Super Sunday on the fourth.  That would make our next meeting on May 8th.  I’m already looking forward to it.

Donna and Bevan have been backpacking around Boston since yesterday morning.  In the afternoon they took a trolley tour which Donna said was really interesting.  On Monday Bevan will be running the marathon, and as soon as he’s done, they’ll jump right on their plane for home.  Their kids are at Nora’s.  (If it sounds like Nora’s been busy lately, she has. And how!)  We’re hoping Bevan gets a good time on the marathon, but the bottom line is, it’s Boston!  What could be cooler?

Enjoy your Easter Sunday, and enjoy what it really means.

Love, Mom

 

Dear Kids,

The first meeting of our family book club will be this afternoon at 5:00 at our house.  We’ve been reading Jenny and the Cat Club by Esther Averill.  You don’t need to have read all of it.  I’ve read it twice, I liked it so much.  The author definitely understood cats.  The idea behind the book club is that we’ll choose books you can read together with your kids, and then we’ll meet once a month or so to talk about them.  I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.  

And next weekend is Easter, so we’ll be meeting at Nora’s on Saturday (the 16th) at 2 pm.  Bring eggs for your kids, and you can call Nora for a food assignment.  It’ll be cool that day, probably about 50 degrees at Nora’s house.  Whatever the weather, whatever the menu, whoever can come–it will be great fun.  

Some of you have asked if there’s going to be an Allen family reunion this summer, so I asked Bonnie, and this was her answer: Laurie Jacobson has graciously offered to host on Saturday, July 9, in their backyard.  They have a large space with a pool, basketball court, patio area and a lot of grass for volleyball, etc.  It will be the usual where everyone brings their own food and drink and we enjoy visiting while the kids play.  I will get back with everyone on details of time (morning) and other details, but put Saturday, July 9, on your calendars.   Please let your children and grandchildren know about this.  

So we have that to look forward to, and our own Ackerson family reunion at Bear Lake the last weekend in July.  So many good things up ahead!

Sharon has had two job offers from hospitals, and she needs to do some shadowing to learn more about both places.  One job is med surg (you know, medical, surgical) and the other is intermediate care.  One starts August 1, and the other on August 26.  Naturally I hope she takes the one that starts later, so she won’t have to leave our family reunion early, but in the long run it won’t matter.  We’re really proud that she’s done so well!

So much is going on!  Dad and I are really lucky to be matriarch and patriarch of such a great family.  Love, Mom

Dear Kids,

Hasn’t Conference been wonderful? I’ve enjoyed all the sessions so far, and I’m looking forward to more today.  BTW, thanks to all of you who came and made our soup dinner a success.  And thanks to Bevan and the guys for taking the little boys to the park so we could watch the women’s session in peace.  It was wonderfully quiet.

Our Easter picnic is coming up a week from Saturday, on April 16, at 2 pm.  Allen says some of his favorite childhood memories were the Easter egg hunts we had with Grandma Allen.  I sure have great memories of those days!  And now we can be grateful to Nora for hosting so many Easter shindigs at her park.  (Yeah, we know she doesn’t own it, but she might as well.)  We hope to see you all there!  Bring enough Easter eggs for your family, and we’ll put them all together, like we’ve done before.  Bring your baskets, too.  For food assignments, call Nora.

Right now Nora’s family is off on their revenge cruise.  Dad looked them up yesterday afternoon on his phone, and they were on the dock in Long Beach, California.  So obviously they’re on the water, now.

Nora has had a great idea for a family book club.  The idea is that we choose good books you can read together with your kids, and we’ll get together for our “club” once a month, on a Sunday night while people are here at our house anyway.   Our first club will be held a week from today at 5 pm and the book is Jenny and the Cat Club by Esther Averill.  (She also wrote The Fire Cat, and he shows up in this book, too.) I know this is short notice, but once we get rolling we’ll let you know in plenty of time.  So far, Nora’s and Donna’s families are on board.  Join us if you like!

Allen called me from Zions, where he had gone for a law enforcement conference.  He got there a couple of days early and had already hiked the 38-mile traverse.  I was so jealous!  Oh, well, my life is full of fun–just not that kind.  My chemo this last week wiped me out quite a bit, but as long as it’s attacking my cancer  can’t complain. 

I called Jana McGettigan to catch up on her life, and she had a really serious case of covid.  She was in the hospital three days, and has had a hard recovery.  Glenn has retired from Ensign College and I hope they’ll be able to have a lot of fun adventures together.  Kara is a “vet,” having put in time in the army.  Remember how we used to tend her on Sunday afternoons when she was a tiny baby?  That’s enough to make us all feel old. 

  Oops, my letter’s too long.  If you made it this far, thanks for your patience.  I love you all!

Mom