December 25-31, 1981

The work I’m using to describe Christmas this year is “splendid”.  Last year I used “glorious”.  I went over to Steve’s and watched the girls open their Christmas.  They had just about everything you could think of.  Steve bought Jackie a microwave oven and it was a complete surprise.  They gave me a leather case for my temple clothes.  I came back home to put the turkey in the oven.  Ken and Jeanie came down early so I didn’t go down to Deloy’s.  They all came including Rex and we had a wonderful day together.  Everyone seemed so pleased with their gifts.  That’s what Christmas is all about.  I know I overdo it but I love them all so much.  I didn’t feel so good on Sunday so I stayed home all day.  I felt better so I went to work on Monday.  It was quite busy during the week inasmuch as Janis was home on vacation.  I was invited to Steve and Jackie’s for New Year’s Eve.  She cooked Chinese food and it was better than what they Chinese themselves prepare.  I enjoyed myself.  I am now finished with 1980 and 1981 journal.  I will now begin 1982 in a new journal.

December 18, 1981

On Friday we went down to Salt Lake for a seminar on local government trust insurance for counties and cities.  Hopefully at a reduction!  We got out in the afternoon and stopped at Pykettes to look.  I bought a new skirt, which I like very much.  I spent Saturday cleaning, cooking and I did some last minute shopping.  I have to smile now because I was doing last minute shopping right up to Christmas Eve.  Also, Ken and Jeanie had their Christmas on Friday night and Saturday so I went up there for a while on Saturday and took their presents to them.  They were very happy with what they received.  Ken and Jeanie had really gone all out.  I bought all the grandchildren animal banks that fit in a cage and it had a padlock on it.  They were very novel.  I got a second-hand vacuum for Ken and Jeanie – they were very pleased.  Sunday, they had a lovely Christmas program in Sacrament Meeting and also in Relief Society.  I came home and addressed Christmas cards and wrote letters to the missionaries and sent them each $5.00.  This made me feel a lot better.  Pearl Rich died and I took some Christmas goodies over to their house.  This was Ivan Rich’s mother.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were spent in preparation for Friday.  I finished wrapping my presents and did some last minute things for others.  On Monday, I stopped into Jean Wixom’s (no that was a week later after Christmas.)  On the day of Christmas Eve, I went and had my hair done and then I dropped over to work and exchanged gifts with Betty and Janise.  When I opened these on Christmas morning, I found them to be an old-fashioned gramophone music box from Janis and a set of Porcelain figurines from Betty.  They are very lovely and something I will enjoy very much as well as treasure.  I came home and did some odd jobs then went back to work at 1:00.  I was the only one left in the whole building so at 3:30 I closed up the joint and went home.  Vickie, Jackie’s sister, had invited me down to spend Christmas Eve with them.  I decided to stay home as I had a lot to do and that would have left Pat at home by himself.  I didn’t go over but I had my Christmas lights on and I called up several times.

December 16-17, 1981

I have 4 pages left to complete the year (1981) and then I begin a new book in 1982. On December 17 the city and county entertained their employees at a dinner. It was a fun evening and very well attended. Comm. Nelson was the extemporaneous Master of Ceremonies and he was a riot. He is so spontaneous and so humorous. He was asking all of us if we had anything to say. The new mayor responded and the old and new council members. Then what really surprised us was when Sheriff Robinson got up and gave a short. He has such a dry wit – he had everyone laughing. All told, it was a very successful evening. I believe it was on Wednesday that I went down to do some shopping and Betty Green went with me – it was fun to go with her as always. I had decided to get Steve and Jackie some towels for their main present. I had priced them over to Hamula’s and they were nearly $10.00 for each towel. I went to Grand Central and got them for half that much and still came to nearly $40.00.

December 15, 1981

At last the dreadful day has arrived the – 1982 Budget Hearing. I’ve dreaded it for 4 months but it wasn’t so bad. They shouting will start when people received their tax notices for 1982 but we’ll worry about that when it comes. There was quite a few there and they were the real interested citizens. There was a lot of questions asked but they were intelligent and showed some thought and purpose back of them. It will be very interesting to find out how this next year will work out budget wise.

December 10-14, 1981

The rest of this week just sort of  drifted by.  I was working the Budget over, getting ready for Tuesday evening. 

 Sunday was a tranquil, peaceful day.   Monday December 14 was a Comm’s meeting in the morning which was primarily taken up discussing the budget with the dept. heads. In the evening, Steven, Jackie and the kids came over and brought me a bowl of chili and some enchiladas.  They helped me decorate my tree and get my lights put up.  It was a fun Family Home Evening.

December 7-9, 1981

December 7

Today it was 40 years since they Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.  There was a lot of publicity in the news and on T.V. a lot of veterans were interviewed and honored.  They deserve every word of praise that they received, and much, much more.  It was also the battle of the budget.  The comm’s didn’t even go out for luncheon.  I went over to the drive-in and picked up a burger supreme, which they enjoyed along with a malt.  I had a hot dog and a diet Sprite.  The rest of the day and the next (Dec. 8) I was getting odds and ends tied up from the meeting.

 December 9

I took the day off and went to town Christmas shopping.  I had a very enjoyable and profitable day.  I went over to work for a while then to the middle school for Lisa’s play “HMS Pinafore”.  Lisa was in the chorus.  She looked so grown-up.  After this we went to the class and again we felt more than repaid for having attended.  Also, today was Katie’s birthday.  I gave her a card with some $1.00 bills and then some coins taped to the one page.  She had been reminding me of this for 6 months.

December 5-6, 1981

December 5, 1981

Tonight was another memorable occasion.  Amy was baptized by her father.  They held it jointly with Morgan Stake and the chapel was nearly full.  It was a lovely service.  Vicki and her children with Mavis came up from Bountiful – I mean Layton and we all went over to Steve and Jackie’s for cake and ice cream.  I bought Amy a little porcelain figurine with her birthstone in it.  She loved it.

  December 6, 1981

Today in Sacrament Meeting, Steven confirmed Amy.  He gave her a beautiful blessing and their family was here again today.  (They were also to the baptism last night) Vicki’s children and Mavis were here again.  After meeting they all came over to my house and we had a buffet supper although we all set down to the table.  Deloy and Lynn couldn’t stay.  I made hot rolls and some crispy treats.  Jackie brought the rest.  It was truly delicious.  The children all seemed to have a good time together.  It was a happy occasion to remember in thinking back on Amy’s baptism.

NOvember 30-December 4, 1981

During this week one of the outstanding evenings was the Old Testament class on Wednesday evening.  Pres. Stephens lectured on the Ten Tribes.  That is one of the most enjoyable classes I have ever enjoyed.  He goes from one obscure text to another – picking out a verse here and there just form memory and builds a foundation for his lesson.  He also skips from Old Testament to New Testament to D & C to Book of Mormon to Pearl of Great Price.  He made the statement that if we do not understand the Old Testament, we cannot understand the gospel.  At one time I would have scoffed at the idea, but now I’m beginning to understand why he made the statement. It’s the whole basis upon which the gospel is built upon.  Without that as a foundation, we do not have very much to base our beliefs on.  Furthermore the wonderful characters who move through the pages of the Old Testament restored some of the fundamental keys to Joseph Smith when they gospel was restored.  I’m really convinced that a good understanding of the Old Testament is essential.

November 29, 1981

 Today is a special event. After our regular church, we had the dedicatory services for our new addition on the church house. It began at 7:00 p.m. They chapel was not as packed as I thought it would be – after a regular church day the children were too weary for their parents to drag them out to another session. As we know the children make up a large portion of the audience. It made for a serene, peaceful and spiritual atmosphere – very fitting to turn the labor of our hands and contributions to our Savior for His house. Our two wards met together. Marilyn Lofgreen conducted a combined choir. It was really heavenly music. The program was outstanding, conducted by Bishop Dee Preece of Milton Second; President Calvin Stephens gave the Dedicatory prayer. IN my estimation, he is truly one of the great ones chosen before he was born. If I were a prophet I would say, “One day he will be one of the General Authorities of the church.” We had quite a few visitors from the other stake. Keith and Faye Donna were there.

November 26 – 27, 1981

November 26

Today dawned beautiful and bright.  I made hot rolls (delicious too!), green shrimp salad and a batch of Rice Crispy treats.  Jeannie came down and we went and had dinner with Steve and Jackie and the girls (and John).  It was very delicious and enjoyable.  I really love Jeannie.  She’s so pleasant and even tempered – a real joy to be around.  Steve showed films of when they were growing up. Jeannie really enjoyed them.  The girls came over and stayed tonight.  They had the usual ball playing post office and store.

 Saturday, November 28

Also dawned bright and beautiful.  I was really happy because I had planned on going to Cache Valley for Mildred and Vernal’s Golden Wedding anniversary.  I went up and got there about 3 p.m.  I had a chance to have a visit with them and their family before the open house began.  All their children and their spouses were present plus grandchildren and great-grandchildren.   It was an impressive gathering and one to be very proud of.  Ruth Allen Brunker was there.  It seemed good to be with her again.