Saturday - April 22, 1978

Dearest Ann & Ron, Jean & Rick, Bob and Roy,

It's Saturday night and Daddy and John are in bed - tomorrow is going to be a busy day so I decided to write to you tonight. We are having really turbulent weather and I'm too nervous to go to sleep anyway - they have put a "tornado horn" on top of Brady school and when ever there is a tornado alert this horn blows for about ten minutes - it has done that tonight and the television news keeps broadcasting that they have reports of a tornado on radar - the ones we have had in the past few years have made a believer out of me!!!

Daddy and John left early this morning to go float the Buffalo - they went with the church group and there were ninety-four. They really had a wonderful time - the weather was a little chilly early but it was beautiful by afternoon.

We're going to have the neighbors - Roy Bass, Woods, Barbees, Hipps, Jordins and the Powers over tomorrow night for sandwiches and salads. Daddy is going to show the slides he took in Egypt and the Holy Land and then the Missionaries and Pres. and Sister Richards are going to show the film "The Bible and the Book of Mormon" and explain it. I hope it's successful - our neighbors have been so sweet to come to everything we have ever asked them to concerning the church and we know they're not interested in ever joining. I had a pleasant experience this afternoon thought - John Robert Bass came over to visit and we got talking about the church and word of wisdom and he said he was really impressed with our beliefs and that he had an "inner" feeling that coffee was bad for people. I also invited the Lutens but they couldn't come because she was having the whole family in for dinner to celebrate Tommy's birthday - she said she would really like to come because Tommy had asked her not long ago if she minded if he joined the Mormon church and she said, "I told him that would make us very proud" - so they think more of the church than we would sometimes think.

I was going to start this letter out with "CONGRATULATIONS BOB" and then I forgot and I'm too lazy to write it over - Bob graduated Friday and we are so thrilled and proud of you Bob. We didn't really know when everything was going to take place until Tuesday when we received a letter from Dallin Oaks (BYU Pres.) congratulating us as parents - it was so funny he had written about the Graduation Banquet on Thursday night and went on about how important it was for us to get our reservations in early and also for motels - the letter had been written in February and we didn't get it until about April 19th. I called Bob this morning and he said Ann and Ron had taken him and Claire (Bad English Ann) out to dinner and he said they really loved it - that is so nice of you two. We loved going to that graduation banquet with you Ann - you're really the only one I feel has graduated - Bob said he watched the ceremonies on television.

Jeannie and Rick - we loved your phone call - except we never get to talk to you Rick - you're going to have to get two phones. We're so anxious to hear what you have decided to do about your home. We had a letter from Carol Braithwaite and she said Jim and Kallene have bought a home in Clearfield. I'll surely be happy when we come in June to see everything - even if it's just a lot with a tent on it!!!! John Robert said that Pam and Eddie were getting along a lot better now but that at one time in their marriage he had moved out - just a little goss!!!!

Roy - I'm sending you a copy of the letter Mr. Woods wrote for you as a reference - I think it's one of the nicest one I have ever read - it would surely be nice for you to write and thank him - he is very influential in Little Rock and his position with Timex is also. We surely hope things work out the way you want them to in the way of a Summer Job - Last Summer wasn't too good. Daddy also called Neil Littlefield and he said he knew the man you had asked about and Neil would do what ever he could. We can hardly wait for you to be home again - your friends haven't been to see me this year at all - maybe they haven't been home as often - Robert hasn't been here once. It was so good to talk to you last Sunday (is that when it was) - we surely hope you did well in your tests.

Annie and Ron - we have sorta' been worried about you but Bob said you're doing fine. He told me about your ordering halibut and then having to take it home - you should just about be over that by now shouldn't you? Grandmother said she thought you looked "different" and was happy I had told her you were expecting - they're so thrilled about it. John Robert said to tell you "hello" - he'll finish in December and was here looking into job opportunities.

I'm going to go to bed and will finish this tomorrow - hopefully. The tornadoes have passed us by!!!!

Sunday afternoon - I'm going to hurry and write just a little bit more so we can mail this on our way to Sacrament meeting - otherwise it won't get mailed until tomorrow cause I know it will be late before everyone leaves tonight. I just took some dill break out of the oven and it is so good - we're having ham sandwiches (make their own), that seven layer vegetable salad, fruit molded salad, and cheese cake with strawberries.

Carol sent us one of those round Pyrex bread pans and I have really had fun with it - I make the cheese herb bread that comes with the pan (the recipe does) and it is really good. In Carol's letter she told us about Carol Ann and Art's home burning - they had a little Indian girl living with them and she put some grease on the stove to make some Indian fry bread - turned it on high and then went out to play - Carol said the house exploded - it must have been terrible - the Willardsens left for a week on Lake Powell and then some time in Manti to try to recuperate - the kitchen and living room and family room were gutted - that was such a gorgeous house it makes me sick. She said Art asked the little Indian girl - "Were you trying to send smoke signals to Arizona?".

We walked into Sunday School this morning to find John's name on the program for a 21/2 minute talk - he went white as a ghost - it was worse because we were late. His teacher Barbara Andrews handed him her manual and told him to find something in it. He went on the stand with the book and in less than five minutes came up with a beautiful talk - he had to read it but he didn't make any apologies and anything - Daddy came in and sat with me just before John got up and he was sick - Sister Andrews had called last night to ask Johnny if he would do it and Daddy said he would and then forgot to say anything to Johnny about it. Daddy has too many things on his mind.

This is all I have time for - I'm going to start writing on a different day - our week-ends are too busy. We found out today that the people taking Pres. and Sister Richards place are the "Jones" from Provo and they six children - the oldest is 14 - 5 girls and one baby boy. He has been in the LTM school for some time. We're looking forward to meeting them.

We surely do love each one of you and hope you'll let us know if you need anything.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO.

P.S. Grandmother Forrest won't go to Mayo with me - I'm disappointed because I know they could help her. Aunt Marvel is fine - the palace is going to be under new management and we are really thrilled about that.



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