Sunday - July 9, 1978

Dearest Ron & Ann, Rick & Jean, Bob & Claire,

We're back in the swing of things after a very busy two weeks. We loved being with all of you for the wedding and we thought everything was just perfect - we have our pictures back and it is wonderful to look at them and remember the fun we had - most of the pictures are just excellent and we'll have copies made of the best ones and send you some. We really congratulate you, Bob and Claire, for the way; you arranged everything - as I have told everyone here, it was exactly as I would have wanted it and I didn't have a thing to with it - the wedding dinner was so special and in a beautiful place and the reception was just lovely in every way. Claire, we really loved meeting your parents and Carolyn and also your Aunt Beth and her family and Josephine and the others - I just know I have known your Mother some time, she seemed so familiar to me. We hope so much that your family enjoyed it all as much as we did.

We got home about three o'clock last Sunday. We noticed a noise in our ear just before we got into Albuquerque so we went straight to a garage - it was about five in the evening. The mechanics all listened to it and said it sounded as if it would require several days to work on it and since it was so late and the next day was Sunday and then Monday and Tuesday were holidays they would only promise they could do it on Wednesday - after going to several different garages and getting the same story Daddy decided to start for home and go slow - we went forty miles an hour the rest of the way and didn't dare use the air conditioner - needless to say, we were zonked when we got here. Daddy had a meeting in Jacksonville at four and he just barely made it. I did a little laundry, went shopping and to visit Aunt Marvel and packed our things so we could leave Monday morning for Washington D.C..

We took our little Toyota and Wayne and Chris Smith went with us to Washington - we left about eight o'clock Monday morning. After looking at the map, we decided we could go to Williamsburg, Virginia and not go out of our way too much - we spent Monday night somewhere in Virginia and then went to Williamsburg the next day - it was so neat. It was July 4th and air force band was there playing concerts - we hope you can all go there someday. We also went to Jamestown and saw replicas of the Nina, Pinta and the Santa Maria - very interesting. We got in Bethesda and in our Motel about 8:30 Tuesday night. We went to get something to eat and then went to bed. We were in the temple the next morning by 6:15 and stayed there until 7:30 that night - we did six endowments each, twenty initiatory, and about 15- sealing. After that we met the Cobbs and the Gonces and went to a really good seafood place and had dinner. The next morning we were in the temple again by 6:15 but we left about noon and started for home - we went by way of White Sulphur Springs, West Va. And stopped at the Greenbrier - the Smiths loved seeing that and so did we. Then we stopped at Opryland, USA in Nashville - we didn't 's stay for the concert but it was fun to see it. That would be such a fun, fun trip for all of us to go on - maybe sometime we can - you would all love it. We got home Friday night before 9:30 and we were ZONKED!!!! Roy and Johnny had done a beautiful job with the house and everything and we were so grateful they didn't have any mishaps!!!! We decided after it was all over with that our Heavenly Father really wanted us to do everything we did because He surely helped us.

Jeannie - we really loved your letter - it came yesterday and was a boost for us. Thank you so much for sending the earnings. - I can't believe you found them kin all that dirt. I'm going to take them and some other earnings Daddy has brought me from foreign places to see if they can make them into pierced earnings. We are so proud of your Rick for spending a week with makes it that much better. We can hardly wait for you to move into your new home - Jeannie, you have such good taste I know it will really be fun for your - we're glad ;you have met some of your neighbors and that they are L.D.S. This is an exciting time for your you DESERVE it!!!!

Annie - when you were thanking Johnny for Frau, Ronnie had just walked in the door and I don't think John even answered you - I talked to him about it later -then he just hung up the phone without saying goodbye - he had two or three friends downstairs and they were all waiting for Ronnie to come and that was on John's mind I guess. He is the cutest little kid in the world but he is completely uninhabited - I guess that's what makes him cute. We're so happy you're enjoying your dog - all schnauzers bark you can train them - they make good protection for you though. Your trip to Idaho sounded great. We remembered that the seventh was your first anniversary while we were in Washington and it was too late to get a card to you in time. The first thing we did when we got home Friday was to try to call you and we tried until about 10:30 our time and then decided you were out for the evening. We think back on your lovely dinner while we were there - I got all the ingredients to make those cookies and hope to get time this afternoon. You said you had written to us - I hope you have mentioned when you're going to Switzerland - we have forgotten - I want to go to Cohns and look at their tablecloths so I can get a general idea of what to ask you look for and then I'll send you the measurements and check. When we were married, Mother gave me a linen table-cloth with twelve napkins - they weren't hemmed and they have been in my cedar chest for thirty want napkins with the cloth you get, if you can get it without - I'll let you know.

Bob and Claire - we have thought so much about all the work you have done on Aunt Marvel's house - it really looked nice. If you want to continue living there I believe it would be a good idea to get new carpet for the living room - that has been there for such a long time and it is rather foolish to decorate around a worn out carpet. Anyway, we would like for it to be a pretty place to live in so give it some thought and let me know what you want to do - the walls and windows have to have work done too and I don't know how you feel about that.

We hope so much that you Bon can find work in Provo - I can't believe I didn't know you were traveling back and forth from Salt Lake every day - that's much a long drive and I'm sure very expensive. Do they have Kirby vacuum cleaners in Utah? We really should get a better cleaner for her home - I love my Kirby and it's especially good for things liked upholstery. Why don't you look into one - maybe a used one that would do the job and wouldn't cost too much.

We went to the Arts Center this afternoon to see Rand Hopkins new play - "Poppa Bear, Momma Bear" - it was just excellent. This is the play he hopes to make it big on Broadway with. He took he script from the Family Home Evening Manual Idea and you can see Mormonism all the way through it - we loved it. This was he last time it was going to be presented in Little Rock so we missed church to go see it - it was worth it.

Roy wore the new tie you girls picked out for him to church this morning - he really likes it and it goes with everything he has. He is planning his back packing trip - he wants to leave around the 10th of August and be gone about ten days - he and Dan Watson are going and they want to go to Yellowstone and then into Utah. We worry about him going into the country where there are Grizzlies but I'm sure he knows what he is doing. They may want to stay with someone in Utah for a night or so - again, they may not so I'll let him let you know.

Our new Mission President and his wife and family are here - I haven't met them yet but everyone who has thinks they're just great. They have a ten year old daughter and Johnny thinks she's okay - they have five girls and a little baby boy. They're really young. The missionaries came over a little while ago and they said he was very business like - more so than President Richards. Daddy is happy about that.

I made your cookies Annie and they're delicious - actually, I started this letter right after Sunday School and it's now about seven o' clock so it's had many interruptions.

The neighbors have all been over asking about your wedding Bon and Claire - they are all so interested in you. We weren't here long enough at the time the write-up came out in the paper to ask people for copies so I just have three - I'll send two to you Claire - one for your book and one for your Mother and then I'll keep the other one. If you want more please tell us and I can get them from the Gazette office but I'll need to know soon.

We love each of your so very much and we're so proud of you. Please let us know if you need anything. Thank you for making our trip so much fund - I'll never forget seeing you drive up Jeannie and having you say your could stay with us all week - that was so special and we appreciate it very much. I hope Roy doesn't marry for a long time but when he does I hope we will have as wonderful a wedding as each of you have (has) had!!!! By the time John marries, we hope to be more closely together (bad sentence) so we won't have to travel so long.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!!!!

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