Saturday - October 7, 1978

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

This has been a fun week - we have talked to each one of you, except Ron, and to Rick for only a second but anyway it makes me so much happier to hear from you or talk to you.

I'm starting my letter tonight because Johnny has gone to the Arkansas football game. Tomorrow is Fast Meeting and it makes a really long day for Johnny if I spend most of the afternoon writing letters - I don't like to have him go to his friends' homes on Sundays so he gets bored alone. The Caveness' invited him to go to the game with them - they were going to have dinner at the "Letterman's Club", have box seat sat the game and then go back to the club after the game. Ron is active in that because of being an "All American" while a Razorback. Johnny was so excited but he left his down jacket at school and he wouldn't wear another warm coat - all he took was a red windbreaker so he will get cold. The game is between Arkansas and Texas Christian University and should be good - it has been a beautiful Fall day and all of Little Rock is alive with Razorback fans. We went to Forest Heights this morning for Johnny's football games and sat behind the Kirkpatricks - Donna and Debbie were home from the University for the game. That is a darling family and Donna is really prettier like she was this morning than she is all made up for a pageant - I'll bet she wins Miss Arkansas next year. Johnny doesn't get to play very often but I'm almost glad - I'm afraid he would really get hurt against some of those players - they look huge next to him.

Roy - we were so thrilled to have you call - you can't imagine how we have worried! I don't know what was wrong when Daddy tried to dial you but the number you gave us is the same one we have on our bulletin board - I can understand him dialing it wrong once but not three times. Robert came by to visit with us this afternoon - he really looks good - he has lost a lot of weight - he is so faithful to always come by and we really do appreciate it. He says he likes school but he is a little discouraged with his classes - he says they are so-o-hard. It was fun to hear him talk about cooking for himself - he said he lived on 79c for a whole week - he cooked a big pot of beans and then seasoned them differently for different dishes - I guess his Dad has him on a tight budget. His sister, Janice, had a little baby girl and named her Dorothy Elaine. I asked him about all your other friends up there and he said they were all doing fine. I thought Jill would come home too and maybe she would call but we haven't heard from her - Debbie said she hadn't seen her at school. We're happy your MCAT is over and we hope your classes won't be killers - they sound plenty hard to me - we really are proud of you for giving it your best.

Jeannie & Rick - we loved talking to you but Rick I wanted to talk to you longer. The Smiths and Linda Smith Vaught Garrett were here when you called. Chris and Wayne have just bought a new 23 foot boat with two 110 horsepower Volvo engines and left the next day for their home on the Coast - Wayne is so excited about going out into the Gulf and doing a lot of fishing and shrimping and Daddy would love to go down there and do it with him. They are really worried about Linda - Ken (her first husband and then they got re-married after her divorce from Vaught) just left her and said he wanted a divorce. It was a complete surprise to all of them, and especially Linda and she is just shattered. He had legally adopted Linda's little girl, Janie and seemed fine. He had quit his job at Dillards because they told him he couldn't expect anymore promotions (I don't know why) and he was going to UALR to school. Linda had put her home up for sale and wants to rent an apartment in back of Sears or Penneys over here so she can be in our Ward - she has a good job at St. Vincents. I really feel sorry for Linda - I told her she could come live with us for a while and she said she would if her home sold and she couldn't get into an apartment. Rick - we have surely seen a lot about E.F. Hutton in the paper lately - I guess because we have known about it from you and have noticed it more. We're so anxious to know how you like it - we're also so anxious to hear that you have moved into your home - that has to be a record for a builder to delay it like that. We haven't received your letter yet Jeannie - are you sure you mailed it? We're happy you have so much confidence in your doctor and we want to know more.

Annie & Ron - we are surprised that your doctor has told you your baby could be born within two weeks - I personally have thought it wouldn't come until the first of November.

I'm ready to come whenever you want me - Claire said that they would be able to come to the airport for me and that sounds like a good idea and then Ron wouldn't have that to worry about too. I told you that we have that "Carter" outlet store here -- Daddy and I went there the other day and it was such fun to look at things - we bought a few little things for you but it will be easier when we know whether we're buying for a little girl or a little boy. Johnny picked out some little bathtub toys today when we went to Penneys today - he is as excited as we are. It's really wonderful that you're feeling good - usually the last month is the hardest because you're so uncomfortable and you don't get your rest.

Claire & bob - we are proud of you for all your doing to Aunt Marvel's home - I can't imagine what it will be like to come and be warm there. It must have been a terrific job getting that furnace in the attic - I had no idea you would be able to do that so soon - I thought it would take months. We keep worrying about you neglecting other things to do that and we surely hope you won't do that. Please, please don't worry about being in a mess when we come for the baby - we surely won't expect you to have that all done - that will take months and months and you must put your schooling first!!!!!

This has been an exciting week for us. Tuesday, I was invited to a baby shower over to sister Webster's home. Monday night, Daisy had had five little puppies so Daddy said he would come home early for lunch and check them since I had to leave about ten for the shower. Well - I was worried so I called home about noon to make sure he had been able to come. He answered and said "Guess What!!!" the first thing I thought about was that Ann had had her baby but before I could guess, he said, Celanese has made an announcement that they want to merge with Olin and if it goes through the stock may go up. It sounded like a good idea to me but I thought it would probably fall through. The Board of Directors of each company met on Thursday and it was approved - it won't be final until it is approved by the Government and some other things like the stockholders, etc. but Daddy says it is almost certain to go through. It won't be two companies - it will be one and the name will be Celanese-Olin. The best thing is that they have offered $30 per share of all the outstanding stock - we have had our retirement based on $17 per share so it really means a lot to us. The Olin stock went up 7 points last week - Daddy took all Johnny's money out of Utah Power and Light and also his Savings Account and put it into Olin stock on Friday - it may not go up to $30 on the stock market but we think it will and it wasn't doing anything in the other. I'm sure there will be many changes but Daddy is in an excellent position - they'll have to reduce the personnel and we think they will offer him early retirement. This won't happen for months but it will be fun to see what happens. We definitely won't move until next year - Daddy feels that he should be Stake President for three years at least and he has only been in for a year and a half but we would be more free to do things like spending time with all of you during holidays, etc. I worry about this having an unsettling effect on Johnny - we talk about moving to Utah and he might get an insecure feeling - he says he wants to live there but he surely does love it here and so do we - it will be hard to leave.

I went to Forest Heights for the school open house on Thursday and I was very impressed with it. Johnny is in all accelerated classes and he has good teachers - he still isn't having any homework but maybe he just works fast and gets it all done in class. I really notice my age at things like that - so many young mothers and fathers!!!! Daddy didn't go because he had his High Council Meeting.

Winky was so big and we were sure she would have at least as many puppies as Daisy but she only had three and one of them is really tiny. Daisy had five but one of them died - so we only have seven to sell. Bob, if you really want one you can have it - just let us know. This will be the last time we'll have them - we are all tired of it. I would like to keep Daisy and see if Hans could father some puppies but I don't know if I can talk Daddy into it - it is really a hassle and our whole home smells like a kennel!!!!

I'm taking a class in Oriental Rug making - it is so much fun. Last week, our class met at a home in Edgehill - right across from Witt Steven's home - it was gorgeous. They're supposed to meet here on the 19th unless I'm in Utah - it will take me a year to finish mine.

We surely do love each one of you - please let us know if you need anything.
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