Sunday - October 22, 1978

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

It really is a gorgeous day here in Little Rock - I love the Fall weather anyplace but I'll have to admit that it is prettier here in Arkansas than any place we have lived. It's almost like Summer in the afternoon and yet the air is so cool and brisk at night.

This is Birthday week for you Roy - just think you're 21 years old!!!! We hope you have a Happy Day but I'll bet it won't be much different from your other days there - you'll probably spend it studying as usual. We'll be thinking about you all day and will try to call. I wish now that I would have had them make a cake for you. We haven't heard from you this week and we hope everything is going good. We wondered if you watched the Razorback game yesterday - I hope so - we were disappointed that Texas won - especially when we had a chance to make another touchdown and fumbled it - did any of your friends go to the game? We saw Donna Kirkpatrick at the Forest Height's game yesterday morning so she didn't go - that surprised us, we thought she went everywhere.

Jeannie and Rick - Ann said yesterday that she thought you would be in your new home in a week - we surely hope so. We are so excited to see it and we can just imagine how excited you are to move in - maybe we'll get there in time to help. We haven't heard from you this week either - I know it's sorta' dumb to write when we expect to see each other. Rick - you'll be in Denver this coming week won't you? We hope you enjoy it and that you learn a lot - I'm sure you will. I'll bet it's beautiful in Colorado now - We loved the Falls there because we could buy the most delicious apples and squash and other Fall foods.

Claire and Bob - it was fun talking to you. I know I sounded "out of it" when you called Bob - I have been that way for the past two weeks now - the phone rings and I go into orbit - especially if it sounds long distance!!!! I know the electrical wiring is very inefficient in Aunt Marvel's home and we hope you can get it fixed so it will be better. We have heard from the Cleggs and they sound fine - I was worried that they were upset with us but they aren't. Please don't worry about the condition of your home when we get there - everything will be just fine.

Annie and Ron - this is a hard time - waiting and waiting and waiting!!!! I surely think it's easier to care for little babies if they weigh at least 7 lbs. so think of it that way - they come when they're ready. We're so thrilled for Sue and her husband and Ann says the little guy is just a doll!!!! We know you have enjoyed the Woolleys - I hope they're still close by while we're there so we can see them. The party your teachers had for you Ann sounded so nice - you have some wonderful friends. Our Stake Conference is this week-end and Bro. Derrick is going to be our General Authority - I have cleaned the pink bedroom for him!!! Daddy and John plan to leave right after conference on Sunday to come to Utah - if I still here I may drive out with them - depending of course on when the baby comes.

Guess what!!!! Carol Ann Willardsen called this morning to tell us they were going to put Art in as Stake President there. She was so thrilled and we were so thrilled for them and so pleased that they would call us. He is so young for that calling - he must be a very special person. Daddy wasn't here so I talked to her - we're going to call them tonight so Daddy can congratulate Art. I asked here about George and she said he had finally decided to "bite the bullet" and set up his practice there - he was being called this morning as a Stake Missionary so he must be active in the church. She also said he had broken up his girl friend. Carol Ann asked about Ann and Jean - she is a very sweet person and her family means a lot to her. I told her we were close to retiring and would spend more time in Utah and she said, "Oh, but you can't move from Arkansas until they release Uncle Lynn from being Stake President" - we really can't either but we'll be able to spend time away from Arkansas - I think!!!!! Carol and Elly will be so proud of Art - we're really happy for them.

The big news around here is that Bishop Gonce and his family are going to move to Colorado Springs - it isn't public yet so don't say anything to anyone who might be involved around here. I have heard it from so many people that I know it isn't a secret - I think Dave thought it would be best for the Ward to not make it known until closer to the time they would leave. They plan to be settled there the middle of Dec. We'll be getting a new Bishop and I really hate to see Dave leave - he has done a wonderful job in his calling and I love Laura - we really will miss them. I don't know if any of you have heard about and "Exchange" type of doing business - people exchange services and goods and you deal in exchange dollars instead of monetary dollars. I don't understand it at all but it is really going over throughout the United States. A man from the East who is a prominent member of the church called Daddy several months ago to see if there would be anyone in the church here who would want the franchise for it for Arkansas - Daddy took it to the Bishops but Dave said he doesn't remember hearing about it. Anyway - Nelson Rivers took the franchise here and he is just doing fabulous. Dave has an opportunity to go in with someone and take the franchise for Colorado so he going to move. We don't believe he has met with as much success here in his Real Estate work as he had hoped. We have also heard that their son Eric is being tested as a "gifted child" and maybe they feel there will be more opportunities for him in Colorado. Dave was over here the other night and he said Laura was thrilled about moving and wants to get some property and have a little farm, etc.

I went to a shower for Sherry Malan last Thursday night - it was at the Wiggins home and it was so much fun to be with friends from our old group again. Nell is still very large but Margie has lost about 150 lbs. and looks just great. Mike Stewart's wife was there and she is just lovely - he lucked out!!!! Sherry was married last night to a Charles Smith from North Little Rock - I have never met him but Daddy has and says he is very, very nice. He has been married before and has a daughter at BYU and two teenage sons so Sherry is getting a big family, Pete Wiggins is running for Mayor of Sherwood - Daddy and I were out in that area last week and saw a huge motor home with a large sign that said, "Pete Wiggins for Mayor" and when we got closer we saw it was Pete and his wife driving it. Pete works for his father and they just live in back of them and down a lit Pete Sr. isn't in very good health - they have remodeled their home to have his office in it.

Chris Jordin just called to tell me that Carol Hopkins is filing for divorce from Rand - it's in the paper today. We have known for a long time that wouldn't work out and we're glad she is finally going to get a divorce. Rand is married to his career and it could include Carol and she would be such an asset but I guess he doesn't want it that way.

Daddy received a letter from Mr. Henske who is President of Olin and who will probably be Pres. of Celanese-Olin - it explained everything about the merger. They expect it to be completed by the first of the year and they said the ones whose job would be likely to be affected would be those of top management - that includes Daddy. It's too early to know what will happen but it could very easily mean that they will offer him early retirement - this is what he is hoping. It's quite difficult right now because everyone is in a quandary but it's an exciting time.

Perry Turnbull Jr. is going to go to Vera Cruz, Mexico on his mission - he leaves next week. Daddy changed the Branch Presidency at Searcy last week - released John Sherwood from Branch President and he has held that position for 16 years - they put in a Bro. Mix.

John is doing great in school - says he has 4 confirmed A's and he's between A and a B in Match. He is sharp enough to get A's but he isn't self motivated - it's a constant struggle! He got to play a lot in his football game Saturday - they have a good them and when they get far enough ahead they let the B team go in - they won 28 to 8.

I think that's all the news. We're so excited to be with all of you - after the Utah trip we hope to plan one to Providence - it will be Thanksgiving and then Christmas before long!!!!

We surely do love each one of you and hope everything's going great. Please let us know if you need anything and BE CAREFUL!!!!!

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