December 24, 1978 - Sunday

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

"T'was the night before Christmas" - actually it's the morning before and I have a few minutes before we go to Sunday School so I'm going to start my letter - it's going to be a busy day. We're going to leave right from church and go to Daddy's office and call you on the "squawk box" - I hope we won't have any problems because if we do we may not get you before Bob has to leave for work.

This has been a fun week - we have really enjoyed having Roy home - he went to get Jill on Monday afternoon and came back Tuesday and has been with us since then. He's glad to be home but he is studying quite a bit - I remember when Ann and Jean went to the BYU they had their Semester finals after Christmas too - they changed it though and it makes it so much nicer.

Later ---- we have talked to you and you all sound so happy - our mouths were all watering, your dinner sounded just luscious. We are so thrilled you would plan to have a holiday dinner together - we talked when we were eating our dinner how much fun it would be if we could get together for Christmas Eve and then all stay together through Christmas day - sometime maybe that will work out. We went to Sunday School together this morning and we had beautiful services and there were a lot of visitors - the Hicks were there visiting and they asked about all of you and sent you their love.

Tonight at Sacrament meeting Daddy is going to be the speaker - it is so funny - Sister James was in charge of the program and she is in Phoenix so about a month ago she asked Daddy to talk and he hasn't heard any more about it so he wasn't sure if he would be on the program - when they passed out the programs this morning his name was there so now he's preparing - I'm sure he'll do a wonderful job.

The Woods have sent over their Gingerbread men - they have done that every year since we have lived here. Dorothy's parents are here and they're so sweet. Dana is finished at Arkadelphia now - she has a degree in music from there - next Semester she will go the University where she will work on a degree in Home Ec. Terry leaves the first of January to go to a Baptist school in Fort Worth - they are a wonderful family. They were so thrilled to receive your picture card Ann and Ron and Terry was so happy to receive a card from you Bob and Claire.

Daddy and Johnny and I went to the Clarendon Branch Christmas dinner and program - that's about sixty miles from here - they just meet in a little old home and there are so few of them but they have such a sweet, humble spirit - I believe that is the thing I will remember most of all about this Christmas - it was a cold night and the town is very small (about 2,500) but most of the homes had Christmas decorations in their 1 window. Last Monday night for family Home Evening we drove out to Otter Creek - they had a Santa Clause meet the cars at the gate and give out candy canes and then there were men guiding the traffic - they had paper bags with candles and gravel in them to light the roads and it took about an hour and a half to go through the entire development - it was just beautiful and the homes were all decorated. After that, we went to Swensens and had an "earthquake" - Bob will remember what that is!!!!! It was fun.

Jeannie and Rick we were so thrilled to receive the pictures of your drapes - they are simply beautiful and we are really anxious to see them in person - your new furniture looks great too (at least the one chair we could see). We know this will be a special Christmas for you in your new home - we are more thrilled than anything over your new doctor Jeannie - we just know he is going to be able to help you.

Bob and Claire - we have really loved your phone calls and your wonderful letter - we're so happy you would go see Grandmother and Grandpa too - I called them yesterday morning to see how Grandmother was and they hadn't received the results from the brain scan yet but they said they would let me know. I'm afraid I upset Mother - I couldn't believe she would sign that quit-claim deed for some property the Rhodes own in Lehi - they had sent one for Aunt Marvel to sign and I wrote back that she wouldn't sign it until we investigated - Mother said it didn't amount to anything, so maybe I'm wrong.
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