December 31, 1978 - Sunday

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

We are finally getting some Winter weather - it is really cold day and it's raining and they're predicting light snow flurries tonight and tomorrow. Daddy and Johnny are leaving tonight right after Sacrament Meeting to go to the Black River to go duck hunting - I hope they don't have problems.

Tomorrow is the first day of 1979 - the years go by so fast it's hard to keep up with everything but we're looking forward to a wonderful New Year and we hope you are too. I probably have more things I really want to come about in this next year than I have ever had before - first of all, we want to Weinerts to have a baby and everything else is secondary to that but we would also like Bob and Claire to come to Little Rock for Med. School, Roy to be able to stay in Med. School and Ron and Ann to help little Susanna grow strong and healthy and Johnny and Daddy and I to be happy and healthy here at home - is that too much????? Johnny gave a 21/2 minute talk in Sunday School this morning and it was on setting goals - he read that cute poem that goes, "If you think you are beaten, you are; Is the man who thinks he can." And I think we can accomplish all our goals for 1979!!!! Incidentally, Bob and Claire, he got his talk from the "Especially for Mormon" books you got for Daddy - they're wonderful. I hope we can each one grow spiritually and become more tolerant of each other's weaknesses and especially I hope we can continue to give each other, "unconditional love", that is so important in a family and you never know when you might be the one who needs that type of love and if we have the security of our family we can accomplish anything we want to - enough philosophizing (sp.?);!!!!!

We have had a wonderful holiday and it has been great having Roy home - he'll go back to school on Thursday - we're going to take him to Memphis. He has really been tied up in knots while he's been home - he has some tough courses to take finals in when he gets back. Jill came over and had dinner with us last night and then they went to see "Superman" - she requires a lot of his time but they seem to enjoy each other and have done for about seven years - she goes back to school on Wednesday.

There were a lot of visitors in Sunday School this morning - Debbie Ricks Ford and her little Cassy were there - Debby looks wonderful and she asked all about you Jeannie. Millie and Fred had Fred Jr. little girl with them too and the two were dressed just alike - they were having a ball. Fred Jr. and his wife are divorced but he gets the little girls quite often. The Wayne Smiths were there with Linda and Jamie - did I tell you that Linda and Ken have gone back together again and Linda is expecting. Chris and Wayne are going to Alabama next week and then they'll be back here in March and plan to build a new home in our ward - they're going to seal their home in Hot Springs - they have never been happy with it.

Laura Gonce looked so pretty this morning - Dave gave her a diamond necklace for Christmas and she bought a dress to go with it - she has a hard time past few months - first they were going to move and then they weren't and they have definitely decided to stay here. They spent Christmas in Champagne, Illinois with Laura's sister and her Husband and family and they baptized them while they were there.

I went shopping with Karen Woods last Friday - Jim had given her money for a new coat and she wanted me to go with her to pick it out. They are really sweet people - a little different but it's because they have always lived close to their families and have had a lot of attention. Jim taught our Sunday School class this morning and he is really, really good - he has always been very brilliant and he is an excellent teacher.

We are really enjoying all the wonderful Christmas gifts you sent - you were all so thoughtful and we appreciate it very much. I have had a lot of fun with my Mill & Mix but I have had some failures too - making bread is much more than just following a receipt - you have to know when you have added enough flour and when to bake it and when it is done - I intend to learn all those things and I hope my family doesn't get burned out before I learn.

We surely do love each one of you and hope you have a very Happy and Successful NEW YEAR - we're willing to help in any way we can.
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