October 21, 1979 - Little Rock

Dearest Ron, Ann & Susanna, Rick, Jean & Ricky and Roy,

We got our pictures back and they are so-o-o cute - I can't believe Ricky has grown so much and little Susanna's eyes just sparkle. We are relieved that you had a good report from your doctor about Susanna, Ann - she looks so healthy and she wouldn't be nearly as active if she had something wrong with her. We are so anxious to see them both and all of you too.

We were really happy to get your letter Roy - you are so busy with your studies I know it is hard to find time to write. We laugh about how your entire idea of time revolves around your anatomy tests - I surely hope it is interesting to you and not just burden some studying. Bob said he had a "horrible" biochemistry test - I believe he said the highest grade was 60 out of 100 - he has another one on Monday. I envy you your Wintry weather - ours has turned hot again and I think it should be time for Winter or at least Fall weather.

I'll be happy next week about this time - it is conference week-end and this one will be exciting with Bro. Packer coming but there is so much to do. You just would not believe our house - we are in the biggest mess. They called Monday and said our carpet would be laid on Tuesday but we had to get all our furniture out because the carpet layer had hurt his back - we put every single bit of all three bedrooms upstairs furniture in the living room and all of the downstairs bedroom on the pack pouch and the den furniture in the bar area - well he came Tuesday morning and took one look at it and said it was too big of a job for him because of his back - so they left the carpet in the driveway and left. We called Tom Bass at Carriage House and complained so he said he would try to get someone to came lay it - they came about 3 and said they would be back Wednesday morning and do it - so we carried our king size mattress back and put it on the floor to sleep Tuesday night - Wednesday they came and worked until noon and left - so we had to do the same thing Wednesday night - Thursday they promised they would come and finish it - they came at 4:30 in the afternoon and worked for a couple hours - Daddy really got upset and complained so they finished most of the upstairs bedrooms on Friday just barely in time for us to put the beds down for our Regional Representative and his Executive Secretary to spend the night with us. We haven't seen the carpet layers since and we are climbing over carpet and furniture and going crazy. I told you that we ran out of wallpaper so we had them order some more - we told her me needed twenty yards and she said it only came in 30yards rolls so we said that would be alright - it was supposed to come in four days and it took nine and when it came she had ordered 30 feet instead of 30 yards. I thought Daddy was going to have a heart attack!!!! There was no way we could get it here in time so we decided to not put it in the dinning area - we will just paint that and get a pretty mirror to go there and we really both feel that maybe it was a blessing in disguise because we think we will like it better. Our "Pit" group won't be here until Thanks giving and may not until Christmas!!!!! I don't think we will ever deal with Carriage House again.

I put my name on the list to do some substitute teaching this year - I thought they might get around to calling me in January or February but lo and behold last Wednesday morning they called to see if I would go teach 8th grade English and Reading at Booker Jr. High. I know from past experience that if you don't accept they put your name on the bottom of the list so I said I would go. As it turned out, it was for a Reading Conference and the teacher was gone Wed. Thur. and Fri. - I has the "low I.Q.", class and they were all black - I got along just fine until the last day and then one class was simply terrible and I had to send one of the girls to the office. Later that afternoon the principal, Mr. Barnhouse, came in to visit with me - he remembered Jeannie and Roy and asked about you. I really enjoyed teaching again and would be happy to go about two or three days a week only I would like to pick my days. They pay $25 a day but of that I will probably make $5 but it is fun to get out and Daddy doesn't mind.

I'm sure you have heard the Razorbacks beat Texas yesterday afternoon. It was on National Television but I heard that Utah didn't get it - did you get it in Providence, Roy.. We watched it and it was really a great game - Bob was able to get tickets for Claire and him so I'm sure they had a good time. You wouldn't believe all the car honking all night last night - it was like New Year's Eve all night.

I had to go to Searcy this morning for Relief Society - Daddy was here with John - last week we were both gone all day and we don't like to do that.

This next week is birthday week for Susanna and Roy - Susanna will be one year old and Roy will be 22 and usual I'm sure our gifts will be late. I had planned to do my shopping on Saturday but Daddy was in a meeting all day with our Regional Rep. and I didn't dare leave the house in case the carpet layers came!!!! I hope sometime we will all live close enough to have a birthday dinner together to celebrate.

We haven't heard from Grandmother and Grandpa Forrest - I hope their anniversary party will be in the afternoon but I have a feeling it will be at night - Dee and Don both have to work during the day. I keep thinking they will send me the announcement of it that is going to the papers. Johnny has decided to stay here and I'm disappointed but I don't blame him. His Scout troop is going to have a three day Buffalo River Float trip and he has looked forward to it for a long time. Claire said she would come and stay with him at night - I guess Bob will come also. We'll let you know when we plan to be there - it will probably be Friday or Saturday night.

Roy - we still don't know about the Temple trip in November. Daddy is going to talk to Bro. Packer about it - there seems to be some opposition to having it during the week of Thanks giving when families should be together. There have been a lot of preparations for it and I don't know if it'll be changed or not. We'll let you know. We would love to have Bob and Claire come with us and meet you and have Thanks giving together but we'll have to wait and see.

I can't think of any more news. We think about you all the time and hope so much that everything is really going good - we really miss being together. We're anxious to get our home fixed and have you all come home to see it - it won't be that special but it will be different. The carpet is really light - it has tones of green (light) and off white and it won't show the dirt - it's pretty!!!!

I just thought of some news - do you remember Barbara and Thad Horne who used to live here? They had four children and two of them fell in love with Little Rock kids - Brad Horne and Tammy McDaniels and Mary Ellen Horne and Donald Nance. Well the Hornes live in Layton now the both Tammy and Donald went out to make marriage plans - first they had set the date for the Summer, then the Fall and then Christmas time. Finally, Mary Ellen and Donald's marriage was postponed for several years because Mary Ellen's mother felt Donald should be through with his schooling - the Nances here have been very upset. Well - we heard last week that Tammy and Brad decided to run away and get married by a Justice of the Peace but when Barbara and Thad heard about it they hurried and arranged to have them get married in their home so they were married one night last week. We think it's kinda' funny because we know Barbara - she is very strict and tries to regulate her children's lives and even I know you can't do that!!!!!

We surely do love you and hope you'll be really careful in everything you do.
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