February 17, 1980
Little Rock, Arkansas

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

We have tried to call the Weinerts this afternoon to check on little Ricky but you weren't home - we may try a little later tonight. We appreciated so much your calling us to tell us about his ear surgery - we hope so much that that will solve his problems and we're happy you decided to go along with his allergy tests - the poor little guy, he has gone through a lot of pain for just being six months old. We are surprised they would take out his adenoids since he's so young but I'm sure that will help too. Winter time is a hard time for little ones and especially those with ear and throat problems - we'll be happy to hear how he is doing!!!

Roy - Robert came over yesterday afternoon and he really looks good - he had just come from having his hair cut and he was dressed to go out to dinner and he looked mighty sharp. He said he had had a letter from you and that you were doing fine - he had come home because his grandfather had suffered a stroke (he's doing okay now) and we were surprised to see him. He told us about Witt and someone else who are going to New York and then to Europe for a few weeks - your friends do such exciting things!!!! We surely hope you are enjoying this Semester - we know you must be working hard.

Woolleys - is your life back to normal now? We miss you so much Annie - but we really miss little Susanna - I felt bad that I missed your call telling about your plane trip back home. The time is going by so fast and you will be going to the hospital before long - we're already excited. The people at church have all told me how much they loved seeing you and what a "doll" Susanna is. Have your drapes been put up yet? Dan Woods called and he was really upset that he didn't get to see you!!!!

Bob came over this afternoon after Sunday School and had dinner with us - I told him that I wouldn't want Claire to go away often but it really was nice having him spend some time with us - he took John to the boat and fishing show last night out at Barton Coliseum and John really needs a big brother around. Bob was so thrilled that you in Utah went to Claire's sisters wedding reception. Believe me, I know what an effort that was and I am really proud of you I know that would mean so much to Claire and to her family. She'll be home tomorrow night and we're anxious to hear how everything went - this was a real reunion for her because she hadn't seen her brother since he came home from his mission and she had never met Carolyn's fiancé - she was really excited.

Daddy and I were invited to join the "Chinese cooking experts" last night at a dinner at the Webster's home - it was really fun. We made pepper steak - in fact, we were right in the middle of making it when Robert came over - and it was delicious. We took our Wok and the others took theirs too and we learned so much - Laura Gonce made Wontons and wonton soup, Llewellyn Webster made egg roll and sweet and sour pork, Chris and Marc Jordin made cashew chicken, the Littlefields made fried rice (she put lettuce in it just before she served it and it was delicious), Wendy Halpin fixed a barbecued pork loin that was sliced and served cold with different sauces and sesame seed and she also made fortune cookies and the fortunes were just darling. We felt so smart having our own "wok" and we got so many good ideas that we are anxious to try - Daddy loved the wontons and I loved the egg roll - we will be experts by the time you get home Roy!!!!

I taught at Ish all last week and I'm supposed to go this next week also - I'm teaching a reading lab to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders and it's really fun and easy and I am learning so much - it I weren't so old I would go back to school and try to get a Master's Degree in reading - there is really a need for that here - most of the students in my class are black and their English is so different from mine I can hardly understand them - I tried to get one to say "forgot" and he just couldn't - it came out "forgat"!!!

After our dinner today, we went down to see the remains of the "Marion" and the "Grady Manning" hotels - maybe you read about their demolition in your newspapers. It has been in our news for so long that everyone in Little Rock was aware of it. They were scheduled to be demolished at 8:30 this morning and I was happy because the men would be in Priesthood and I could watch it on television and tell them all about it but someone went into the hotels during the night and did something to the way it was set up and they had to delay it a couple hours - Web Hubbell turned the switch on, Ann. I couldn't believe what was left of them - they just completely crumbled from the inside and collapsed into two huge heaps of bricks and debris - Johnny got a piece of the plaster with some wallpaper on it for a souvenir. They are going to build a big convention center there and it will be beautiful - Jeannie and Roy, do you remember going to Cotillion at the Grady Manning? Little Rock is growing.

We had a letter from Mr. Hinton telling us the will will be read at a probate on Feb.22nd at the court house in Provo, I believe. In the letter he told us that he would notify all the heirs who were left nothing - all the nieces and nephews that live in Garland - so they could go to the hearing! He said it wasn't necessary for us to be present. I guess this is a necessary part of the procedure so that those who were left out of her will could appeal it - it will be interesting to see what happens. We thought once of asking you to go to the hearing Ann since it wouldn't be too far but we decided that might put you in an awkward position - I really don't expect anyone to be there except the Judge, Bro. Schow and Mr. Hinton. I'll really be happy when this is all over - we're anxious to hear the appraisals on everything. We miss going to see Aunt Marvel - we would generally go over as a family on Sundays.

The James are getting ready to move - Frances is going to move to Oceanside, Cal. on the first of March and Bro. James is going to live with the Gonce family until he finishes up his contract the last of May. It is really hard for us to believe that she would leave him but she is a different type of person. Virgil really doesn't look very well and he has such a short time to live that we think she should make every effort to make his life happy - she and her mother will move and she has a sister and a son there also. Laura and Dave will be great to him but it isn't the same as his own home. The Sondrups are going to have an open house for them this coming Saturday.

The new church schedule will go in effect the first of March and our Ward will have the second group of meetings - we'll start at one in the afternoon and go until four. I think it is going to be great to not have so many meetings during the week but it is a little frightening to me because I think we must be getting ready for some drastic changes in our economy for the church to be so concerned about the use of the buildings and the gas for people attending the meetings. Daddy says they just won't approve any plans for buildings right now so the time may come when three and four wards may be meeting in a building - do I sound like Aunt Marvel and "dooms day"!!!!

We celebrated Valentine's Day by going to "Swensens" for an earthquake - my life has really changed in that regard - I used to spend hours making valentine cookies or cupcakes for the school parties and now I have to twist Johnny's arm to get him to give valentines to some of his friends and to take a valentine to his teacher would be MURDER!!

Tonight was sort of a Farewell for Hardy Cherry - he is leaving in a couple weeks for his Mission to Italy - a lot of the young adults were there to wish him well and his folks came also and they aren't member of the church. I know you don't know him Ann & Jean but Roy does.

I can't think of any more news - we think about all of you all the time and hope so much that you're all really happy and doing fun and interesting and worthwhile things and that you are HEALTHY. We love you very much and are really proud of you.


Return to Home Page