July
13, 1980 Sunday Little Rock, Arkansas
Dearest Ron, Ann, Susanna & Jessie; Rick, Jean & Barbara Jean; and Roy:
I really believe Roy is on his way home so I'll save his letter here!!! He left Providence on the 10th and was going to spend a couple days with friends on the way home - we'll surely be happy when he gets here.
We had such a treat this week - letters and pictures from both of our Utah families. Little Barbara Jean is BEAUTIFUL and I'm so thrilled you're going to call her by both names - we haven't even seen her but her name comes so naturally and it gives me such a special feeling because I have always loved my name.
Annie - I love your hair, and we were so thrilled to get a picture of your whole family together and it's such a good one. (Ron - you are thin!) The one of Susanna by Jessie in the swing is just priceless - I'm so proud of both Ann & Jean for dressing your little dolls so feminine - ribbons in their hair and ruffles and lace - little Susanna's "stylish" stockings. Johnny cut the picture of Ricky (with that thing on his head) to fit his wallet and then one he took of Susanna on the lawn in Lehi - he isn't too interested in Jessie and Barbara Jean yet!!!
John recovered from his ear infection by Friday so he could go to Youth Conference. He was REALLY sick - when I took him in to see the doctor on Monday morning the doctor turned to me and said he was surprised John wasn't still screaming - he said he had five boils in his ear and it was so tight there was no way the ear drops were getting to the problem - and he had been on penicillin for two days!!! He stayed in bed until Thursday just sleeping - I had to "coax" fluids down him and I know he has lost 10 pounds. The doctor told him - "No more swimming for a long time John" - would you believe he went swimming yesterday at Youth Conference?
Daddy
& Ricky & I went to Hot Springs yesterday to go to the
Youth Conference banquet. Ailleen Beyers called and offered to
watch Ricky for us for a couple hours - we thought that was a
good idea because he had been with them and their little girls
before for an evening. I guess Lindsey (the one his age) took
something away from him right after we left and he started to cry
so Ailleen gave him his bottle and he went to sleep until just
about 10 minutes before we got back - it reminded me of the way
Jeannie used to cope with unpleasant experiences. He was REALLY
glad to see us when we got back and since he had had a "late" nap
we played with him until midnight and he was SO cute - he is
crazy about his Grandpa!!! The first thing John said to us when
we saw him at the banquet was "Where's Ricky"? He was
disappointed we hadn't brought him. They have become pals!!!
He has lost weight Rick & Jean - I hope you won't be mad at us -
he spits his potatoes out but loves his meat, vegetables and
fruit and he is SO active there is no way he can gain weight - we
got him some hard soled shoes because the doctor said he was
turning his feet out but they are hard to put on and he doesn't
like them.
You wouldn't believe this heat - it has been over 100 degrees and mostly 105-107 since we came back from Utah - our home is really comfortable because we have closed off the upstairs and live in the downstairs, but many people are really suffering and the chickens and livestock are dying and many crops are lost. We have said many times how grateful we are that Aunt Marvel didn't have to live through this Summer.
The water pump at Maumelle broke down so they have asked us to stop watering our lawns. Daddy went out to the welfare farm yesterday morning and he said it was dry and dusty and everything will be lost except some purple hulled peas.
Bob & Claires' lawn and shrubs are so dry - we feel bad because they took such good care of our place. We haven't heard from them but I'm sure they're having a wonderful time. They come home Sunday night about 8 p.m. - we plan to pick them up and take them home and then leave for Utah.
We're going to meet Chris & Wayne in Russellville so we'll drive out together - we'll probably get to Utah Tuesday morning sometime. We'll bring Ricky home soon after we get there because after that long drive he'll want his own bed.
We don't know what to do about a party for Carol & Elly - we'd surely like to do something for them.
We love you all so very much - please be careful in everything you do.
See you soon.
Dad XO, Mom XO and John XO