August 24, 1980 Sunday Little Rock, Arkansas
Dearest Ron, Ann, Susanna & Jessie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, & Barbara Jean; and Roy:
It's Sunday morning and John is fixing his favorite breakfast-hash browns from
raw potatoes, bacon and eggs - I'm so glad he likes to cook!!! Daddy is in
Benton for their Branch Conference.
School starts tomorrow - hooray!!! They will just go until 1 p.m. because of the
heat - you can't imagine our weather - it is really hot and we haven't had any
rain for two months so we're having all kinds of fires - the hillsides on the
freeway were on fire the other night when we cam home from the Stake Center-it's
kinda' scary.
Roy - you start school tomorrow too, don't you? We have tried to call you
several times but your line has been busy - we try to call in the evenings when
John is still up. We hope so much that everything is going good with you and
that you have a wonderful school year. Robert came over one day last week - he
had such a good time in Chicago - now he wants to live there. EVERYONE wants to
leave Little Rock after this Summer. Robert really looks good and feels better
about himself that I have ever seen him - I really appreciate his thoughtfulness
in coming to see us. He said Jack had been accepted in the University of
Arkansas law school - that's great. They are sharp boys. Did you get the drape
made for your closet?
Claire has been in New York all week. Bob started school last Monday and he
works at night at the Med. Center so he's really busy. He said his classes go
from 9 - 5 everyday and that's a full schedule but he really loves it. He cut a
tree down for John Merrifield yesterday so he could have the wood for his
fireplace.
Little Ricky is walking!!! We can hardly stand being so far away from our
grandchildren. We can just imagine how much happier he will be now and really
easier too.
I wish we were close enough to stay with little Susanna & Jessie while you go to
your neighborhood parties - I remember those times and you really need to go to
them.
Would you please send us just a little snapshot of Jessie and Barbara Jean
showing their faces close up - all our pictures have Jessie's little head down
and we don't have any of Barbara Jean.
We're thrilled about you being office manager of your company Rick - Keep up the
good work!!!
I'm the Stake Inservice leader in Primary and Pat Greer is on the board too as
pianist - she wasn't to our Board Meeting last week and I was disappointed
because I was going to ask her what they decided to do about that energy thing
for cars. I'm upset they didn't do something for Ron after he spent all that
time researching that and so is Daddy!!! People tend to "use" us, I'm afraid!!!
Don and I are trying to divide the meadow and it is actually funny. He sent us a
proposal and we said we would accept it if we got the North side and he was
really upset - he said Daddy had told him he wanted the South Side. Daddy would
prefer the South side but I definitely want the North side - but I want them to
be equal in value and I would be willing to flip a coin if necessary. Well - Don
came back with a proposal that he would take the South Side if we gave him the
well - when he proposed that we get the South side we only got 50% of the well.
I can't believe that he thinks we are so dumb. We still haven't agreed!
Jimmy left Wednesday - I'm sure he had a good time - he's really a nice boy!!!
John & Ronnie went to Fordyce Friday night to stay with Deanne and Will Smith
and their 2 beautiful daughters - they played tennis and swam and came home on
the bus last night - they really had a good time.
Daddy has rebuilt the boat - he has done a super job.
We love you all so very much.
Dad XO, Mom XO and John XO