August 30, 1980 Little Rock, Arkansas

Dearest Ron, Ann, Susanna & Jessie; Rick, Jean, Ricky & Barbara Jean; and Roy:

It's Sunday morning and it's still HOT - the nights are finally cooling off to 75 - 80 degrees but if we open the doors or windows all the humidity comes in and it' s murder!!!

I have been able to cope in past Summers much better so I guess it's my age - Daddy doesn't seem to mind it - he works outside constantly and our yard is beautiful. He went to Arkadelphia this morning early for their Branch Conference and probably won't be home until late this evening. Last week in his talk at the Benton Branch Conference he told them that he was at the point of saying "Go Jump in the Lake" if anyone called to tell him of one more problem so this week has been a little calmer. You just wouldn't believe the calls he gets - one from Sister Wilhite scolding him for not wishing her Happy Birthday!!! I sorta' hope this is his last year as Stake President - it will be 4 years in April and he had said he would stay for 5 but actually he has done it for 13. Enough of that!!!

We loved your call Annie and to hear little Susanna say "Pa Pa" just made our day - oh how we would love to hear her say "I want a drink of water, okay"!!! When I told Johnny she was talking in sentences now he just grinned all over. I'm glad you're supplementing Jessie's food with a bottle now - it would be fun to tend her now.

We were watching a commercial on TV showing toddlers' clothing and I said that I would love to see little Ricky toddling and John said, "Is that what Ricky is - a toddler?" Anyway we talk about them all the time and I'm dying to get a picture of little Barbara Jean - I'm sure she has changed a lot. Are you feeling good Jeannie? I'm sending this article about Crohn's disease that was in the paper while we were gone - Pete saved it for us. It's nice to know you're in the upper "Socio-economic" group-Ha!

Roy - when I told Bob you had talked to Kim, Karen and Marilyn when you called last Sunday - immediately he said, "I hope it wasn't his dime". They all think a lot of you and are so interested in hearing about you. I feel sorry for that age group - there are so few of them and they're so sweet but they don't have much fun. They had come by "Christmas Caroling" and wanted some of our candy mints so you know how hard up they are. Karen is going seriously with our Bishop's son and we're all thrilled about that!!! There was a good article in our paper today about cancer research being done by a Medical Science Prof. at Brown Dr. Colabresi - do you know him? How was your first week of school - I'm glad you're not going to work this year. We hope you have a wonderful year.

Bob& Claire are doing fine - the Smithers want Claire to manage their gift shop by the "English Pub" they're opening here. She would like to but they can't pay her as much as she's making. Bob worked with the Elder's Quorum yesterday and they "shingled" a house - in 100-degree weather - he was really bushed!!! They took John to the Burns Park water slide Friday night and then came here for hot fudge sundaes - they're coming for dinner today - they're so busy we welcome their visits even though they're short!

John played racquetball for 4 hours yesterday with Garic Power and he could hardly get out of bed this morning. He likes school but he's home by 2:30 in the afternoon with nothing to do - he isn't playing football this year and all his neighbor friends are in private schools and they go all day. I'm grateful Daddy is home now and they are great pals!!!

I went to the Governor's Mansion to help the Beyers with a fashion show - they modeled clothes from the company Charles works for - "Utah Tailoring Company". The cheapest thing they showed was a "cotton" dress for $395. I'll send the program with the prices to you Annie - show it to Ron and he'll let you do "A Little Shopping in Dallas"!!! Ha!! (Roy - that's a Woolley family joke from the TV series, Dallas).

I have more to write but my hand is getting tired - I keep forgetting to take our typewriter to get fixed and I 'm lost without it.

I have been called to teach in Primary - the- 5 year olds. I'm also on the Primary Stake Board - Inservice Leader. I'm also mini-sewing chairman in Ward Relief Society. I teach school to keep my head on straight - I taught Reading at Southwest Jr. High last Wednesday and was Principal at Bale Elementary on Thursday really fun but Daddy is jealous - Ha!!!

We love you all so very much and we're really proud of you, we're pulling for all of you.

Lots of love,

Dad XO, Mom XO and John XO

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