September 7, 1980 Sunday Little Rock, Arkansas

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

It's Sunday afternoon and it really is different to realize that our meetings are over for the day - our schedule changed today from 1-4 to 9-12 and I think it will be nice. Daddy left at 6 a.m. to go to Batesville and won't be home 'til late - the new consolidated meeting schedule works for everyone but Stake Presidents!!!

I have surely thought about you a lot Annie since hearing about your scare!!! For Roy: Ron and Susanna went with two other men and their children out on Utah Lake on a 24 ft. boat - they were supposed to be home before dark and when they weren't back by 9 p.m. they got the Coast Guard and the Sheriff to look for them. They finally found them about midnight - the motor had stopped and they couldn't get it fixed. They didn't have any food because they were just going to be gone a couple hours and I guess that was their biggest problem because it was warm and the lake was calm. We're so thrilled everything turned out good - that's the sort of thing that really makes you aware of your blessings - it's also the sort of thing that brings grey hairs!!! I can just see little Susanna slipping right through a life jacket and yet we know how cautious Ron is so we won't worry about that!!!

I have to sit on my hands practically to keep from calling the Weinerts - we have talked to Annie and Roy this week and I know it's our turn to call you Jeannie. Our phone bill was almost $100 last month so I decided it would be considerably less this month. Every night in our prayers we pray that little Ricky won't get hurt too bad while he's learning to walk - I couldn't stand to see him with a "fat lip". We surely hope your work schedule is working out good Jeannie. I appreciate so much your going to Brigham City to visit Grandma & Grandpa Forrest - that means a lot to them and to me too. They called the other night while I was at Relief Society - they told Daddy they couldn't get the truck licensed any more without the title and they wanted me to send it to them so Dee could have it legally. It's hard for me to talk about things like that to them because deep down I know Aunt Marvel wanted us to have the truck so I wrote them a letter saying they could have it. I would like to think Dee would be generous in letting you all use it if you wanted to but I doubt he will. It's really strange that a 50 year old man has to have his mother call to take care of his business - enough of that! U

Roy - did you watch the game Monday night? It was a sad night for Arkansans - it looked like our team just wasn't ready!!!! Robert came over yesterday and stayed to eat with us - we had a good visit - he had come home to get some more furniture. He really looks good - altogether he has lost about 50 lbs, he said.

He said Jack likes law school but they aren't on speaking terms even though they pass each other going to classes - he said they had a disagreement this Summer that hasn't been resolved - how sad for brothers to be like that!!!

I taught all week at Brady in the third grade for a teacher whose father died of a heart attack after watching the game. John said, "That' s taking it too seriously"!!! Thursday afternoon, just a few minutes before they were dismissed, Daddy walked in and said, "Take a deep breath" - he about scared me to death-and then he said, "I'm on my way to the airport to pick up the Willardsens". They had called Sandy Jones (our Mission President's wife) because they couldn't get us and wanted her to find us so we could go meet them. I wanted to get on the bus with the kids and go home with them. I'm the Stake Inservice Leader in Primary and we were having Stake Leadership on Saturday morning and I had Primary "stuff" all over the kitchen and living room - I had taught a sewing class in Relief Society Tuesday night and went to a sewing class Wednesday night - OUR HOUSE WAS A MESS!!!

When I got home I found 6 ducks in the sink that Daddy had decided to thaw and cook for them for dinner!! They came about 15 minutes after I got home - seven of them!!! There was no way we could get the house cool enough for them - 102 degrees and 80 percent humidity - they all slept downstairs.

They called last night and they had just made it home - they stopped Friday night in Durango, Colorado so the kids could see that part of the country. They had been to Mt. Rushmore, Nauvoo, Washington D.C. and Williamsburg before they got here - their little plane scares me to death but they don't worry about it. Carol and Elly are in Indiana - Carol became ill and had to be hospitalized - Carol Ann called them from here and they don't know when they'll get to the Mission home in Michigan.

Do you read these long letters???? I don't believe I would. I think I write them more for me than for you - I miss you all so much and this is my way of having a visit with you!!!

Johnny is getting his fishing gear all ready - I think if it ever cools off they'll go fishing. Our big boat works great. Bob and Claire, Daddy & John & I went water skiing on the river on Labor Day - Fun!!!

Please be careful and let us know if we can help you. We love you all so very much.

Lots of love,

Dad XO, Mom XO and John XO

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