September 28, 1980
Little Rock, Ark.

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

This is a beautiful cool and rainy day and it is most welcome - I feel as if I can live now. It was so funny - today in Testimony Meeting, Jim Brown was thankful that he was cold - I guess there are other people who don't like the hot weather besides me!!!!

Annie - we really love your letters and we were thrilled to receive our first art work from a grandchild and I wanted to frame it - thank you, Susanna!!!! Your yard is going to be a showplace when Ron gets through and it tickled me to have you compare Ron's attitude towards spending money on the outside and the inside of the house. I remember wanting something so bad for our home and we couldn't get it for awhile and I stood outside and looked around at not only the yard but all the fishing and hunting boasts and they seemed so important even to me - men have a way of knowing exactly what they want and for some reason most women have other priorities. I really love a pretty yard though and if it isn't pretty the inside doesn't look so nice even though you have it furnished nicely. We're anxious to see if everything grows - we hope so!!!! You have certainly done wonders for being in your home such a short time. I'm glad Susanna is doing so well without her binkys - I found one here the other day - I really think it is Ricky's and I'm going to save it for an emergency.

Roy - did Link tell you I called? I'm afraid I made him late for class - it is really hard to get you - it is either too late, or too early or class time or your line is busy! We surely hope everything is going good for you and that your finances are squared away - we can't just imagine how busy you are and we hope you'll let us know if we can help you in any way.

Jeannie - we can just imagine how busy you are too!!!! - both you and Rick. I'll bet you don't ever get more than three hours sleep at a time. When I see babies at church I always ask their ages and then I try to imagine what little Barbara Jean and Jessie look like - I'm sure they have really changed since we saw them last. Bob and Daddy went to the Med. Center last Monday and they took some blood so they could run all kinds of tests on them - Bob had the results yesterday and Daddy's cholesterol count is too high - he is going to send the things to you so you can prescribes a diet for both of them if you will. Bob's is way too low and Daddy's is too high. I sure would like to be close enough to you to take your children for a couple days to give you a little rest and also Annie.

We had a letter from Mildred Cantrell last week and she had some sad news - Angie Marinelli is in a rest home - she had been in the hospital for surgery and when she came home I guess she went like Aunt Marvel did and he couldn't handle her. Angelo is 80 and she is 77 - I didn't realize they were that old. Also - Aino Maryers had surgery and has a colostomy (sp.?) now - both Robert and John are still living at home and haven't married. Mildred is really worried about Dale - she said he worked in Yellowstone all Summer - he has a motorcycle and goes off by himself all the time. When I hear things like this it really makes me grateful for our wonderful and outstanding family!!!!

I had such a nice surprise the other night - Patsy Montgomery called. I had to think for a little while to try to remember who she was. (For Roy - she worked in the office at Penneys with Ann and Jean for about four years at the time they worked during the Summers and also when they came home for Christmas.) She was so sweet and asked all about you - they had just come back from Hawaii and while they were there they went to the Mormon Temple land met someone who knew Daddy - he had given her his card and she had mailed it to us and she couldn't remember his name so we're anxious to find out who it is. Their oldest daughter is working at Cajun's Wharf as a Manager and she is divorced - their other daughter is married and has one child - a little boy, I believe and her son (did she have one or two?) is also married and all their children live here. She made me promise that when you kids come home you will call her so she can come see you. She told this man in Hawaii that she wasn't Mormon but she knew two girls who were the most wonderful girls she had ever met who were Mormons and they had had a big influence on her life - we're PROUD of you!!!!

I have a shocker for you ----- Johnny just loved Seminary!!!! He has it every Tuesday morning and he gets up by himself and rides his moped to church at 5:45 a.m. Brother Cobb is his teacher and he must be doing a really good job. He had just gone for two weeks but he's off to a good start anyway - our meetings are from 9 - 12 and this afternoon he has spent all his time doing his Seminary work. Bob and Claire are going to come over for dinner in a little while and Johnny just came up and asked me if we could play "Seek" while they're here - I think he thinks he can stump us and he probably can. He played in the Volleyball tournaments at the Stake Center all day yesterday and really loved it. He had gone to the Fair with his school friends on Friday night and was worried that he wouldn't get enough sleep to play as well as he should. Incidentally, Patricia Littlefield was bringing some kids home from the games and she lost control of their station wagon on Reservoir road and it really wrecked their car but none of the kids were hurt - it had been raining and she hit a big puddle of water.

Linda Smith Garrett has been in the hospital all week - she had a miscarriage and had complications - Chris and Wayne came from Alabama to help out. We have been to visit her quite a few times and she has had a rough time - has to stay down for four to five weeks.

Roy - Keith Jones is going to get married - I wish I could tell you to whom!!!! She is a member of the church from North Little Rock and I understand she is really pretty - Daddy has met her but I haven't I don't believe they're going to get married until Christmas time. Steve and Cindy Jones are really doing a good job with their little brother, Brent.

Pete' Hipps' mother has terminal cancer - they operated on her last Monday even though they said the operation wouldn't give her even one extra day of life. She is 88 year old so it isn't really sad unless she has to suffer. Ralph isn't doing well at all. I called Helen Bridges to tell her about Pete's mother and we had a good visit - Janie is working at Merrill-Lynch, etc. and living with another girl in an apartment - Dianna isn't married again yet but she has a boy friend who is in politics in North Carolina and they entertain a lot - she is still teaching school. Doug and Tina are very active in the Presbyterian church - she said to be sure to tell you that. Helen and Dean went to Hawaii last Spring and she loved the Mormon Polynesian Center - she said she didn't realize there were so many Mormons.

Daddy taught every day last week - he is really in demand - someday he comes home so mad at the kids he could kill them and the next day he just loves them - it is really good for him. The Head of the Chemistry Dept. at Central asked him if he would take over for her if she had to take a leave of absence - I don't know if she is planning something or not but he said he would. I think he is much happier when he is doing this but it could get to be too much. I only taught Three days - Tuesday, both Daddy and I spent the day at "Our Way" ( that place for the handicapped) giving a Bingo party - I forgot that we did that so Daddy only taught four days, but they called him that morning and he said he couldn't go.

Bob and Claire have come so I'll quit for now - I have told you everything I know and some things I don't. It is so neat to have them come spend part of Sunday with us - they are doing great - Bob says school is hard but he really is enjoying it. Bob spends a lot of time fixing up his house - yesterday he jacked up a floor that was sagging and put in a new board. We're going to have sour cream enchiladas for dinner - wish you all were here.

I forgot - our renters are moving out Friday - the wife is divorcing the men and he can't afford to support her and have that home. We have had a lot of people call but nothing definite has been done yet. I DON'T LIKE RENTALS!!!!!

Please be careful in everything you do - we love you all so very much and really do miss you.
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