October 18, 1980
Little Rock, Ark.

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

I was so upset about the typewriter spacing bar not working and I came up to show Daddy so he could take it back to the people who fixed it and it started working - I don't know what happened but I hope it keeps working.

It was fun to talk to both Ann and Jean yesterday - you all sound so busy and happy. Mother and Daddy had called earlier in the week and said they had had quite a snowstorm so we were worried about Rick coming in from Milwaukee so we were happy you are back home safe and sound. We are so thrilled that Ricky did so well on the trip - that is quite an accomplishment for a child his age and we can just imagine how much the Weinerts enjoyed him - I thought it was interesting that they think he looks like Lynn because I really think he does. We really loved the pictures you sent Jeannie and that little Barbara Jean is a doll - even if she does look like you Rick - Ha!

Annie - we love your letters - I'm glad you're not going to have Susanna be a witch or a ghost - I think that can be terrifying for a child. You always loved to wear a costume but you wanted to be Cinderella or a Princess or Fairy or something pretty. John would give a million dollars to be able to come to her party - if we had our own airplane you could expect us - we're anxious to hear all about it. We hope you will take a lot of pictures of Susanna on her birthday and also some of Jessie - we try to imagine what she looks like - Jeanie says she is really tiny like Susanna. Ron - Annie told us a little about the contracts you were considering from Ford Motor Co. and it really sounds interesting - we're pulling for you.

Roy - you will soon be 23 years old - that is really young for all you have accomplished and we're so proud of you. We loved talking to you last week - I just sleep so much better when I know you're okay. You must really be working hard in your classes and we know you keep busy. Robert came over to see us yesterday afternoon - Daddy wasn't here but I had a really good visit with him. He got a ride home with someone so he came to make arrangements to move - his last week at Fayetteville will be next week and then he will be home for a week and then he says he is moving to New Orleans. My heart just aches for him - he claims to be happy but he is so mixed up. He is one of the most intelligent young men I have ever known and I feel that he will really be able to make a great contribution to the world if he doesn't have a setback - I had felt so good about him before this last accident - I really hate to see him move to New Orleans. He has never been on his own and he feels that is part of his problem but in my opinion he is going about it in the wrong way. You could have a big influence on him Roy - he really respects your opinions and trusts you. I told him he could stay with us whenever he wanted to but he says he has to leave - he promised to come see us before he leaves so if you know how we could help him please let us know.

Daddy is in Memphis today for a Regional Meeting - when he gets home we're going to go Bob and Claire's for dinner and to see some of their slides taken when they were in Europe this Summer. They have fixed their home so nice - it is really beautiful. We went to see them last night and Bob was painting in one room and Claire in another - Bob made a shower for them in their bathroom and she was painting the pipes. Their French doors really add to the living room part. Claire's sister, Carolyn, had a little baby girl yesterday - she was born a month early and only weighed 5 lbs. but she's doing fine. They live in Provo where her husband is going to school - they will name the baby Joanna. I know Claire feels a little touchy about being married longer than Carolyn and not having the first baby but she's sweet about it. I think Bob and Claire are planning a Utah vacation in March - Bob will have about a month between the end of the Semester and when he has to start working in the hospitals or something. He really is loving his schooling. David Bass just came up the street from visiting Anna Nicholson and he is such a nice looking young man and will graduate with his MD this Spring - doesn't seem possible. I'm up in the study and I can see more things going on - the Mahans have finally moved out and the people in their home are out walking around - I haven't met them yet.

Daddy and John played golf yesterday afternoon and really had a good time - they got home about 6 p.m. and they were so hungry and I had hamburgers all ready to cook. John talked us into going out to eat - every place we went was so crowded that we finally ended up in a Chinese Restaurant right next to the Black Angus on Markham by the stadium. We had the second most delicious dinner we have ever had - the best one was in Providence when we came for your graduation Roy, for Chinese food. We were so stuffed we could hardly walk out and none of us slept very well but it was really good. Daddy is trying to stick to the diet you sent him Jeannie - he really appreciated that - it was funny because the night before your letter came he had fixed a huge duck dinner and I told him duck was high in cholesterol.

The High Priests put on the Ward dinner on Friday night and Daddy was in charge of barbecuing the chicken - we had baked beans and tossed green salad and cakes to go with it. We had a huge crowd and as usual many of them never come to church. Daddy and Bob and John put on a "duck calling" demonstration and it was really cute - they were in the talent show. We have some really cute people in our Ward and a lot of young ones Bob and Claires ages - the church is growing so much. By the way - did you know that Kathy Snider is investigating the church? Ted Snider has been home within the last two weeks and he told Chris that she and her husband were really interested in it. John loves his activity in it - he is looking forward to the fireside tonight - especially because his friend, Susan Smith, from Fordyce is here and will stay for it. John hears from his friend, Wendi, in Utah too - he has an eye for beauty.

I taught at Fair Park Elementary school four days last week - I had a first grade class there and it was really enjoyable - the children going there must come from a good neighborhood. Daddy was at Henderson and they wanted him to have a math class for a month but he doesn't want that responsibility and I don't blame him - when you have to make out lesson plans and worry about whether or not they are learning it gets to be a real job - substituting is so nice because when you leave at the end of the day you leave yours worries there.

The deadline for the probate of Aunt Marvel's will is next Sunday - we talked to Mr. Hinton yesterday and everything is in order as soon as we let him know our decision about the property on the ten acres. We're not going to make a fuss about it because we did get the half of the fifty acres that we wanted. We will really be happy to have the deeds in our name - we'll feel a little better about living in the home when we're in Utah and having you kids use it. You and Ty will love it when you go out in December Roy - Daddy will have to explain to you have to turn the water on for the front bathroom and also how to turn the water heater on - he drained it all when we left so it wouldn't freeze.
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