Little Rock, Arkansas
January 17, 1981


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

We are having really cold weather - so cold Daddy had to bring the typewriter downstairs for me to type my letter - my fingers would get frostbitten upstairs!! It was 180 here last night and only up to 380 today - that probably sounds warn to you Roy - we have been watching the weather news each night and you have really had some cold temperatures. Claire has been in New York and just got home last night - we talked to her today she said it was cold outside but her hotel room was warmer than their house is here so she wanted to go back. The Utah weather sounds good - are you still having your fog?

We were so happy to receive your sweet letter Jeannie - we are so anxious to hear if they did the newspaper article on you - what an honor!!! Be sure and send us some copies - I would like to show one to Mr. Blasingame at work and other friends at church and the neighbors - it isn't often "we" get in the news. We're glad Rick's Mom is doing good - I'm sure the pressure of caring for her mother and then her husband for so long would be hard and it's probably a great relief to have some rest. You didn't mention Ricky's ears - we hope hasn't had any more trouble with them. I'm sending you this picture of you and Pam because I know you want it - I would love to have it too but since there is just one, you should have it.

Annie - have you started back to teaching yet - did they have a Christmas vacation? Is Ron traveling - we have read several articles about accidents involving Ford Motor Company and we think of him. Did the renters get out? I was talking to one of the counselors in our Primary Presidency the other day and she was telling of all the problems in our Ward - when I told her about your large Primary she couldn't believe it - we hope yours is going good. I am prophesying that part of the new correlated program won't work - an hour and forty-five minutes for that age child is too long.

Roy - we hope everything is going good with you. I thought about you last Tuesday when Frank White was inaugurated as our new Governor because I know you were a fan of Bill Clinton. Clinton's farewell speech was really hard for him to give - he and Hillary and their little girl all cried. Their home is by one of the ladies I go for visiting teaching and we went by their the night of the inaugural ball and every light was on and we could see Bill Clinton sitting inside - it was kinda' sad except that Daddy thinks he will be Governor again in a couple years. I am not sold on White but a lot of people are. Bob had a test on "drugs" last Monday and he said it was really hard - his lab partner made 30 on it and Bob said he made a 73 and was thrilled - he said 60 was passing. I'm surely glad I don't have to pass tests like that anymore - I have to relearn from one day to the next on everything I teach.

John is going to Cotillion tonight and he looks so nice in his navy blazer and grey slacks - he goes forty million miles an hour all day - he was up on his own this morning before Daddy and I waked up and went to the church to practice basketball and then he and Derek and Ronnie have been playing with David Bass all day. David will graduate this spring - it doesn't seem possible - he told Johnny he was going to go into radiology - Janie would surely have been proud and I feel bad that she isn't around to see him graduate. The kids really have fun playing basketball at his place but the Luten's dog drives the neighbors crazy with her barking and Betty refuses to put her in while they play.

Bob and Claire came over to visit so I stopped my letter - now it is Sunday afternoon. Daddy left early this morning to go to Hot Sprints and Glenwood for their Ward and Branch Conferences and won't be home until late tonight. He is going to miss this. He sent his letter to Pres. Ezra Taft Benson on Thursday telling him that he would like to be released this April - he had a hard time putting it in the mail box but he finally did - I don't think you ever know if you have done the right thing but we both feel good about this even though it will be the hardest thing we have ever done in all our lives. We have been talking about the two homes for a little while and spend the Summers in Utah and also Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, and then the Winters here - Bob doesn't thin this is a very good idea - he thinks we should make a clean break - we think it would be easier the other way - who knows what we will do, but after our April conference it will be easier to decide. Daddy called and talked to Boyd packer first and he said that the Stake President's job was a temporary one and it wasn't a good idea to put off permanent plans on the basis of a temporary calling - that made Daddy feel better - he has never asked to be released from a position before. Daddy and I went to the Stake Center yesterday to talk to the Special Interest groups and I get a little sick when I see how much they love and respect Daddy and he really is needed here. Susan Bohn Barnes was there - she has a little boy about a year and a half and I guess she is divorced and has come here to live - she looks really cute. I asked her about Pam Stowell and she said she was in Las Vegas with her folks.

I had a letter from Ellen Mae last week and she had a masterstomy on December 10th. I called and talked to her and she said she was doing fine and would go back to her teaching job in a week or two. She said she had expected to see you, Jeannie, at the hospital but didn't - I told her you didn't know about it. It would be nice for you to call her if you get time.

I am still teaching at Mann - the teacher I'm substituting for is not going to come back - they asked me if I would be interested in it and I said No, that I didn't want a full time job - I didn't tell them I didn't have Arkansas Certification - the people who hired me know that but the principal doesn't, I guess. I have really enjoyed it and have learned far more than the students - in fact, I feel that I have been paid for going to school and have had a year's reading course in six weeks - I believe I will limit my substituting go just reading from now on - I feel so much qualified than ever before. Hopefully, next week will be my last. I had to give grades and when they get and Central last week - he really enjoys it and they enjoy him.

We have had a strange strain of flu virus in Arkansas - many of the schools have been closed. Johnny was sick Sunday, Monday and Tuesday body - Daddy took him to school Monday afternoon to take one of his exams for the Semester and they wouldn't let him take it but sent him home - they said that half of the student body was out and they didn't want anyone contagious to come back to school.

Claire really looks good - she is gaining weight and it looks good on her. Bob has replaced all the pads on the piano and the black keys and now he is going to start on the white keys - Claire says it plays a thousand percent better. He only has two little vices so he has had to do them two at a time - we have gone over there several times and he has been working on it - he says she plays it constantly and loves it. she worked on the Easter catalog in New York and said she loved it - she says the gold chains are going out and big chunky jewelry is coming in - white socks and gauzy material in the dresses and definitely lower heels - the hemlines are variable.

I just called the Prothros and finally got someone home - I have called a dozen times. Ed answered and said he had brought Ellen home on Friday afternoon and she was feeling pretty good. She had company so I didn't talk to her.

We finally got the deeds on our Lehi property - they didn't' sent the canyon land deeds because they had to keep security until they are sure the IRS will accept the taxes that were paid. We feel good about things and we're so happy it is all settled. Today is Aunt Marvel's birthday - she would have been 92 and I'm so glad she isn't still in rest home - every time we pass there we comment on how happy we are that she has passed away. With the interest rates on money so high now, we would sell the property and live on the interest payments - that would be super but we won't!!

We love you all so very much and we're so proud of you - please be careful in everything you do and let us know if we can help you in anyway.
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