May 3, 1981 Little Rock, Arkansas
Dearest Ron, Ann, Susanna & Jessie,
Rick, Jean, Ricky & Barbara Jean,
and Roy,
This will be a super short letter - I have to give a talk in Jacksonville and have to leave in about twenty minutes - Daddy said he would write to you too. I have had the hardest time preparing this talk - it's to the Young Adults and they asked me when Daddy was Stake President because they wanted the "Mother of the Stake" to give a Mother's Day talk. I was so relieved when Daddy was released and then they called back and said Sister McChesney couldn't do it and would I please do it. This is such a hard group to talk to because the girls all want to get married and there is no magic formula that will bring that about - and how interested will this group of young men be in a Mother's Day talk - but, I'm going to do it!!!!
We just called the folks and they are really excited about their trip - they leave from Salt Lake on Tuesday and will leave Chicago that night and fly all night to
Amsterdam (sp.?) I'm sure we'll here all about it this Summer. Daddy said they are building a home with 30,000 sq. ft. in it on that lot he sold South of their home - he must have meant 3,000 - he says it is going to be mansion with a big swimming pool and I don't know what else. They're more excited about that than they are about their trip. They say Brigham City is really growing for some reason - that would really be a nice place to live.
I went to a baby shower for Claire last Tuesday - her friends at Cohns gave it for her and it was really, really nice. There were about 15 young women there and they are all buyers and they travel all over - one had just come back from Europe and another was just leaving to go to the Orient. She got some lovely things for the baby. It was really nice to meet her friends. She and Bob went to Memphis on Friday and stayed overnight - she had business there - they really had a good time. Claire doesn't look very big to me but the doctors say the baby will come the first of June.
Yesterday was the Stake Relief Society Visiting Teaching Convention and I got some cute things to pass on to you Jeannie - they really go all out. The theme of it was the "Rainbow" relating to the promise of God and our promise to him to build the Kingdom of God through visiting teaching - the tables for the luncheon were decorated with crepe paper rainbows and fresh flower plants - it was super - they served chicken and broccoli crepes and fruit cups. They had a big crowd. Now I have to get busy in planning for the Primary International Leadership Meeting. Daddy is enjoying just going to church - he has to give the Mother's Day talk next Sunday - I'll be happy when he had another calling but he didn't want one before we left for the Summer. I am in charge of the Relief Society dinner this coming Tuesday - I said I would make all the dessert - I'm going to make individual cheese cakes.
We were so happy to have you call Roy - it's always a thrill to us to find that you're on top of things - you have had a rough schedule. Your little dog sounds just darling - you have always loved a dog and we're happy you can have one in your new home - John is envious because he would like a hunting dog. Did we tell you that we went to buy Hans a wife - we drove clear to Sheridan because she was advertised and when we called about her she sounded like just the dog we were looking for but when we saw her we were disappointed - they wanted $275 for her and she wasn't one-fourth as good a dog as Hans. I'll bet we have had twenty-five calls from people wanting to buy schnauzers from us- it was really rumored around that we had the best ones. We will try to get back in the business if we come back this Fall.
Annie and Jeannie - we think about you all the time and we can just imagine how busy you are. Claire's friend, Skylar Merrifield, has a new little baby boy and Claire was talking about her last night - she says she can't go anyplace and then she realized that you kids have been that way for a long time - we're looking forward to giving you some relief this Summer if you will let us - we are so homesick for all of you.
May 3, 1981 Little Rock, Arkansas
HI EVERYBODY -
Mom and I are both writing so you will hear the same things twice.
Our weather is beautiful and everything is in full bloom. If Little Rock could stay like this it would be the prettiest place in the world.
John and I went fishing early Saturday morning out at Maumelle. The air temperature was 65 degrees and the water 75 degrees. The lake was beautiful but the fishing was only fair. John is still fishing for a wall trophy.
We have worked this week fixing up our ski boat for sale - it looks like new now and we kinda' hate to sell it but John and I bought a beautiful bass boat and Mom won't permit 3 boats in the family. We're all equipped now. The new one will also ski us.
Mom is giving a Mother's Day talk to the Young Adults' Fireside tonight. She always does a good job. I will use her talk for next Sunday in church.
It's great to be home on Sunday and the Stake runs perfectly without us.
John is doing great and growing like a weed. Today he wore my shoes and one of my shirts to church. The neck was big but the rest fit. I think he will be the biggie of the litter.
Mom's still teaching and loves it.
Love you all,
Dad