June 7, 1981 Little Rock, Ark.


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

This has been a busy, busy day and it's about 9 p.m. so this is going to be a super short letter. We had an open house for Pres. & Sister Jones this afternoon and I do believe we had at least a hundred people come - we got twelve gallons of ice cream and all kinds of toppings - we have quite a bit of ice cream left but I made hot fudge four times (the microwave oven recipe). There were quite a few missionaries who came so it's surprising we have any ice cream left. Cheree (sp.?) will fly home this coming Wednesday and the end of June, Pres. Jones' two brothers are going to bring their mobile home out and Gene and Sandy and the children will tour northern States and get back to Utah the middle of July - I will really miss them - they are dear friends besides being outstanding in their calling - we're looking forward to spending time this Summer with them in Utah. Their address in Provo is 4345 Windsor. Bob and Claire were responsible for serving all the ice cream and they did such a good job - we couldn't have done it without them.

Some of Claire's church friends here and a shower for her yesterday and she got some really nice things for the baby - Skylar had it at her home and Linda Smith Garrett helped with it - they tied a little baby quilt and besides that she got a diaper bag (Carla Culwell Pearce made it), all kinds of clothing and shawls and bottles and just everything. She is ready to have her baby now but I'm afraid it is going to be really late and I don't know what we're going to do - Bob said today he could take a couple days off we may just leave when John gets home from youth conference.

John was sick with the stomach flu on his birthday - I got up at 6 a.m. because I had so many things to do yesterday and made him a four layer chocolate cake that was double frosted. He had spent the night with his friend Derek and when he got home about noon he looked green and said he had been sick all night and all morning and he went straight to bed and finally ate some soup late last night. He had a piece of birthday cake just so I wouldn't feel bad but he didn't really enjoy it. Bob and Claire had planned to come over for birthday cake and we were going to take John to Fu Lins for Chinese food but we didn't do any of it. We gave him a pair of toenail scissors for a present - he has more ingrown toenails than anyone I know of and we hope this stops it. He really appreciated hearing from each one of you - even though he didn't get to talk to you Roy, he was so happy you had called.

Annie - I was so upset with John and Daddy the night I called you I just handed them the phone and didn't get to hear about your new furniture coming or your Colorado trip or anything. Whenever any of you call and John answers, he hangs up the very minute I even get on the phone so - I told him I was going to call you to tell you about the way to give that special permanent and that he could talk all by himself - well, when I talked a minute longer than they thought I should they both just stomped out of the room - I'm sure you could feel the tension over the phone. Anyway, we're thrilled about your new furniture and we'll really be anxious to see it. Will we get there in time for your trip?

Jeannie - you're the one who should have that special permanent. I have been going to a mini-class on beauty care and the lady who is a beautician told us about putting in a really tight permanent and then neutralizing it on larger curlers to just give it a lot of body without a lot of curl. I had told Ann about this and learned last Tuesday night that if you use too large of curler to naturalize it you will just end up straightening it I have just found a super good recipe for "Raisin-Cinnamon Bars" and I have made them four times last week - we really have loved our raisins - I'll bring the recipe to Utah. I would like to enroll in your weight control class - for the first time in my life I can on a liquid diet and gain weight and it's completely out of control.

Roy - this is your week isn't it???? We will really be thinking about you on Wed, and Thursday for your big tests - we pray every night that you will study the right things and then be able to recall them. We'll be happy for you when they are over - your time in Alabama will be a relaxing time anyway. We hope you are all settled in your new place.

Daddy and I cleaned out our attic and other closets and had Goodwill truck come yesterday and they really loaded up - it really feels good that have that done - we threw away so many things that I would never have dared do by myself. I have outgrown so many of my clothes and I jut them all away and a lot of old shoes that all of you left here. we found a box of dolls that I was so sure you girls had - we will probably mail them either to you or to Lehi so we can get them to you this Summer - we won't have room in our car I don't think . We also have a large bag of nice clothes for Dee and July's kids that we won't have room for - don't know what we'll do with them unless I can talk Daddy into putting on our rack on our car and taking them that way. I have learned a very good lesson - don't save a lot of clothing because it will never get worn unless there is only a couples years difference in your children. You kids used to wear a lot of hand me downs but by the time John has grown into Bob and Roys' clothes they are either out of style or don't fit!!!!


Dan Watson called me yesterday and told me some of his plans for the Summer, Roy, and the trip he has planned sounds just fabulous - I don't know how in the world you are going to see the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Phoenix all in one trip besides spending some time in Grand Lake, Colorado but it would surely be fun. We really hope you will be able to spend some time in Utah with us. I kidded Dan about the other times he has made these plans - I hope they work out this time.

I have been to several things for Dana Woods - she is getting excited about her marriage. The paper had her picture and write up in it but I missed it so Dorothy brought one over for me - if I can get to the Democrat Office I'll get some more copies and send you each one - the picture was really good. Dana is really a sweet girl and I'm sure Nick is a nice guy. I haven't heard if Terry is coming for the wedding or not - surely she will - it's August 15th.

Shelley Cobb's friend was in church with them this morning - he is a very good looking young man - he's from Riverside, California and his Stake President is a very good friend of ours (Shirl Bishop) - funny name - Daddy and I went to school with him and his wife is from Brigham City. Shelley looked prettier than I have ever seen her - she is really happy. He served a mission in Japan and is working an interpreter at Disneyland in California for the Summer. Rick Cobb came home last week and will spend the rest of the Summer here - I told him you would call him when you got here Roy - he would really like to see you.

Denise Smithers is going out to Summer School at BYU and she is excited but her Mother is about to die - Brad will be leaving in a few months for his mission and she says her home will be so different - I can relate to that. It's sorta fun to sit back and see others go through what we have gone through - I am full of advice. . . . Ha!

You can tell how tired I am by all the mistakes I'm making - so I will quit for now. We surely do love each one of you and we're so very proud of you - we get so excited when we think of spending a little more time with you soon - we want you to know that we don't expect a lot of trips to Lehi because we know how expensive gasoline is besides your busy schedules but we will be close enough to come get your children occasionally and spend time with them. PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!!!
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