June 14, 1981 - Sunday
Little Rock, Ark.

Dearest Ron, Ann, Susanna & Jessie, Rick, Jean, Ricky & Barbara Jean and Lt. Mellor,

Roy - this is a first for our family and we're proud of you! I was so thrilled when you called yesterday morning and you sounded just great even though you have gone from a relatively cool place to a very hot and muggy place - we hope you can stay in where it is cool most of the time. Alabama is so close to Arkansas that I can't think you are very far away and we'd love to see you but I'm sure we can't so I will just wish. We're happy for you that your tests are over for now and we'll beep our fingers crossed that you have passed and if you haven't, it isn't the end of the world and you'll keep studying and take them over until you do -- "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again". We have thought so much about you and can just imagine the tension you have been under and we hope you'll be able to relax now and enjoy yourself. Robert called from Chicago last night and we had such a good visit - I always feel so much better when he is "up" and he was enthusiastic about coming back to finish his schooling and his life in shaping up and that makes us happy. He is going to be back to Little Rock the last of July (I think) and is planning a party - doesn't that sound like Robert - and hopes you will be in town. I gave him your address and I'm sure he'll be in touch. We have had a lot of phone calls for you this month and I guess your friends all think you should be home for the Summer - Johnny has most of them and doesn't ask who's calling - he said one was a man and I'll bet it was Don Schuveder. We'll be anxious to hear more of your plans when you make them - I hope we get to see you sometime during the Summer.

We still don't have any "baby news" and Claire is feeling the pressure - she knows we want to be on our way to Utah - we don't know what to do but we'll let you know as soon as we do. They took an "ultra-sound" picture and developed it for Bob to bring home and they are pretty sure it is a little boy - this morning Claire and I were sitting behind a cute little baby girl and Claire whispered to me "I want to little girl!" they can never be sure but I believe Bob will be disappointed if the picture is wrong. Claire really looks good and isn't very large so it could be a week or two.

I was sick that I missed your phone call Jeannie - I was going to call you back and then I remembered that we should probably be making phone calls to you and Ann right soon concerning our plans so I didn't - actually I thought we would be calling you the next day. Daddy says that you said you're doing great and little Ricky is "talking up a storm" - we can hardly wait to hear him and also to see Barbara Jean again.

Susanna - we loved your phone call - I can hardly wait to see you and Jessie too!!! Did you get your cookie? (She wouldn't let Ann talk very long because she wanted a cookie) We hope you will enjoyed the live "Sesame Street" program at the Ice Palace - I can just imagine what a thrill that would be for children to see that - I would love to see the Cookie Monster!!!!

Daddy and I just got back from Magnolia - they had the Youth conference at Southern State University and we went to pick up Johnny, Dwight Doan and Eric Littlefield - John really had a wonderful time and I guess the whole thing was a huge success. They had to send two boys from Jacksonville home and from what I heard they deserved it John thought they were jerks. John and Deanna and Will Smith's daughter are such good friends and I'm not kidding when I say she is really "beautiful" - she is Miss Dallas County - she is an accomplished pianist besides her beauty. Deanna and Will are trying to sell their gorgeous home in Fordyce and plan to move to Provo in August - they say they are going to live in Indian Hills. They have a great deal of money and we are wondering if they and the Jones' have a business deal going. The District will really miss them but we don't blame them for moving - their girls are all so talented and I understand their little boy got Deanna's singing voice and there are a lot of opportunities for them in Provo that they wouldn't have in Fordyce.

While Johnny was gone, Daddy refinished our hardwood parquet floors in the kitchen and downstairs - we had to turn the air conditioner off and stay off them for twenty-four hours. It was really uncomfortable but they look so pretty I guess it is worth it. This afternoon after dinner, I couldn't get the disposal to work and he has spent the last two hours trying to fix it and has decided he needs to replace it. That will keep him busy tomorrow - if enough things break and he has enough projects to keep him busy it won't be hard to wait for the baby - otherwise, he is really "antsy" to get gone. One thing I have learned about Daddy - there is absolutely nothing he can't do - I used to suspect that but having him home so much has convinced me. Our rented home still hasn't sold but it isn't because it isn't in good condition - Daddy repaired the driveway all by himself - got a "crow-bar" (sp.?) and got the cement that was messed up all cleared away by taking our little boat and filling it with the cement chunks and put them under the house - he just a backed the boat up close to the doorway leading under the house and put them in there and then he had a cement truck that was bringing cement for a driveway under construction close to our home and had them put some extra on their load and delivered to him.


Have you heard about Jimmy Braithwaite's little boy? I can't remember if I told you about it last week or not. He had an operation yesterday for a brain tumor and we haven't heard how he is yet - we have tired to call Carol Ann but haven't been able to reach her - I guess no news!!!!

We had a letter from Mildred Cantrell and Angie Marinelli passed away - her funeral was last Wednesday. We called and talk to Angelo and he sounded really good. She had refused food for some time and then got pneumonia - it was really a blessing. We had a good visit with Angelo and he asked about all of you.

Kim Aday is engaged and plans to get married in August. Her fiancé is Paul Duckett from Conway - he got home from his Mission on Thursday a week ago and asked her to marry him on Friday. I'm so thrilled for her because she had wanted to get married for a long time - I guess they have been writing all the time he had been gone. She was in a missionary program that was put on at the church Friday night and she sang several songs and she is really quite good.

Dianne Power called yesterday morning and we had such a good visit - she is so busy she hardly knows what day it is but she says they are so happy and the little twins are doing great. She asked about you Roy - said that she and Garry still talk about you - you mean a lot to them.

We went over to the Mission Home on Thursday to see the mobile home they will go home in - Gene's brother and his wife and little six week old baby, Gene's father and Chere all drove back to Provo in the Jones's station wagon and left the mobile home here for them to take a trip through New York State and the church historical places on their way home - they are all excited even though they are trying hard not to act that way. The pictures we took at our party last Sunday all turned out so good.

I gave Chris a permanent the other morning and I insisted on leaving it on longer than it was supposed to be and then I didn't fix the rod at the very front right and she had a permanent "line" on her forehead - she didn't ever call to tell me what it looked like after it was rolled and I was so worried but I saw her at church this morning and it really looks good. I have loved my permanent Annie - my hair is constantly wet now with the humidity and I'm so glad it's still really curly.

I can't think of any more news - we'll let you know our plans as soon as we know them - we love you all so very much and we're really anxious to see you and be with you and we hope you can get a flight to Utah Roy. PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!!!
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