Sept. 6, 1981 Little Rock, Ark.

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

Today has been both a sad and a very happy day - when we left for church this morning we discovered that our gate was opened and both Ludi and Hans were gone. This was a special day because little Michael was blessed so we hurried on to church and after Sacrament meeting Daddy and John came home and searched everywhere and we have continued to search all day but so far no sign of them - we think they were here around 7 this morning so they were only gone a few hours when we started looking for them and since it is Sunday and there isn't very much traffic on the roads we feel that someone has them in their house or yard and will call the numbers on their tags tomorrow - the tag numbers are the vet's numbers and they aren't in their offices today - at least that is what we are hoping will happen. We are counting on them still being together because we doubt anyone will call the Utah number and that's the number on Ludi's tag. Johnny is really upset and we are too - our home just won't be the same without them. Little Michael was just a doll while he was being blessed and Bob really did a good job - he wore the little outfit that Bob, Roy and John have all been blessed in and we'll keep that for future little boy Mellors - we took a lot of picture and will send you some if they're good. He was too big for the outfit but they didn't button it in back and noone knew. They came over for dinner after and we have had a special day.

We celebrated the Labor Day week-end by going to Lake Quachita yesterday - the boat ran great and Bob, Claire and John all water skied (sp.?). We hadn't been to that lake for a long time it really brought back a lot of memories. Daddy was so proud that his boat ran good - he has practically rebuilt that whole thing and it's really nice. His other motor that he uses for duck hunting has been on the blink for that past year and he has had it in the shop a dozen times - he finally had them order him a Chrysler motor manual and he took it all apart last week and now it's running good - he can do anything he really wants to do. I'm hoping all our fishing, hunting and recreational equipment will hold out until John goes on his mission and then after that I hope Daddy will be content with less things - it is too hard on him because he is always responsible for everything working okay and taking things hither and yon - I am always happy when Bob and John are along to help him dock the boat and park it because he gets so tense!!! John loves all this so much that it is very worthwhile to keep it but since I don't understand how any of it works all I do is worry. Little Michael really enjoyed his "first outing" - he slept all the time - we took simple foods like sandwiches and salads so we didn't have to build a fire and it was really fun. We just wish that we could all be together to do these things - we kept saying yesterday that Roy especially would have enjoyed being with us - Johnny did some fancy skiing and it reminded me of you, Roy.

Johnny has had a week at Hall now and he says, "It's going to be a good year." They plays Mills on Friday night and had a back to school dance afterwards - they lost the games but the dance was a success - Johnny didn't go to the game but he and Derek Jones went to the dance. All he talks about is how he wishes he could drive and what in of a car he wants - Neil Kirkpatrick drives a new silver corvette because he just wrecked an MG (I think that was the kind) and he is the same age as John. All the kids are upset because they can't leave the campus for lunch - Johnny says they aren't enforcing that rule but as far as we are concerned they are. I imagine the quick food places on Cantrell will suffer with that new rule because that's where all the kids have been going.

I taught at Booker one day last week and it was fun - substitute teaching will be really slow the first month or so unless there's an emergency of some kind. That will be nice because it is still mighty hot and most of the schools aren't air-conditioned. There is still a lot of unrest in our school district - they tried to get a new ruling where they could have equal numbers of white and black children in the classes and then when they ran out of white children the classes would be all black - the judge ruled this unconstitutional so a lot of parents put their children in private classes - the ratio now is 37% white, 65% black. I believe we would put our children in private schools now if we had any in the elementary schools - Johnny is in all accelerated classes so he has few blacks in the but he was put in the dumb English class by mistake and he said he was one of two whites in there until they got him changed. It's a sad situation and noone can do anything about it!!!!

It was so good to talk to both you Ann and Jean (poor sentence) and you sound so happy and busy. We'll try to call you tonight Roy but it's almost impossible to catch you at home. Your trip in Jerome sounded wonderful Ann and we know you all had a good time - that's the longest you have ever stayed there isn't it. For Roy: Ron had done some work on a "ditch witch" accident in Idaho and they had gone there for the trial - they thought it would last a few days and it ended up being about ten - they stayed with Ron's parents. We know Suz and Jessie had fun with Grandma Bev and Granpa Bev and Grandpa Russ. Ron - have you heard about that Continental Trailways Bus accident in Jasper, Arkansas? There has been a lot about it on the news lately - it happened over a year ago and there were twenty-two retired people killed on it - there evidently are a lot of lawsuits now against the bus company. We wish you could be called in on that and would have to come to Arkansas for business and bring your family - wishful thinking!!!

Rick and Jeannie - we're so happy you have a swing set for Rick and Barji - there isn't anything quite so nice as a wonderful yard of happy children and that little Ricky just has just to be outside so he must be in heaven with all that swinging. You sound "out of breath" every time we call you Jeannie and I always hesitate to call because I know you don't have many free moments. We had a cute note from Dianne and she said she was completely worn out all that time and she said she was a "mini-Dianne" and a "maxi-Mother" - I'm sure that's how you feel too but it will get easier. We would love to see little Barji walk - it will be so much fun going to the mall shopping with two walking and no strollers to lug along. Ricky - how's the Elder's Quorum coming and what crops are you harvesting now? Jeannie, did you get any peaches to bottle?

I can't think of anymore news - Johnny just left to go to Derek's to watch cable TV - it is in Leawood now but we haven't learn anything about it. I'm sure we'll have to get it as soon as it becomes available. The Gonces have it and I understand they have thirty channels to choose from - that's quite a selection - we don't watch enough television now to make it worthwhile but may be we will in the Winter time. We surely do love each one of you and we're so proud of you - please let us know if we can help you in easy way.
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