October 4, 1981 Little Rock, Ark.

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

This is really a lazy day for us - it is Church General Conference in Salt Lake so our meetings don't start until 3 o'clock this afternoon. It is so nice to have Daddy home with us - ordinarily he would be in Salt Lake for the meetings. He is enjoying his retirement from the Stake Presidency but isn't looking forward to his new calling - did I tell you that Bishop Doan asked him to be the Ward Financial Chairman and our ward is so deeply in dept that will not be an easy task - church finance have always been a problem because there are always a few who carry the load for the entire ward. I will be released from my position as Primary teacher next week - they have asked me to be Primary In-service Leader - that will be a lot easier because it will only be one a lesson a month rather than once a week. I have a feeling I told you all this last week - oh well!!!!!

It was so good to talk to Roy and Jeannie and Rick this week - we were happy to receive your letter too Roy and the picture of Patrice - it will be wonderful to have her in our home and become acquainted with her - I have an idea she is a "real brain" and she'll probably think I'm a dingbat - I'm going to wait for a little while before I write to her mother inviting Patrice here for Christmas - I think it's a little too early. Daddy has sent your medical insurance forms in Roy but he is hesitant about your car insurance - I believe he will keep them with State Form. We're anxious to hear how you like this "rotation" - it's in internal medicine - is that right? We know you will do just great!!!!

We are so thrilled that everything has worked out so well with Jeannie and Rick caring for Susanna and Jessie - you all sounded so happy last night and it was fun to talk to little Susanna and Ricky. We hope the Woolleys are home safe and sound by now and I know Susanna will be happy to be home - when we cared for them she got so homesick for her friends and her loft. Was California fun, Ann and Ron?

We had the funniest experience on Friday night. John had been invited to go to a concerns and the fair with Derek because it was his sixteenth birthday and the first time he could take the car - there were six of them (Ronnie and others) - they had all been so excited about it and had planned it for a long time. Well, they left here about 5 o'clock in the afternoon and we knew how strict Derek's folks were about him being home by midnight that we didn't even check with John about what time he would be home. It got to be midnight and then 1, and 2 and Daddy and I were just frantic - we both sat down in the living room and would jump up every time a car passed - finally Daddy called the police to see if there had been an accident reported and there hadn't been so he got in the car and went over to Derek's home to see if the station wagon they had gone in was parked at their home. By this time it was about 3:30 in the morning and the station wagon wasn't there. He came home and we walked down to the Cavenesses to see if their lights were still on and they were - we came home and decided the kids had gone on a trip to Fayetteville or somewhere and we were so upset we could hardly talk about it. Johnny has always been so obedient and trustworthy that this time was completely out of character for him and we made a decision that night to sell our home here and move to Utah right soon. We should have called Derek's folks but when Daddy went to see if the station wagon was there he said their lights were all out and we decided that maybe they knew that the kids had gone on a trip but Johnny hadn't know about it so he didn't tell us. Well - as it happened, Derek's car wouldn't start after the concert so his father had gone to pick them up and they left the car there and Johnny and Ronnie had been invited to spend the night with Derek and Johns says he told me but I surely don't remember it and the reason the Caveness's' light was still on was because Sherry had been out and forgot to turn it off. We finally call them at 7 a.m. and Derek's mother really felt bad but Daddy and I were completely "unstrung" all day yesterday - you can tell we're getting old!!!! Johnny had missed the Hall High game to go to the concert and all the kids he went with go to Catholic High so about midnight that night four girls came over and toilet papered our yard and made big signs with shaving cream that said "John is a snob"!!!! We made him clean it up when he got home - we are hoping he will show some allegiance to his school pretty soon - it's really hard though when all his friends go to Catholic High.

We have to go to church in about five minutes to listen to conference and to have the Sacrament so I will close for now. We're all doing great - Daddy's hearing isn't any different but he's hoping it will be soon. We love you all so very much - let us know if we can help you in any way and PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!

I didn't have time to address the envelopes before going to church so I decided to write a little more since we have to take them to the downtown post office anyway!!!!!

We had the two wards combined this afternoon and it was fun to see some of the people we don't ordinarily see - Sharon Brown Jones and her twin girls were there and the little girls are just darling - Layne didn't pass the bar exam for the second time so he has gone to work for Dick Cobbs selling New York Life Insurance - that is quite a let down for him and I imagine he will just do it for a short time - I believe there is a time limit before he is able to take the exam over again.

Donald Nance and his wife (the former Horne girl) were there and Donald is so big - he was always so tall and now he is filling out. The McKells were there - their daughter Mary has seizures quite often now and I guess she gets violent - Floy can't leave her at all and it is really a drain on her - I don't believe she will live very much longer.

Bob and Claire went to Memphis on Friday - they took little Michael with them. Claire had business over there and they always like to go together. We don't know if they're home yet or not. They came over on Thursday night and helped us celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary - Claire brought a pecan pie that was just delicious. It was just wonderful having them come - we had gone out earlier to Fu Lins for dinner and had to hurry back because John had to be to the church to play volleyball so we loved it. We had gone to Hot Springs the night before with Chris and Wayne to have barbecue ribs at McClards so we really celebrated.

Claire's parents will move form England to Houston the end of October - she is really looking forward to having them closer - they plan to sell their home in Denver and buy one in Houston.

John has had girl friends here this afternoon - he is really getting in the social whirl and the girls are really cute. We're glad he is so happy at school - he is doing well in his classes too.

Grandmother and Grandpa Forrest called the other night - they really sounded chipper. Dee's kids are all going to college - Jaylene has a scholarship to Weber and Janelle will go there too and Daren is starting at the University of Utah - they're all working at different jobs so they'll make it.

We're happy they have decided against the MX in Utah - it's really too bad it has to be put anyplace. I'm sure Arkansas will get some of it and it might be good for the economy here - especially in the area where the Titan missiles are. I don't understand any of that but there has really been a lot in the paper about Utah Mormons being able to persuade Pres. Reagan to not put it in Utah.

Our school system here will be 85% black by next year if they don't change their ways. I taught at a school last Monday and they brought in a newspaper to be handed out to the students - it was called "The Southern Mediator" and it was a black newspaper - the title page in black bold letters said. "Help us save our Black Children" and "Black Communities - when will we awaken". It was so prejudiced against the white race and it was passed out to every school child in Little Rock - I couldn't believe it. There was a lot of furor over it so they say there won't be any more published. I am so happy we don't have any primary or intermediate age children in the public schools here. Bob and Claire are already worrying about putting Michael in school here if they stay here.

That's really all the news. We're so proud of each one of you and miss you very much.
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