Little Rock, Ark. December 27, 1981

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

I am having such a happy birthday - Daddy and I just came back from our two mile walk - we had pancakes after church this morning and will fix dinner in a couple hours and Bob and Claire will join us. Thank you so much for your gifts!!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas and appreciated so very much all the things you sent - especially did we appreciate the thoughtfulness you showed and the things you have shared with us over the phone - we have really loved talking to Susanna and Ricky and hearing about their Christmas. Thank you most of all for going to see Grandmother and Grandfather Forrest - they called me early this morning to wish me a Happy Birthday and they said, "You are really missing the boat by not living close by your darling grandchildren" - they just raved about your visits and your children and I could tell it meant so much to them. Bob and Claire came over early Christmas morning and stayed all day with us and with Roy and Patrice here it was a very special day - Johnny really loved it too!!! We had a big breakfast Christmas morning - biscuits and gravy, sausage and eggs and fruit - noone got hungry enough for turkey - we finally had our Christmas dinner about 7 p.m.

Johnny's record player came in time and he was thrilled with that - he also got the jump suit to hunt in, some casual shirts, a comforter for his bed and some odds and ends. Daddy got a goose down pillow, a cashmere sweater and a hunting coat. I got a beautiful "Pedri" watch, an air popcorn popper, nightgowns, a wallet and some odds and ends. Daddy and I had agreed that our new TV. would be our Christmas but he didn't stick to his agreement. Roy got a wool ski sweater and a comforter and sheets for his bed (he has a new full size bed at school). Patrice got a hat and scarf set, some socks and a book on Arkansas History and a personalized Book of Mormon. Patrice's mom had sent her Christmas stocking filled with gifts for Roy to set out be her bedroom door - it was such a cute and thoughtful thing to do. She is really a sweet girl and we're enjoying her - I just hope she has a good time because it was so expensive for her to come this far. Roy has taken her to a lot of parties and a lot of his friends have been over here to visit with them. Robert brought us cheesecake again this year - I had made one but it wasn't as good as the one he brought.

Little Michael is growing so fast - we got him a little "walker" and he isn't too happy with it yet - he'll have to get used to it. He really eats good - Bob feeds him fruit with a spoon and he just gobbles it down. Bob is taking care of him these two weeks during his vacation because Claire has to work and he says he can't get anything done which is true!!!!

Roy and Patrice went to church with us this morning and Patrice seemed to enjoy it - she says she was baptized into the Catholic Church when she was a child but she isn't a practicing Catholic or any other church right now - so she is a good prospect for Mormonism.

We have had some interesting Christmas cards from friends - Joan Corbitt wrote and said Jerry Haggard was thinking of selling his practice and retiring to Utah - the Leo Hake have 34 grandchildren and they all live right close by them - the Wally Tanners last child is on a Mission and I believe they have 17 grandchildren.

Johnny is going duck hunting with some of his friends in the morning - I want them to have an adult go with them but they want to go alone. It seems dangerous for young boys like that to go hunting with guns but I couldn't talk them into taking "flippers". David Bass had a neighborhood party for all the young kids and then he took then caroling - Johnny really loved it. Johnny is going to be the disc jockey for the Stake Young Adults dance this coming Thursday night - he thought he could rent some big speakers but finds now that he can't so we don't know what will he do - Bob said he could borrow his two so with those plus the two he has maybe it will be loud enough. I can already see what is in the future for us - new speakers!!!! One thing leads to another.

That's al the news - we love you all so much and really missed being with you at Christmas time. Please be careful in everything you do and let us know if we can help you. This $20 is from the Forrests - I wish you would find time to write just a note to say thanks.
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