July 2, 1982
Dearest Roy, Bob, Claire, Michael, Jean, Rick, Ricky & Barbara Jean, Ron, Ann, Susanna and Jessie;
I am using Daddy's typewriter in his office and it's entirely different from our old one so expect the worst.
I would have to use every adjective in the English language to describe what this experience has been like since we arrived Tuesday morning. I know President and Mrs. Reagan couldn't be treated any more royally than we have - we truly feel like royalty and it's like we have all been translated and gone to the Celestial Kingdom. The Mission Home is absolutely gorgeous and the office staff is made up of the finest six young men you could ever hope to be around.
We got here about 10:30 Tuesday morning and our cook, Sister Lowe, was already here - she got in on Monday. She was working in the kitchen with their cook, Sister Adams, and they were preparing brunch. Sister Milne wasn't here because she was having her hair done so President Milne showed us around. Our apartment is upstairs and it is really nice - we have a large master bedroom and bath and then Johnny has his room and a bath - then we have a living room and kitchenette combination. Then across the hall there are three more really lovely rooms with two baths. I love it so much because there is a balcony that goes clear around the mission homes with doors opening our on it from each one of the rooms. The elder quarters are next to ours and they care of their own rooms and they have their own stairway leading to their rooms and all so we don't even know they're there.
Sister Lowe's rooms are on the main floor and they are really nice. The living room is huge with a large dining tables at the end. The kitchen is a dream and the Milne's left it really well stocked - outside the kitchen are two big food storage rooms with freezer in one. Daddy's office and the mission office rooms are at the opposite end of the house and they are really well equipped and nice. We have a big double garage and a nice car to use personally.
You wouldn't believe the garden they planted for us - I went out this morning and picket beets and we had beets and beet greens for dinner and also fresh garden lettuce and chard. Two wards have planted corn on about five acres in back of the home and they take care of that and supply us with corn when it is ripe.
Really, we keep asking ourselves what in the world we ever did to deserve this - it is the most wonderful place in the world and we love it. Johnny is in "hog heaven" - the elders have kept him busy every single minute - this afternoon the skinned two rattlesnakes to tan them so they could put them on hats. We have an elder on the staff who is a mechanic and he spends time with Johnny working with the cars and trucks.
The Milnes hosted a big open house for us on Tuesday night and we couldn't believe the people who came - they came from all over and they were really outstanding people and so friendly and so anxious to help in anyway. Wednesday they came over to take pictures of us from a dream and I don't want to. They all just love Daddy and he loves them and it's going to be a wonderful thing for him.
Sister Lowe just loves it too - she had a friend from Memphis come with her so she wouldn't have to drive alone - a Sister Mitchell and the Milnes were so lovely to them - they let her stay in the "General Authority' room" - she left on Thursday to fly back to Memphis. Sister Lowe is an excellent cook and has won the admiration and love of the Elders already. Yesterday was transfer day and we had a lot of missionaries in and out and they are so eager to please - we had the two come in from the MTC and they stayed with us on Wednesday night - they always stay in the Elder's Quarters so I just have to worry about feeding them.
I know it's going to be a lot of work but I can tell already that I am going to just wish I had more talent and energy to give because we feel so honored.
We are anxious for you to come see us and we have room for you so please come when you can. Daddy have to do a lot of traveling the middle two weeks of July and I haven't seen our schedule for August but we are only gone for two or three days at a time and you could enjoy being here and seeing Billings - I know you wouldn't mind helping Brenda with the cooking. I am going to plan the meals a week ahead and have the groceries all here to it would be fun.July
2, 1982 Billings, Montana
...........Someone
came to see Daddy so I had to get out of his
office!!!
Johnny
is going to Fort Collins, Colorado on July 10th for an
Explorer Post Olympic Competition
thing - they will compete in
basketball and track. I don't know if he's excited
about it or
not but it will be a good way for him to become acquainted with
friends his
age in the church.
We
appreciate so very much the many wonderful things you did for
us to make our mission a
"special experience". Our family is the
most important thing in the world to us and to
have you consider
this so important really means a lot to us. We would like so much
for
you to have this calling sometime in your lives - it makes
you feel like you don't
ever want to do anything wrong ever
again. I don't even want "sting free" because of the
caffeine
and I used to love it.
We
miss you all so much and look forward to having you come stay
with us.
Please
be careful in everything you do.
Lots
of Love,
Dad
XO, Mom XO and John XO
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