August 8, 1982
Billings, Montana

Dearest Roy, Bob, Claire & Michael, Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara and Ron, Ann, Susanna & Jessie & Russell,

Daddy and I went to a ward in the "The Heights" this morning and Sister Lowe and most of the missionaries have gone to a later ward so the house is almost quiet for a change. Johnny has chosen a ward for himself (not the one we are assigned to) and he goes at 9 a.m. 'til 12 so he's home now too. He's so cute - he likes to dress like the missionaries in his blue suit with a white shirt - they said they would like to get him a badge!!!!

We had the nicest surprise this week when Rick came to see us on Daddy's birthday - it really gave a boost to all of us - made us fell closer to home and to all of you to know he could drive from here to Layton in one day (at least we hope he made it). Daddy and I had been out of town since Monday and when we came into the Mission Home the missionaries and Johnny quickly ushered Daddy into his office - they had it all decorated with crepe paper streamers and balloons and a huge birthday card with pictures and little notes from each one in the Mission Family - he loved it. Johnny had fixed a big wooden frame with pictures of each one of our family for his office - he did a great job. We took pictures and will send you copies if they're good. He was so thrilled to hear from each one you - Roy, we think we'll frame your typewritten card - Daddy said he would buy you a typewriter if you would promise to write to us occasionally - we were so happy to hear a little about the base in San Antonio - sounds like you're enjoying it and as usual we know you will get the very best from what it has to offer. Susanna and Jessie's songs were so cute - that little Susanna knew every word in the Primary Happy Birthday song and I've tried to teach that to the children and it's hard. Daddy has your cards on his bookcase by our family picture and they mean so much to him. I gave him a bright red apron that said on it "A Sexy Senior Citizen" - I think it embarrassed him but the missionaries laughed - now that he's 62 he gets lots of "prizes" like free admittance into parks, etc. Our cook made him a birthday cake and she turned it out while it was still warm and it fell but it was still good - he made his own dinner - egg rolls with our left over pork from the pig!!!!

Claire - thank you so much for all that information on Fashion - what a thoughtful thing to do!!!! I love to show the pictures of you at our farewell party with your "white stockings" on and you look so smart (as Ann and Jean say, we should all try to take advantage of your expertise in "good fashion sense"). And thank you Bob for taking care of so many loose ends for us - Daddy appreciated the check from Jolly Roger - you have helped us in so many ways. We think little Michael is built just like Bob - we can just imagine how much you are enjoying him - we get so homesick for him when we look at the few pictures we brought of our fun in the backyard with the Hans and Ludi. My visiting teacher's husband is a veterinarian here and I told her one day how much we missed our little schnauzers and how Sister Milne had told me we couldn't bring them - she was really upset and said that Sister Milne didn't like dogs and the people who had lived here before had had two dogs and they kept them in the house and I guess they did a lot of damage. Anyway this veterinarian called me the next day and suggested that we try to get our dogs back - I told him that we have them away with the promise that we would get one from the litter if Hans could breed the people's dog. We have a perfect place for dogs and I guess that will always be something I will regret but I'm trying really hard to not hold a grudge. Dr. Jordan (the veterinarian) told me I just asked the wrong person. Sister Milne evidently was one of these perfectionists who couldn't stand anything out of place or any kind of dirt - I thought I was clean as housekeeper but the missionaries who live here intimate that there is the worlds of difference between Sister Milne and me. She would inspect their quarters with a white glove and really made it hard for them if they didn't keep everything just spotless. The two assistants were quite upset with the other missionaries rooms one day last week so they came to get me to go inspect them and they looked really good to me - there was one little spot of toothpaste on the bathroom counter and the assistants said Sister Milne would have had a fit. I am probably going to have to be more strict but it is really hard to have it comfortable for our family and then require the missionaries to be so immaculate - I can't find any fault with the way they are doing things and they just love Johnny so they can get by with murder!!!!

Ron - we surely are happy your injury isn't serious and that you have recuperated so quickly. I can just see you diving for the ball in a game of softball. You throw yourself so completely into everything you do. I hope you won't follow Ann's advice and quit playing because I just love to watch softball games and I'll bet it has been thirty years or more since I have been able to do that. That is really an activity we haven't had much of and I have to hurry past the parks here where there are games going on because I would love to stop and sit in the bleachers and watch it. We always watched Bob, Roy and Johns' Little League games so I guess it hasn't been thirty years but they usually stopped playing after they got twelve and it was never their favorite sports. I think I got my love for baseball from my Daddy - he was responsible for the Brigham City Peaches ball teams for so many years and I really loved watching those games.

We had disappointment this week - I guess the biggest one we have had since coming into the mission field. When we were at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo, one night was set aside to meet the missionaries who were coming to Montana. We only had two coming out at that time and one of them was extremely "rough" - he was a country boy from Colorado and his mother and girl friend were encouraging him to come. The other boy was A big good looking kid from Mesa and he was such a nice young man and so loving and warm - we admired him so much for helping find successes for the boy from Colorado. Well, the end of last week the Arizona boy called and told Daddy he was disillusioned and wanted to go home - Daddy brought him into the Mission Home and spent of the last weekend with him and all the missionaries bent over backward to help him but there was absolutely nothing we could do and he went home yesterday. It's so funny because the country boy is doing just great - he had a baptism last week and it thrilled him to pieces. It just goes to show you that "you can never tell who is going to make it"!!! The Arizona boy came from a broken family and he was somewhat spoiled - couldn't conform to getting up at 5:30 to study until he got out of training and other things. The Colorado boy also has an excellent companion who is committed to the gospel and helping others - what a difference personalities make. Rick can tell you about the Arizona boy - he was just different.

We visited three other Indian Reservations this week where the missionary couples work. That is really an experience - the Indians are really unfriendly and so hard to talk to. Many of the children are baptized so they can go on placement (move into member's homes in well established Mormon communities) - they go on placement for about six years and then when they graduate from High School the ones who come back to the reservations go right back to their old ways - if they change their ways their families reject them so it's a losing battle. We admire the church so much for the things they do to help the Lamanites - right now, one of the churches on one of the reservations is being renovated at a cost of $80,000 and it's mostly because of abuse. They provide them with the best of everything - big basketball courts in the churches and transportation to seminary and other functions. None of the Indian's work - they are all on Government pensions of one kind of another. Daddy asked one young man what he did and he said "Oh, I'm on Social Security" and he's about 20. I asked a middle aged woman if she had a garden and she said, "Oh, no, we don't grow anything" and then we visited the missionary couple a few houses away and they have a beautiful garden of all kinds of vegetables. What a challenge!!!!

Johnny is going to South Dakota tomorrow with a church group - they are going to visit Mt. Rushmore and go to the Passion Play there. He'll come back Thursday and Jimmy Willardsen is coming the next day. Johnny and Jimmy really get along well and that will be good for John. After Jimmy leaves it will be about time for school to start - John still hasn't decided where he wants to go to school - we are leaning towards West High School - we hear they have a better Science Department and it's the newer school. He has found some hunting friends who want to take him antelope and deer hunting - they went rabbit hunting one day last week and shot some but couldn't bring them home because they were full of fleas.

Grandmother Forrest will 0be "80 years old" this coming Wednesday - Aug. 11th. I had always planned on having a special party for this birthday for her but as usual my plans have been changed. We know she will have a wonderful day anyway because of her many friends and family close by. The first two weeks in August are special birthdays in our family - Daddy's on August 5th, my brother Bob's one Aug. 7th, Granny Mellor's on Aug. 10th and Mother' on Aug. 11th. I'm out of space - this is a long one - you probably wont' read it - Ha'. We love you all very much - please be careful in everything you don and let us know if we can help you.
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