December 5, 1982 Billings, Mt.

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

We just came home from Stevenville where we went for their Stake Conference - it is about four hundred miles from Billings. It is in just a little town but their Stake Center is huge and just gorgeous and the members were so sweet to us. We really loved the country there - it reminded us a lot of Yellowstone. Daddy had to stop for a buck deer on the way home - that can be so dangerous because there are a lot of them near the highways.

Annie - we thought about you all day on Friday - we hope you had a wonderful birthday!!!! We loved our visit with you on the phone the other night - we hope Ron got home from Minnesota okay. We watched the weather news after talking to you and Utah was really having a bad storm so we worried about him - I'm sure he travels a lot though and in all kinds of weather. Your trip to Jerome sounded fun - Jerome is really not that far from Missoula - maybe we could meet there sometime.

Jeannie - we have thought about you all day today - Rick was going to bless little Mary Ann today and we would have loved to be with you. We hope the Woolleys were able to be there and that you took lots of pictures. We loved our visit with you on the phone the other night too - Daddy was mad at me for not letting him talk - Ha! I have laughed at Ricky and Barji eating all the candy canes off the tree and then having you just replace them - maybe you could string some popcorn so they wouldn't have so much sugar.

Bob - Daddy and John loved their visit with you on the phone the other night. We heard about the tornado on the news and would have really worried so we appreciate your calling. We get so homesick for Little Rock and then we hear about the tornadoes and we're happy to be away from them - they are coming too close to our family for comfort - we felt that we were living in a safe place until they came within a few blocks of Leawood and that really made believers out of us. When they touch down in the "Height" that's too close to you!!!! I hope I have this right - you have been accepted into an ear, nose and throat internship in Memphis that will allow you to do the first two years in Little Rock - how wonderful!!!! We still would rather have you closer to us but that is certainly the second best and we're thrilled for you - I didn't want you to go to Alabama, Texas or Oklahoma. I don't think anything is definite but at least you have that option and we know that is a real relief - we are so proud of you. Congratulations!!!! Claire - how's the jewelry selling?

Roy - we loved our visit with you on the phone the other night too - I always feel so much better after talking to you - when we don't hear for a long time I get the feeling you are in "outer slobovia" or somewhere. I hope I have this right - you will be leaving this weekend to go to Florida for an interview on the 14th, then you will go to Utah for an interview on the 17th, then you will go to Spokane, Washington for an interview on the 20th - then you will fly as close to Billings as you can and call us so we can come get you. I can just imagine how much of a hassle this is for you and I'm sure you'll be happy to get them over with. We'll be thinking of you and hoping everything works out just great. We are really anxious for you to be with us for the holidays - the skiing should be good but probably not as good as it is in Utah. We listen to the Utah television stations all the time and they really report good skiing conditions at all the ski resorts. Your Thanksgiving with Patrice's family sounded fun too - we're happy you weren't alone.

We bought a marble slab a couple weeks ago and have been making mints for all our missionaries - we took some with us this weekend and will take as many as we can and then mail the rest of them. The House Elders have loved helping us make them and of course, they can't believe that the hard candy will cream into mints - we can't make enough of them!!!!

Daddy decorated the outside of the Mission Home last week and I am going to have to tackle the inside this week. There are a lot of decorations but I wish I could buy some I like - I put some lights on a little Norwegian Pine tree in the house and they look pretty. I get a little dizzy when I think of all the things there are to be done - traditionally they have a big Christmas Eve party for all the missionaries in this area with dinner, etc. Then we will have the traditional Christmas dinner and Santa Clause on Christmas Day - the Elders in the home area little homesick and want to plan BIG things. One of the Elders will have a birthday tomorrow and I asked him what he would like and he said, "hamburgers and homemade ice cream" - he is such a neat guy it will be fun.

Johnny is doing so wonderful - he just came home from the youth fireside where they listened to Bro. Hinckley on the satellite television. Friday night he didn't come to bed and I was worried about him so I went downstairs and he was in Daddy's office marking his Book of Mormon - it was about midnight and everyone else was in bed. He works everyday after school - he's trying to get his ski equipment - I wish he were more involved in school things. He took Daddy's Mission car to the shop the other day and washed and waxed the outside and dry cleaned the inside and "scotch guarded" it. He has seminary every morning at 6:15 and I just shudder when I hear him leave because it has been so cold and we had a lot of snow and ice last week - he comes home for breakfast and Daddy always fixes him scrambled eggs with cheese and hash browns - an incentive for going to Seminary.

We were sad to hear about Pres. Tanner passing away - he called Daddy on the telephone last February to call him to this position. He has certainly fulfilled all his obligations on earth though so it shouldn't be sad. Bro. Loren Dunn called Daddy right after he had passed away to tell him about it.

Our mission is doing really good - it has really been a testimony to me to see how important it is to not have any spirit of contention among the missionaries. Daddy has really had to do some unpleasant things but the missionaries know he means business and it has made a world of difference. In October when he had all those problems with the newspaper we got 39 baptisms - in November they baptized 71 and December looks even better. The missionaries are all united and they are so dedicated and want to be good missionaries - they just need strong leadership. Daddy is doing a wonderful job!!!!

Grandmother Forrest isn't feeling very good - I have talked to her several times this week and the doctor is trying a new medicine that seems to be helping. It makes me feel so bad that she can't feel good - it's hard enough to get old and have the normal aches and pains without having extra things. Grandpa says he is doing good - it's wonderful they have each other. I wish I could help them - I am so much closer than ever before and yet so far away!!!!

We made deer jerky out of some of John's deer and it is simply delicious - they cut it in small strips and then we marinated it in a mixture of soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and garlic and onion powder, accent and salt and pepper overnight - then we baked it in a slow oven for ten hours. I hope we still have some for you Roy.

That's all the news - we surely do love each one of you and want to help you in any way we possibly can. *PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!*

P.S. I just remembered something funny (?) that happened today in Missoula. Daddy has this very special black notebook (actually it's your missionary book Bob, with your name on it). He carries it with him all the time and it is filled with his talks and funny stories, etc. He asked me to carry it for him this morning and I took it with me into the restroom and I dropped it in the toilet - I got it out as fast as I could but it still got wet. I just about cried and was almost afraid to tell him about it - he will have to recopy just about everything.
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