December 26, 1982 Billings, Montana

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

How can we ever thank you for such a wonderful Christmas - your packages were so much fun to open and we have loved everything!!!! I will never do my shopping through a catalogue again - I thought that would be the very best way but it has backfired and nothing has worked out - please forgive us!!!!

Roy got here Tuesday night about 8 and he had been half way around the world coming to Billings from Washington - his ticket was with Eastern Airlines so he had to go to Atlanta, Georgia and then back to Denver and then to here - he had to go to Atlanta, Georgia and then back to Denver and then to here - he had been in the air or in airports from 1 a.m. so he was worn out. Wednesday Johnny didn't go to school and he and Roy left quite early to go to Bozeman to go skiing - they had planned to come back Thursday night but we had a terrific snowstorm so they stayed an extra day and came home Friday evening. They said the skiing was great and they really had a good time. There are two ski resorts near Bozeman and they went to the Bridger - Big Sky is the other one and they had an avalanche there that killed one skier on Friday. Roy said the skiing was comparable to the Utah ski resorts but none of the skiers were comparable to Ron - evidently he is really good!!!! Roy loved his visits with the Woolleys and the Weinerts and couldn't stop talking about how cute their kids are.

Friday night was our big open house at the mission home - everything was so much fun and the food was really good. We really had a big crowd - lots of little children who love to be around the missionaries!!!! The missionaries put on some skits that were hilarious - they imitated Daddy and I in one of them and I have never laughed so hard!!!! One of them wore my pink flannel robe and hair and one wore one of the Daddy's Robes and it was really cute.

Christmas morning we all gathered in the living room and had a fire in the fireplace and then we took turns opening presents - it was really fun to share each others gifts but we felt kinda' bad for two of our missionaries who didn't get packages from home. We gave them each Christmas stockings filled with candy and some socks but they gave us some really nice gifts - Johnny a nice sweater, Daddy a leather notebook holder with his name on it and me a picture frame with the most adorable pictures - one of Barji and one of Ricky that I had never seen that they had taken when they were here visiting. Their parents had sent gift boxes of fruits and cheeses and one missionary from Nephi had his Mom send me and Brenda cookbook from their ward. We're going to give them some New Year's gifts. We played the cutest game - each one of us got a gift that didn't cost over $3 - they passed them out and then in turn we unwrapped them and when it came your turn to unwrap yours you could unwrap it or choose one that someone else had - we had a lot of fun. After that we had German pan-cakes with fruit toppings - Daddy had "de-boned" a turkey and it was already for the oven so we put that in early in the morning and all sat down to a candle light dinner - it was a special time.

There is a colony of "Hooterites" up East of Billings and Daddy and I had them make us some down coats - that's what we gave each other for Christmas. Mine is warmer and more functional than it is pretty and I wish it were a little bigger but I'm sure I will love it. Daddy is pleased with his. They're both khaki color so we look like twins - we got them to wear when we go on tours and nearly freeze to death in the churches.

Daddy and I spoke in our home ward here in Billings today - we think they are kinda' aloof and it's probably because Johnny won't go to their meetings. When we first came here two boys in the 4th ward were so nice to him and they go to his school and everything and he loves that ward so Daddy says he doesn't have to go to the one we're assigned to. It's hard to know what to do but the move was hard enough for him to have to force him to go to a ward where he doesn't have any friends and there are very few kids his age there.

I don't have any more news - we love you all so very much and really do appreciate all you did for us for Christmas - we can hardly wait to be closer so we can get together for dinner and fun during the holidays. PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!!!

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