January 24, 1983 Billings, Montana


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

It's Monday morning - we went to Cody yesterday and didn't get home until about 11:30 last night and that was too late to write to my letter. Do you remember my telling you about the down coats Daddy and I had the "Hooterites" makes for us? Well, every time I wore mine Daddy kept telling me that it looked too little and it was really ugly - they are such sweet people but they don't have any fashion sense and we should have known that - the coats were expensive - mine was $200 and Daddy's was $125. Finally after wearing mine several times I decided to call them to see if I could trade it in on a king sized down comforter and they said I could if I would furnish the sheets for them to use and pay them an extra $25. Anyway yesterday morning we left Billings early so we could go to church in Dunmore (on the Crow Indian Reservation) and then go on to Lodge grass and up into the hills to the Hooterite Colony to exchange the coat, and then on to Cody. We're pleased with the comforter and I'm relieved to not have to keep the ugly coat. Daddy likes his. Our trip to Cody was really beautiful - we went through the Bighorn Mountains and there must have been a Jillian snow-mobilers on the countryside. Daddy had a meeting with the Stake Priesthood Leadership so I spent the evening with the Stake President's wife - Sister Gagon, and we had a wonderful time.

Last Monday we went to Casper for our zone conference that was held on Tuesday - it was so beautiful and we had worried so much about having really bad weather. They provided dinner for all the missionaries after the conference - that helps us so much but they don't do it very much - we all pay $2 or whatever they want us to so to really doesn't cost them too much. We used to do this all the time in Little Rock and companion all the time about having to do it but now that I'm on this end I can see how much it really helps. We got back in Billings about midnight Tuesday night - Wednesday we spent getting ready for the zone conference held in Billings on Thursday - I made a million of those rice krispie treats and they were all gone in about five minutes. That was our last zone conference for the month - they are really time consuming but very worthwhile and uplifting - we have them every other month. For the zone conferences in March, Elder Loren Dunn will be traveling with us so that will be a special time - I believe Daddy is going to combine the zones so will have tri and quad zone conferences in centrally located places. Many people in this area think Bro. Dunn will be the new member of the Council of the Twelve to replace Elder LeGrande Richards - Daddy thinks it will be either Russell Ballard of Carlos Asay. It was really a blessing to have Elder Richards pass away but he will surely be missed - wasn't he a wonderful man??? We will never forget the weekend he spent in our home - Johnny remembers that too!

Johnny and Daddy went fishing on the Bighorn river all day Saturday - they had a wonderful time and caught 8 beautiful trout. They love getting out like that and it's so good for both of them. They offered to pay Johnny time and a half if he would work on Saturday but he said he was going fishing with his Dad - he is really a good kid!!!!!!! We ordered him a bean bag chair for Christmas and it finally got here last week - it was so little that we sent it back. There is a company here in Billings that makes huge pillows - they're called "Proof pillows" so we went to look at them and they were big enough so we got one for him. We rearranged his room - we took one of his beds out and put it in the "yellow" guest room and put the pillow where the bed was - I think he really likes it - he much prefers listening to his stereo to watching television - he really doesn't light long enough to do mush of either Daddy made his dog a doghouse last week and the Elders went and got a load of straw to put in it so now we don't worry about him getting cold - she is a darling dog!!!!!

Roy - we are so excited about having you spend the month of February in Utah at the Medical Center in Salt Lake - (they have invited him to spend the month there to see if he is interested in one of their internships and to see if they like him - he doesn't think he will be eligible for an internship this year because he has applied so late but maybe if he is interested he might be eligible next year - I think I have that right!!!!) I can hardly wait to see if you will be able to get the Lehi home in working condition - it would please me so much if you can. Daddy wrote him a list of directions and when I read it I thought to myself, "Roy will be so confused he won't even try it". I know each one of those steps is important when the home has to be prepared to be vacant during the cold and freezing months. We couldn't get the oven to work in the kitchen stove but other than that everything should be working - the kitchen tap drips a little too but enough to worry about and I guess if you force it too much to turn it off it could break it - these things will have to be changed when someone lives there. Aunt Marvel lived there for many years without a furnace and was warm enough in the kitchen and living room with that wall furnace - surely would be a lot simpler that lighting the big furnace - but if you decide to light it you had better check the upstairs in the front part of the house to see if we put the storage boxes in front of the heating vents. We love that old home and want our family to use it and love it as we do - it always amazed me that we could leave it vacant all Winter and yet when we went to it in the Summer it only took about an hour to have it like it had been lived in all the time. Our Little Rock home was always so musty when we went back to it after being away for just a month or so - I'm sure it is because of the humidity in Arkansas. I surely hope the mice haven't made themselves at home - Mamie says she has been checking it really often. Please let us know of anything we can do to help you get it ready. Patrice will be coming out for a weekend and we're thrilled about that - she will love staying with either Ann or Jean.

We're happy Rick is back home safe and sound - it sounded like your two weeks in New Jersey was worthwhile. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to just stay in your new home one night and then have to leave for two weeks. Your new home sounds great and we really are thrilled for you. Poor Ricky and that Hobby horse - we have made so much of that when we have talked to him I'm sure he must be thinking it will be a live horse - we hope you have it by now. We won't take all the blame for the confusion in that - Sears, first of all really goofed, but then your moving and having a new telephone number and address and not knowing where it was to be delivered and all was part of it. I know you understand.

How is little Russell doing on baby food??? We are so proud that you have been able to nurse him this long Annie - you surely did not take after your mother!!!! We hope he won't have problems with allergies. We are anxious for Spring when you will be able to come see us. Yesterday when we were traveling close to Yellowstone we thought about how much you will enjoy that trip - we were at elevations of 9,000 ft. and it looked like the top of the world and I kept looking for bear caves - I would like to go that way during the Summer some time - it's through Greybull. The Mission Van is really nice and we can just imagine how much fun you will have traveling in your van - perfect for your family.

Claire - you will be having a birthday on Wednesday - we surely hope it's a happy one. We haven't heard from you all for awhile - we know you are really busy with probably a new baby sitter and Bob finishing up his work at the Med Center. We had a letter from Maxine Bass last week and she said David and Anna have set their wedding date for May 21 - we are so thrilled they have finally decided to get married - I guess Anna's father is in the hospital with lung cancer and not expected to live very much longer. We had a wonderful and long newsy letter from Chris - she said that Linda Garrett is the new Primary President and I think that's really great - have they had any bids on their home? I'm surprised they have stayed in Little Rock this long. Have you heard from the Smithers? Let us know if we can help you in anyway in your move.

I can't think of any more news - Brenda made some delicious dumplings the other day - I love chicken and dumplings but my dumplings are always "doughy" and these weren't - I'll get the recipe for you.
"Mississippi Old Time Dumplings"
1 1/2 cups flour, shifted 1 teaspoon salt
4 Tablespoons baking powder 2 eggs, well beaten
4 Tablespoons Crisco shortening 1/4 cup milk

Sift flour with baking powder and salt; in shortening; stir in milk and well beaten eggs. Drop by spoonful (I use a soup spoon) into boiling pork, beef or chicken stock. Steam 8 minutes on medium heat. Be sure and keep the pot covered while cooking. DO NOT LIFT THE LID WHILE COOKING. Eat at once. Serves 6.
(a lot of baking pwd. - maybe that's the secret) They were good warmed over too.

We love you all so very much - PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - let us know if we can help you in anyway!

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