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

We're in Billings this weekend and it's really nice to be able to go to church with Johnny and also be able to attend Relief Society and Sunday School - we're usually attending Stake Conference somewhere. It was their Ward Conference this morning and they asked Daddy to speak and so we were on the stand - Johnny was busy preparing the Sacrament and he blessed it this morning and we don't think he saw us sitting on the stand and he probably thought we left to come home right after Sunday School because after the sacrament he left - when we got home we found a note saying he was at one of his friend's homes - he's going to be in trouble! He is beginning to choose a lot of non-member friends and that concerns us - they're fine young people but we're worried that he won't go to all his meetings and things when we're not here.

Rick and Jean - I'm sorry I missed your call last night Jeannie - we feel so bad about Rick's mother (she is in the hospital very seriously ill). It's really good that she is in Utah and close to you so you can watch after her - we hope so much that she recuperate quickly and will be able to go home soon. Rick - you have really had it these past few months!!!

Roy - this will be your last week in Utah and we hope it's a happy one. I can't believe how busy you have been at the Med. Center - I didn't think you would have to be on call the way you have - I'm sure it has been wonderful experience for you though. Ann said that Patricia had a good time - that was really a "quick vacation" - a day and a half in Utah didn't give her much time to really see anything. The snowstorm they had in the East was unbelievable and I'll bet you're happy you weren't there.

Bob and Claire - Dr. Bob, that is!!! We're so thrilled for you that you are all through with school now - what a wonderful achievement and we are really proud of you. I'm sure the next few years will be hard too but you're over the hump now and could start practicing medicine if you didn't want to specialize. We hope you'll be able to sell your home and buy something as nice in Memphis and really get settled in before you have start in again. We're looking forward to your visit after the second week in March - Bro. Dunn will be here most of that second week but that way we'll be able to get our zone conference over with in just one week and that will help. I wish we would have as good weather as we have had in January and up to now - we haven't had snow since the last of December and our tulips are coming up!!!

Ron and Ann - I love talking to you Annie but I always forget to ask you things - did you go to Mem's wedding reception? I think it's so wonderful that Roy has been ale to spend so much time with you - the Lehi house could get mighty lonely!!!! It would be great if you could come visit the same time Bob does - the children would really enjoy each other - but it would really be fun for Ron to bring you in the Spring or Summer so you could have a fun vacation through the park. Could you do both???

The big news this week I guess, is that Johnny wrecked his (?) car!!!! He was coming home from school and a boy turned right in front of him - he hit the brakes and skidded but couldn't avoid hitting the boy's car right rear fender. There wasn't anyone hurt but it really tore up Johnny's right front fender and headlight - the estimate on fixing it is $895.00 - the other driver admitted it was his fault so his insurance will pay for it but the car will never be the same. Daddy is going to make Johnny pay the $100 deductible until we get it back from the other insurance company because we really believe it could have been preventable if Johnny would have had his kind on driving - his car was filled with kids he was taking home. He is going through a typically 6-year-old stage and maybe this is a blessing in disguise. He has a girl friend and she is a doll but lives out n the country - there are some darling girls right close by and he had to choose one at least 15 miles out of town!!! I'm sure this will only last a few weeks or until the fishing gets good - he's already planning backpack trips!

Speaking of backpack trips - we really have a tragedy in our ward. A young father has been planning for a later year Elk hunting trip for the last six months and he left last Sunday to go into the mountains near Gardiner (by Yellowstone) with his brother and father-in-law. The father-in-law became tired so two of them sat down to rest and this young man said he wanted to go into he wanted to go into the mountains a little further and they haven't heard from him since. They said he was warmly dressed on top but he wore only cotton pants and didn't have any matches and only two candy bars to eat. They have had professional mountain men hunting for him all week and can't find any traces - they think he must have fallen and hurt himself and since week and can't find any traces - they think he must have fallen and hurt himself and since there was a blizzard that night he is covered up with snow. His wife and two little children were in church this morning and it was so sad - the priesthood is planning to get a group to go look for him as soon as the weather permit. Everyone is hoping an animal didn't find him that would be such a terrible death - there are a lot of bear up in that country but they are in hibernation now, I hope!

Daddy and I went to Lodgegrass (on the Grow Reservation) to their Sweetheart Ball last Monday night. The missionaries (a couple) did a wonderful job of decorating the church and inviting a lot of people and it was fun. The Branch President there is white and he and his family bought a huge ranch several years ago and because of the economy they have lost the ranch but they are working for someone else - they live about 15 miles out from Lodgegrass their family keeps the Branch together and I really admire them - they have five teenage children and they played their stereo and brought the revetments and all - it kinda' reminded me of our early years in Little Rock!!! It's so funny - the Indians stay on one side and the whites one the other side - just like the Negroes and Whites in the South. I was hurrying to leave for the dance and we were to pick up another couple (Daddy's counselor and his wife Pres. & Sister Bob Erekson) and I caught my heel at the top of the stairs and fell all the way to the landing - we have two sets of steps (about ten each) and they are divided by a landing. I laid there for the longest time calling for someone to come help me and no one could hear me - Daddy was waiting out in the car. I finally got up and went to the dance with a broken shoe, headache, backache and all!!! I don't know if my back will ever be well again and I have been so thrilled because with our little trampoline I haven't had even the slightest back problem for months - I'm sure this will heal in a short time but it has really reminded of how miserable backaches can be!!! Mission President's wives can't be sown and as much as I wanted to stay in bed last week I just couldn't and I guess that's good.

Johnny played for a church dance last night - he does a good job. We had a fireside here at the Mission Home for the winners of the missionary marathon for Seminaries in this area last night and as soon as we got that under way, Daddy and I went to the dance. They made ice cream sundaes and Brenda had baked them some cookies.

Our missionaries are doing great - most of them - and we hope to have a lot more baptisms this month than last. The one who had his appendix out is doing good and the one who wanted to go home has decided to stay out for a little longer - this all helps. Daddy has brought a new Elder in the home and he is from Golden, Colorado - he is the sweetest young man and we are really thrilled to have him part of the staff. When all the Elders in the home work together it makes our job a million times easier - the group that is in here now is made up of the finest young men in the world, I'm sure!!! They eat their meals without any complaints and they don't take advantage of the kitchen and they keep their apartment and the office so neat and clean - we have learned that when we get one in here who doesn't went to be a leader the best thing to do is to just move them out in the filed.

Your cousin, Jaylene Forrest, is getting married this Thursday. She is marrying a young man from New York and their wedding announcement is really nice - it would be wonderful if those of you in Utah could go to Brigham City for their reception. Ann and Jean remember hear but I don't know about you Roy - it's unfortunate that all of you are not us close to your cousins on my side of the family as you are to the ones on Daddy's side - Brigham City is far enough away to make it really hard to see them very often.

That's all the news - we really do love each one of you and hope so much that everything will go great for you - PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!! Let us know how we can help you.
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