March 6, 1983 Billings, Montana

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

We just came home from Riverton where we have been this week-end for their Stake Conference - the conference was super and we really love the Wyoming people. Johnny went with us so that made it really special - we had promised him we would see a lot of antelope and dear but we didn't see very many - we did see a lot of newly born calves in the fields and that was fun. We are so surprised about the beautiful weather we are having - it was actually warm. The Regional Representative for that area, Bro. Woolley, comes in from Fort Collins and he didn't make it for some of their earlier meeting yesterday because the Denver airport was closed and today as we were leaving the chapel someone came and told him it was closed again so we don't know if he made it home or not.

Annie and Ron - we hope so much that little Jessie has recuperated from the chicken pox and that Susanna and Russell won't get them for at least two more weeks. When you called to tell us about that Ann, it reminded us so much of our many plans that were changed because of things that happen that you have no control over and that you least expect. When you have a family of five it is to be expected but that doesn't make it any easier - we really want you to come but we also really want it to be a fun trip for you and not have your children not feeling good. We have been wondering if Susanna had been exposed at the same time Jessie was that maybe she has a natural immunity to them since she didn't have them at the same time - and really, I'll bet Russell still has his immunity from breast fed for so long. Any way, we're keeping our fingers crossed!!!!!

Claire and Bob - we're wondering how you are going to feel about having Michael exposed to the chicken pox - maybe you need a good doctor's advice - Ha! I kinda' feel like Ann does, that the sooner your children have these communicable diseases the better off they are - but then, what do I know!!!! We're really looking forward to your visit and will be at the airport Thursday night around 10 - Johnny may be there to pick you up if we don't get home from the fireside with Elder Dunn in time. Claire - I haven't mentioned your pregnancy in my letters because I have wanted you to tell everyone first but now I understand that everyone knows so I can write about it - we are so thrilled for you all and think it is so great that you haven't had any problems - is your due date, July??? Hope you sell your home soon so you can make plans to get another one in Memphis and will get settled before then.

Jeannie and Rick - I wanted to call you the other night and remind you to keep constant watch over your children and then I realized that you do just that! We were watching the news from Salt Lake when they showed finding that girl's body in North Ogden who had been abducted - I can't believe what a serious thing that is in Utah. She was a teenager but some of the others have been really young. I used to think the whole state of Utah was a safe sanctuary but I guess it isn't anymore and it seems to be more prevalent around the Ogden area. We surely hope your Mom is doing good Rick - I know that is hard on you to be so many places all the time. How is your little pre-school doing Jeannie? We're so proud of you to be doing speaking engagements in Physician's seminars on nutrition - I don't know how you do so many things.

Roy - we haven't heard from you since you got back in Providence - did you miss out on any special things? I'll bet it's fun to be winding things up after seven years - when you first left Little Rock, seven years seemed like an eternity but it has gone quite fast - it probably does seem like an eternity to you. My advice to all my children would be to live in an area where your children didn't have to leave home at such a young age to fulfill their dreams of education - you have surely done a wonderful job and we're so proud of you but it has been hard and we know it! Patrice - did you like Utah?

Johnny's high school basketball team was in a divisional championship tournament with the final game played last night - he was with us so he didn't get to see it but we have found out tonight that they lost. The State championship games are in Missoula on the 17th and he wants to go to them - he is enjoying his school friends. He has really lost a lot of weight - he tells me it is going into muscle but he looks too thin to me. His car parts haven't come in yet so it will be awhile before it gets fixed - we don't like him driving around with just one headlight but so far he hasn't been picked up. His boss gave him a raise so he is now making $4.00 an hour - he is beginning to save a little now - at first, he spent it as fast as he made it but he's realizing how many cars he has to wash to buy just a very little of the things he thinks he needs - we're proud of him!

Speaking of cars - you should see the mission home parking lot. We have had so many missionaries leave from their missions and we haven't had replacements for many of them so their cars are brought into the home - then last week we received seven brand new Chevrolet Citations. Daddy figured out that we have $100,000 inventory in just cars sitting in our parking lot - the new ones price tag on the windows is $9,138.00. We also have some really nice trucks. They sell them at about one-third that when they get 40,000 miles on them so let us know if you get in the market for a new car (used, that is.) We will have twenty new missionaries come in April so they will get put to use soon.

We had planned a work party for last Thursday to start at six o'clock in the morning. Wednesday night the missionaries came to our apartment and said they had forgotten to pick up the carpet cleaner so we couldn't start until about eight. Well - they all got up at 4:30 a.m. and by the time we got downstairs at 8:00 a.m. it was practically all done - we really have the sweetest house staff right now and they do so much for us!!! They didn't scrub and wax the kitchen floor so I'm going to get up early in the morning and do that. The home really looks pretty and I'm sure Elder Dunn will think so too.

This is our "March to Victory" month and the Elders have put "March to Victory" signs all over everything - we came into our apartment one day and there are signs on all our doors. When I opened the china cabinet to set the table the other day there was another sign - they want to break all records and get 115 baptisms. Daddy received a telegram from Elder Dunn this past week telling him (congratulating him) that our Area was the highest in the United States in convert baptisms last year and fifth in the world - Montana is second to Colorado in our area so that is really neat. Now if we can just keep it up!!!!

Bishop Anderson just came over to home teach us - this is the first time since we have been here that we have had home teachers. It's really funny the things you take for granted when you live as normal people in a normal ward. He is really a very wonderful man - he has been a Stake President and now a Bishop. He is so concerned about Johnny and that means very thing to us.

We go to Missoula early, early Tuesday morning and will meet Elder Dunn who is flying in there - we are going in the big van with the Assistants. We will have meetings there on Tuesday and Wednesday and then to Great Falls - we will fly from there to Billings on Wed. night - have meetings here all day Thursday and that night - then go to the Indian Reservation on Friday. After that we will relax!!!!

We surely do love each one of you and hope so much you're all doing great. Please let us know how we can help you and BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!!!!

P.S. I forgot to tell you about John's High School basketball team. Johnny took the car and three of his friends and they left Thursday to drive to Missoula - about 365 miles away. His High School got in the championship play offs that were held last night and they had three overtimes but finally lost by one point - he - hasn't come home yet but he is going to be quite disappointed. It's like I told Daddy - no one loses in a game like that!

He has called each night while he has been gone and he said the weather has been just beautiful - we have had a little Winter for the last two days but it's pretty again today!
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