March 27, 1983 Billings, Montana

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

We were so thrilled to receive your letters this week Ann and Bob. Daddy was overjoyed with that wonderful "Safety Quiz" that Ron had composed and plans to use it all our series of zone conferences from now on - our mission is at the top of accidents per missionary. He was also overjoyed at those wonderful directions on how to give "shots" that you copied for him Bob - he has two new assistants now and they are both studying them so they can learn how. I wish I would have had you teach me how to do it - I understand that is the job of the wife of the Mission President in many missions - I don't dare try it without some professional teachings!!! We "all" loved Susanna's talk - I put it on our bulletin board and the missionaries really got a big kick out of it - we would liked to have heard for give it. I can hardly go in that bathroom you all used without getting "teary-eyed" - Daddy took a picture of Susanna, Jessie and Michael in the bathtub that is really darling and then I look at the twin shower stalls and can still see the little houses that the girls made and played in - we really miss you all!!! The pictures are all so cute but the one in the bathtub and then a close up of Russell with the chicken pox would take prizes - we are having copies made for you and will send them as soon as we get them.

Jeannie, Rick and Roy - we haven't heard from you this week but we understand and know you are all really busy - Jeannie, I'll bet you're making Easter dresses and Roy, I'll bet you're looking for apartments in Boston!!! We're concerned about Rick's mother and hope she is feeling better and everything is going good for her.

Johnny had a wonderful time in Missoula and got home safe and sound quite early last Sunday night. He took his Toyota into the shop on Tuesday morning and it was all done by Thursday afternoon - they did a beautiful job and you can't even tell it was ever wrecked. They put a new hood on it plus the new fender and light - he is taking more pride in it now and keeps it clean and shined up. His Arkansas friends all called him last Sunday night to try to talk him into going to Colorado to meet them for their annual ski trip - he really wanted to go at first but when he started to figure out how far it was for him to drive and how much school he would miss he decided (on his own!) that it would be a dumb thing for him to do. They will be there all this week and we're really enjoying his job now and appreciates having it because so many of his friends can't find one - he's a good worker and his boss (Pres. Griffin) compensates him for what he does and that is so important!!!! He would like to save his money and buy an old 280 Z or something like that and work on it and get it working - so far he hasn't been able to find one and maybe that's good. He is really a good kid!!!!

This past week was really busy - we had five new missionaries come in on Wednesday and that always involves so much meal preparation, orientation and cleaning of bedroom and bathroom Thursday was transfer day and we had five go home - one of them was Elder Hess from Kaysville and his folks couldn't come pick him up until Saturday and that was kinda' hard. I invited them to stay in the Mission Home last night and they left early this morning - his parents and his sister. We also had an Elder decide to go home - Bob and Ann, do you remember the one we went to the airport to pick up at midnight while you were here? We practically stood on our heads for him over a week - the night he came in (he came here from England because he didn't like it there) he had a big long suit bag and when I went to pick it up he came hurrying over to get it - I thought he was just being a gentleman but we found out it had a guitar in it - Daddy told him to send it home and he flatly refused so Daddy sent him home!!! He was supposed to be Elder Pottberg's companion in Lamedeer and he lasted one day!! That always spreads gloom over the mission home but we'll get over it.

Today was Stake Conference here in our stake and also Elder Woolley (the Regional Representative) dedicated the new Stake Center - it was a special meeting - Daddy and I both spoke (Daddy always does great!) Tonight we had a family of seven for dinner - he's the man who gives the missionaries "Church's Fried Chicken" - there were 18 of us!!! Then we went to the "Messiah" so now it's time to go to bed. We really love each one of you and want so much for you all to be safe and happy in everything you do PLEASE BE CAREFUL - let us know if we can help you in any way!
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