May 8, 1983 Billings, Montana


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

Today is Mother's Day and we just came home from Glendive, Montana - we got here just in time for dinner. Thank you all so much for remembering me - I have always wondered why I should be honored for doing the things I love the most - being you mother. I am really proud of each one of you and love you very much. I worry so much about Johnny because he is without a mother most of the time - he is doing a great job of rearing himself though. When we came home tonight he want here and when I checked in his room I found his stereo was gone and I asked everyone in the mission home if they knew where he was and no one did - it really bothered me because it is a big thing to take all his stereo equipment out of the house. Brenda is so social and really leaves the minute the meals are over and comes in when she pleases - it's a good thing we don't have really young children. He came in shortly after we got home and had been with friends. The elders were all so cute - they gave me a beautiful handmade card and a mission pin - some of them had prepared the dinner today to give Brenda the day off.

We left on Thursday to go to Miles City for our zone conference there - the conference went really well and then the Relief Society served us dinner. They always do the most special things like having cream puffs and Danish pastry for dessert - most of the areas don't serve meals for us and that's okay for Daddy and I but the Elders really love it when they do.

Friday we went to Glendive for the weekend of their District Conference - Daddy is in charge of all the District Conferences so he had a lot to do. They didn't have auxiliary meetings on Saturdays so I stayed in the motel room and studied until time for the evening meetings. Daddy spoke at all the meetings and does such a good job it - was a good conference

There has surely been some "freakish" weather in the United States this Spring, hasn't there? The mud slide that did away with Thistle is unbelievable and then the earthquakes in California - we have so many missionaries from California that we were really concerned about that but fortunately we didn't have any who lived close to the quake areas. Our weather here has been just beautiful - Daddy planted potatoes the morning before we left and he has all the seeds for peas, squash, beans, kohlrabi, chard, beets, turnips, etc. they have plowed the corn spot and will be planting that soon.

I haven't told you any spiritual experiences for a long time so here goes!!! We have a young elder who came into the mission field a couple months ago and when we first met him we were worried that he was too immature for the work. The first time Daddy transferred him he really was upset and told Daddy he didn't think he was inspired. He has been transferred twice since that time and we were with him this last weekend - he came up to Daddy with tears in his eyes and said he had seen his apartment that was in this last transfer in a dream before he had come on his mission. I can't believe the change that has come over that young man - he was grown ten years in maturity in just two months and will end up being one of our best missionaries. We also had a letter from a young man who chose to go home after being here for just two months and he expressed such regret for having left his mission early. Its' experiences like this that make you realize what a truly divine experience it is and we are so grateful to be here and be doing the things we're doing - WE LOVE IT!!!!

We received the two couples who are going to be at the Cody Visitor's Center last week. They are from California - the Knights and the Behlings. They are really wonderful people - I had the knights picked out to the Director of the Visitor's Center because they are very outgoing and sharp looking people but come to find out they have only been members for three years and the Behlings will be the Directors - Bro. Behlings is a Patriarch. Sister Knight looks like an old Carol Ann - the same color hair and a similar personality. We will be getting a couple from Brigham City pretty soon and I'm excited about that - their last name is Wright and they are about Daddy's age so they will probably remember my brother Bob.

That's all the news - we leave again tomorrow and go to Great Falls and then to Missoula so we won't be home until next Sunday night. We love you all so very much = please let us know what we can do to help you. Chris Jordin just called me - she said your graduation is a week from today Bob - wish so much we could be there. PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN ALL YOU DO!!!!
Return to Home Page