May 29, 1983 Billings, Montana

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

It's about 10 p.m. and we just came from Kalispell - I'll just write a little bit and then finish it tomorrow. Johnny has gone to a concert by "Alabama" at the Metra - he has had his tickets for along time - anyway I want to wait up for him to come home! I can't type very late because this typewriter makes so much noise it keeps the Elders awake.

Bob and Claire - we really loved those wonderful pictures and we're so thrilled to have them - we put the one of both of you with Bob in his cap and gown down in Daddy's office by our plaque. They're all so good and we'll treasure them - the ones taken as the graduating class was marching in and also the one of Bob just after he had received his diploma make us feel as though we were "almost" there. Bob, what was Ralph Lloyd doing in the group - did he just is so special and we're so glad you're keeping your robe - you'll probably wear it someday at another graduation - who knows!!!! Your long letter was so good - we admire you for taking the "Owens" boys on the Father and Son Outing - they were little rascals in Primary!!!! Is it kinda' scary now that you're a Doctor? - I can just imagine every person in our ward asking you for advice - they did that after the first year. We would really have loved to hear you take "The Oath of Hippocrates" - a dream come true and we're so proud of both you and Roy. Claire - you don't look like you're about to have a baby - you look so pretty and classy!!! We are so excited for the first of July and the new little Mellor!

Roy - we were so happy to talk to you the other night - I was disappointed because I thought you would be calling from the airport but I guess it was just as well you didn't come to go to Kalispell with us - Glacier Park is still closed and they said it probably wouldn't be open until the middle of June. We will love to have you come whenever you can - you know our situation here and you can come anytime you want to and bring Patrice even though we are traveling. This is really beautiful country and she will love seeing Yellowstone Park - it might be better to wait until after your graduation so you won't have any pressing problems to worry about. Wouldn't it be terrible if you were here and couldn't for some reason or another get back for you graduation - after seven years - perish the thought!!!!!

Jeannie and Rick - we just talked to you and you sound so happy (Jeannie had just taken some caramel corn over to her new neighbors). I called because I was afraid they would be waiting for Roy - I told Jeannie he would probably be in Utah today or tomorrow. It was so much fun talking to Ricky and Barji - I can tell Ricky recognizes my voice and he's so cute. "Pa Pa" was talking to Barji when Jeannie took the phone so I didn't get to talk to her. The reason Daddy had to hang up Jeannie was because he was wanted on the other phone - it was the House Elders telling us they wanted to come welcome us home - they were all dressed up funny and they came into the apartment and did a little song and dance routine. Our new "Mission Family" is really special - we miss the other Elders but these new ones will take their place in no time at all.

Annie and Ron - we haven't heard from you for awhile but Jeannie says you are as well as can be expected!!! I guess it isn't a secret that you're expecting another baby Annie. I understand you are really having the morning sickness all day and that your varicose veins are already giving you problems. There is absolutely nothing anyone can say that will make you feel any better but we are thinking about you and we think it's great you will have four little children so close together. We know you have help with your little family but we wish we could be of some help too. Your trip to Idaho sounded fun and we hope you will be able to take the boat soon and have a little vacation.

Johnny is excited about his trip to Little Rock. He is going to the Idaho Falls Temple with the youth from the two Stakes in Billings June 10th and 11th and we're happy about that. He has really been working a lot lately - we hope his school work isn't suffering. He really is a good looking kid and such a sweet young man - we really hate to leave him so much.

Monday Afternoon -

I haven't hurried with my letter today because it is Memorial Day and I know the mail won't go out until tomorrow anyway. Johnny got home about midnight last night and he said the concert was wonderful - he brought a friend home with him to spend the night so I visited with them this morning and fixed a lunch for them to take on a picnic and then Daddy and I went shopping for some more plants for the home - that along with doing the laundry has taken me all morning.

I wish you could see our garden - everything we have planted is up and really growing - it is good relaxation for Daddy to go out and weed and water it (I rationalize that it's better for him than it is for me - Ha!!) We bought some more flowers for out in the front - really this home should have a full time gardener. Our lawn mower is broken and the part for it won't be here until tomorrow - the grass too long.

Last Wednesday our twelve new missionaries came in - they are all really super missionaries and we're thrilled with them. We served tostados and strawberry shortcake for that dinner - with all our other missionaries we're thrilled with them. We served tostados and strawberry shortcake for that dinner - with all our other missionaries we had 32 for dinner. The next day was transfer day and it was hectic as usual - I had made thirty dozen cookies and they were gone before the afternoon was over. One of Daddy's former assistants was going home and his parents were coming from Sandy to pick him up so I gave him permission to invite them to stay in the home and come for dinner - this is the second time I have done this and Daddy has threatened me that he will fire me if I do it again. We waited almost an hour for them for dinner and they still weren't here so we ate without them - when they finally got here they ate with their son and stayed at the table for two hours. We were waiting for them to finish so we could have our little meeting with all the missionaries who were going home. Johnny was upstairs watching some basketball game and he wanted his Daddy to watch it with him and the longer Daddy waited the angrier he became - our meeting wasn't over until about 10 p.m. and they are usually over about 8 p.m. It is really hard to know to do - we would really like to have people use the home but invariably they take advantage of us. The missionaries being transferred didn't get to their assigned places on time and Daddy was on the phone until past midnight checking up on them and "our guests" just went to bed. People have no idea how demanding this job is!

We have a sweet couple serving down in the Windriver Reservation area and the sister fell in their kitchen the other night and broke her hip and her shoulder. They had to wait to operate because her blood pressure was so low - she has diabetes. We don't know what they are going to do - he is out doing missionary work with the Elders while she is in the hospital but she'll be there at least a month and then it will be a long recuperating time for her - they'll probably go home. We really need more couples - there have gone home this week.

I had a letter from some of my classmates at Box Elder - they are planning our fortieth reunion this September - it doesn't seem possible that it has been that long. Of course, I won't be able to attend but I wrote and said I would help plan the fifteen - surely I will be able to go that one.

The conference in Kalispell was really good - Elder Wirthlin was the General Authority. Daddy spoke at three of their meetings and as usual did a really good job - by far, the best speaker they had!!!! They asked me to speak for five minute but the time got away from them so I just bore my testimony. Chris Jordin has a sister living there and her husband is one of the Bishops - we always enjoy visiting with them - she is a lot like Chris. The scenery up there is absolutely gorgeous - very much like Arkansas only the climate is better.

That's all the news - we love you all so very much and we really miss you - we keep planning all the things we want to do when our mission is over and we're hopping our health will still be good. PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - and let us know how we can help.

I almost forgot - GRANDPA FOREST will be 88 years old this Thursday - June 2nd. He is in remarkably good health and we hope he has a wonderful birthday. He's the same age as President Kimball and we understand his physical health is very poor.
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