June 26, 1983 Billings, Montana

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

Well - Johnny is home safe and sound and it is so good to have him home. He had a wonderful trip to Little Rock - Thank you so much Bob and Claire for being so good to him!! He called us about noon on Friday and he was really tearful - he was calling from his girl friend's house and he was just ready to leave. He got there about 4:30 yesterday (Saturday) afternoon so you know how fast he must have traveled - it is about 1,800 miles from here. This is a real sacrifice for him and you gave him some good advice yesterday Jeannie - she called right after he got here and told him he would look back on this experience in years to come and realize he was a better person because of it - at 17 that's hard to believe but it made an impression on him because he told us what you said!

Chris and Wayne Smith came on Friday afternoon and we're really enjoying their visit. They brought a gallon of fresh oysters from the coast and Wayne had made three gallons of his delicious seafood gumbo and brought that also - we don't need to tell you how much we're enjoying all that. The Elders are finishing the gumbo off for lunch now but they didn't care much for the oysters so we have enjoyed all those. Can you imagine bringing all the almost 2,000 miles??? That's real friendship. Wayne and Daddy are going to take the Elders out fishing tomorrow and yesterday we took them to Cody to see the Visitor's Center so they're having a good time.

Roy - Daddy loved his darling Father's Day Card and we both loved the picture of your diploma - that is so neat!!! Bro. And Sister Strong from the missionary committee in Salt Lake came to visit the Mission Home (really see how things were going here) and we showed it to them - he was really interested in it and could read some Latin (the diploma is all in Latin). You be sure to take really good care of that because you will want it framed and hung in your Office someday. We loved talking to you too - we surely hope you like your work now that you have started in your new hospital.

Bob and Claire - we are so relieved that you are in your new home - moving is such a big hassle and I worry so much about those big moving vans. We're happy your mishap wasn't too serious (They had just left their home with the van loaded to the hilt and Bob turned the first corner too sharply and blew out a tire - he called the U-Haul "hot line" and he said they were there in just a few minutes and hoisted it up and changed the tire and they were on their way - they were afraid they would have to unload it before they could change it.) They got in Memphis about 10:30 Friday night (Claire had worked until 5) and we called them Saturday morning and they said the Elder's Quorum was on their way to help them unload and arrange the furniture. We're so anxious to hear how you like your work and Memphis and all!

Annie and Ron - I gave your friends' names to our missionaries who cover Red Ledge and Laurel. I explained the situation to them and told them we would like addresses so we could go visit them sometime when we're in that area. We're so happy you are feeling better Ann. Are you going to Grandma Bev and Grandpa Russ' home for their family reunion on July 4th? We surely hope so and we hope you feel good - it must be a thrill for them to be around their little Grandson Russell because he is definitely a "Woolley"!

Jeannie and Rick - I'm so happy to learn that you have a teenager living in your area who you can call on to help you with your children when you need someone. If you can get a good teenage girl to call on it will mean so much to you - children love to be around someone that age and if they're dependable you just can't beat it! I'm sure it's hard for you to work so much Jeannie and yet its really great to "keep your foot in the door".

I have run out of correction fluid so this will be a letter filled with mistakes. Beside that I have moved the typewriter and I'm kinda' typing in the dark.

We have been home this past week and it has been a busy one as usual. Daddy poured cement out in the shed one day and he was really tired by the end of the day - one of the Elders helped him. They wanted cement in the shed so our Car Czar could work on cars out there instead of in the driveway - it just had a dirt floor before. There is so much work to do around here - our garden would take a prize - we have given everyone radishes, lettuce and green onions - we have a little rabbit nibbling on our squash and the Elders set a trap for him last night but they didn't catch him (Daddy said he would have had to be a really stupid rabbit to get caught in it - Ha!)

Tuesday a sweet older couple from Arizona came into the Mission. They had dinner with us and then we took them shopping and to the dry cleaner (can you imagine coming on a mission without having all that done first?) They spent the night and then Daddy had them go to serve in Poplar - an Indian Reservation. Before I could get the sheets back on the bed Bro. and Sister Strong came - they had served in Buenos Aires some years ago and he was Mission Pres. so they were happy to be back in a Mission Home - the Elders all sang our Mission Song for them and that tickled them.

This was on Wednesday and right after the Strongs left we went to the airport to pick up 8 new Elders and 1 new Sister. They come to the home about 3 p.m. and Daddy interviews them and we have pictures taken and then we have dinner and an orientation. Our new Office Staff had made up a new orientation and it was fabulous - I tell you, this Elder Madsen is going to be someone we will read about in future years - he is really talented (his grandparents are the Lundahls from Logan). We had a chicken and dressing casserole, green beans, salad, rolls and ice cream sundaes. We are really thrilled with our new missionaries - we have some good leaders in the group.

Thursday we had 8 missionaries come in to go home - one was a lady missionary who had been a favorite of mine and I just hated to see her leave. Her fiancé' came home from his mission in Japan about a year ago and she has been here for 18 months so it has been a long time since they have seen each other and she was really getting cold feet. We gave her some pearls for a wedding gift and she was really thrilled. One of the 8 was being sent home and the will be better without him.

The new lady missionary we just had come in is quite a bit overweight and when she got off the plane she had a sack of cookies so she gave me one as we were driving home and it has to be the very best thing I have ever eaten. Come to find out it was a "Mrs. Fields' cookie" and her sister had bought them for her. It was so funny because this last week's church news had a picture of Mrs. Fields and her husband and children and horse on the front page with a little article about her on the inside (she isn't a member of the church). The cookie was chocolate chip with Macadamia (sp.?) nuts in it.

Our house elders are so conscientious - one morning last week about 3 I awakened and could see a light coming from the offices so I just ran downstairs in my pajamas - I thought they had left them on by mistake but there was Elder Tisdel working at his desk. I told him to go to bed and then I came back to bed and he started typing and typed until 4:45 - I could have killed him but I didn't dare say anything because I knew he was doing things that had to be done. He is a favorite of Daddy and me.

Tomorrow is Bob and Claire's wedding anniversary - I want you to know we didn't forget but I know it's too late to get a card off. Today is little Michael's birthday - I hope Johnny gave him his present - that was a dumb gift but I was desperate to get something that would be easy to pack. Thursday will be little Barji's birthday - I hope she gets our gift on time - will she have a party?

I can't think of anymore news - oh Yes. Yesterday when we went to Cody, the couple at the Visitor's Center asked if we knew a Phyllis and Swede Larsen - their daughter is going to teach school in Cody and they had been there with her for her interview. They were surely impressed with them - I'm glad Swede if doing better financially. Do you all remember them - they came to Little Rock one time right after we had come home from water skiing and stayed with us - you were there Bob and Claire. They live in Logan and are lifelong friends.

We're so proud of each one of you an d appreciate you so much - PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - Let us know how we can help you!!!!
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