March 4, 1984
Dearest Roy; Bob, Claire, Michael & Laura; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean & Mary Ann and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell & LeeAnna,
This won't be a very long letter. We have just come home from Riverton, Wyoming where we attended their Stake Conference - it takes us about five hours to get there and sometime we wonder if it's worth it for us to go. They had a special missionary meeting yesterday afternoon and we broke our necks to get there and then the Regional Representative, Tyler Woolley, didn't even have Daddy speak. We have found there to be a lot of jealously between the Regional Representatives and the Mission Presidents - it was like this in Little Rock too - isn't that dumb? Daddy did speak at the General Session of Conference today though and did a great job!!! We came through a terrible snowstorm this afternoon - it was so funny, we would pass through countryside filled with snow and then some that are so dry - Billings is really dry. It was cold there too and in Billings our crocus and up and so the jonquils (they're not blooming yet).
Last week was a busy week. We rented a "rug doctor" and Daddy shampooed all the carpets. We decided it would be best to do it while all the Elders were gone so he started about 6 p.m. and finished about 10 p.m. Brenda scrubbed and waxed the kitchen floor at the same time so we just kept all the Elders out of that part of the house overnight and things got all dry. I decided to wash the sheer curtains in the General Authorities' room and I shouldn't have done that. They are quite old and I thought it was foolish to spend a lot of money on having them dry cleaned so I hand washed them. I couldn't get the wrinkles out no matter how hard I tired. I ironed and ironed and used a wet towel to steam press them and nothing worked. Finally, yesterday just before we left for Riverton I pulled them really tight and thumbtacked the bottom hem to the baseboard - I think they look a lot better today. The Elders worked all day on Thursday - they washed all the windows in the house, moved all the furniture in their dorm and in the offices and oiled all the woodwork and then some of them raked all the leaves from the garage and all the driveways and everything looks really nice.
We leave tomorrow about noon to drive to Missoula - Daddy and I and the two office assistants and the two traveling assistants will drive in the Van. Elder Dunn comes in about noon on Tuesday and after the meetings on Wednesday we'll fly back to Billings with him and the assistants will drive the van back to Billings. Brenda has to have lunch ready for us and then we'll have meetings here, then in Custer (the Crow Agency), then to Glendive and Glascow. He will fly back to Salt Lake on Friday and we'll drive back from Glascow. This is really a hectic time for us - it will be fun though and he's really good to be with.
I have a million things to do before we leave tomorrow. Johnny has been in Great Falls since Thursday and I have a lot of laundry to do for him besides doing the grocery shopping and getting
Daddy's and my clothes ready and packed. Daddy counted and we have ten meetings to prepare for - ugh!!! Johnny's school team won their first game but lost the next two so I don't think they will be eligible to go for State championship playoffs. He came home today and went right to sleep - there were about ten of them in a room and I don't think he got much sleep.
Jeannie - we loved your long letter last week (I forgot to mention it in my last letter). You sound super busy and happy. We'll have some copies of the pictures Johnny took of your family while we was there and send them to you - there is one of Ricky that is just priceless - he captured an expression that only Johnny could and you will love it. He also took some of the interior of your home and it is beautiful. We loved talking to you Rick and also to the children - Ricky talked like he recognized who we were but we couldn't tell about Barji. We're so happy that little Mary Ann in walking - Rick says she is really walking!!!
Roy - we loved your phone call and hearing about your trip. Daddy used to scuba dive in the Islands and he really enjoyed seeing all the different fish - I'll bet that was NEAT!!! We can tell you're anxious to get to the Brigham-Women's Hospital - we surely read a lot about that!
Claire - we loved your letter too and laughed about your decision to not use the mirrored tiled after all. Your grass cloth and prints sound great. I think it's really hard to decorate a complete new home - it's easy to add to a décor but hard to start from scratch. We can just imagine how much fun it is to take Michael to the park - wish we could go with you.
Annie - we hope so much you and Ron and your family have had a super vacation in California.
We love you all so very much - PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!!!
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