April 1, 1984 Billings, Montana

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

Happy April Fool's Day!!!! I believe this is the first time for many years that I haven't awakened someone in our family with, "Come look, there's a big pink elephant coming down the road"! I was tempted to try that on Johnny this morning but we had to leave about four hours before he needed to get up and I was afraid he wouldn't think it was very funny!!!

Would you believe Brenda is still here???? She was going to leave this morning but when her daughter got here they decided to not travel on Sunday so they plan to going the morning. Actually, it is really hard for her to go and I wouldn't be surprised to have her delay it a little longer. I bought a big turkey to cook all night last night so she could make sandwiches for her trip and then the Elders could use that and make the rest of their dinner out of things in the pantry. When I went downstairs this morning to check the turkey she had taken it out of the oven and put a lid on it and then put it back in - she was standing right by me and I just took it out of the oven and took the lid off and put it back in. When I went down about an hour later it was just perfectly browned and cooked so I took it out of the drippings and put it in another pan and then set the drippings out to cool so the fat could be taken from them to make gravy. I planned to have Daddy carve the "beautiful" turkey at the dinner table but she just took over as she always does and took all the meat from the bones before we ever sat down. This must sound very "petty" to you but when I have put up with this for almost two years and have looked forward to doing this today "all by myself" it was maddening!!!! We have had so many people come up to us and ask about selling the Mission Home and other rumors - she had told everyone that's what we are going to do and that's why she has to leave. The Elders and Johnny can hardly wait to start doing their own cooking. Johnny says he is going to move down in her room - we'll have to wait and see if he is that brave!!!!

We loved having letters this week from Annie and Claire. Susanna and Jessie sent us some of their pre-school papers and I really love looking at them - it took me back to my school teaching days. They are doing so well and those cute "grrreat Lion" stamps are such an incentive for them to keep doing that good. It's really hard for me to realize they are that old. It was good to hear you tell about having Daddy's sisters visit with you Ann and bringing LeeAnna a baby outfit- his sisters are really thoughtful - we're anxious to see the baby quilt that Carol made for her. We had a nice letter from Ramona and we hear occasionally from Shirley but we never hear from Elaine - we did receive a letter from her son Matt though. Claire - we are thrilled to hear that you and Bob are talking about settling down in the West when he is finished with his residency - when we can look forward to having our family closer together in the future it makes our mission go faster. It won't be long until Michael will have a "live in" playmate - Laura will be fun for him in a few more months!!!

Jeannie and Rick - Ann told us you will have to replace your carpet in your rented home - that is really too bad because it's only a couple years old. We hope the man who is responsible will carry some of the burden - does his insurance cover that???

Roy - you have had some really bad weather this past week!!! We were interested in the tornados that ripped through the Carolinas and then found that the storm went into Boston and took you some snow and cold weather - and this is Spring???

We talked to Ann on Friday night and while we were talking little Russell waked up and he cried and cried - Ron was in Canada and I just longed to be with them to help so we called on Saturday morning to see how Russell was. Ann said he wouldn't stop crying so she took him to the 24 hour clinic and the Doctor found he had ear infections in both his ears - we can really relate to that because Johnny had that so often and it would come on so suddenly and always after the sun had gone down. Ann said he had been croupy for a day or so - little LeeAnna has a bad cold too. Ron came back Saturday so I'm sure all is well by now - it's really funny what a settling influence these Daddys have on a family. We have laughed and laughed about what Ann says about their lives - she says they have "light days and dark days" - they don't have nights because their children are never asleep at one time long enough to call it a night! Ron called Ann from Kalispell, Montana and told her it was one of the most beautiful places he had ever seen - it really is - he flew to Kalispell and then drove to Canada. Chris Jordin has a sister living in Kalispell.

Johnny went skiing again yesterday in Red Lodge. He came home with his face just bright red - he said that was the most fun skiing he had had for a long time - evidently they got 20 inches of powdery snow the night before. He only has two more months of school left - we will all be happy when his seminary is over - twenty years of getting children up for early morning seminary is long enough. He has had an outstanding teacher this year and that makes is easier.

Daddy and I drove to Byron, Wyoming on Thursday night to attend a Priesthood Leadership Meeting at the home of Pres. Abraham - Daddy was the speaker. That was one of the most enjoyable evenings of our mission so far. I have told you about the Abraham family before - he owns most of Byron and is very wealthy and has this gorgeous home way away from civilization in what Daddy calls a "swamp". They have ten children and Sister Abraham had cancer surgery just before we came on our mission - she came to our open house here with stitches all under her throat and down her neck. She is doing just wonderful now and is a very pretty woman. They had a son on a mission in New York and he is home now and they have another son serving in Independence, Mo. Their oldest daughter is preparing to go to Utah State next year. They must have had at least sixty people at their home and they served the most delicious food - everyone brought something. Daddy gave a wonderful talk and we really loved being there. Their home is very "homey" - they have six girls and four boys and the boys bedrooms are all downstairs and the girls upstairs and they have two dens, big sewing room, huge kitchen with a "walk-in" freezer" - really nice!!!

Friday we drove to Powell, Wyoming where Daddy was the speaker at a special Institute Devotional held at the community college in Powell - we are really impressed with all the wonderful Institute building for the young college people of the church. He gave a great talk and then they served a light lunch and then we went to the home of Pres. & Sister Jay Partridge to visit with them for awhile - Jay and Phyllis were friends of ours when we lived in Laramie thirty years ago and it's so much fun to renew friendship again. Jay worked for Daddy in the Soils Department and he is still doing the same thing on an experiment farm in Powell. He is in the Stake Presidency of the Cody Stake.

Saturday (yesterday) was the Billings Stake Conference and we were in meeting in the afternoon and last night and then again this morning - Daddy spoke in their conference this morning and did his usual great job. The ward Johnny goes to doesn't start until 1 o'clock so after the conference we came home and went to meetings with him - we have been in meetings today for six hours.

Last Wednesday I took Brenda and one of her friends to Cody - we have the Visitor's Center there and she has never been there. We left early in the morning and then made it back just barely in time to fix the Elder's dinner. She really enjoyed going through the Center and it will mean a lot of her when she gets home and has time to think about everything she did here. We ordered her a really nice plaque that said, "Thanks to our wonderful cook, Sister Brenda Lowe. We love you. Montana Billings Mission - 1982-84". It turned out really nice and she is thrilled with it - we also bought her a big cake decorated and with this wording, "Goodbye Sister Lowe. We Love You." She has been honored and honored so she should feel really good about things and I'm sure she does.

Daddy finally went to the Doctor last Wednesday and found that he has a Sinus infection. The Doctor is treating him with some kind of a steroid and some other medicine - he is much, much better. I have never known him to have such a constant runny nose and consequently he had sores all over his nose - he said that is what made him go to the Doctor - he was afraid it was a staph (sp.?) infection.

I'm out of news but I am going to type a recipe for Ann's special brownies - she gave it to us over the phone and I hope I have it right - if I don't, call me Annie because I'm going to make it this week for one of the dinners I have to prepare!!!

1 box of the Family Size Duncan Brownie Mix
Double the eggs - use milk instead of water - Add large pkg. Chocolate chips, nuts and Vanilla - Bake at 325( for 50 minutes. (Ann says she bakes it in a larger pan than the largest Pyrex pan).

We love each one of you very much and really miss you - PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - Let us know how we can help you!!!!

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