May 6, 1984

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

Daddy and I just came back from our walk and we wish you could see the beautiful yards and scenery just north of the Mission Home - there are a lot of trees in bloom as well as the tulips and daffodils and the lawns are just picture perfect. The Elders spent a lot of time on the yard of the home this week and it looks really pretty too - they rented and "edger" and went all around the yard and then they had to load up all the grass and dirt and haul it off. This is the beginning of several months of hard yard work and we're hoping the Elders who are in the home will be willing to do it - Daddy is making quite a few changes this next week when we have transfers. He is going to move both his assistants out in the field to be zone leaders at the same time and bring in two new ones - he doesn't usually do this but he feels like it's necessary this time. One of the assistants has been in the home since last September and when they're in here that begin to take advantage of things as if it is their own home and the other one just isn't a strong enough leader to be an assistant. It's so funny - we think we know the Elders pretty well but when they come in to the home we really get to know them and sometimes they just don't measure up - they're all really good kids though!!!!

Annie - we really loved your long letter - we appreciate it so much because we know how busy you are. Your roller skating sounds like a lot of fun and good exercise - you didn't say where you skate - is it right around your home on your sidewalks? (woops! I just read your letter again and you did say you skated all over your neighborhood - that's great!) Ron must be really steady on his feet to be able to Skate with Russell on his shoulders. We think it's wonderful for you to do so many family fun things - your children will remember those times for more than they will expensive toys and trips. We love to read about Russell's "antics" - (They have a drinking fountain hooked onto their sink upstairs and Russell turns it on and floods the bathroom and gets his clothes all wet, etc.) We laughed about you and Ron working hard on your goal to lose weight and see who can lose the most and win the prize which is a FULL SATURDAY OFF!!!! Your remodeling job to build a deck sounds great but we can't figure out how you will get to your patio off your family room if you make that door into windows. We want you to go to Sweden - that sounds like a wonderful opportunity - and really, with the help of ALL the Elders I'm sure we could take care of the children. We'll talk about it when you come see us this Summer. I'll bet the girls will love the Thumbelina dolls as well or better than the Cabbage Patch dolls. We love "Lolly Dolly" (the nickname for LeeAnna)!!!

Jeannie - we loved your phone call!!! We're happy about the change in the dates you will be going to Hawaii (they're going the first of July instead of June.) We get our new missionaries from the MTC on July 4th and then transfer day in July 5th but we could meet you some place in Wyoming either the 2nd or 3rd if that would help you. I believe we will move the roll away bed into Johnny's bedroom so Ricky & Barji could sleep in there and then would Mary Ann be able to sleep in the little playpen in our bedroom? I'm sure things will work out just fine and we will love to have them. Let us know about meeting you so Daddy can arrange his schedule - July will be a good month because the children will be able to play outside some.

Bob & Claire and Roy - we haven't heard from you this week but we also know how busy you really are - we hope things are going great for you!!! We have heard about all the tornadoes through the South and we hope they haven't been frightening in Memphis - I will never forget those tornado warning sirens we used to hear in Little Rock. Roy - you'll soon be winding up your work at that hospital - I'll bet it will be kinda' nice to have a change of hospitals!!!

Well - Johnny really had a big night last night at his Senior Prom - he didn't get elects for Prom King but he felt really good about being nominated and that is an honor!!! He took a darling girl, Margaret Thompson, and brought her over to the Mission Home about 5:45 so we could take pictures. He had the MOST BEAUTIFUL tuxedo - it was white with tails with a pinkish rose cumberbund and how tie and white shirt with pink pleats!!! He also rented the white shoe to go with it and his girl friend gave him a red rosebud! Margaret's dress was royal blue and it was midi length with the "off shoulder" big puff sleeves and it was kinda' taffeta - it was really beautiful and she has blondish hair - Johnny gave her a white rose and pink rose corsage. They went to dinner first and they double dated with Johnny's friend Dave Gormley and his date - they and lobster and the girls had crab. After the dance they went to breakfast at a restaurant - I remember the rest of you went to parties after the Prom but he didn't.

We really had a time arranging it so I could be here for Johnny's Prom. We had a zone conference up in Glendive which is five hours from here on Friday and then a Montana East District Conference there on Saturday and today. I had promised that I would speak at a Stake Relief Society Leadership Meeting here on Saturday morning SO we finally decided that Daddy would go to Glendive by himself on Friday and then I would go up by bus on Saturday night after we had taken pictures and everything. Everything had to work exactly as it was planned in order for me to get to the bus by 6:15( there wasn't a plane that I could take). Johnny and his date got to the Mission Home about 5:45 and the Elders all helped me and they took the pictures (and teased John) and then they took me to the bus depot. We got to the bus just barely in time and I got in Glendive at midnight last night and Daddy met me. They had a big Mother and Daughter meeting at 8:30 this morning and they had asked me to speak at tat and Daddy had his Priesthood Meetings to take care of and then conference started at 10:00 and we both spoke at that.

We got home this afternoon about 5 and Johnny was asleep - he said he had slept through church and everything - I guess we can put up with that after Prom night!!!!! The Elders in the home really decided to cook today - you wouldn't believe all they had fixed!! I gave them a chuck steak and suggested they cook it in the crock pot with potatoes, etc., thinking it would be a good fast meal for them for Sunday. Well - they also fixed Jell-O salads, green bean casserole, hot rolls, and homemade ice cream - I think they must have spent most of the day in the kitchen (Oh, they also made two cakes).

Last Monday, the Elders in the home just played all day long - that is their P-day and they should use that day to do their laundry, letterwriting, personal and food shopping, etc. They left the home early and were gone most of the day and they played basketball or something. One of them stayed home and made molasses cookies all day long!!! I checked their dormitory and their bathroom needed to be cleaned so I had left them a note telling them to clean it and I bought some special cleaner for them to use. When I checked it after they had gone out proselyting the bathroom still wasn't cleaned so we had a meeting with them when they came in and I really "railed" on them. They knew I was upset and they really got busy and cleaned it the next day. At night when I can't sleep I worry about the seven bathrooms I'm responsible for in this house = I am looking forward to just having ONE!!!

The water situation in Utah really sounds bad - we heard that Manti citizens are now having to boil their water. We had a cute letter from Carol and she said they're not going to have any flooding in Utah this summer because they are not going to have nay summer. We watch the news and it's terrible to see Satltaire (a resort in Great Salt Lake) slowly being taken out of the Lake. Today in the conference prayer in Glendive they prayed for some rain for their crops - I'm sure the prayers in Utah are for "No rain".

Johnny has joined a gym club here for a month so he will be able to "shape up" before he goes off to school. He is really in good physical condition - he weighs 184 but he is solid. He wants to go to Little rock sometime between the two weeks after he gets through school and when he starts at the Y - we really don't want him to go - we don't feel good about having him stay with his friends there and we don't have any family there anymore.

I talked to Dianne Power yesterday for a little while. She says they have become disenchanted with DesMoines because the sun doesn't ever shine and she had a lot of problems with arthritis in her back and shoulders. Their son Garic will be home from the University of Texas next week and then will put his papers in for his mission. She said to tell you all hello. She especially always asks about you Roy!

Your cousin and our nephew Daren Forrest is marrying a young woman from Loveland, Colorado. They will be having an open house for him in their home in Brigham City. Dee and Judy have two of their children married now and they probably have a grandchild by now!!!

We surely do love each one of you so very much -PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Let us know how we can help you!!!
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