September 7, 1984 Billings, Montana

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

It's Friday evening and I'm going to write my letter now because we are going to leave about 5 in the morning to go to Kalispell for a missionary zone conference and then from there we'll drive into Canada for the Mission President's Seminar and we don't be back in Billings until Wednesday or Thursday. I'm excited about going - it will be fun to see this part of Canada and also it will be fun to see the mission home in Calgary because it is supposedly just like the one here in Billings. They haven't had the missionaries living in it for about five years but they still have their officers there and they used to feed them lunch but the mission president who came out with us changed that and they don't have any of their meals in the home. We understand that it is up for sale!!!! There will be eleven mission presidents and their wives and we'll meet with Bro. Howard W. Hunter of the Council of the Twelve besides Elder Loren Dunn and George P. Lee.

This has been a busy week, as usual. We received four new missionaries in on Wednesday afternoon - one Lady and three Elders. The Lady Missionary, Sister Hirschi, is just a doll and she's from Las Vegas, Nevada - Daddy sent her to Kalispell. The Elders are from California and Utah and they won't set the world on fire but they're not rebels either and that helps!!! Daddy let the Lady Missionaries serving in Billings come in to help me so it was easy and fun. We had ham sandwiches, baked beans and potato chips and cookies for lunch and then for dinner we had sloppy joes, potato salad, green salad and banana splits - with the house elders and those who helped we set the table for eighteen. We had seven come in on Thursday who had completed their missions and for dinner that night we had tostadas and cake & ice cream and we served eighteen that night too. When I think about what we had to eat it surprises me that it takes so long to shop and prepare everything but really when we feed nineteen year old boys it is like feeding "the threshers" - I can't believe how much some of them eat. There is always some left over and we leave it for the house staff and of course, they love it!!! Food and the preparation of it is a big part of my mission and I don't seem to be able to get away from it I made a million cookies again and they love them.

Today was one of the Elder's birthday - Elder Morris who is the vehicle coordinator. I completely forgot about it after I wrote it down on my list and a few minutes ago they came up to our apartment to get us to come down for birthday cake - the Elders in the home had gone out to the bakery and ordered him one. I feel bad when things like this happen because their birthdays are really important to them - there are too many things to remember! We'll make them some popcorn to have after they come in from tracting.

Johnny - we'll be so happy when you get your phone and we have a number to call you. We have worried because the Elders said you called when we weren't here and then you were supposed to call back that night at 9:30 and we were here and you didn't ever call. We have thought about you so much this week and we hope you have your schedule all worked out and you have the classes you want at the time you want them. We know what you need a calculator and we hope you'll get the kind you want and let us know what to deposit extra for you - also, you forgot to take your vitamin pills with you - I'll make up a "care package" as soon as I get time and send them to you. Did you take the "garage opener" with you - if you did, Elder Morris would love for you to send it back - he uses your parking space for the white mission car when you're gone.

Claire - we loved you letter! Your trip to Atlanta sounded really fun (Bob & Claire went to the Atlanta temple and then stayed with some friends at Hilton Head, an island off South Carolina, for a few days) - we know it is great to get away from the children and the work for a little while. Your baby sitter sounds wonderful - they're hard to find. We will get new missionaries in on October 10th and then have transfer day on the 11th - Daddy hasn't set up the dates for your conferences yet but we won't be as busy as we are now and we would love to have you come - the Nov. busy days are the 7th and 8th.

Ann, Jean & Roy - we hope you're all doing good! It has really turned cold here - we have our furnace turned on and it feels good - we'll probably run into snow on our trip north!!!!!

We 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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