October 21, 1984 Billings, Montana

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

It's an absolutely gorgeous day in Billings - crisp but the beautiful blue sky without a cloud in it - we really love this weather. We attended church in the fifth ward this morning because we have to go to Cody for a special missionary meeting tonight and we have to leave before the fourth ward meeting would be over. We much prefer the fourth ward and the Mission Home is in the fifth ward boundaries and we get a lot of criticism for not going to that ward - actually we belong to the Lehi ward so we're not breaking any rules but they think we are. I have one of those big wheat, applesauce cakes in the oven for the missionaries - I told Daddy I can't stand for the Mission Home to not smell good on these cold days!!!!

We really hit the jackpot this week - we were so thrilled to come home from a busy day of traveling and find wonderful letters from Ann, Bob and two from Johnny and then Jeannie called us yesterday so we have heard from all of you except Roy - actually Ann called last night too so we have heard from her twice. I know this can only happen once a year but we love it when we hear from you - we really understand when you don't write or call - I can well remember those days and I always had good intentions but it was so hard to get time to write!

Johnny - I just remembered you called this week too so we have heard from you three times. You sound really busy and happy and we love your letters - I'm so impressed with how neat they are and your good spelling and grammar - you take after your mother in some things anyway - Ha! We're happy about your new Levi jacket and also that you're taking such good care of your car one of our missionaries ran a car without oil and has completely ruined the engine - I can see a Lady missionary doing this but it was an Elder!!!! I called you last night but you weren't home - it was fun talking to Tony and I hope he gave you the message. We were with the Agaard yesterday and Sister Agaard said her son would try to get in touch with you about coming home for Thanksgiving - I got the impression he has a car at the Y and is trying to find riders to help with the gas, etc. You need to do what you think is best for your but if you can find a ride home we think you should come - so much depends on the weather and we wouldn't blame you for not wanting to drive your car. The party you went to up at Sundance sounded really fun - Marilyn Lucas is a cute girl and I'll bet it's fun to have a friend like that from High School to be with - tell her "hello" for us - I owe her Mother a letter!

Annie - your letter will be fun for you to read in a few years - I'll save it for you! Bless your heart - I honestly don't know how you can cram so many things into a day and then do to school too!!! (Ann is taking a special personal finance class at the Provo Technical College). We are really proud of our children for always trying to improve your minds, lives, etc. - you take after your Daddy!!! When we talked to Ann last night she said Ron was encouraging her to have an interest in the stock market and she had invested a little bit of money in a stock and it had made an increase and she was so excited! There is absolutely no need to get "bored" if you take advantage of all the opportunities in the world right bow! Poor little Russell - he fell off a brick wall and cut his forehead and had to have twenty stitches and then before that was healed he went heard first off his bike and took the skin off his forehead, nose and upper lip. And then, little LeeAnna pulled a stool on top of her and gave her a black eye. There is no way to prevent these things unless your keep your children in a playpen and that is so-o-o bad! We really
worry about the tendonitis in your knee - I would so love to be able to help you by taking the children once in awhile so you could stay off your feet - eight more months!!!! The Thanksgiving reunion sounds WONDERFUL to us!

Bob - your letters mean so much to us and really give us a big boost! We really love to hear the happiness you and Claire feel with your children because that's what life is all about. We can just see little Michael as captain of the ship in your little boat! The spiritual things children learn at such an early age make them great leaders, not only in the church but in every phase of their lives (I an just hear you all laughing at Mother's philosophy speech for the day but we are so-o-o proud of the way our grandchildren are being reared). Claire - children always say DaDa before they say MaMa - M's are hard for them to pronounce! Don't worry about pleasing everyone with your vacation plans - we know it is really hard for you to get away - your work schedule is the most important thing for you right now and we all understand that. We'd love to have you come anytime and we'll work around that!

Jeannie - it was so good to talk to you and also to your Rick. You really sound happy and that's wonderful. Are you still in the Relief Society Presidency? A lady in the Relief Society this morning brought an adorable corn husk angel - they're going to make them for Christmas. It's been so long since I have been involved in things like that I have forgotten how to do anything! Little Mary Ann sounds mighty busy - a darling but hard, hard stage! We worried when we heard about the fifty car accident right by Farmington - I guess the snow you got last week broke all kinds of records - we hope that isn't an indication of what you are going to have this Winter.

Roy - you will have a birthday this Thursday - will you be 27? We were trying to figure out the ages of our children the other day and we're not sure - how's that for old age!!!! We surely hope you will have some kind of a celebration - wish I could make you're a cheese cake and fix you a steak dinner with all the family! Do you remember the surprise birthday party we had for you your Senior year? I don't believe I have planned a surprise party for anyone since then - you weren't very happy about that!!! We surely hope things are going great for you - even if you do have to get up at 5:30 every morning - ugh!

Susanna will have a birthday on Wednesday - are you going to have your traditional Halloween party for her Ann? I can close my eyes and see her going to school - he is such a mature little girl and I know the teacher is using her to help all the class. Ron - we hope you get your voice back - when we talked to him last night he was really hoarse - your work sounds bury, busy, busy!!!

We had a letter from Helen Bridges and she enclosed a clipping from the Arkansas Gazette telling about the divorce of Ronny & Tommy Caveness - we just couldn't believe it. They had moved from Leawood out to Pleasant Valley right after we left and we have heard that young Ronnie was playing football for Central and we thought everything was fine. They had just opened that donut shop and that was going good - maybe we'll hear more about it. Helen and Dean had just come home from Paris - doesn't that sound like them? Whenever I read about "Things of the world" I think about them - they just don't get involved in any of the nitty gritty things of life. She said their family was just the same except that the man Dainna had been dating for the last four years had been killed - I assume from her letter that Janie is still married (the Woods had said she was divorced). It was fun to hear from her.

We had our missionary zone conference in Billings last Tuesday and then we drove to Casper. We had planned to stay in Casper after our conference there on Wednesday but the weather predictions were for snow so we left and drove home late that night. They did have quite a bad earthquake on Thursday morning but the snow didn't materialize. We left about 5:30 Friday morning and drove to Butte for a zone conference there and then drove back getting home about 11 p.m. We were really "zonked" al" day yesterday - I tried to sleep late and then when I got up about 8 I shampooed my hair and had just rolled it up when Daddy came upstairs and said Pres. & Sister Harris from Wolfpoint would be here in a few minutes to see us. They had brought us a beautiful "Star" quilt from the reservation the night before and we weren't here so they were coming back by to visit before going home. Well - I sat under the dryer for about ten minutes and then took my hair out while it was still wet - I just hate to have to do that because I never get time to re-set it. We really love those people - she is Navajo and he is a white man but they are super, super people - they have lost both their children. We visited with them until about noon and they wouldn't stay for lunch. After that we went to do some grocery shopping and then came home and dressed up nice and warm and went to meet with our missionaries and some of the members for a special "Book of Mormon" tract out. Daddy and I covered two blocks and gave out two books - it was fun but it was so cold and people would look at us freezing to death and saw, "Wow, it's really too cold to be outside today" but they wouldn't invite us in. It gave us a better insight us in. It gave us a better insight into what the missionaries go through.

We have a new couple from Utah who have come to serve for eighteen months - Daddy sent them to Wolfpoint, Their last name is Crane and they are just lovely people - they brought us a beautiful African Violet for the Mission Home.

Did you read about the Queen of England coming to Wyoming? We have had a lot of news about her in the paper - visiting little old Sheridan, Wyoming. We were through there the day after she left. A small photography shop here in Billings covered the visit. Our yard is still a mess - Daddy is upset about the way it has been done and won't sign for them to be paid. We love you all so very much * PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - Let us know how we can help you!

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