February 17, 1985 Billings, Montana


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

It's Sunday morning and Daddy and I have to speak at the 8th Ward here in Billings - their meetings don't start until 12:30 so we are having a relaxing morning. I used to worry myself sick about these speaking engagements but I don't anymore - there are usually more speakers on the program than they have time for and I know they just invite me to speak to be nice - they really want to hear Daddy - anyway I just give about a minute talk!!! Today I'm going to give a thought about how important it is to sacrifice in our missionary work!

The big news this week is that Annie has had her surgery and everything went fine - she has really been sick and hurting but that will go away in time - the important thing is that the cyst wasn't malignant and her doctor says she is in excellent health but needs to take time to really heal before taking on any big assignments. Annie - we loved your long and newsy letter and we appreciate so much all of you writing because we know how busy you are. We're anxious to see your new wallpaper in your loft - I'll bet it is darling. We can't imagine you and Ron being in charge of your road show along with everything else you do but I also can't imagine anyone who would do a better job. We're so proud of you for going to the temple every Wednesday this past month - FROM 4:30 A.M. - now that's what I call sacrifice.

Roy & Patrice - we loved your letter too!! Daddy came into the apartment yesterday with the mail and he said, "Wow, we lucked out today" and I knew we had a letter from Roy. The little Valentine heart you had made with your computer was so cute - I'd like to learn how to do that!!! We will get a computer some day but right now it is as foreign to me as the Japan language or something equally hard - I have no idea what you're talking about when you say you have some good "software". I can kinda' understand the software for something in business (Ron tried to explain it to me one time) but how they could be applied to household use boggle my mind. Your cross-country skiing sounds really fun and also the ice skating - the only way to endure the long cold winters is to enjoy the winter sports.

Claire - you continue to be so good about writing. It's hard to believe Memphis has had so much snow - we had a letter from the people who bought our Leawood home and they said the schools had been out for a week and the kids were all ready to go back - I will remember those days. You all remember the hill right in the front of our home and how you used to love the sled on it - we never see any kids sleigh riding on the hills around here - we have decided it's just plan too cold!!! I think it's wonderful that Laura is going to the church nursery - that is a big hurdle. I can't imagine Michael in the Sunbeam class in Primary - can he be that.

Johnny has had a fun weekend - we hope!!! They have Monday (tomorrow) off because it's President's Day so he and three of his friends left Friday and drove to St. George, Utah so they could play golf and tennis. When we have watched the Utah weather news we have been so glad he was able to get out of all the fog - that is just unbelievable!! One of Johnny's Billing's friends spent the night with him one night last week and then came to see us when he got back here - it was good to have some first hand information about you Johnny - he says you're doing great and studying hard - THAT'S GOOD!! It was good to talk to you on the phone too and we're happy you were able to visit Annie in the hospital for a little while.

Jeannie - I have had to practically sit on my hands to keep from calling you. When we have talked to Annie though she has said she has talked to you so we know you're doing pretty good - I know this last little while is going to be rough going and we hope so much you won't have any problems. Rick - I wish I had had a tape of when the missionaries came in last week one by one they came into the kitchen with their standard comment, "Hello Sister Mellor, do have an aspirin?" (Rick has been so good to send us Tylenol when he can and it has really come in handy - they think it appears from the skies!)

We're back from church and Daddy did such a good job - he always says the right things! I spoke first and today they all seemed so sleepy - when the congregation is like that it is really hard for me to get my thoughts collected. They had another speaker who had served a mission in Arkansas and introducing us they said it was "Arkansas Reunion Day" - I was going start my talk by saying we should "call the hogs - I decided against that - Ha!

Last Tuesday morning after doing my regular exercise I decided to use Daddy's "wheel"! I spent the rest of the day cooking the food for Wednesday & Thursday - I made three big pans of lasagna (each pan to serve 12) and four big pans of enchiladas (each pan to serve 12) and then I made those chocolate chip bar cookies and a big jelly roll pan of a special strawberry dessert for Thursday which was Valentine's Day. My back was really tired but I didn't think anything of it because I had been on my feet all day. WELL - Wednesday morning I just about couldn't get out of bed - I guess I had thrown my back out doing those dumb wheel exercises. I took as many Tylenol as I dared and kept taking them throughout the day because I had to keep going - this was the day we got twelve new missionaries in!!!

The new missionaries were supposed to get here at 12:30 but they kept calling us from Salt Lake telling us airport was fogged in and they would let us know when they were able to leave. Finally about 3:30 they got here - they had been re-routed all over the place and they were just exhausted. That threw our whole orientation schedule off and they were not able to go out proselyting - it was probably better in the long run. The group as a whole is pretty good but we have a few who will be problems - one of the lady missionaries who came out just sat and stared into space all during the orientation and one of the Elders took one of the nice chairs from upstairs into the bathroom so he could "soak" his tired feet in the bathtub!

Thursday we had transfer day and we had prayed for nice weather and it was just beautiful. We had six missionaries come in who had completed their missions - it seemed like the Mission Home was completely full all day. I had all the laundry to do for the twelve missionaries the night before plus cleaning their rooms - I was so happy to have all the food prepared and all I needed to do was heat it and serve it. We set the table for 22 Wednesday and 15 Thursday. They really didn't care too much for the strawberry dessert and it was SO fancy and good!!

I was really glad to see Friday come and I have "catered" my back the last three days and it is a lot better but I will NEVER use the wheel again. It really brought back memories of the pain I had had before - I have been so well the past two and a half years and I had forgotten.

Do you all remember Elder Madsen? We had a letter from him this last week - he is in Jerusalem taking classes directed by BYU and really is loving it. I believe I told you about the vocabulary words we used to study at the dinner table in the Mission Home - well, he said he was so glad he knew what a "phylactery" was when he got in Jerusalem - Ha! He is learning to have a great deal of respect for the orthodox Jewish people. He said Elders Faust and Hunter from the Quorum of the Twelve were over there doing something with the New Jerusalem Center the church is building. He said to tell you all "hello"!

Daddy ordered us a new car about a month ago and told the dealer we would want delivery of it sometime in May or June. They called one day last week and said it was in SO we had to get it - we don't plan to drive it very much until we go home. It is a Toyota Camry and we are so thrilled with it - it has a sunroof and I think that will be a real luxury for us - it is a maroon red with tan interior. We had to take some reupholstered chairs to the church trailer in Hardin in Friday so we drove it there (about fifty miles) and it is much more comfortable than the Chevrolet we're driving now. Johnny will want to sell his car before he goes on his mission and if he gets a good buyer for it maybe he'll want to come get our car to see him through the end of school.

Daddy and I went out to Lame Deer last night for a farewell party for our missionary couple out there who will be leaving this next week. Elder & Sister Cook are from Santa Clare Utah (by St. George) and they are the sweetest people. There were a lot of Indian children to the party but very few adults. We don't have a missionary couple to replace them and we are really worried about the newly remodeled church out there - if it isn't constantly watched the Indians do so much vandalism to it. Daddy will probably put some Elders out there.

We had a sweet letter from Carol Woods and also one from Dorothy - they're doing fine - Dana is expecting a "boy" in March - Dan won't know what to do!!! Betty Luten had gall bladder surgery and had to have the Woods take her to the hospital - Chick is really something!!!

I think that's all the news. We surely do love each one of you - PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - Let us know how we can help you!
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