May 5, 1985 Billings, Montana

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

Today is little Russell's third birthday - Happy Birthday Russell!!! We talked to Johnny yesterday and he said they were going to have a party for him yesterday - he also said he had been hurt and had to have stitches in the back of his head (evidently Susanna & Jessie were swinging and he was doing something else on their swingset and they "banged" and he ended up with his head cut!) Little boys are constantly getting hurt in one way or another and Russell has had his share this year - head cuts always bleed so much, I'll bet it scared you! We remember that he was just a little baby at our "going away" party and now he is a little boy - time has flown in some respects!

Roy - what a thoughtful things for you to do! When we talked to Johnny yesterday he told us that Roy had called him concerning the burning and aching in his leg and foot and then he called his doctor (and the anesthesiologist at Utah Valley Hospital) and recommended some special treatment for Johnny. He is going to go back into hospital sometime this next week and have an epidermal to help him - I hope I have that right! That is so neat for you to take the time to do that. One of our missionaries, Elder Richards, is new in the field and he sat in front of Daddy and me at our last zone conference and we watched him take notes. He is very precise and both of us commented that he reminded us of Roy so after the meeting I told him about you and it pleased him so much - he is a pre-med student at the University of Texas and had two years of college before coming on his mission.

Claire - we loved your letter and hearing about the roadshow - we know you're glad that's over and that it was such a big success - we'd love to see the costumes you made! Your four hours at the park sounded fun???? It isn't fair that Laura is beginning to talk and we haven't even seen her! It's funny but I have figured out in my mind the kind of personality I think little Michael has - it's going to be fun to see if I'm right - I think he's a lot smarter than his parents right now - Ha!

Jeannie - as I started my letter I thought "next week I'll be able to add another name"! We are so excited and will sit right by the phone all Friday morning until we hear from Rick. I'm going to tell about the shawl I have made for you in this letter because I want it recorded for posterity - I don't believe I will ever make another one. You al know me and know that "handwork" is just not my thing and it's very difficult for me. I will admit though that I have to do it under quite adverse circumstances. I "ran" into the Yarn shop here and bought the yarn and the pattern booklet and the lady gave me a few instructions - when I left the shop I said I had a crochet hook at home that I bought was the right size. To make a long story short it wasn't the right size and I ended up with a very small baby shawl so I decided I would just send it to Barji & Mary Ann for their dolls. One of our couples' wife is an expert at crocheting and when she saw it she suggested I make two panels for each side and then just slip stitch them together to make it larger. The funny thing is that as I did each of the side panels I wouldn't have the other one to measure it by so I would have to adjust first one and then the other and I would have to keep going back to get more yarn - I have ended up with a "queen size" baby shawl. I also don't know how to add on another piece of yarn without it showing and there are several places that are really noticeable. It's quite pretty at a distance but I hope you won't take it out in public!!!

Johnny - we're sorry it is such a "hassle" getting the Lincoln licensed and ready to run - (he had to send us some papers to sign and now he has to get it inspected). We hope you won't have any more problems with that but I'll be surprised if you don't - licensing cars has always been such a problem for Daddy - he always used to say that in Little Rock they required a pint of blood along with everything else. Don't worry about it if you don't have any "bites" on your car - we'll either keep it for you for after your mission or sell it while you're gone - everything will work out fine. I have never thought it was successful to sell a used car by advertising in the newspaper even though Daddy suggested you do that! We really feel bad about the problems you have bad with your leg (he has to take pain pills in order to sleep) but I'm sure that is not unusual with a wound like that. I find that I don't even consider the pain you have gone through when I think of what could have happened! We appreciate your sending the shorts back (he bought a pair of shorts at a store here in Billings and the first time they were washed they became discolored) - they didn't hesitate about taking them back when they saw them and they gave us a credit slip so you can choose something else when you get here - I was going to get you another pair just like them but I thought you might have the same problems with them.

Annie - I worry when I think of you with seven little children all under the age of 6. Daddy and I have decided to not travel during the week during May and it isn't absolutely necessary for us to go to the Stake Conferences on the weekends so we could help with Jean & Ricks' children - or we could take yours and you could care fore theirs - Ha! I know Rick is all prepared to care for them as much as he can but Rick, we're available and could meet you in West Yellowstone any time and get them for as long as you need us!

We went to Helena last Monday afternoon so we could be there for early interviews and meetings on Tuesday. We had two zones come together and the assistance and Daddy presented the first phase of the improved discussions to them. Then we went to Missoula so we could do the same thing in that zone on Wednesday. The missionaries all really like the improved discussions and we know it is going to help the missionary work - our baptisms for April are down but there are reasons for this. We were going to spend the night in Missoula but we decided to start out for Billings and maybe stop in Bozeman but as it turned out we came all the way and got here about 10 o'clock.

Thursday morning Daddy received a phone call from our couple who are serving up in Wolfpoint - Elder Draper is about 67 years old and he was just frantic because his blood pressure was higher than it had been. Daddy tried to talk him into going to a doctor up in that area but he was determined to come to Billings. They drove about 300 miles and got here Thursday night - we had waited up for them. Daddy had made them an appointment with a Doctor's Clinic here for Friday morning so after breakfast he took them there. The Doctor reassured them it wasn't very serious and encouraged them to see a Doctor either in Wolfpoint or Glasgow soon so he could help them. We practically had to push them out of the Mission Home on Friday after lunch. We haven't had one couple who hasn't had some kind of a health problem and they'd just like to stay here and have us take care of them.

We went to church in Red Lodge this morning - that is right at the start of the Bear Tooth Mountain range as you are headed towards Yellowstone Park from Billings and it's really beautiful. We came in that way about three years ago and noticed the little church building there and since then we have been to quite a few meetings there. Daddy has just opened the area again this month for missionary work so we went to see how things were going and we couldn't believe it - they have the "second phase" of their building almost completed and they have really growth. Johnny - do you remember when we went through Red Lodge for the first time? It was really a cloudy, dismal day and that is very unusual for Montana - we were really apprehensive about moving here.

The Kunzlers have called us several times - they are so excited about coming here! We are trying to help them in every way we can - we have had children their ages write to them and tell them about their schools. We have the two Stake Relief Society Presidencies scheduled to put on a luncheon for all of us when they first come in and then the open house that night - that way the will become introduced to the leaders right quick. They are going to rent their home in Orem (1909 South Main St. in Orem) while they're gone.

We have been working out in the gardens some - it's still too early to do any planting but we have been "pruning" our roses and getting the flower beds ready. The Fifth Ward has cultivated all the acreage in back of the Mission Home but we don't know what they're going to plant - they used to raise the best corn we have ever tasted back there but we don't think they're going to put it all in corn this year. They cultivated our garden spot out there too and Daddy will plant some vegetables for the Kunzlers.

We had cute letter from Aunt Carol - she said Carol Ann had seen a special missionary program in California where they had told about the great missionary work done for a certain missionary who couldn't read or write and then they had a picture of one of his reports and it showed "Pres. J. L. Mellor" as his President. I think that has gone all over the world because we keep hearing about it - do you all remember Elder Pottberg?

My paper is all gone! 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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