December 25, 1985 Lehi, Utah

Dearest Johnny, Bob, Claire, Michael & Laura, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah, & Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell & LeeAnna:

Roy & Patrice are here with us so they know all the news!!!! It is just wonderful having them here - we picked them up at the airport on Friday afternoon and then that night the Woolleys & Weinerts came down (or over) and we had such a good time together. The Woolleys came over a little earlier than the Weinerts and we all played "Fox and Geese" out in the snow - as a child I just loved that game and we would try so hard to find a big enough area that hadn't been walked in so we could make the big wagon wheel (the fox is in the middle and on signal the geese run around the wheel and the fox tries to catch someone at the end of the spoke). Daddy and I have kept guard over "the field" so we could stop anyone who tried to get on it. After we had played we all had pizza and salad and Ann brought some delicious chocolate cookies. Jeannie & Rick hadn't met Patrice so that was special. The children (and some of the adults) watched the video "Karate Kid" and they loved that. We have a big blackboard for the attic playroom and that will hold their interest for a little while - it's hard to compete with the Woolley's loft and the Weinerts sliding hill!!!!

It's Monday morning and Roy & Patrice left quite early to go to Alta to go skiing. We have really had a lot of snow and some cold, cold weather so the skiing is good - it rained here last night and washed a lot of the snow away and it has warmed up a lot too. We heard on the news a few minutes ago that Big Cottonwood canyon is closed because of heavy snow and winds so maybe they won't be able to go skiing but I surely hope they do. We are going over to BYU tonight to see the Ramses II exhibit - Daddy & I went to the slide presentation about it last week (Ann had arranged for that to come to their ward and they invited us) and it was really interesting. Lehi is so calm & quiet after being in Boston --we have watched several video movies (Amadeus (sp.?) and Romancing the Stone) and we have really enjoyed that.

Johnny - I was just sick when they returned my last week's letter to you for more postage. I had put another page in it so I deliberately took it to the post office to be weighed and they said it had enough on it - I can remember this happening with the letters to Bob so often I would put twice too much postage on them to make sure!!!! I hope we get a letter from you this week. This is the "homesick" time of the year - not only for you but for us too - I keep planning for you to be with us for the holidays!!! I know it is hard for you to fully realize the importance of sacrifice at the time of your life but we hope so much that you do and will not dwell on thoughts of home! We'll eat a drumstick and candied yams for you. We are going to make a tape for you while we're together on Thanks giving and we'll send it airmail so you'll get it quite soon. I still haven't sent you any vitamins airmail so I'll try to do that soon too. I went Visiting Teaching a few minutes ago with Kay Shelton and we compared notes about what to send to you and Steve for the holidays - 'course he is in the states and it is easier for them. I asked her if Steve were homesick (I didn't say that I thought you might be) and she said, "Well, he called the other night so he must be a little" - I about died - I didn't tell her that was really against the rules in the Montana Billings Mission. We are really proud of you and we know you are a top notch missionary!!!!

Bob & Claire - it was so good to talk to you for a few minutes yesterday. Daddy would really love to jump in the car and head for Memphis so he could go duck hunting with you Bob. He thinks he has our boat fixed and he is going to take it out on Utah Lake on Friday to test it out - he & his friend Ray think they have some geese all spotted. Ray had quite a scary accident last week - he was loading bullets in his basement and he always tries them out after he has made some (he has a target place out in his backyard) and when he shot the bullet it didn't fire so as he was unloading it the bullet exploded in his face and also his friend's face. They rushed them to the hospital in American Fork and they took lots of lead out of his face but it didn't get into his eyes - he has been confined to his home all week but he came over last night and he is wearing dark glasses and when he took them off I about died - his eyes are all swollen and red and it's been five days since it happened. His friend wasn't hurt that bad. Daddy has been over there loading bullets with him before and I was glad he wasn't that day.

It is so neat to hear about our grandchildren giving talks in church and all the anxiety it causes their parents. Not too long ago Susanna had to give one and she was so nervous and kinda' practiced on us and it turned out so good. Yesterday was Ricky's turn and Jeannie & Rick wanted so much for it to be a happy experience for him - when I talked to Jeannie last night she said he didn't have to be prompted at all even though she was right there by him hiding behind a picture. Little Jessie played a violin duet with Annie at the piano on Friday night and she has so much self-confidence we couldn't believe it - I hope she doesn't ever lose it. Little Barji played a piano solo and she has that same self-confidence - we think it's just great!!!! We are really anxious to have Michael & Laura come in the early Spring and be with their cousins - it is such a joy to us to see how much the Utah cousins care for each other.

Some news about our Little Rock friends!!!! We had a letter from the Powers and they are moving once again - this time to go to Indiana. Garry has been transferred with UPS and he has been there since Nov. 1st - Dianne is trying to sell their home in DesMoines - they have one picked out in Indiana and it sounds like a country estate. Garic is really enjoying his mission - Dianne said he has been called into the office to do some computer work for the mission. We called Chris & Wayne the other day to see if the hurricane "got them" - they were on the West side of it and said it missed them by about 35 miles. Chris told me that Linda & Ken are expecting again - the baby is due in May - they are really thrilled about it - I guess Linda has bad some problems.

We took Ann and also Roy & Patrice over the Provo to see some of the homes we have been looking at. They won't commit themselves to tell us what they like. I guess the news is out in our ward that we will sell this home because the Relief Society President came up to me yesterday and said she had heard about it. I definitely will not be railroaded into doing something fast - as far as I am concerned it isn't for sale for another year. We are so comfortable here! We'll probably make an offer on a home in Provo sometime after Christmas and then go from there. We have a plan to put this one up for sale at a higher price than we think we could get for it and then makes an offer on one we like that is lower than we think they will accept and see what happens - Ha!

We had our piano tuned last week - the first time for at least ten years!!! Ann had recommended this tuner and he was so nice. He said the inside and outside of our piano looks brand new - he though we had had all new pads put on it and couldn't believe it when I said we had owned it for at least 25 years - his comment was "Well, it surely hasn't been used very much" - and I agree!!! Patrice has sorted all the music we had in a box and she and Roy Played for about 5 minutes but that's all. I love to play but just never seem to get the time.

When Daddy & I went to the temple last Wednesday morning the computers had broken down so we couldn't do the sealings we were supposed to do. We went through one session and then came on home. There were a lot of missionaries there and it was fun to be with them - on young woman sat by me and she was going to the British Columbia, Canada mission and was learning French. Our missionaries continue to call us and come by and we really enjoy that. Johnny - Elders James & Taylor are going to Bozeman, Mont. for Thanksgiving!! We have watched the weather news and Montana is all way below zero - ugh!!! Johnny - did you remember Margaret Rigby - she was the young woman in the wheelchair who had rheumatoid arthritis - she passed away last week and it was really a blessing. Bishop Anderson has diabetes and can't eat anything sweet - that will really be hard on him!!!

I can't think of anymore news so I'll save the rest of the space to comment on your letter Johnny - if we get one today. We love each one of you so very much and we're so proud of our family. PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO! Let us know how we can help you!!!

We didn't get a letter from you today Johnny - this reminds me of the million phone calls Daddy used to get from parents of missionaries because they didn't hear from them when they though they should - we promise to not call your mission President - we know you're doing great and won't worry!!!!
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