January 26, 1986

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

It's beautiful Sunday afternoon and we decided to not go to Brigham City today because there is an open house at the church tonight that we're supposed to go to not to mention in church it seemed like that was mentioned every where we went - Daddy really isn't all that interested in it but lots of men are. I think most of them are more interested in that McMahon player - did you all know he was from Roy, Utah (that's close to Ogden)? He's a Catholic who played for BYU and I guess he gave them "fits" because he wouldn't keep the standards of the church!

Johnny - what a wonderful letter and also some wonderful pictures - we really loved them and commented on how you have learned how to use your camera because we think these are the best ones you have taken. It was so neat to see the ones taken on Christmas eve with the children playing in the water hose in their shorts - and all the time we are freezing to death in snow and ice!!!! The cart with all the pastry on it looked so appetizing and also the grapes - you're living in Paradise!!! The house where you lived in Paine made me a little sick - surely hope you have better accommodations from now on. Did any of the members of that family you lived with become interested in the church??? You look so good in the pictures - even a little sunburned - and you're so much teller than anyone else!!! We're so thrilled that you received Ann's Christmas package and we hope you have received ours by now. I'll bet it gets really discouraging to have to keep knocking on doors to try to find someone who will let you in to teach - THAT'S WHAT BUILDS CHARACTER - we had to keep telling our missionaries that. We're so proud of you and hope you won't give in to discouragement and we know you won't. When the people go on vacation, where to they go - to the beaches? We received your bank statement and we think you are doing wonderful in living within the amount allotted for your mission - please don't do without anything you need!

Patrice - thank you so much for your sweet note and the copy of the church article in the New York Times. Lynn took that to his class today and spent quite a bit of time reading parts of it and showing it to the class - many of them have asked to borrow it to read after we finish with it - we didn't get it until yesterday so we haven't read like we want to. There is always so much adverse publicity about the church in the news that it was a welcome treat to have that to read and share. That was so thoughtful of you!!!! Roy - it sounds like you're really busy!!!

Claire - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! We just talked to you and you sound as busy as a new mother always is (I could hear little Brett crying in background so we didn't get to talk as long as we wanted to). Bob was in a little town north of Memphis working so we missed him. We loved hearing about little Laura being "trained" - that is always such a great relief and especially when there is a new baby in the family. We wish we could come get Michael & Laura for a few hours and give you a little break.

Daddy & I went over to the Woolleys last night for the best Chinese dinner I have ever eaten. Ann had taught a class in Chinese cooking for her Ward Relief Society and she told me she had copies of the recipes for me - then she asked if we could come over for some "Tempura" vegetables last night. I had no idea she was going to fix a ten course dinner - it was fabulous!!!! They had every kind of vegetable you could thing of that was put in batter and them deep fried in her wok, chicken & cashews that were stir fried, ham & rice dish, chop suey and then wontons and different sauces to go with each dish - I really overdid and ate too much but loved every bite!!!! Do you all remember Ann Kilpack? She is Ann's college friend who has helped with all our Utah weddings and has been so sweet all these years to our family. She has been head nurse at L.D.S. hospital in Salt Lake after leaving Utah Valley Hospital inn Provo and now she has left nursing profession to go into the computer business - she puts computer programs in hospitals and travels a lot. She is really a darling girl and doing really well professionally - she has just bought an old home in Salt Lake and is fixing it up. Johnny, she now drives a BMW (he was always so impressed with the Porsche she used to have).

We haven't seen the Weinerts this week but we talked to Jeanie yesterday and they're fine. Ricky is taking karate lessons and loves them. Their refrigerator compressor stopped on them last week and they had to buy a new refrigerator - I'm sure I didn't make Jeannie feel any better when I told her that we had one for 40 years that we gave to Goodwill when we left Little Rock and the one Aunt Marvel had for at least 50 years is in the storage place here. It's just one of those things that happens - there is always at least one lemon in the things we buy, I'm afraid I would have gone to Sears personally and told them off - Ha! We have always felt good about the things we have bought from Sears but now we'll think twice.

Daddy has painted and built again this week and now we have a really nice bathroom with cabinets - one just above the toilet that bolds so much I can't believe it and then one at the end of the tub for all our towels - we know have them all in the cabinets instead of the closet in our bedroom. Roy - you will be happy to learn that we have all our "poisons" way up high in the cabinet above the toilet (he has been so concerned about this and has encouraged us on each of his visits to make our home more "childproof") - we feel better about it now and I'm sure Ann & Jean do too. Daddy has also painted the doors in the kitchen and the laundry room a chocolate brown - he's going to put some beige trim on them to brighten them up a bit. He really loves to fix things up pretty and he has so much energy. HE GOT HIS FOUR WHEELER!!!! He and his friend, Ray, went in with seven other men and they bought one and the dealer gave them a snow plow to attach to it at his cost. It is bright red and just darling. They went out rabbit hunting one day last week and had so much fun. Susanna, Jessie, Russell and LeeAnna were over for a little while on Friday and he gave them a little ride in the field next to the house and of course, they loved it. I would like to take it out to West Canyon and go on our properly out there. WE don't have a trailer for it yet but Daddy is going to get one. Our weather has really been pretty for the past week or so and we're getting Spring Fever - Daddy is already planning where to plant his roses and what to plant in his garden. He gets more excited about planning a garden when he things about furnishing vegetables for the Woolleys and Weinerts - the two of us only need a tiny, tiny garden and he thinks BIG!!!! The Woolleys have had someone interested in buying their home and if they sell it they won't be able to plant a garden - I'm sure the Weinerts will continue to plant a little one at least because the children love it so and it's a great family project.

I haven't told you about a planned housing development for Utah County but it was really going to he something. A company from Arizona wanted to develop the "Point of the Mountain" and have a huge residential community south on the Mountain and an industrial development North on the Mountain. There has been quite a bit of publicity about it in the Lehi paper because of course it would really be a part of Lehi. Would you believe the City of Highland which is just above Lehi has objected so they're not going to do it. We have really been disgusted with the lack of vision of the people in this area - they just seem to want to keep everything just as it is. I'm sure this isn't the end of this because that is such a special place and it will be developed at some time in the future.

I can't think of anymore news but maybe I will before I mail this tomorrow. I talked to Chris Jordin yesterday for a little while and she told me some news about the church members there. I guess Carla Culwell Pearce's husband and two of their children have moved back from California and Carla has stayed there until their older children finish school and they sell their home. Bev (Carla's mother) is caring for the children in Little Rock. Laura & Dave are going to go in with the Shipley Donut business people and train franchise owners and they're going to move to Missouri in the Spring - I guess Dave is still in Little Rock and Laura is In Illinois or someplace with her sister - Chris says that Eric loves where he is going to school.

Please BE REALLY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP YOU - We love you all very much and we're really proud of you!!!!!

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