FEBRUARY 2, 1986 LEHI, UTAH

DEAREST JOHNNY; ROY; BOB, CLAIRE, Michael, LAURA & BRETT; RICK, JEAN, RICKY, BARBARA JEAN, MARY ANN & SARAH; AND RON, ANN, SUSANNA, JESSIE, RUSSELL & LEEANNA:

THIS HAS BEEN A BUSY BUT A HAPPY SUNDAY. THIS MORNING WAS MY SPIRITUAL LIVING LESSON AND THAT ALWAYS PUTS ME INTO ORBIT - I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH TIME THAT TAKES FOR ME TO PREPARE - I AM SO SLOW AND I REALLY SPEND MORE TIME ON POSTERS AND HANDOUTS THAN I DO ON THE LESSON MATERIAL AND THAT IS THE SIGN OF A POOR TEACHER - HOPEFULLY I'LL GET BETTER!!!! Daddy SEEMS TO TAKE HIS TEACHING ASSIGNMENT OF THE GOSPEL DOCTRINE CLASS RIGHT IN STRIDE AND I DON'T SEE HIM DO VERY MUCH PREPARING EXCEPT THAT HE IS ALWAYS READING THE SCRIPTURES - HE IS A WONDERFUL TEACHER AND THE CLASS MEMBERS JUST LOVE HIM AND ENJOY THE CLASS SO MUCH - I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING IF I COULD RETAIN THE THINGS I READ LIKE HE DOES.

JEANNIE CALLED ON SATURDAY AND SAID THEY WERE HAVING STAKE CONFERENCE AND WOULDN'T HAVE ANY SPECIAL MEETINGS TO ATTEND SO THEY WOULD GO TO BRIGHAM CITY WITH US. WE GOT TO FARMINGTON ABOUT 2 O'CLOCK AND THEN ALL WENT TOGETHER IN THEIR VAN - IT WAS REALLY A FUN, FUN TRIP AND SO MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE FOR GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDPA FORREST - EVERYONE IN THE RESTHOME JUST LOVES HOLDING THEM AND HAVING THEM CLOSE TO HIM. AFTER WE VISITED WITH THEM FOR A LITTLE WHILE (AND THE CHILDREN TOOK THEM SOME BROWNIES) WE WENT BY THE HOME WHERE I GREW UP - JEANNIE & RICK HAD NEVER SEEN THAT. (IT'S FOR SALE AND I'M TEMPTED TO GO THROUGH IT AND SEE HOW IT HAS CHANGED IN THESE 45 YEARS) AND THEN WE WENT TO THE CEMETERY TO SEE THE LITTLE GRAVE MARKER FOR JEAN & RICKS' CHRISTOPHER. Daddy & I HAVE LOOKED FOR THAT BEFORE AND WE COULD NEVER FIND IT. WE STOPPED FOR AN ICE CREAM CONE ON THE WAY HOME AND WE COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW THREE LITTLE CHILDREN COULD HAVE BIG ICE CREAM CONES AND NOT GET ONE BIT ON THEM - YOU ALL USED TO GET THEM ALL OVER THE CAR AND YOU AND EVERYTHING ELSE - I THINK KEEPING THE CHILDREN SITTING DOWN IN SEAT BELTS HELPS A LOT - THIS NEW GENERATION!!!!!

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL REMEMBER MY AUNT LUCILLE SMITH! SHE AND UNCLE BILL USED TO LIVE IN OGDEN AND WE WENT THERE QUITE OFTEN WHEN WE WOULD VISIT IN UTAH. SHE HAS BEEN IN THE SAME RESTHOME AS THE FOLKS FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS AND IT HAS BEEN PITIFUL TO SEE HER BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN BEDFAST AND HASN'T BEEN AWARE OF ANYTHING ALL THAT TIME - ANYWAY SHE PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING AND THAT'S SUCH A BLESSING. DEE CALLED AND SAID THE FUNERAL WOULD BE ON WEDNESDAY - WE'LL TRY TO GO UP. Daddy WAS GOING ON A LITTLE TRIP WITH HIS HUNTING FRIENDS JUST TO TRY OUT THEIR FOUR-WHEELERS BUT NOW HE SAYS HE WON'T GO - I THINK IT'S DUMB FOR HIM TO STAY HOME JUST TO GO TO THE FUNERAL BUT HE'LL DO WHAT HE WANTS TO DO AND I WON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT IT!

JOHNNY, YOUR LETTER WAS SHORT BUT JUST GREAT!!!! THAT'S ALL THAT IS NECESSARY AND WE ARE REALLY THRILLED THAT YOU ARE KEEPING SO BUSY AND HAVING SO MUCH SUCCESS. IT'S WONDERFUL THAT YOUR COMPANION HAS ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION OF HIS MISSION AND I'LL BET YOU HAD AN INFLUENCE IN THAT DECISION - YOU SOUND HAPPY WITH HIM SO I HOPE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO STAY TOGETHER AT LEAST FOR A LITTLE WHILE. WE ARE MOST ENVIOUS OF ALL THE GOOD FRUIT YOU ARE HAVING - HUGE CANTALOUPES AND WATERMELONS AND GRAPES - WOW!!!! YOU'LL WANT TO LIVE IN CHILE! I TALKED TO PAULINE LUCERO TODAY AND SHE SAID THAT Bob HAS DOING REALLY GOOD AND THAT HE HAS REALLY ENJOYING THE CHURCH MAGAZINES AND HE HAD NEVER PAID MUCH ATTENTION TO THEM BEFORE - DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THEM. WE USED TOG ET THEM FOR EACH COMPANIONSHIP IN MONTANA SO I'M ASSUMING IT'S THAT WAY IN YOUR MISSION TOO BUT IF YOU DON'T GET THEM LET US KNOW AND WE'LL SEND THEM TO YOU. STEVE SHELTON'S MOM HAD SURGERY LAST WEEK BUT SHE IS GOING FINE NOW - THE PICTURE IN THE CHURCH NEWSLETTER OF HIM LOOKS LIKE HE HAS GAINED WEIGHT AND HE DOESN'T NEED THAT! EVERYONE ALWAYS ASKS ABOUT YOU AND SAYS TO TELL YOU HELLO

CLAIRE - WE LOVED YOUR LETTER! WE'RE SURPRISED TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR WARM WEATHER - SURELY YOU'LL HAVE MORE WINTER. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE REALLY FEELING GOOD - GETTING SO WELL ORGANIZED SO SOON AFTER A NEW BABY - WOW!!!! I TALKED TO JOY GEI8SLER YESTERDAY (IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY) AND SHE TOLD ME THAT CHRIS MARY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WOULD GET A RESIDENCY BUT HE HAS HOPING A CUTE COUPLE - JOY SAID THEY ARE STILL SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WORKING WITH THE MISSIONARIES. I ALSO HAD A LETTER FROM BARBARA ANDREWS AND SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT MICKEY GETTING A DIVORCE SO FORGET THAT - IN FACT SHE MENTIONED THAT MICKEY AND HER HUSBAND WERE COMING TO SEE THEM.

ROY - WE SURELY HOPE THE SKIING WILL BE GOOD WHEN YOU COME. THE SKI SLOPES LAST WEEK HAD A WET SNOW AND I GUESS THAT ISN'T THE BEST KIND OF SKIING. THEY ARE EXPECTING MORE TONIGH5 AND PROBABLY BY THE TIME YOU GET HERE WE'LL HAVE A LOT WARMER THAN USUAL - IN FACT, WE WERE GOING ON OU5R LITTLE TR8IP BUT IT WAS BEEN SO PRETTY WE DECIDED TO WALL UNTIL PROBABLY THE END OF FEBRUARY. WE'RE ANXIOUS FOR TO COME AND WISH PATRICE COULD COME TOO. UPI HAVE HAD SOME REALLY, REALLY COLD WEATHER, HAVEN'T YOU???

ANNIE AND RON AND THEIR FAMILY ARE ALL DOING GREAT. DADDY AND I STOPPED OVER TO SEE THEM LAST TUESDAY NIGHT SO WE C9OULD PICK UP A THEATRE TICKET FROM ANNA AND SHE HAD THEM ALL SETTLED DOWN FOR BED AND WW DID WE UPSET THINGS. THEY PUT ON A LITTLE MUSICAL, PROGRAM FOR US AND BY THE TIME WE LEFT THEY UPSET SO HYPER I'LL BET IT WAS LATE BEFORE SHE NOT THEM ALL SETTLED DOWN!

FOR BED AND WOW DID WE UPSET THING. THEY PUT ON A LITTLE MUSICAL PROGRAM FOR US AND BY THE TIME WE LEFT THEY WEE SO HYPER I'LL BET IT WAS LATE BEFORE SHE GOT THEM ALL SETTLED DOWN! THEY ARE REALLY DOING WELL ON THE PIANO & VIOLIN AND EVEN LITTLE RUSSELL SANG A SONG FOR US. I FORGOT TO TELL YOU TOO THAT LITTLE MARY ANN IS TAKING TAP DANCE LESSONS!

THE BIG NEWS THIS WEEK IS THE EXPLOSION OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE "THE CHALLENGER". DID YOU GET THE NEWS ABOUT THAT JOHNNY? Daddy & I HAD SPENT THE DAY IN THE TEMPLE AND DIDN'T GET HOME UNTIL ABOUT 5 O'CLOCK AND I CALLED A FRIEND HERE IN LEHI AND SHE TOLD ME TO TURN ON THE TV. THAT WAS A SAD, SAD THING - I'M SURE IT WOULD HAVE HAD MORE OF AN EFFECT ON A PERSON WHO HAD BEEN WATCHING IT RIGHT FROM LIFT OFF BUT EVEN TO SEE THE REPLAYS WAS JUST OVERWHELMING. WE FEEL SO BAD FOR ALL THE FAMILIES AFFECTED. I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN. SOMETHING AND WE HAVE KINDA' BECOME COMPLACENT ABOUT ALL THE SPACE ACTIVITY BECAUSE OF SO MANY SUCCESSES.

I TALKED TO DIANNE POWER ON SATURDAY. THEY HAVE MOVED TO INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA AND HAVE BEEN THERE ABOUT TWO WEEKS SO THEY AREN'T SETTLED YET. THEY LEFT BRICK IN DES MONIES SO HE COULD FINISH HIS SENIOR YEAR THERE - HE IS LIVING WITH SOME FRIENDS. I DON'T BELIEVE I COULD EVER DO THAT!!! GARLIC IS DOING FINE IN CALIFORNIA ON HIS MISSION. THEY HAVE BOUGHT A VERY EXPENSIVE HOME - DIANNE SAID THEY PAID $250,000 FOR IT AND THE WORKMANSHIP ISN'T UP TO STANDARDS SO THEY ARE HAVING THE CONTRACTOR DO A LOT OF REPAIR WORK AND SHE SAID THEY ARE IN A MESS - IT IS BY A BIG LAKE. I'M SURE GARRY IS DOING VERY WELL BUT I WOULD HATE TO HAVE TO MOVE AS MUCH THEY HAVE HAD TO AND ALSO THE SONDRUPS. THEY SAID TO TELL YOU ALL HELLO - ESPECIALLY YOU Roy & JOHNNY.

IT'S NOW MONDAY MORNING AND Daddy AHS GONE TO WORK WITH HIS FRIENDS - THEY ARE BUILDING A TRAILER FOR OUR FOUR-WHEELER AND FOR ONE OTHER MAN. DADDY IS IN SEVENTH HEAVEN AND THE FRIENDS HE IS WORKING WITH ARE SUCH NICE MEN AND WILL DO ANYTHING FOR HIM. ONE OF HIS FRIENDS BROUGHT OVER SOMETHING TO PUT ON THE BOAT (I HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT IT IS FOR BUT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE OIL PRESSURE). Daddy IS ANXIOUS FOR THE SPRING THAW SO HE CAN TAKE THAT OUT ON THE LAKE AND SEE IF IT LEAKS. SUPPOSEDLY THEY ARE FIXING UP THE LINDON MARINA. I HOPE HE HAS FINISHED WORKING IN THE HOUSE - HE HAS PAINTED THE DOORS IN THE KITCHEN AND KEEPS DOING LITTLE THINGS - HE ALSO PAINTED THE FRONT BATHROOM - HE TEXTURED THE WALLS FIRST BECAUSE THEY WERE FLAKING AND THEY REALLY LOOK GOOD. THIS IS THE KIND OF HOUSE THAT YOU COULD WORK OF FOREVER AND NEVER GET FINISHED!!! IT'S REALLY COMFORTABLE AND HOMEY AND I JUST WANT TO STOP AND NOT GET IN ANY MORE MESSES.

OUR MISSIONARIES ARE STARTING TO CALL US TO GET US INTERESTED IN PLANNING FOR THE APRIL REUNION. WE HAD TOLD THEM WE WOULD DIG A PIT AND ROAST A PIG LIKE WE DID IN MONTANA BUT WE HAVE DECIDED APRIL ISN'T A GOOD MONTH FOR THAT. WE EVEN HAD A MISSIONARY CALL US FROM CALIFORNIA THE OTHER NIGHT AND WE SAID HE WAS SENDING US SOME LUAU RECIPES. I BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE IT CATERED AGAIN AND MAYBE HAVE A LUAU SOME OTHER TIME.

I CAN'T THINK OF ANY MORE NEWS. WE SURELY DO LOVE EACH ONE OF YOU AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU!!! PLEASE BE REALLY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO AND LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP YOU.



Return to Home Page