May 19, 1986 Orem, Utah

P.S. One of you got the original Copy last week - not even signed - SORRY!

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

It is really a beautiful day here today - the sun is so bright and it is just the right temperature. Last week was cold and stormy so it's nice to get warm. We hear about the weather in Tennessee and you have had tornadoes and rain and heat and in Massachusetts it has been about like ours and rain and cold in Chile - we can look forward to a nice Summer but I guess Johnny will have a few months of Winter. It's fun to watch our storms come in off the lake!

Claire - we really loved those wonderful pictures - the very best ones we have ever seen of Bob and you all look so happy. Brett has really grown in just the few weeks since we have seen him and I can see both Michael and Laura in him - when you were here I couldn't see anyone but his Grandpa Ezell! Little Laura's short set is adorable and I'm so proud of you for sewing like that - you can make such nice things that won't be duplicated by anyone and that is a talent that will really pay off. I keep saying I am going to start sewing again but so far I haven't!!! Bob - your attic project looked like quite a project and I'll bet it was hot. Have your folks worried about the radiation problem from the nuclear plant disaster Claire? Do they like Norway?

Johnny - your letter came on Wednesday so I'm thinking that maybe the delay has been from Salt Lake to Lehi before. Your Chilean beverage called "Chicha" sounds delicious (one of their investigators goes to the vineyards and picks tons of grapes and then squeezes them to make juice and sells it and they bought 5 liters for 75 cents). We laughed about your buying too much and it "went strong" on you - it would really be something for two Mormon missionaries to get "high" on Chilean grape juice - kinda' like that "forbidden fruit" I used to make as a topping for ice cream and I loved it!!!! Elder Bradford's sister just came home from her mission to Portugal and she gave her report yesterday in Sacrament meeting - she is very much like Kline and it was a special meeting. We hope you get your Doritos - Daddy poked a hole in the package to let all the air out so they would fit in the box - I know they will all be in little pieces by the time you get them but hopefully they will give you a taste of the good old USA. I always have to "declare" what is in the packages - is that "really" important? I have no idea how dependable the postal service is there but on one of your packages I put "candy" and I have worried since that you may not get it - I know Bob didn't get half the ones we sent to him. I'll send the book "The House of the Lord" soon but don't send it back - give it to someone there who will read it.

Roy & Patrice - we hope you are doing good! Patrice - I have wondered lately if you do any sketching of scenery - I know you do a lot of art work. We have a beautiful view of "Mt. Timpanogos" from the front of our house and a lady down our street is drawing it as a gift for a special presentation for someone back East. There are many views of this mountain and it is famous in the West - our view is not as majestic as most of them but it gives a more complete picture of the mountain. Roy - did you ever climb to the top of it - I know Bob & Johnny have - this view is on the other side from where you climb.

We had the nicest surprise yesterday - the Weinerts drove to visit with us and were here when we came home from church. The only problem was that they didn't stay long enough - we had a meeting with the Bishop at 5 p.m. and when we got home they had gone. It is so neat to live close enough to have them come like that and it's fun to have them come and play the piano for us and yesterday Rick brought their "T-Ball" equipment and they practiced out on the back lawn. Ricky had had a "soccer accident" - he had been hit in the mouth and his front tooth is loose and the gum around it is all black - he's all boy and I'm sure is in for more of that sort of thing. Little Sarah had tubes put in her ears last week and Jeannie says she is much easier to live with now - she will be one year old on Wednesday and is a little doll!!!

The Woolleys rode their bicycles over last night and that is so much fun for us - it scares me to watch little Russell though - he got a new two wheeler for his birthday and he rides it great but has to "crash" to stop and sometimes it's hard for him to find a sort place to crash. Ron & Russell went on the Father's & Sons Outing this weekend and had a great time even though it was really cold - they took their tent and sleeping bags. Jessie & Susanna performed at their Ward's talent show - Jessie played her violin and Susanna accompanied her - they didn't make one mistake and it was really good!

Daddy keeps busy working on the house all the time - he sanded and stained the little wooden fence around the porch just off from the living room and it looks so much better. He has also painted our porch swing and those white cobbler benches a light tan to match the house - I believe those things have been painted a dozen times - different colors to match our houses. He built some shelves in the downstairs bathroom so we can put our blankets in storage there instead of the closets where they are now. He has also put in some tomato and cucumber plants in a garden plot on the "lower level" - we went over to Lehi one day last week and he shoveled manure from our property over there and brought it over for the garden and then he got a "roto tiller" so it is really a nice place. We have a lot of planning and work to do on our backyard and I'm so glad - Daddy has an abundance of energy!!! He has been called as the Webelo Leader in our ward and I won't say he is absolutely thrilled about it - Roy, do you remember when Janie Bass was your Webelo leader? It wouldn't be so bad if it were just one day a week but it will involve a lot of campouts and things like that - ugh!!! I'm hoping I won't be called as the Nursery Leader - in fact, I may turn it down. Our two days a week in the temple in quite time consuming but it will be nice when we learn all we have to know.

Cissy & Charles Beyers called last Thursday just as we were leaving to go to the temple so we didn't get to visit with them. We called their daughter in Boise and told them that we wanted them to spend an evening with us when they come back this way enroute home to Arkansas. We had a long letter from Marge Lucas and she is the same Marge - I get depressed just reading her letter!!! Chris & Wayne Smith will be here the first of July and we'll probably decide what to do after they get here - we may just spend time at some of the parks here in Utah, Zion & Bryce instead of going to the World's Fair - we don't want to get too far away from home with the Woolleys' baby due that month. After they travel this far they won't mind staying put and having their vacation in Utah. We also had a letter from Carol & Elly in Hawaii and who do you think they ran in to at the Polynesian Center - Glenda & Gerald Fuller - you all remember Gordy Fuller? Carol wrote and commented about this little lady with black, black hair and little ringlets all over her forehead - sounds just like Glenda doesn't it? They are very special people even though they are different. We also had a graduation announcement from Brick Power - he is graduating in Des Moines - it doesn't seem possible that he is that old!

I have "joined" a walking group in our neighborhood and it's really fun and I get to hear all the news about the people we will get to know. Two ladies come by to get me and then we walk to pick up another lady and then we walk to pick up another lady and then we walk to the "Recreation Center" (by Anna) and walk around a big circle four times and other ladies meet us there. By noon I want to go back to bed. Daddy just left to go over to make bullets with his friend Ray - I'm so glad they're still friends. Daddy & Ricky are going to Lake Powell next Sunday where they will meet Art Willardsen and fish for a couple days - sounds fun doesn't it.

We love each of you so very much PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - Let us know how we can help you.

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