June 14, 1986 OREM, UTAH

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's Saturday morning and Daddy just went over to Lehi to get the boat for our trip to Lake Powell. We are excited for Roy & Patrice to get here tonight and then we'll leave in the morning - the weather is supposed to be nice so we should have a wonderful time. We just wish Annie & LeeAnna and the Bob Mellors could go with us too!

Johnny - you can't imagine how happy we were to receive your letters this week. We didn't hear from you at all last week and had just had a very short letter the week before and I was going crazy - we received one letter that was written on May 26th on Wednesday, June 12th. I told Daddy that you probably forgot to mail it but when I read your letters that you have received the Doritos and not the other two packages that were mailed a week before the Doritos were I think it must just be the Chilean Mail!!! I will be so mad if you don't get your birth packages!

I'm going to start another paragraph so I can quote from Johnny's letter telling about his "goat" barbecue!!! "We (he and his companion) went way up in the mountains to find a guy that had a herd of goats and waded through mud to help him lasso it. It was some of the most beautiful scenery I'd seen but we got home all muddy. Then we killed and skinned the goat (he took the skin to an old guy who is tanning it for him). Then we went to the outdoor market and bought tons of veggies and fruits and made a bunch of salads. Then on Monday everyone came to Chimbarongo to the fiesta. We had a big grill and grilled the goat and ate salad and played soccer. What a day!" we're so proud of you for making your mission fun - that's the way it should be. We really feel for you to still be in Chimbarongo for another month but with your Mission President leaving the first of July and the new one coming in you could be there for several more months - they don't like to make many changes in the field at times like that. It seems so funny for you to be having cold and rainy weather when we are having such beautiful weather - hang in there Johnny, these are the times you will remember and will be so grateful for if you have done your best. Believe me, we know that you are going through! We're happy you have found some "Doct. Of Salvation" books - I haven't sent the "House of the Lord" yet - I'll wait and see if you get your other packages. It's too bad that your "scouting family" moved but just think of the strength they will be to the area where they are going - good luck in finding more strong people to teach and baptize - we're pulling for you!

Claire - thank you for calling the other night - we'll call you' all before Roy & Patrice go back home. I wish we knew when Bob would be call at that time but I guess you don't even know. Michael will be having a birthday soon - will be have a party?

Have I told you about the Woolley's hamsters? They started out with two and within a week they had twelve - you just wouldn't believe all the excitement in their home!! I haven't talked to them for a few days but I wouldn't be surprised if some of them are loose in their home - with little Russell and LeeAnna "watching" them all the time one of them is sure to leave the top off the cage. They had a lemonade stand the other day and PaPa and I invested in a glass of it - I believe they had made a profit of 26 all afternoon!!! Annie is quite uncomfortable and the baby is "crosswise" so they are looking at having our neighbor who is a specialist in a certain procedure to do some turning so she won't have to have it caesarean (sp?).

It was fun to have Rick drop in for a few minutes yesterday afternoon. He does some work at the American Fork hospital and had a little time so he came by to see us - it's so neat to live close to family and have them to that!! Their Stake had an outing at Lagoon and he said they had gone and had a fun evening - that is a fun place for families.

We talked to Roy for a few minutes the other night and we're looking forward to spending time with Patrice & him on the houseboat. He said they had a lot of things to get done before coming so I'm sure they are ready for a relaxing week and we hope it will be for them!

Well - Daddy has the floor and the steps done to our patio on the "middle level and you wouldn't believe how pretty it is. We just love to go down there and sit because it is cool no matter what time of the day it is. One of the big pipes that belongs to the Utah Technical college broke right next to our property and they had to dig out a lot of the grass to replace the pipe - they gave Daddy all the grass they dug up so he filled in around our patio and it looks so nice. He is going to build a little wall around it and that will finish it off. There is still a lot to do on the very bottom level but he will get it done gradually - this is a big place when you start working on it. The college also let Daddy "tap in" to their big pipe so when the water stream is big enough we will get "free" water to use for the trees and garden we will plant down there.

Don & Joan Corbitt came by to see us yesterday. Joan had called me earlier in the week and wanted me to go to lunch with her and Little Golding but since we were going to be in Lake Powell at the time they could go she and Don came over to visit. They are such sweet friends and it was wonderful to catch up on some news from our Phoenix friends. Marge Mower is in New Zealand on a Temple Mission - we really admire her - she has certainly pulled herself up and reared a good family after her husband left her with six children. Don & Joan look wonderful - really just the same - he well completely retire the first of July and they're thinking of buying a condominium in San Diego to live when it gets too hot in Phoenix. They bring their deluxe motor home when they come to Utah to visit Corinne & Elisa and pull their "Audi" so they have a car to "go around in". we really love them even if they are "loaded" - Don had been extremely successful as an attorney.

Roy and his son Brent came over a few minutes ago to see Daddy and since he wasn't here they visited with me. Brent wanted to see the inside of the house. They are surely nice people. Ray brought over a "camping type bag" to show me that he wants me to buy Daddy for Father's Day - it fits on the back of the four-wheeler. I guess I will go get him one - I already bought him a calculator with big numbers on it - the one he was using had such small numbers he couldn't see it.

I can't think of any more news. We'll take lots of pictures on our trip and share them with you. We love each one of you so very much PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - Let us know how we can help you!!!

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