September 15, 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 & Jimmy:

It's a beautiful Monday morning and Daddy is out working on "his wall" - I can't believe the improvement that has made in the appearance of our backyard from the street in back - there is still a lot to be done but at least it looks like someone lives here now. I had no idea Daddy was going to do that and I don't really think he planned to do it either - at first we were just going to plant that part of our yard in fruit trees - now, I believe we will just have grass there to match Utah Tech's lawn. There is so much fruit available from the big orchards in the valley it seems dumb to me to worry about growing trees. Daddy is going to have top soil brought in as soon as he can so he can plant some evergreen bushes between the wall and our "tree patio". Our yard presents a real challenge because it is impossible to get "big equipment" back there = Daddy has to haul everything from the front yard to the back on his trailer with his four-wheeler. It will be great when he gets to just "maintain" the yard but he really enjoys a challenge of fixing it up.

We had such a fun afternoon yesterday. The Weinerts and the Woolleys came over to plan our Lake Powell trip and then Elder Madsen came - we all sat out on the patio and ate Annie's brownies and visited. WE hadn't seen Elder Madsen since our April reunion so it was really nice to see him - he has been traveling all Summer and you just wouldn't believe the places he has been. He told about hiking in the Himalayas (sp.?) and his traveling companion became ill and had to be airlifted out so he was alone for a week and a half - he said be loved it and he ate with the mountain people and really learned a lot., His folks have bought a travel agency in California so I guess this is a way of life for them - they spent most of the Summer in Africa. He will finish in April with a degree in Organizational Behavior (or something like that) and wants to go to Boston and work with investment companies in management procedures. He will "go places" he and z staff of students at BYU have written a book taken from one put out at Harvard on how to get the most out of an education at BYU - it will come off the press this month and he promised to bring us one. It was so good to visit with him - he has a real zest for life - he is going to help me with our missionary reunion - Daddy probably won't be here and we have sent our 150 invitations to come here for ice cream sundaes - ugh!!!

We're excited about going to Lake Powell - I have kinda' put it on the "back burner" because I was worried that the weather would be too cold and windy to even go - but it has warmed up and the weather forecast is for good weather. Ron's parents and his sister are coming from Idaho to go with us and that will be fun for all of us. Rick can't get off work to go with us Wednesday so he is going to fly down probably on Friday - he brought his boat down yesterday and Jeannie will come with the children tomorrow and spend the night - we plan to leave early Wednesday morning. We hear reports that one of the motors on the houseboat isn't working but I guess one motor is enough unless it is windy. It will be so different to not have Roy & Patrice with us - it was really special family and Roy & Patrice will all be able to go with us next Summer and then Johnny in the Fall. We'll keep perfecting the food part hopefully so that will be easy - we brought more food home last trip than we took so the girls and Daddy have taken over - Ha!!!

Johnny - we haven't heard from you but we're not worried. (One of Johnny's friends from Billings left the MTC last Monday to go to his same mission - he called his family from Miami and told them he was taking a "brace" to John Mellor. Another friend from Billings called and told us - we thought that was so ironical but we were relieved because we knew for sure that Johnny would get his brace.) We surely hope everything is healing up good and that you are able to get around now. Guess who I ran in to at the Mall - Becky Lakko!!!! I couldn't believe it - she is an RA at Deseret Towers. I had been worried about her because we didn't hear from her when we left Billings - she said she had gone to the Mission Home to tell us goodbye and we had already gone. She is very large but seems happy - she said Spencer Griffin is branching out into different businesses but she didn't say what they were. I love to go to the Mall because I always see someone we have known someplace. Either Madsen wanted to know all about you and said to tell you "Hello". We have loved your pictures - we look at them a million times a day and it is fun to have them to show people. (Johnny sent us some negatives and we had them developed.) The places you live and the people look so poor. A man at our ward was a Mission Pres. In France (Dr. Parker) and he spoke yesterday. He quoted Boyd Packer in a talk he had given when he had just returned from South America - "I used to feel sorry for the poor people in South America but when I return to our country I can't help but feel sorrier for the people here - the people in S.A. who have accepted the gospel are such richer than the Americans because they are more spiritual - we have substituted material things for things of greater value". That isn't the exact quote but you know what I mean. Do you find the Lamanite people there really spiritual people? We found some very spiritual Lamanites on our Mission but they were in the minority.

Ann said they had talked to Bon yesterday and the Bob Mellors are all doing fine - I'll bet you are really enjoying the pretty weather after so much heat. WE watched the Miss American pageant Saturday and Miss Tennessee won and she's from Memphis - the South has probably won more Miss Americas than any other place. WE keep expecting to hear from your friend who has come to go to school at BYU but we haven't yet. Our place is hard to find I think. Yesterday after the grandchildren left I noticed someone had written "Michael" on the "Lite-Brite" so they still remember him - he will enjoy them even more when you visit again. Claire - are you doing any sewing? Laura would be fun to sew for I'll bet.

Roy & Patrice - we have thought about you a lot - Patrice, have you registered for your year at school yet? Boston was surely in the news with the anniversary of Harvard - I can't believe Prince Charles would come for that celebration. I am a "Royalty Fan" so things like that catch my attention. We had a letter from Chris & Wayne and they asked about you - they were remembering our trip from a year ago and said "how nice you were to them". They will come through here this weekend on their way to Washington but we won't be here so they won't stay.

We had a letter from Chris Jordin and she had a little news about Little Rock I guess Marilyn & Dean Harris are going to move to Dallas where Dean has a good job in management - he has been out of work for quite awhile and has been doing odd jobs so this is important for them - Marilyn will transfer with New York Life. Do you remember the Websters? Their son, Chris has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheel chair. They have moved back to Little Rock and Chris is 15 and tall - one of you gave him rides on a motor cycle of something at a church picnic and he has never forgotten it. Micki Andrews ? and her husband are moving to Nashville where he is a pilot for Air West. I guess Tommy Andrews has recuperated form his near fatal motorcycle accident!

BYU won their game with New Mexico on Saturday by one point - 31-30. They really didn't deserve to win and it was a heart breaker for New Mexico. I was in the Mall during the game and the score was 30-17 for New Mexico as I left Penneys and by the time I got to ZCMI it was 31-30 for BYU - I couldn't believe it.

Daddy & I went to "Back to School" night with Jeannie and met Ricky and Barji teachers. They really have a beautiful school and we were impressed with their teachers and just everything - such a wholesome environment!!!!

We love each one of you so very much and we're so proud of you. PLEASE BE REALLY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!! Let us know how we can help you.

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