November 10, 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 another beautiful day here in Utah - the sun is out so big and bright and it's cold and crisp. We had a taste of Winter last week - it really snowed and all the children in the neighborhood were over sledding on our little hill. I think we really ruined the neighborhood playground by making a rock garden out of our big hill - it's so funny to watch the children come over with their sleds and look longingly at the rocks and then settle for the little hill. We may have to fence in our yard because right now it's public property and we are selfish enough to want to save it for our grandchildren - by the time the Woolley children came over the neighbors had used up all the snow. It is so nice to be in this home and watch the different seasons - the sun comes through our kitchen and family room windows and it is just like solar heat!!!

Johnny - last week was a "banner week" for receiving letters from you and they were so good!!! Your letters lately have been coming on Thursday and we hurry home from the temple and go right to the mail box - the one that came that day was written on Oct. 20th and then on Saturday we received another one - that was written on your aerogramme stationery and dated Oct. 28th. The only bad thing is that we won't hear from you this week - Ha! We're thrilled that your ankle has healed so well (he wrote that he has been "walking like crazy" and it hasn't hurt a bit.) You were smart to take care of yourself - it always pays off in the long run. Your zone conference really bring back a lot of memories to us - there is always so much responsibility put on the zone leaders during those meetings and often times in ours they wouldn't go over like they were planned. Is there anything we could send you to help? we were surprised that your Mission President would put a "weak" missionary in as Mission Secretary but he must have had his reasons - Daddy always put the very most obedient and strongest missionaries in leadership positions and it really paid off. He led by the principle of not rewarding anyone until they proved themselves and the missionaries knew this and those who deserved it had wonderful successful missions and the weak ones learned a great deal. You have a very compassionate Mission Pres. and we are grateful for this so help him all you can - we can tell from his letter that he has a great desire to do a good job and that is worth everything. I think the things Daddy is most proud of are the Pottbergs and others like him and sometimes I think that's what it is all about. Pottberg was so weak and Daddy probably spent more time with him than anyone but he really proved himself in the end. We hope you will really love the missionaries you work with and help them in every way. We're anxious to hear how your conference went with Elder Oaks (Dallin Oaks who was a BYU Pres. and then a federal judge before being called as an apostle was going to be their speaker). I surely hope the pictures we send to you don't make you homesick - I probably should not send them - especially the ones of Lake Powell. I don't use very good judgment sometimes (most of the time) - it's hard for me to not tell EVERYTHING I know - Daddy would agree with this - Ha! I must tell you about Elder Pottberg - he called us the night his twin girls were born and then last week we had a long letter from him. He is a truck driver you know and he had just unloaded his truck load of hay and had gone into a truck stop for dinner - on his way back to his truck another big truck didn't see him and hit him and then ran over his legs. His wife had written the letter (he can't write) - she was with him in El Paso, Texas until he could be moved to Albuquerque, closer to their home. Isn't that sad - he's strong though and I'm sure will recuperate. Elder McAffery called us the other night too - his wife had just had a 10 pound baby boy - he was so excited - that makes him the father of 5 and he's 23 years old - wow!!! His wife had 4 when they were married - he's doing really good - working in a grocery store in Payson and wants to move to Nephi as soon as possible.

Bob - we hope you have a really Happy Birthday this week. Daddy and I were talking about you and Roy the other morning as we were getting up for our Temple assignment - we have to set three alarm clocks for 3:30 so we will be sure to hear one of them (isn't that dumb?) The world is a completely different place that early in the morning and I don't even like it. It changes me from a normally very happy person to a real grouch!!! We don't know how you have done it all these years and sometimes we know you haven't even been able to rest during the day - we're surely proud of you. Claire - are you on a diet? I hope not!!! I get all excited about planning meals for the holidays and then I remember how Ann and Jean just barely "taste" things. I really don't blame them though - Ann has lost all her "baby weight" and looks like a fashion model and Jean hasn't had an ounce of extra weight on her for a long, long time. I look like a "blimp" when I'm with them. Maybe I can feed the men and the children - Ha!!!

Roy & Patrice - are you doing good? We know you are - the pictures on the television set of the people skiing at Alta and Snowbird remind us of when you were with us last year - that was such a special, special Thanksgiving for us!!! The Woolleys are going to Jerome, Idaho to spend Thanksgiving with Ron's family so we and the Weinerts will plan something special (poor grammar!). I'll bet you go to Connecticut to be with your Mom, Patrice and that will be fun!

Last Wednesday (Nov. 5th) was Grandmother and Grandpa Forrest's 67th Wedding Anniversary - isn't that something!!! Daddy and I picked all our roses and a lot of other flowers and made them a special card and went to see them. They seem to be doing fine - Grandpa seems to be a little more confused than usual but Grandmother is as sharp as a tack. After we visit with them I find myself thinking a lot about Daddy and me - we have such good genes and I don't want to live that long unless I can be self sufficient and in our own home.

We always stop to see the Weinerts when we go to Brigham and they are doing really good - Barji has recuperated completely and looks so much better. It's so much fun to see them enjoy school and learn things - Ricky is a fantastic reader and loves to read to us - he was reading a child's "spooky" book and so me of the stories even scared me. Jeannie is involved in making some Christmas gifts - she is making "fudge rolls" for the teachers she works with in Primary and she gave us a taste - I don't know how she stays so thin!!!

Susanna invited Daddy & I to go to her school and take some of our "Indian things" from Montana to show - they were doing a special project on Indians. We just loved it - their school is so crowded they have some of their classrooms in trailer buildings (like in Little Rock) and her class is in one of them - she has an outstanding teacher. Ann, Susanna, Jessie & LeeAnna came over after church yesterday and we had a fun time visiting and the girls and I played "Pit" - I'm a "game" person and it's fun to have grandchildren to play with - Daddy doesn't like to play games like that.

I am making new curtains for our kitchen - it's really the first time have done any sewing for about five years so it is taking me forever but it's really fun. In my old age I can't figure measurements right and I have been back to the fabric store four times to get more material.

Daddy is out shoveling the snow off our hill so he can plant some shrubs - he was so happy when it was not snowing this morning so he could get it done. We found a good price on shrubs so we bought a lot of them - we wanted to get most of the back yard in the kind of plantings that will be easy to take care of - I hope they don't die during the Winter.

That's all the news. We are very proud of our family and 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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