February 15, 1987

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:

You would not believe what just happened to me!!!!! I have spent two hours typing my letter to you and was on the last line when all of a sudden the electricity went off and the computer screen went blank. I ran downstairs to see what happened and Daddy had been doing something and one of the circuit breakers went off - (he was doing something with a battery charger). I have tried everything I know what to do with this computer but My letter is gone!!!!! That is the most Desperate feeling. Yesterday one of our missionaries came by and wanted a copy of the addresses of all our missionaries - Sarah was asleep up here in the computer room so I told her I would try to get a copy if I still had it on the computer but she would have to come back today to get it. It was so neat to come here this afternoon and punch a few buttons and out came fifteen pages of missionaries addresses - this thing is just fascinating and I love it but Daddy will promise me to never work on the electricity in the house when I'm using it - Ha!!!

Johnny - what a thrill to receive a real letter from you. We received your two page letter and have just devoured every word. We love reading about all your fruit but I don't want you to be too slim and trim when you come home - you look better with some meat on your bones. (He writes that he buys huge honey dew melons for 60 pesos and sometimes they all go in together and buy big watermelons for 300 pesos and they get peaches the size of softballs.) We're thrilled that you have learned to get along on five to six hours of sleep a night and we hope that will carry over into your college days. I laughed about your suggestion that Daddy make some plans for some good hunting and fishing trips next Fall - I don't believe there is a day go by but that he talks about just that!!!! He is going to take little Ricky ice fishing in the morning and I don't know who is the most excited. I believe Jeannie was a little apprehensive when we were all talking about it yesterday - driving trucks with four wheelers out on the ice when it has really quite warm here - Ha!!! Actually, they aren't going to take four wheelers in the morning - they're going to a lake called Scofield and it's only about an hour and a half away and they'll just walk out a little ways on the ice. Daddy wouldn't do anything that is the least bit risky - now Ray is another story - he takes risks like you wouldn't believe!!!

Jeannie is doing just fine - they go too homesick for their little ones so they came down yesterday and picked them up. We exchanged Mary Ann & Sarah for Ricky & Barbara Jean - tomorrow is a school holiday celebrating President Washington and Lincolns' birthdays so they are spending a couple of days with us then we will take them home tomorrow. We really loved having Mary Ann & Sarah with us and they were just wonderful - Mary Ann will be a lot of help for Jeannie but that little Sarah is a dynamic character - whenever I would speak a little firmly to her she would look at me with those big black eyes and say, "I love you". I 'm so glad we're not 1500 miles away so if Jeannie needs us to take them for a couple more days she can just call us. She looks good but I'll bet she doesn't weigh 100 pounds.

Roy & Patrice - you are really having a harsh Winter - I believe they have featured Boston in all the weather news programs. I told you about our neighbor girl who went on a six month mission there - she came home last week about two months short of her assignment and I'm sure the weather must have had a lot to do with it.

Bob & Claire - we know you are doing good - you have had a colder Winter than we have had so far!!! We had a really nice letter from the Griffins thanking us for the plant we sent for the Stake Center. I laughed about Barbie saying the building was rather plain - all the church stake centers have the same floor plan and design inside and out.

The Woolleys and Weinerts were with us yesterday afternoon and we had a fun Valentine's Day. Rick had to go to Price to "program" a woman's heart pacer (I think that's right) but he was only gone for a few hours. He really loves his job and we're so happy - he has to travel a lot and leaves tomorrow to go to Minneapolis for the week. Ron was in Texas all last week and we didn't even know it until Friday - we laughed at Ann - she said he came in at Midnight and Susanna got up to visit with him but she didn't even hear him come in. Mary Ann was over to play with the "cousins" a lot last week and they really celebrated valentine's Day - they made at least a million Valentine cookies - Ann is room mother for Susanna's class and it seems to me that she is doing School District spelling bee this coming week - actually, she isn't in charge but she has to pronounce all the names and have the children spell them - it's a big deal and she worries about doing it right.

Ricky and Barji are over at Ann's now - they called and invited them to come to have waffles with them. We had already gone out for Mexican food so I'm sure they weren't hungry but they were surely happy to go over there. It's fun to take them to dinner - they are so refined at a restaurant and ate everything.

I think that's all the news - I can't remember what I have written in this letter and what I wrote in the one that vanished. I will start back with my temple assignment next week but will be happy to take another leave of absence if any of you need me. Daddy has been faithful in going - it's kinda' hard because we don't think they really need us!!!!

We love all of you so very much. PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!!
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