May 17, 1987 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 Sunday afternoon and would you believe it is a little chilly?? It is raining a little bit and the air is quite cold - we have had some of the hottest days of the year last week so the change makes it colder than it probably is. We had the air conditioner on in church this morning!!!!

Johnny - we received the letter you had written on May 2nd and I was so surprised to learn that BYU has sent you a catalog - now you have two of them - Ha!!! They had told us they would send you one but I guess I didn't believe them. I hope we will receive a letter from you with the classes you want - it will be easy to drop any later, won't it? We'll get you registered as soon as we can. We laughed about how you were getting weary of so many zone conferences - that is so hard because it is up to the leaders to make them interesting and you can just do so much. We're kinda' hoping you will go out in the field soon - it would be good for you to leave your mission as a proselyting missionary instead of an Assistant. You have done an absolutely marvelous job and I know your Mission President is going to miss you. We couldn't believe that you are lifting weights and with MR. CHILE HIMSELF (Johnny wrote that Chile's champion body builder is a recent member of the church who was just ordained an Elder). Are you in pretty good condition? I'm sure it will take while for you to have the muscles you used to have!!! We loved reading about the success you had in that exposition in the town square-25 call backs and placing 7 Books of Mormon - GREAT!!!!

Jeannie called one night last week to tell us that she had passed her Dietitian Test (the one she was so worried about) and I said to myself, THAT WILL HAVE TO HAVE TOP BILLING IN MY LETTER FOR THIS WEEK, and then Roy & Patrice called to tell us they had bought a home in San Antonio and I said to myself, THAT WILL HAVE TO HAVE TOP BILLING IN MY LETTER FOR THIS WEEK. So you are dividing the top billing - Ha!!! I don't believe we were any happier when we bought our first home than we are to have Roy & Patrice buy their first home. It sounds just wonderful - two story, four bedroom, stucco construction, fenced yard, wall to wall carpeting, etc. etc.!!! They have lived in an apartment for such a long time and they surely deserve a lovely home. We were never worried about Jeannie passing her test - in fact, to show how little we worried, I told her we would pay the $75 it would cost for her to take it again - Ha!

The Woolleys are doing fine - Annie brought us over a fresh rhubarb pie on Friday and it was heavenly. I can't believe how much better cooks our children are than we are. They're excited about their new home - Daddy and I have been to see it several times and it will be fun to watch it "go up". They poured the footing last week so it is taking shape - I could never figure out from the drawings where everything was supposed to be but Daddy knew and he was really concerned when he couldn't find the sports for the cars under the house - he called Ann and told her they had made a mistake and she called Ron - actually, they hadn't made a mistake but the footings were in to save the space for the garage doors!!!!

One night last week we heard someone at the door - it was about 8 o'clock - when Daddy opened the door, there stood Ricky, Barji, Mary Ann & Sarah. They had brought PaPa a "Bird's Nest" shrub to plant on his hill to show their appreciation for building their flower garden - they were so excited!!! It was so much fun to have them pop in like that but they didn't stay very long because the children had school the next day. I believe every bakery in Utah is trying to compete with Mrs. Fields' cookies - Jeannie found one that surpassed those cookies and she brought us some - just delicious with big chocolate kisses in them!!!!

Bob & Claire, we have thought about you during the time Dr. Cox was supposed to be with you. Did you have a good visit??? This next year will be a time for big decisions for you, won't it? I have promised the cousins they could see the video of their Memphis cousins but we haven't found a good time yet - they will love to watch that.

We had a wonderful letter from Chris & Wayne and we're getting excited for our trip to Alaska. Chris plans everything and as is stands now we are to leave here around the 14th of August and get home the 1st of September. Johnny - you will only be home for about three weeks when we will leave you - you will enjoy being by yourself, I'll bet. They said you were invited to go with us but I'm sure you are not going to want to take off for Alaska right after getting home from Chile. Are you going to want to go to Billing? They want you to come and report at a Sacrament Meeting.

Daddy and I went fishing last Thursday and had a really good time - we went to a place called Scofield. We caught 8 beautiful trout and came home and cooked them and ate almost all of them in one meal. We got there about noon and Daddy kept saying, they won't bite at this time of day but they did - I even caught my share.

I can't think of any more news - Daddy is preparing himself today for the surgery tomorrow and I promise to keep you all posted.

We love each one of you so very much-PLEASE BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - let us know how we can help you!!!
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