May 31, 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 windy but Sunday afternoon - we have had a really cool week and it's good to have the sun shining. I have worried so much about keeping the yard watered while Daddy has been recuperating from his surgery but all that worry went to waste because we have had a lot of rain and cool weather. the yard looks just beautiful - Kline came over to now it again for us yesterday but Daddy decided it needed more growth and will have it done this next week. I was telling Ann yesterday that our yard was prettier than it has been since we moved here and she said, "yes, but everyone's yard looks pretty now because of so much rain" and she's right - this is a beautiful time of year!

Johnny - we were so thrilled to receive some news from you and we're excited about your spending your last two months in Chimbarongo as a zone leader. Your Mission President has surely been fair with you - to let you choose your own companion certainly shows that he has a lot of confidence in you. We know that only comes when it is earned and we are very, very proud of you and the wonderful mission you have had. Your letter said that Chimbarongo is in your zone but you didn't say where you would be living - our letters will probably take awhile to get to you since we don't have any other address except for the Mission Office. We took the classes you had selected and decided to change a few of them - we hope you will be happy with your new schedule - we sent it to you yesterday. You will be able to change it when you get home if you want to - it's fun to be able to register using the telephone!!! I had to go to BYU to get a new catalog and while I was there I had them check you out on the computer - it's absolutely unbelievable the way they can punch a few buttons and have your name and class schedule on the computer screen. It was so much fun to be on the campus even for just a little while and I am getting excited for you to be a part of all that - YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!!

We watched the Miss Universe pageant the other night and saw Miss Chile crowned as Miss Universe - you have never mentioned the pretty girls there (we would have been shocked if you had - ha!) but I guess there are a lot of them.

Roy & Patrice - it won't be long now and we are so excited to come for your wedding. I have loved visiting with your Mom, Patrice, and feel a part of the planning even though I am doing absolutely nothing. We had hoped to be able to help on Friday for the dinner that night but as it stands now we won't get there in time to do any helping. The doctor said it wouldn't matter much to miss one treatment and Daddy could pick it up at the end of 7 weeks but he really didn't want him to miss two treatments so instead of being able to leave on Thursday morning, we didn't be able to leave until Friday morning. Roy said last night that you wanted to avoid any stiff formalities and you just wanted people to enjoy being together - we think that's the way it should be!!! The Powers and the Woods have called to see if we knew your patterns for silver or china - we just said for them to send you something practical if they wanted to send anything. I hope that's okay. Everyone is so happy for you - our sweet friends in Arkansas will always love you Roy - you were so special to them as you were growing up.

Bob & Claire - we feel bad that Claire is not going to be able to go for the wedding. It is super hard to leave a little family and I know Roy & Patrice will understand but we will miss you. I remember how "left out" I felt after Daddy & I married and moved away from Utah and all his sisters and my brothers got married and we could come for some of them but not all. We're impressed with the provisions your hospital is making for you Bob to go different places for job interviews, etc.! We surely hope you will be able to come to Utah soon.

The Woolleys and Weinerts left this afternoon to go to Lake Powell. It was fun to see them all packed up and the children were so excited. We talked Ann & Ron into leaving little Jimmy with us - Ron brought him over about noon right after we came from church and he slept from then until about 4 o'clock and he has been so good since he awakened. It will be so much fun for us to become acquainted with him all by himself here - we know he is going to miss the commotion of his house though - our house is so quiet compared to theirs - I'll have to borrow some of the neighborhood children if he seems frustrated - Ha!

Daddy is doing just great!!! He went to see his urologist on Thursday and he gave him the "go ahead" signal to start the radiation treatments. We went to see the radiologist on Friday and they made all kinds of drawings on Daddy's stomach - things that won't wash off. He goes in for his first treatment tomorrow afternoon - and then every day except for Saturdays & Sundays for seven weeks. The hardest part is the dumb diet he is on - it is low residue and he can't eat anything he really likes. This is so he won't have any bad intestinal problems during the treatments like nausea, diarrhea, etc. We're not anticipating anything like that. Daddy feels just wonderful and looks so good - he hoed some weeds yesterday and I believe he over did a little bit but he taught his Sunday School class this morning and if someone didn't tell him he was sick he would never know it!!! He has been reading some more of those Louis Lamour books and his eyes are all red - he goes in to see the eye doctor on Wednesday and will probably get new glasses. He hasn't done very much serious reading for quite awhile and one night he read until midnight. He has enjoyed the basketball games too - we can't believe the Celtics won - they had lost so many!!! We thought about you Roy, in Boston, and wished you could have seen that last game.

The son of our Stake President has just returned from his Mission in Anaheim, California. They have a very large home down the street from ours and when he came home last week they put a huge white banner across their porch that said, "WARNING - DOUG IS HOME"!! We didn't really understand what they meant but we have learned in the past few days - he is a super reckless motorcycle driver!!! our neighbors right across the street who have small children are trying to get permission to have the city put up a "speed trap" in front of their home - they say they will even pay for it. I'm sure that he will calm down after he is home for awhile but Daddy and I are really proud and happy that our returning missionary son will be an asset to the neighborhood instead of a threat. By the way, Johnny, your friend from Lehi, Bob Lucero will be home in a couple weeks!!!

I can't think of any more news. Our little grandchildren have been involved in end of the year school activities - both Ricky and Russell will be super involved in sports things all Summer and I'm sure the girls will have their things too. It is fun to watch the Woolleys' new home "go up" - they're really excited and with Ron's engineering know how, those builders are going to have to measure up in every minute and that's good!!!

We surely do love each one of you and we are so very proud of you. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!! Let us know how we can help you.
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