June 29, 1987 Monday 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 Monday morning and Daddy & I just came home from his "treatments". He is doing just great but this last half will be harder than the first part. I'm sure he gets upset with me because I am always glad when he has some reactions from the treatments - you know me, "no pain, no gain". The hardest part is that he doesn't get his sleep at night!!! The doctors say this is all "part of it" and he is going to endure for the next three weeks and hopefully rest more during the day than he has been. He insists on mowing the lawns and says he would love to get behind a shovel - I don't know what he would do because our yard is just beautiful.

Johnny - your last letter was SO good and we were relieved that you had received our letter "re-scheduling" your classes and that you weren't too upset with us. We know that you will be able to change anything you want after you get home - it's really hard to even think about school while you are still so involved in your missionary work and we understand that. Every time Daddy & I go to see the doctors we talk about how we wish you were more interested in a medical profession of some kind - both Bob & Roy say it isn't worth it but Daddy was in the business world and that isn't easy either!!! Your experience with the Lamanite people sound so familiar to us - they really are sweet spirits and those who embrace the gospel are very special because there is a lot of opposition for them to cope with. There was a big article in the church news this week about Santiago - did you get to read it? You have had some marvelous experiences and have been to most of the places in your mission, haven't you? Your description of going to a dedication of a chapel in the town of Pichidegua ( John says that's an old Lamanite word meaning Land of the Rat) sounded to typical of places like Wolfpoint, Lodgegrass, etc. - way, way out in the boon docks!!! Do they make that Indian Fry Bread like they had in Montana on the reservations? How is Dean Lythgoe doing? We're so anxious for you to get home and tell us al these things first hand.

Daddy & I had such a fun day yesterday. We went to our ward here and right after Daddy taught the Single Adult class we went to Lehi to attend the homecoming for Bob Lucero. Johnny - it was so good to see him and hear him talk - one of the things he said that I thought was so funny was when he talked about his Mission President he said, "I really miss him since I have come home - he used to kick me in the seat of the pants occasionally and I haven't been home long enough for my Dad to do that". He gave a really good talk. The people in our former ward in Lehi are always so sweet to us and that ward has grown so much they completely fill the chapel and the cultural hall.

Jeannie & Rick had invited us to come for dinner yesterday so after the meetings in Lehi we drove to Farmington. They had their Stake Conference yesterday morning as weren't home when we got there so we just went in and waited for them - they had a turkey cooking and their home smelled SO good. Their dinner was just delicious - fresh corn on the cob besides turkey and all the trimmings and THEN homemade ice cream (Daddy's favorite kind - orange, pineapple, banana and lemonade). It was so much fun to be with them all - after dinner the children and Rick & PaPa picked their cherries. We watched the videos of the children's special activities - Barji in the play "Cinderella", Ricky playing baseball where he hit a home-run, and Mary Ann in her dance recital and of course, little Sarah in all of them!!! Ricky and Barji both played their latest piano pieces and they are really good. They had enlargements of special pictures made for us that we love - PaPa and I when PaPa was building their flower garden and then Barji with her "wining poster" describing how she was named after me. It was a special, special day!!!!

Michael, we hope you had a Happy last Friday - six years old, Wow!!! Barji, we hope you have a Happy Birthday tomorrow - seven years old and we know you are having a swimming party with ten little friends - Wow!!! We remember like it was yesterday when Michael was born - Bob kept us informed from the hospital and we were so excited!!!! AND we'll always remember when Rick called and told us about Barji - we couldn't believe it when they said they would name her Barbara Jean. We love all our grand children so much and we're so proud of their parents.

Roy and Patrice - we keep thinking about you and wondering where you are!!! We know you are supposed to close on your home tomorrow so you are bound to be in San Antonio by now - we are so anxious to hear how your trip was. Your Mom called one day last week and said tents were still up so I imagine you stayed for a day or so to help her get things back to normal. We know you will be going for your military training soon Roy - it will be quite and adjustment for you both - we hope you will have good friends Patrice so you won't be lonely. We got our pictures of the wedding back and they are just wonderful - the only regret we have is that we didn't get any of your friends in them. Our camera doesn't take in the dark so we didn't take any after the ceremony. We have darling ones of the two of you as you were getting married - Jeannie took them and they are great!!!

Ron and Ann had a special time last week. It was Ann's twentieth high school reunion in Phoenix - actually she graduated from Hall in Little Rock but her close ties have always been in Phoenix. Her friends there had a party on Thursday night and invited her and Ron SO THEY WENT!!! It has been so much fun to hear her tell us all about all the people we remember so well - she said she took lots of pictures and we're anxious to see them. They got a baby sitter to stay with the children during the day and then I went over and spent the night with them - it was fun and they are all so well organized there weren't any problems.

Little Jimmy has gained back all his weight and is his normal little self again - I'm sure cutting four teeth has had a lot to do with his loss of appetite and fussiness for the past few weeks. He is just about to walk and is so much fun to watch!! Their new home is being framed now (the top level) and they are all so excited to envision how their rooms will look - it will be just beautiful!!!

We talked to the Woods on Saturday morning and Carol was all excited about getting married. Terry was home and it was good to talk to her too. Carol and her husband have an apartment just behind Shipley's donuts on Cantrell and they will both work in Little Rock. They're special friends!!!

Daddy's sister, Ramona, has been in intensive care in the hospital this week - she has a blockage in one of her heart articles and had to have that balloon clear it out. She is home now and doing better. I guess from what we hear, his sister Elaine, has a heart condition now too - she stays up in her canyon home most of the time - we don't blame her!!! Our home has been hot the past couple days for the first time all Summer - Daddy and I just go downstairs and it's really nice down there!! We could run the air conditioner but we haven't yet. It's plenty cool at night - when we tall our Little Rock friends that we are still sleeping under blankets at night they don't believe us!!!

I believe that's all the news. We love each one of you so very much and we're so proud of you. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!! Let us know how we can help you.
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