January 4, 1988 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 late Monday afternoon and I am going to try to hurry with this letter and get it mailed. I usually mail the letters and then when the mailman comes he brings letters from some of you and I wish I had waited to write mine. Well - today, we really hit the jackpot!!!!! We received letters from Patrice, Claire and Jeannie - we couldn't believe it - they were all wonderful!!! Jeannie included some pictures in her letter and they are so darling - some were taken when we went for Ricky's award night at his cub scout meeting and others at Halloween and early in the Fall and Rick and Ricky were making their bird feeder - we LOVE them!!!!! We were excited to hear that Bob now has his Utah Medical License - that makes your move seem almost for real!!! We were happy to hear that Patrice & Roy had such a wonderful time with Patrice's Mom and sister even though your weather didn't cooperate. We were also happy to hear that you still hear from your Little Rock friends, Roy (Patrice said they called him during the holidays when they were all together and he got to talk to them - I'm betting it was at a Christmas party at Tripp's home). We can imagine how frustrating it was for you to have a "dead car" Claire when you had such big plans for the day with your children - cars are wonderful when they work but such a "pain" when you have to put gas in them or they are on the blink!!! WE REALLY LOVE YOUR LETTERS AND READ THEM OVER AND OVER!!!!!

We are having a really big snow storm - I had an appointment to have my hair cut and ventured out by myself while Daddy was taking a nap (he doesn't like me to drive in the snow) and when I came back he was out shoveling the walks. He feels really good - he has an appointment with Dr. Middleton in the morning, just for a checkup. He has taken all the doors off from downstairs and has refinished them - he kinda' hurried when he finished them last year and wasn't happy with the way they looked so he has done them over again - re - sanded and varnished them again.

We had a very quiet but happy New Year's Eve - we just had crackers and spreads and watched television - we were invited to a neighborhood progressive dinner but decided to just stay home. New Year's day we went to Salt Lake to the home of one of our friends, Clinton & Eris Holmes, for breakfast. They served ham and pancakes with peaches and whipped cream - it was wonderful and a lot of our old friends were there - we really enjoyed it.

Johnny got home late Saturday night - he saw ALL of California and just loved it. He stayed the first night with the Willardsens and said they were so good to them and then they went to church with them and then left to go to Mexico. They stayed in a KAO campground just out of Tijuana (sp.?) Sunday night and then went into Mexico the next day and shopped and just had fun. He said he felt right at home after living in Chile for three years. After they left Mexico they went to San Diego and stayed with parents of some of their BYU friends - then they went to Fullerton and stayed with more friends and then on to San Jose where they stayed fort three nights with more friends (Katie Hunter's family). They went into San Francisco and over Donner Pass and on home. We couldn't believe all the places they had been to - he came home to almost a foot of snow and COLD weather and announced, "I want to live in California" - Ha!!!! We really missed him while he was gone and we're glad he is home and ready to start back in school. He will have quite a few more friends with him this Semester - friends from the first year he was here who have come home from their missions and he is looking forward to that. Roy - he was VERY impressed with the way his Jetta performed on the trip - even on the snow over Donner Pass. He went to our ward with us yesterday but that will be the last time for awhile - he loves his BYU ward.

Daddy's sister, Carol, called last night from Hawaii. She has been so sweet to call often and ask how he is. They will probably be home in about three weeks - she said they are tried and want to come home. Daddy asked her about the recent floods over there and she said they're about to build an Arc!!!!

Daddy, John and I went to the Woolleys last night for dessert. Poor Ron - he has a lot of shoveling to do when it snows!!!! When we were there last night everything was all cleared off but after the snow today he will have more to do - we think they need a snow blower!!!! We had this kind of a storm earlier in the week and Ron had to go out of town - Daddy and I loaded our snow shovels in our trunk and started out to go help Ann. We got as far as that one street just north of their home and couldn't go any further - the snow was so deep and we knew we would get stuck. She said they had plenty of food and they were all happy to just stay in the house. They won't be able to stay in this week because of school starting but I'm sure they will manage - they have a lot of neighbors who are in the same "fix". Really, the Weinerts have that problem too and they have managed all these years too. It's funny - I didn't worry when we didn't live by them - now I find myself wanting to call all the time when we hear on the news that the Farmington area has had 100 mile an hour winds or if I think the snow is piling up and they can't get out. It was so much fun to be with the Woolleys last night - I could play with our grand daughters in their play houses and have as much fun as they do - could be my "second childhood"!!!!

I believe that's all the news. We 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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