January 17, 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 a Sunday afternoon and Daddy & I just came home from our Stake Conference - it was really a good meeting and there are leaders in our Stake. I always compare the Stake President to Daddy and I will never find one as good as he was but Pres. Olson in our Stake is a fine man. They really had a big, big crowd but Daddy & I both said it wasn't any larger than our Stake Conference in Arkansas towards the end of Daddy's calling. We also said how unusual it is for us to have lived here almost two years and not know any more people than we do - we feel like strangers!!!! We really had a big snowfall during the night so we were happy we didn't have very far to go - our Stake Center is only about a mile away. It was funny not having the Woolleys there too this morning - they love their new ward and stake though and will soon be as involved as they were here.

Jeannie and the children came down yesterday afternoon and it was so much fun to have them here even though it was just for a little while. They got here about 3 o'clock and then went to see the "cousins" and do some grocery shopping and didn't get back until about 6:30 and we had to leave at 7 to go to our stake meeting. Jeannie leaves today to go to Las Vegas for a dietician's conference of some kind - she will be gone until next Wednesday. The McKay-Dee hospital is sending her and she was excited!!!! The children all looked so cute - we hadn't seen them since the holidays.

We haven't seen the Woolleys this week - Jeannie said they still have some illness in their family. I guess Ron has been down with a cold and then Ann took Jimmy back to the doctor yesterday because he wasn't feeling well yet. It seems like once the flu bug gets in a family this time of year it is really hard to get rid of it. Daddy & I called to get our flu shots and they were out of serum - we have been relatively free from that kind of illness.

Daddy & I went to the temple last Tuesday and stayed through two sessions so it was late before we got home. Dr. Middleton had called while we were gone and told Johnny he had the report back from Daddy's blood test and he wanted to talk to us about it. We worried about it all night and called him the next morning and wouldn't you know - it was his day off, but his nurse told Daddy the blood was elevated. We thought he might want to start him on chemotherapy or something but when Daddy got him on Thursday morning he said it wasn't necessarily significant yet - the significance would be the trend it took and he is to go back in six weeks for another test - this is the PSA test. When he told him about the test, he said, if it goes down dramatically like it should you could have fifteen years of good health. We know he is trying to encourage us but we really didn't expect good results - we have not had ONE good result since this whole thing started. Daddy feels really good though and we are very grateful for all that has been done for him so far. I talked to my brother Dee about having this prostate examination and he said, "You know, Barbara, I have never had one" - he is 57 years old (in fact, today is Dee & Don's birthday). It just seems so unreal that this could happen to Daddy when he was just five months past his annual exam.

We are going on our trip starting in the morning and we are excited about it. We plan to get Roy & Patrices' home Wednesday evening and will stay there until Saturday morning when we will leave to go to Gulf Shores where we will visit with Chris & Wayne that next week. We plan to get to Little Rock over the weekend so we can go to church and see a lot of our friends there. We have had a lot of people call and invite us to stay with them and have parties for us (Chris Jordin called this morning) but we have told him we just want to visit with special friends at our own leisure and not be under any pressure. We will go to Bob & Claires' home either Sunday night or Monday depending on our visits in Little Rock and stay there until Wednesday and then we'll come back home. I hope the weather will be okay - Chris said it was raining in Little Rock and stay there until Wednesday and then we'll come back home. I hope the weather will be okay - Chris so they were getting rid of all their snow - they have all had bad weather so maybe it's time for some good. Patrice and Claire - we don't want any "fussing" or fancy meals - just bread and butter and visits - that what we are coming for and we won't be surprised or disappointed if Bob & Roy will have to work.

Johnny is doing good. He and his friend, Pam, made brownies here last night and watched a video - we are so happy they will do that instead of "hanging around town". She finishes this semester and he will miss her - she's a cute girl and very capable - she works in the computer labs at the Y. I believe Johnny is going skiing tomorrow - school is closed because of Martin Luther King's birthday. He will try out the slopes before you get here Roy - this will be the first time he has gone this year. Next year it will be fun for Bob & Claire to be here to get in some skiing.

Chris told me this morning that she is finally down to 170 pounds so I could expect a thinner Chris than the last time I saw her. I about died - 170 pounds seems like a lot!!!! I told her she could expect a fatter Barbara - I don't even dare get on the scales - all my clothes are tight so I know I have gained a lot. Daddy has gained too and that's good for him but I MUST take it off. I blame my weight gain on sitting down to three meals a day with Daddy to encourage him to eat BUT you all know how I love to eat.

I believe that's all the news. We love each one of you so very much. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO.
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