September 7, 1988 Orem, Utah

Dearest Johnny; Roy, Patrice & Emily; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:

It's Wednesday afternoon so I am really late in writing my letter this week. We went to the cabin early Monday so I didn't have time to write it then and we didn't get home until last night and I was too TIRED!!!!!

The cabin is coming along really good - Bob, Johnny & Daddy spent last Friday and Saturday there working and playing (after I saw all they had accomplished I know they spent most of their time working). Bob finished all the wiring - put in all the outlets for the new room and that will make a big difference up there. Johnny and Daddy put up the ceiling and I was SO glad to see that done because those sheets of plaster board are unbelievably heavy and especially when you have to hold them up and then hammer them in. They spent "a little" time riding four wheelers - they went ten miles up to the top of the mountain and said it was just gorgeous - Daddy had borrowed Ray's four wheelers so they could all go. When I asked Johnny to rate the cabin on a scale of 1 to 10, he said, "Mom what I would really like to do is forget the cabin and just take a tent and go stay on the mountain" - Ha!!! We really appreciate all their help and the only way it will be worth it is if you all use the cabin - Daddy keeps saying, "I know Bob & Michael will love it here" - we hope so!!!!

Daddy & I worked Monday and Tuesday - actually, Daddy works and I hand him the hammer and nails, etc. He plastered the seems in the ceiling and put in all the windows - now the only way we can get in the upstairs room is to crawl through the window that isn't put in yet (it's all framed but he left the glass out so we could get into it). I helped enough with the plastering of the ceiling that we are going to have to REALLY sculpture or spackle it or something to make it look right. It looks one hundred percent better and the other people in the area keep coming over to tell us how happy they are that we are fixing it up. Ray helped Daddy put up the siding on the one end of the cabin that I was so worried about - Daddy said "it was a beast" but they did it!!!! I hope we can get the upstairs room all finished and a hole cut in the floor so Daddy can put a ladder to get up to it and then I wish he would stop working until next Spring - I know he won't but I wish he would. All he has left to do is to finish the ceiling, put the framing around the windows, panel the room and then put in the carpet - that seems like a lot but considering all he has done it won't take him long. They will want to go hunting up there pretty soon and it needs to be at a stopping point. It really is beautiful up there and SO cool, especially compared to the way it is in the valley!!! Daddy has his fishing boat and his four - wheeler up there so his "playing" is kinda' restricted to Scofield right now.

Everyone if fine in Utah and we hope you are fine in Texas, Roy & Patrice - we know you are and that you are looking forward to a little cooler weather. You said that little Emily is cutting a tooth - IF SHE GETS A TOOTH BEFORE WE SEE HER, I WILL BE MAD - HA! I wish so much that we could give you some of our tomatoes - I remember how much Roy enjoyed the ones we had in Lehi a few years ago and these are just like those were. They are better than they were last year - so sweet and good. The peaches are on now too and we just can't eat enough of everything - do you have really good fruit and vegetables there?

We talked to Jeannie on Sunday - they had planned to come spend the evening with us but they were held too long at a church meeting. It is impossible to get together on Sunday anymore with our meeting at such different hours. They are doing fine - a little cramped but it will be a "learning experience" for them.

The Woolleys went to the zoo in Salt Lake on Labor Day - we haven't talked to them since but I'll bet they had a wonderful time - we tried to convince them that Scofield would be more fun but we didn't have any luck. They are doing fine and the children are all happy to be back in school. Their yard surely does look nice - it looks like their home has always been there.

Speaking of yards - we hope you have yours grass in by now, Bob & Claire. Bob said the grass they delivered had too many weeds in it so they didn't accept it - that must have been a shock to the grass company. The dirt around our cabin just drivers me crazy and I can just imagine how hard it is with the children wanting to play outside and then bringing in all that dirt.

Johnny has committed himself to moving into a home with five other young men close by the campus. We thought he was going to move while we were gone on Monday but he is still here - he isn't quite sure what to take and we think he is waiting until the other kids get things a little better settled before he moves in and we don't blame him, especially when he doesn't have to move. It's a darling home and will be more fun for him to be right in the middle of all the activities - I worry about him not knowing any of the other kids in the home but then you have all gone through that and have survived!!!!

Eric Gonce came and stayed with us Friday through Monday - we really hardly even saw him. He is a nice young man but so very young to be dating so steadily - he's just 16 and his girl friend is 18. He says his folks love Las Vegas.

Daddy's eye is much better and he is feeling SO good - I have a very hard time keeping up with him. We haven't had the results of the blood test yet. He has a meeting here tonight with his counselors of the High Priest Presidency - that will be a wonderful calling for him. Oops - I'm out of space!!!!

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