November 11, 1996

Dearest John & Julianna; Roy, Patrice, Emily, Timothy & Jesse; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, Lee Anna & Jimmy:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BOB ON WEDNESDAY, THE 13TH!!! I hope you have a WONDERFUL DAY AND A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!!!

I came home from Little Rock on Saturday night and it was fun to have messages on my phone answering machine from Jeannie and Claire and then John called shortly after I got home. Ann and Ron had been in New Mexico and I wasn't sure they were even home yet but they came over last night for Family Home Evening and I am in touch with each one of you again and that makes me happy.

I wanted to call Roy when I got home but there was a terrible accident on the Freeway and it took me two and a half hours to come from the airport making it close to 10 o'clock Little Rock time and that is too late to call them. I didn't get up on Sunday until 8:30 and that would have been 9:30 their time and they would just be leaving for church so I didn't get to call him until Sunday afternoon. The difference in the time zones is hard to remember.

I had a MARVELOUS time in Little Rock. Roy gave me the keys to his really nice Volvo car and said I could use it all week so I did - it drives much like my car and I appreciated using it SO VERY MUCH!!! I must tell you about when I arrived on Saturday afternoon. The plane was due in at 1:15 but we were delayed in Dallas and when the pilot came on the air to announce the reason for the delay he was laughing -"there was a burned out light bulb in one of the restrooms and it is against the law to fly until it was replaced". Anyway, we were about thirty minutes late in arriving in Little Rock and as it happened I was SO glad. We were leaving the airport when Roy tried to point out a plane coming in to little Jesse. Jesse couldn't quite focus in on it so Roy slowed down and pulled over and practically stopped. The plane came SO low and I thought it was going to land on top of Roy's car. When it got that close Roy looked up at it and said, "Mom. That's Airforce I". He asked if I wanted him to go back because we knew it was carrying President Clinton - you know me, so he turned around and hurried back. We saw the plane land and stood outside the gate until he came out and then a guard came by and told us he was going to speak at a rally at Adam's Field (right next to the airport) and suggested we go hear him.

It was SO neat going to the rally. There were a lot of people there and the security guards had to go through my purse. I had put some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in my purse for little Timothy because I know how much he loves them and the guard said, "Oh, Trick or Treat Candy". They finally let us in and we heard President Clinton speak for about thirty minutes and he didn't use one note. I took a lot of pictures but I was SO excited I couldn't hold the camera still so they didn't turn out and then the sun was in the wrong place too. I don't know why I didn't give my camera to Roy to take the pictures. They had the high school bands from the three high schools in Little Rock, the weather was gorgeous and it couldn't have been more impressive - I WILL NEVER FORGET IT!!! I even bought a Clinton Badge!!!

Roy called Patrice from his car phone so she wasn't worried about us. It was so fun to drive to their new home - Patrice was out planting pansies and Emily and Timothy ran out to greet us. Their home is absolutely beautiful and I get dizzy when I think about what they have gone through for the past nine months. Patrice said it was that long from the time they bought it until they could move in. They have done such a good job of getting it exactly the way they want it. I have taken pictures so you can see a little of what it looks like if they turn out. Their guest room is SO nice and I was so comfortable - I told them they make it too comfortable for people to come stay with them. It is VERY private and I called and talked to my friends almost every night while I was there. Their children have such nice rooms and Roy and Patrices' bathroom is like you would see in the movies.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING SO GRACIOUS IN LETTING ME BRING ALL MY FRIENDS TO YOUR HOME AND SHOWING THEM THROUGH IT. I kept thinking about how nice my Utah children are to do the same thing but I know it gets old!!! They live in the part of Little Rock I always wanted to live in when we were there. The children can walk to school safely and their backyard is so private and safe for them to play in. I LOVE IT!!!

Patrice had such a delicious dinner Saturday night and we celebrated Jesse's 2nd birthday with a chocolate birthday cake and all the trimmings. Sunday morning I went to church at the Unitarian Church and I enjoyed that SO much. They had a special class before their church services and it was given by a geologist and I learned SO much about the geology of Arkansas. I was surprised that they worry about the possibility of earthquakes too. Their minister gave a great sermon on "Religion and Politics: Thinking right or Left Behind" - I enjoy hearing her speak. One thing that she said that impressed me was that President Kennedy was admired not so much for the stand he took on issues but the stand he took on Sunday mornings. Another thing she said was "The Love of God must be expressed in Love of Others". She ended by saying "As you vote, let your faith determine your actions".

I went to our former ward Sunday afternoon and was surprised at how few people attended. It was testimony day so I bore my testimony and afterwards Christie Griffin came up to talk to me. She is a darling girl and is a med student there. She said her Dad was coming in that evening and would want to call me so I gave her Roy's telephone number. Jim had been in Alabama for the weekend and he did call and we had such a good visit. He told me to tell you all hello and then he talked to Roy for a little while. Patrice fixed another delicious dinner that night and she invited Chris to stay for dinner but she couldn't. Grandma Suzie came to have dinner with us and I loved being with her and visiting. I wanted to go see her during the week but there just wasn't time.

I drove to Plainview on Wednesday and spent the day with Chris and Wayne. Wayne has done a beautiful job on their home there - it is a cedar siding home and has three bedrooms and two baths and a lovely kitchen and dining area and a big garage. They must have about 10 acres and Wayne has bought a riding lawn mower to cut the grass. Wayne's sister Betty and her husband Vernon live next door in a nice red brick home and they have that much acreage too. It is really out in the "doonies" but so perfect for them - it is right by Nimrod Lake. They were SO nice to me and we had gumbo for dinner and then they gave me turnips and fresh frozen purple hulled peas to take to Roy and Patrice. They want to come to Utah next Summer and stay in the cabin for awhile. Can you believe Wayne is still driving his camper that we went to Alaska in about five years ago - it has about 150,000 miles on it. He was excited to go deer hunting the Friday after I was there.

I spent Monday with our former neighbors and that was SO much fun. Bobbye and Tom Dennis are doing good, Pete looks great but she is worried about her son Robert - he is 56 years old and has just been laid off by K-Mart because they closed the store he was in in Houston. Dorothy and Dan took me to lunch and then out to see Dana and her family - they were busy getting ready for a garage sale in Leawood. Our former home there looks wonderful - the people living there, Paul and Mary Berry are good personal friends of the Clintons and spend a lot of time in Washington and they entertain a lot in our old home. When I would read about the Clintons in the Arkansas papers Paul Berry's name was mentioned. They have done a good job of landscaping the front of the yard. I was a LITTLE homesick!!!

Tuesday I went to lunch with Joy Geisler and then she took me to the headquarters of "Leisure Art" where her daughter works and Judy took me on a tour - that was special and the building is very nice. Wednesday, I went to Plainview. Thursday I spent the afternoon with Chris Jordin and we talked a mile a minute. Friday I stayed home with the children - I can't really say I cared for them because they care for themselves. Patrice went to Dallas for a church conference. Roy came home about 3 o'clock so I went for a walk and walked by where Bob and Claire used to live and also where Ruby Morton taught some of you piano lessons and that was fun - it was a beautiful day and there were oak leaves EVERYWHERE.

Chris was going to take me to the airport but when Roy found out all the things she was planning to do that day he said he would like to take me. I know how hard it is to get all the children to go so I wanted to spare him that but he finally won. Barbara Sondrup and her daughter Angie were driving a truck from Atlanta pulling a U-haul trailer and also a small car behind that and they stopped in Little Rock on Friday night to spend the night with Chris. Chris' sister Mary and her husband were flying in later Saturday afternoon from Texas and she had to get ready for their visit and pick them up. ANYWAY - Chris, Barbara and Angie came to see us and of course they wanted to see the house - Roy was SO sweet to take them through it.

This is some news you might be interested in. I talked to Cissy for a long time and the divorce has really been something - I'll have to tell you all about it in person. Betty Young's mother was a neighbor of Becky Ewing and her husband and family when they lived there. Betty told me that Becky committed suicide about a month ago. I called Linda Bohn last night and she told me all about it. It was REALLY sad. She shot herself in the Eastlawn Cemetery here in Provo - in fact, Ann and Rons' children knew about it because they knew some of her children. Becky has always been unstable but we all have to ask ourselves if there was some way we could have helped her. Deanna Edwards sang at her graveside services in Logan.

This letter could go on an on!!!! When I talked to Linda last night I also talked to Phil and he told me about the development he is working on at Saratoga in Lehi. He said they have 290 lots ready to build on and have already sold 272. I'll have to drive out there when I can.

I believe I have a little more room on this page so I'll tell you about Ann & Rons' trip to New Mexico. Ron was at a conference while they were there and Ann shopped. They had a good time and the children cared for themselves and got a long fine. Rons' parents came for the weekend the day they got home and they always enjoy them. Ron brought me some of those delicious "Idaho" baking potatoes his folks had brought and I even had one for breakfast this morning. Timpview is in the semi-final football championship game this coming Saturday at Utah State - I hope they win. They have invited me to go with them for the game but that is my temple night and I have already missed two Saturdays so I had better stay home.

I love you all very much and I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving when some of us can be together.

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