Grandma's Old Letters

I found some old letters in my Grandma's closet. Most of these were written by my Dad when he was little.

The last bit, on the index cards, is I presume the talk my Grandpa Dee gave at my Dad's mission farewell.

I'll start with my favorite first:

Hi Dad,

I missed you to day. Have you worked hard? I bet you have. I hope you don't come home cranky and mad, because when you come home cranky and mad you're hard to live with. Let's get off this stupid subject.

Don't question me about my homework, because it's all done. I thought I'd tell you this it would save alot of yelling. Because I'm trying to not get yelled at for the rest of the week.

Excuse the mistakes, but you will have to get along with them. Of course unless you don't want the letter.

LOVE,

JERRY JOHNSON

daddys little boy jr. Jerry Johnson

Johnson

Jerry                           Dec 5

on sunday I ho yo sunday school, I sit rite down and dont play pool I listen to the Teacher. it isnt so fun but it teaches me the holy one.

WHAT MOTHER DOES FOR ME

1. CLEANS HOUSE
2. DOES LAUNDRY
3. COOKS MY MEALS
4. TOLERATES MY MOODS
5. SHOPS AND BUYS ME NICE THINGS TO WEAR
6. BUYS ME THINGS SHE THINKS I WOULD LIKE
7. DOES NOT  GOSSIP ABOUT ME
8. STICKS UP FOR ME
9. LOVES ME WHEN I'M GOOD
10. GIVES ME SPECIAL LOVE WHEN I'M SICK
11. LETS ME WATCH T.V. IN BED
12. IS CONSIDERATE OF MY FRIENDS
13. IS FRUGAL WITH MY MONEY
14. IS GOING TO LOVE ME MORE WHEN SHE CAN

Not to be secretive on my behalf but many of the favors she has done for me I have forgotton. It came upon a day so bright she washed my clothes clear out of sight, she cooked my food she cooked my meat then after dinner she'd rub my feet. If I wanted to watch a show shed leave me alone and go out and sew, any thing shed do for me, take care of me injured or let me just be. But Im so glad to have her near, she is my sweat mother, she is my dear.

Love

Stink Head

 thanks mom for being what you are. I usually don't show I love you because thats kids stuff you understand but I do. thats all the mush Id better wright or youd think you were clear out of

SIGHT

LOVE

Jerry Johnson

I want to welcome you here today, it is really heart warming to see so many people here. I especially want to thank the people that have come any distance to be here today.

Lately people have been asking me who and what has had the biggest influence on Jerry in helping him decide to go on his Mission. Of course the teachings that he has grown up with in Sunday School and Primary have had a tremendous influence on him. Also the teachers and leaders he has had, but I think the one person that has had a big influence on Jerry has been Karen. Karen has always tried to keep Jerry on the right path.

About seven or eight months ago, Jerry was studying to take an apprentice ship test and one night Mike, Karen's husband was helping Jerry with some Math problems and Jerry said, "I think if I pass this test I won't go on my mission." Karen piped up from the front room, Michael you stop helping him right now. Also, Jerry's friends have had a big influence on him, right noe he has a lot of friends on missions. We appreciate the type of friends that Jerry chooses, and have always tried to make them welcome in our home. We can't think of a friend that Jerry has ever brought home that we didn't like. This goes for girls as well as boys.

One family home evening about 4 years ago each family member was supposed to write down all the good things a Mother does for them and this is what Jerry had to say.

Jerry is a kind, considerate and understanding person and I know Jerry with make a good Missionary and I pray that the Lord will bless him and take care of him for the next two years and I say this in the of Jesus Christ.

Amen

How many of you read the essays in Friday nights Herald on Family Life, written by students at the Timpview High School. In one of the essays, a girl wrote, "God is like Hallmark. He cared enough to send me the very best." That's the way I we feel about Jerry. 

You might call me somewhat of a skeptic, I have often sat in the audience and listened to parents of Missionaries or returned Missionaries tell about how many blessings they have when their Son or Daughter is on a Mission and how they never missed the money that they sent them. I would sit and think now lets see, 150.00 a month for 12 months is 18 hundred dollars a year for two years, that's 36 hundred dollars. It seems like a person would miss that much money, but you know even though we have sent Jerry 200.00 each month for two years we haven't missed that money, do you know why we haven't missed that money? Because Jerry had enough money to support himself on his Mission. But let me explain to you what happened.

After Jerry left, each month we would take money out of his savings and put it into his checking account. When it came tax time in 1976 our tax man said why don't you support Jerry on his Mission, that way you can claim him as a dependent on your Income Tax and that will help you on your taxes, so that is what we decided to do and didn't think the IRS would mind as long as it was for such a good cause. Before Jerry left we told him that as long as he was supporting himself on his Mission that we would try to get him a Building Lot here in Orem. In January we had the opportunity to do just that. Last Dec. e were fortunate enough to be able to take a trip to Hawaii to see Karen and her family and the three of us will be going over again this

year for the Holidays. We have been able to do some improving around the house and to be able to send out little grand children something once in a while and to have all the necessities we needed and you know Jerry still has over half his savings left. I really feel like we have been blessed and have had some extra help and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

You know getting a son ready for a mission is almost as much work as getting a daughter ready for a wedding.

I don't think many of us realize how much a boy has to sacrifice to go on a Mission, his hair, his beard, and his truck. But seriously how many of us would be willing to sacrifice everything we have worked hard for two years plus giving up all the things we love and enjoy.

Awww... Tender. Found this with my Dad's letters. Clearly the Johnson boys are cherished above all else... :)

Make Your Most Pathetic Face

Bob wanted something from Mom, and Mom was not giving in. So I told Bob to make her most pathetic face. She looks at Mom and goes:

Note:

Bob was probably somewhere around 4-7 for this event. In the video, she is 8 or 9. She recorded herself on Camree's webcam doing this face. Luckily, Camree just found it. This story is a classic Bob story...

Day Layover in London

15 Flights in 15 Days

Salt Lake City to Dallas, Dallas to DC, DC to Kuwait, Kuwait to Bahrain, Dammam to Riyadh, Riyadh to Yanbu, Yanbu to Jeddah, Jeddah to Abha, Abha to Riyadh, Riyadh to Dammam, Bahrain to Dubai, Dubai to Bahrain, Bahrain to London, London to Chicago, Chicago to Salt Lake City.