#198

To: Ruby
From: Joanna

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Thursday,
November 19, ‘81

Dear Ruby,

Finally!! I would like to thank you for the lovely engagement card and warm letter. I am very sorry (and embarrassed) that I haven’t written a reply sooner. I was so busy try to get my plans in order and trying to see people before I left. I was a bit disorganized and I’m afraid, in the process, my letter writing suffered. Even under the most ideal circumstances I’m not the most faithful writer (which I will work to improve upon), so I hope you will understand and forgive my negligence.

I’m very excited that David and I will soon be married and so appreciate your loving support of our engagement and forthcoming marriage. It’s good to know that you feel we are right for each other & that we will be happy together.

We really feel strongly that the Lord brought us together and that he will be the center of our marriage and the reason for everything we do. I love David very, very much. Thank you for raising such a wonderful son! You have much to be proud of. I will try with the Lord’s help, to be a good and devoted wife to David and a good daughter to you both. I want to make him happy in every way possible and will do my best to be loving and supportive of him and all he seeks to do. Above all, I will pray that I will never do anything to lose or diminish the mutual love and trust we have right now, and that it will only continue to grow and get strong with time.

I also hope the same for my relationship with you and George, as I love you both & want to see that grow. I don’t think there is any worry of you and I having a “mother-in-law-type-of-thing.” I already feel very comfortable with you and want as you do, too, I’m sure, to have a very close and loving family relationship.

I feel very proud that I will soon become one of your family. Thank you for making me feel so welcome. Please give my love to George.

Much love,
Joanna