With All Our Love

Dear Tanner,

Well, it's coming around to my favorite day of the week. I love Mondays, and having the phone ring, and Dad tell me "it's in," and read me your letter over the phone. That's the first time I hear it. Then when he comes home from work, and I need a quiet break, I'll take out his computer and read it for myself. It's often been said, but we moms live for mail. The Brazil moms have been quiet this week in their online discussion as we're all getting our Christmas box ready to go, but there was a little discussion on being careful about Facebook, what we posted and whom we befriended. One mother related a story of how she and her son have been "stalked" by a Brazilian lady with three children, no longer married. The son was moved out of the area, then the mission, and now she's afraid she'll be showing up at her front door someday. Wow. Don't need that happening ever. Be careful!

Your letter: You mentioned getting antibiotics in the MTC, with a prescription for your face. Can you expound on that just a bit? What is the medicine you're taking, and for how long? Are you using some sunscreen, especially on your face? You mentioned having quite the P-day, and that your president's pizza saved your life. Is it because you enjoyed eating something other than rice and beans, or had you not eaten for two days?

One elder wrote in his letter, "Last Monday we put our mattresses in the sun to kill the bacteria and yupp it was horrible!!!!! Bugs started dying on mattress as they were trying to escape. We called Sister Tavares and she sent us new ones." I share this, as it sounded like the mattresses you were carrying were of such quality, and perhaps yours needs to be debugged, preferably replaced, as well!

What are the names of the elders who are living with you now? What are the names of the other elders you lived with, besides your district leader? He mentioned you in his letter, and sent home a picture of you when you were on splits together, so when I shared your last week's letter on the blog, I shared that picture as well for you to see now. How happy we are at his one comment about you, and seeing your face! We're so thankful you can send pictures. We're very excited when we can see your face. Speaking of pictures, we got your letter to Sawyer and Miller. Sawyer was soooo excited! He came home from school one day and had a letter written to you in his newly acquired cursive skills. He has beautiful handwriting! He keeps pulling it out of the envelope to answer another of your questions, or ask one of his own. He's such a sweetie.This will be the first letter we mail to that house. I'll probably send one more until I hear you're staying.

I've updated your Facebook account (can you LOOK at it?). I posted the picture of you with your district leader, and the awesome quote from last week's letter: "These are the moments we live for, that we sleep on the floor for, eat rice and beans for, walk miles for and smell like African baboons for." It's generated a lot of "likes (48)!"

Your CTM companion's letters are still a must read over here. We've grown to love your companion. It sounds like he struggles to have enough money for water and food, but he feels like at the end of the day he's always provided for. He mentioned how some of the missionaries in his area received none of their money, as the Bank of Brasil stole it, and they've been told not to use that bank any more. Very interesting! He also mentioned the time change, so now you're two hours ahead of us. After our clocks fall back next week, we'll be three hours apart!

Your companion mentioned your "glowing" story as well, and we shared his version along with your letter. I'm so happy for you! It reminds me of Alma 27: 4 in regards to some of the best missionaries, Ammon and his brethren, thought to be "angels sent from God." He also mentioned some talk you heard, "One thing that we learned the other day is that they call missionaries based on their mission president. They have a picture of you, and they decide where you'll go based on the revelation they get from which mission president you should be assigned to. Elder Cook of the Twelve said that, he also said it's a more profound doctrine that happens in the mission choosing process that nobody knows much about. So I was assigned to serve the Lord, but I was assigned to serve with His servant Presidente Tavares." Love it!

One of the new things going on over here? Dr. Mak gave us a bunny ear antennae she no longer needed, and we receive about eight television channels. Sometimes Hunter has been watching football on Saturdays, and Miller a little PBS some mornings, but we haven't used them that much. But when Dad realized we get Jeopardy every night at 7:30 p.m. he now encourages the boys to get everything finished, and they gather around for quiz bowl prep time. It's pretty funny to hear a whole room of boys guessing. Dad is usually right on with his answers, but Porter and Hunter are learning a lot! Even Cooper is getting ready (and hopeful) for next year's middle school team with Mrs. Speed.

We are happy to report Breyer still danced during singing time at family home evening. We spoke about testimonies, and how our little testimonies and experiences and efforts add up to conversion. Then we spoke about the same thing in seminary. I've grown to love John the Baptist this year. What a role model. I especially like learning about how he prepared the people for the Savior's coming, as it is applicable to all us today preparing for the second coming of the Lord.

Tuesday at cub scouts we had a pack meeting, and then carnival type activity outside. I didn't know I'd be in charge, as I thought all the leaders were contributing activities but it was just me. I grabbed stuff around the house for 12 activities, like bean bag toss, croquet, putt putt golf, yo yo's...boy stuff. And we helped string up donuts when we got there. The boys came in costume and had a great time. The pack is so large this year, about fifty boys (18 in mine alone). The boys wore their cardboard knight costumes they've been designing since August, and Sawyer was the dragon.

The next night was the Halloween party at the church, and we added Hunter as the prince, and Breyer as the princess. That might be it for trick or treat time, as the weather will be pretty miserable on the community night this Tuesday. Hunter's already passed out his flyer for collecting eye glasses, so we'll see if he can find any for the Lions' Club.

Thursday I took Cooper to his soccer end-of-the-season party. I only mention this as one of the parent's there said that Mr. Belville said Fairland would have a soccer team next year. Yeah! I'm so happy for Cooper. Although he can't participate in sports this year because he's in 6th grade, I was worried about what options would be available and which would interest him. He loves soccer. 

About a week and a half ago while munching on carmel popcorn I broke my tooth. It was the tooth way in the back that I had worked so hard to save two summers ago, with the root canal and peeling the gum down for a crown. I'm not bitter about our former dentist's mistake...but after Friday I have to admit her name was mud for a couple of hours. I don't know why the crown couldn't be done two years ago, and knew then that the dentist wasn't optimistic about the filling being very permanent but when I was told last week he could save my tooth with a crown, I cried. So Friday I went in for the crown. Ouch. It was worse than having a child. And a very expensive birthday present from your father. But I kept my tooth, and count it as the second of many blessings we'll receive because of your service.

Porter is still doing open gym. Hunter asked around about him and his chances at making the team. Some of the boys thought he should make the team just for how tall he is. They both agreed he's a good rebounder, but sometimes he makes too many "wild" shots. I passed this onto Porter, so we'll see. Tryouts are Friday, mandatory meeting for parents tomorrow. (XC update? The girls won regionals, the boys are runner-ups, both teams headed to state. Wentz is really dominating in XC and knows how to make runners!) Sometime this next week I'll be signing up the three younger boys for basketball. I'll have to find something for Hunter to do during the winter. He was given a couple of clubs this week with more to come, so he's still going out in the backyard golfing with Ranger. Up until this week, the fall weather has been beautiful!

This week the whole eastern seaboard and out to Ohio are bracing for "Frankenstorm," a combination of a cold front from the west, an arctic blast from the north, and hurricane Sandy from the south on the eve of Halloween. Because the leaves still have foliage massive power outages are expected, and up to two feet of snow. This is a rare convergence of three storms that has weather forecasters very nervous. We spent a lot of time yesterday filling up our water containers, and checking and finding our flashlights.

Yesterday we also spent the rest of the day moving in and filling up a big bookcase Dad brought home from work. It takes up the whole wall in Hunter's room, on the left right as you walk in. His bed had previously been moved to under Larry's window. We probably emptied at least ten boxes of books from under the stairs. There's more of course that will have to wait, but both Dad and Hunter are giddy with having the books out. I'm tired. Felt kind of like a moving day. This will make you laugh. We were trying to figure out where to put Hunter's desk. Didn't really want it out in the leaking garage, so we double stacked it on the desk in our room. Dad can keep all his books and papers up high on the top desk and sit at the lower desk to work. It's working for now. After the holidays are over, and the tree gone, I'll probably try to work it into the family room. Speaking of moving, I rearranged the boys' room a couple of weeks ago. Both twin beds are on each side of the window, and the crib, instead of being in the little nook, is right by the door. The room is much more open, with more space to play. We all love it this way.

All weekend Sawyer has been sick with a fever and sore throat, so I took him after sacrament meeting. Strep throat. Be glad you're not around for this one! We'll see how many others come down with this germ! So he'll be hanging around tomorrow instead of going to school. The stake president's award lists as one of the requirements to index 150 names per month, so Sunday is when this is done for myself, Porter and Hunter. Thankfully October had five Sundays, so most of us were already done. Cooper took a turn today. It's hard getting letter time as well, but somehow we all manage to share the computer. Dad took Porter home teaching tonight, his first time. Hunter is assigned with President Lim.

It's hard to close! I think that should wrap it up. If not, I'll make myself a note, and ask again next week. We love you! We're so proud of you. I've told many people about your baptismal story this week, seminary was perfect timing as we were talking about Christ in the synagogue, and the picture depicts Christ glowing.

Thank you for being you, and doing the best you can do. It's perfect. Love you more!

Mom and Dad

P.S. Dad still wants to verify that the water does indeed spin counter clockwise (vs. "the other way" as mentioned) south of the border.