With All Our Love

Dear Tanner!

More than five missionaries that arrived in Londrina together have reached their year mark: Bennett, Chambers, Peterson, Carrell, Halpin, Whittier...The moms posted a tribute to their sons who had reached their halfway mark that was very sweet. You've been out over four months! That's one-sixth of your mission that's over. In that version, time is moving very quickly. Well, here we are and another week is in the books. Sometimes in reflection time flies, although right in the midst of things, time doesn't move so quickly. Last week when we received your email the Bachs had just left for their journey home to Massachusetts. Dad was still home, so I got to watch your emails trickle in. Then, he patiently waited to leave until you pushed the send button for your letter. The daily battles of getting kids out the door for school, preparing and teaching seminary, feeding fifteen for breakfast every morning, packing lunches, doing wash, doing dishes...have all been done again! Plus weekly events like feeding six missionaries dinner, teaching cub scouts, piano lessons...have also been done...again! This is a long way of saying not much happened this week.

Miller, Sawyer and Cooper had their basketball practices, and their first games. Did we already tell you that the league changed the rules? No longer do you register by birth date, but by grade. This is significant for Sawyer as all the All-Star players he's played with for three years are no longer in his league. So he shines, and shines very brightly. Plus, he practices every day. He's been playing basketball outside since we took you to the airport. His shot is very arching, and accurate. He's fun to watch. When they were ahead by 30 points, the coach left Sawyer in and put in all the reserves. He was very cute being a leader. The players weren't quite as adept as others, and not as secure in their knowledge, so he would point with his head or hand so they would know where they should go to get the pass from him. And, he still gives the game all he has to give. All your teammates that still show up to ref and keep score knew Sawyer by name, and even invited him onto the floor to play with them during half time of Miller's game.

Cooper was playing at the same time at the middle school so Dad covered that game. He might have made a basket or two, but I'll have to go to that game next week. Miller was very exciting to watch. His first basketball game! He's been waiting a few years to get on the floor. He knew exactly what to do and when to do it. He was the first player to score, he out dribbled them all, and always ended up with the rebound. This season will be fun. My favorite part was during an in-bound pass, Miller ran off the floor, while they were getting players ready for a "stack," to give us all hugs. And then he was quickly back in place. A few times he ran, or waited on defense, with his hands in his pockets, or his fingernail in his mouth. A very entertaining game. Pictures will have to be posted next week. I couldn't find my camera in time. Porter had his first game at Oak Hill. He got to play in the junior varsity game at the end. He said the coach gave up, and put five freshmen in to finish the game. He still hasn't figured out how to wear his contacts, but his shot improved to 11/15 after a few pointers from the coach. It will be fun to watch him play when he finally has a freshmen game.

Dad took all the boys to the high school football field Saturday to show them how to kick the football through the uprights. He began by borrowing Hunter's cleats, and making his kicks. Then, the boys tried. I left while they were kicking line drives, under the upright bar, and Hunter came home having kicked a few field goals. He thinks he wants to try kicking for the team next year. He has developed a little friendship with a boy from school, and that has made him think about it a little more. (When Barnett called to have his yard raked of leaves, Hunter invited his friend to work with him. They spent four hours, and each received about $62.) Dad also put up a new set of bunk beds we received from Myra. Sawyer and Cooper are stacked, the old beds out, and the room is so much bigger! They've been enjoying their new play space so much, mostly with Legos. Porter also brought up the second bed to his bunk bed, and invites a brother here and there to sleep with him. Dad and I went on a date day Saturday. We found a few gifts, ate some Panera sandwiches, and tried to come home with a Christmas tree. It didn't work out, but Dad went out later and brought one home. Miller saw the tree, and said, "Is this the time of the year that those people come out and sleep in a nest?" Cracked me up. I'm glad he loves to put out the nativities, and baby Jesus in the manger with hay certainly can look like a nest.

In memory of your top ten movies of all time, according to Porter, they watched MIB III. Even Dad made it through the movie with a huge smile on his face. The little boys were treated to Brave. When you're ready to learn a little more about your McLeod, McAlpin, McCabe sides of the family, we'll re-watch this movie with you. The boys loved it.

Have you any plans for our Christmas phone call? We can have the computer and Skype on, if you'd like to give us a general time? _____

Can you elaborate on the revenge of having to wear dirty socks all week by your companion? _____

What were you doing in your service picture? _____

Your companion mentioned in his last letter that you two "made it on our mission site for 6 reactivations this week. That makes 7 baptisms and 9 people we've reactivated here in Tupã. That's the sacred numbers of the mission." Would you like to go into more of an explanation for us folks not in your mission? _____ He also said this, which I love, "It's nice to look around in sacrament meeting and count the many people that are there because of the gritty hard work you put out in the burning sun. The work will always go on!!!"

Your CTM companion mentioned in his letter that two years ago the "Brasil Londrina Mission was the lowest baptizing mission in South America, but now it is 15th in Brasil!" He also said that the "average missionary in Brazil walks enough to walk from São Paulo to Salt Lake and back during the two years!!! Crazy, huh?" His mother looked up the flight distance from Sao Paulo to SLC, and it's not quite 6100 miles. No wonder why missionaries in your area seem to go through shoes like crazy!

On Sunday, do you have a Gospel Essentials class during Sunday School? _____ Do you teach any classes during the block? _____ Have you had to give a talk in sacrament meeting yet? _____ 

In the news last week, the Hostess employees couldn't agree on a contract, and were out of work so long it forced the company into bankruptcy. There was a rush on Twinkies and Ding Dongs at the stores, even selling some on eBay. 

In posting a picture and update on Facebook, I found a few of your friends posting mission information. I don't know if you're aware of their callings, so I copied them for you:

Jenny Stevens, Belgium/Netherlands Mission

Jane Crofts, Taipei, Taiwan.

Marshall Miner, Moses Lake, WA

Jordan Whitehead, Romania and Moldova

We've noticed a watch in some of your pictures, where did you pick it up? _____

Dad wants to know if you listen to your ipod music._____ He also wanted to know if he mails a flash drive of new general conference music, if you'd be able to down load it. _____

Did you get any packages or letters this past week? _____

We love you! We're so grateful for your service. Today in fast and testimony meeting every person that bore their testimony thanked the missionaries. Not that they were the ones instrumental in their membership but that they're serving just like the ones before. Your work is so important, even more so in developing areas of the church. We're grateful for the blessings you bring to our family. Breyer still loves to find you in pictures, Miller is excited he'll be seven when you return, Sawyer is glad you'll be back before he receives the Priesthood. They're walking a little taller because of having a brother that's on a mission. So are we.

Love,  Mom and Dad