With All Our Love

Dear Tanner,

We're writing this letter excited to hear whether or not you're being transferred, or receive a new companion, and begin new adventures. Maybe just staying in one place with one companion for another transfer would be what you want! Either way, we're excited to learn tomorrow morning what transpires.

In the family news department, Cousin Kaleb now has mono, following in the contagious footsteps of his two sisters, plus getting checked on for his brain cyst tomorrow to see if it's grown.

Cousin Derek and I have been in contact all week as he arrived  at BYU Thursday, to live with Roger, and is looking for a job!

Elder C. wrote home about the mouse. He said it was in his backpack and was glad it was gone. His mother asked if he was a good host to his guests and he said yes, that he offered you a camas(bed) and some chocolate. Like his mother said, you can never go wrong with chocolate!

Your CTM companion's mother said that it is good to have access to money. When her son got transferred this last time, he had to purchase his own bus ticket (about $150 US) and then he got reimbursed from the mission after the fact. Are you in a position to do this? She and I decided that since this week is transfers, and you didn't go anywhere last time, you should be transferred to Cascavel. What about that?

Your AP's letter mentioned it was finally cooling down enough to sleep without fans, and with a blanket. I've mailed you another package, with a hat...will you need anything else as you enter your "winter" months?

I "liked" what your last zone leader, Elder C. wrote in his letter, "I have such STRONG faith in the sacred blessing of the priesthood from our Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for being worthy and using that power that He restored to the earth. We all (worthy men) should use the priesthood more. The authority that we have is more than we can even comprehend."

My favorite Portuguese phrase I've read thus far? From Elder B.'s letter: love you a ton mãe dos céus! (translation: Mother of Heaven)

Last Monday was the 101st anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and Matt shared this story, from a crew member, as relevant today as it was in 1912. He wrote that after jumping into the water, he was sucked down into the freezing water by a vent. At that moment of great alarm, "A doubt never entered my mind as to the ability of divine power to save me. These words from the 91st Psalm came to me so distinctly: 'He shall give His angels charge over thee.' Immediately, I think, I was thrown away from the blower and came up to find a piece of wood in my hand which seemed to be attached to the top of the funnel by a wire. A second time I went down and again came to the surface. My piece of wood was gone, but alongside me was the flat-bottomed collapsible boat which I had thrown down on the other side of the ship. This I laid hold of, but made no attempt to board it. It was clear to me there was a divine power and it seemed perfectly natural to rely on it with the spiritual understanding spoken of in the Bible. . . Reaction or effects from the immersion were none; and though surprise has been expressed by very many, it only goes to prove that 'with God all things are possible.'" I shared it in seminary. Thought it was a great way to start the day! Monday ended with Sawyer and Cooper playing in a baseball game. Neither could pitch, so Cooper covered first for the pitcher and Sawyer covered short stop.

Tuesday was a day with a lot of appointments. Time scheduled for something else. Porter had an orthodontist appointment, and an eye-glass adjustment, Miller and Breyer had speech, I had one with Sams, as the cupboards were bare; Porter had a home baseball game, as did Miller, and the cub scouts still call.

One of those days where you plan ahead for dinner, and the following morning's breakfast the day before. ;-) The cub scouts toured the local veterinary office. They were conveniently celebrating their one year anniversary in their new building, and had refreshments already available. Dr. Snyder did a great job talking about our farm animal requirements.

Wednesday was the day Dad left for North Carolina, to the College Sport Research Institute Conference at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, as a finalist for the 2013 William C. Friday Outstanding Article Award. The award recognizes the outstanding article in the Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics for the 2012 calendar year, as selected by the publication’s editorial review board. So he drove off with the morning sun in his face, and hope in his heart. Thursday morning he called me and told me an unusual story. He said that he was checking into the hotel, and they didn't have his reservation. So the next morning when he went to pick up his registration materials, it was under a "John" Schenewark. She apologized, and said, "Well, the plaque has the right name." Hmmmm. He went to the award ceremony with a secret smile on his face. And they called up the girl finalist instead. Huh? THey called him up for the runner-up award, and gave him a certificate stating he was the first place winner. Huh? By now he was slightly confused! But he didn't say anything. When they called him up at the end for pictures, they explained that they had made a mistake and even though the plaque was engraven with his name, and the certificate printed with his name, and the check and certificate signed by the two men in charge, he wasn't the winner. To say he was a bit disappointed, is understandable. It's like having your fingers on the prize, and it slips out of your fingers. By the time he got home six hours later and read his emails, he was told that he was the winner, and would be sent his awards. What a roller coaster ride! I'll post more pictures of his trip this week.

Friday we had a lovely visit with Sis. Parrish. This week she pulled out croissant covered mini-weenies, microwave popcorn and orange juice. The boys love their snacks and t.v. watching time. She's so kind to put up with all the boys and their antics. Actually, I should say Miller and his antics. There was no Jeopardy because of the coverage of the Boston bombers. Whether or not you've heard, it was a Patriots Day not soon to be forgotten. Prequeled by the birth of Hitler, the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear explosion, the 1993 Waco standoff, the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, the 1999 Columbine high school shootings, the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill, we can now add the Boston Marathon bombings. Aunt Jenny and the gang were at mile marker 19 doing their yearly water station service, and were unaware of events unfolding in Boston.  One family in our Martinez, CA ward had a mom running in the marathon, whose son was severely injured while waiting at the finish line. Many church friends ran in the marathon, but I know of no one injured.

Here's a small version of events directly from Reuters, "Two bombs made in pressure cookers and packed with ball bearings and nails exploded at the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing three people and injuring 176 and setting of a tense week in the United States that culminated in a massive manhunt on Friday with the greater Boston area on lock-down. One identified suspect, the older brother, was killed during a firefight with police on Friday, in the middle of the dramatic 26 hours between when the FBI released pictures of the two suspects and his capture in the Boston suburbs. The surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings remained in serious condition in the hospital on Sunday, unable to speak due to injuries to his neck and tongue sustained while on the run from police, officials said." There are so many stories about the courage and selfless service of the people in Boston, especially the emergency response communities. The hospitals are all first-class, and did not lose one injured person, because of their training, quick response, and preparedness. There's been photos of policemen delivering milk to houses with small children while Watertown was on lock-down, to professional basketball players carrying injured marathon runners to Neil Diamond showing up in Boston to sing live his "Sweet Caroline" during the 7th inning stretch. This has been my favorite image to date:

And, in Waco, Texas, the following morning there was a massive fire and subsequent explosion at a fertilizer plant that killed the volunteer fire department and EMS responders, and flattened houses, schools, nursing home and hospital in the mile radius around the plant. What a hard week! There was even one man who ran in the marathon, injured in the explosion, that returned home to Waco and was involved in that explosion. Can you even imagine? Count your MANY blessings!

Yesterday the older boys and Dad went to quiz bowl regionals...came home quickly with double zeroes on the board.

I had the other four at two baseball games, huddled in the dugout keeping the team book, and a cake bake for the cub scouts, which you'll see in a blog next week.

Today Porter was invited to go to church with the baseball coach. Since Hunter plays on his golf team, and Porter needed a driver, he went as well. Hunter made us laugh when he related that at the conclusion of the pastor's prayer, which ended with an "amen," Hunter heartily echoed an "amen," and realized quickly that was not done in their church. Then, both of the boys sat down too soon, didn't sit down soon enough, and put sacramental cups in the wrong place. Obviously they have a need to learn how to quietly imitate.

One of your greatest blessings and brother fan is Porter. I hope you enjoyed last week's blog with the poem he wrote for you. Tonight while I was making fried dough for dinner, with a little fruit on the side, he asked me to leave a plate of plain ones for him. "Hmmm, I thought, I wonder why?" Porter softened some cream cheese in the microwave, and got out the prosciutto ham, and made some sandwiches. Yum! Put that on your list to eat when you come home. Porter's plateaued in pole vaulting at ten feet, yet placed fourth this week at an invitational of eighteen schools. He calls himself the "geeky vaulter with too much leg and no style." And he's the youngest. He's still trying to figure out how to turn over in style.

Hunter is still golfing. Rough life, I know, but somebody has to do it. The weather's finally let go of winter, and he has a big spring in his step when the weather/homework/car/schedule all align for him to be able to fit in 18 holes. He plans on calling Juniper Hill golf course this week to see if they can expedite their decision in regards to him working there or not.

My favorite scripture this week from seminary was from James 1:2, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into many afflictions; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." I was thinking of Grampy in relation to this scripture, but know this is applicable to you as well.

And because I love you, and think of you ALL the time, I thought of you especially when I read this quote by Elder Holland. I loved it! He said, "You will have the occasion to ask those questions...why isn't it easier?  Why is the work so difficult?  Why do the people not understand?  Why do they reject us?  Why can't they see?    I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience.  Salvation was never easy.  We are the Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head.  How would we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him?" I know you could tell us so much about how it's not easy. And how difficult your work can be. And how you're rejected on an hourly basis. Maybe even that you've asked those same questions. I've thought of all of those things, and hopes this quote makes you smile as much as it did me.

We love you!

Mom AND Dad