With All Our Love

Tanner,

What a week! I'm at the hospital with your father this morning, and if you're reading this first, read your other emails to get caught up! And I have to go on the record to say your father DOES NOT know how to throw a party! Fire alarms at 12:30 a.m.? A couch that's rock hard, slanted, narrow, and cold? I was out of there by 4 a.m. We were just told that he'll be able to go home some time today...yeah! He was upgraded from clear liquids to all liquids (including cream of wheat type stuff) for breakfast, and then to all foods for lunch, except the order didn't come in soon enough. So if he can keep his dinner down, we're out of here! The most complicated thing we'll have to arrange for his homecoming, is how he's going to get his computer and book bags from the car to the office, and back again.

I've had a lot of time to reflect, sitting by his side, and have felt very blessed for our family members who have reached out, many times per day, through calls and emails; friends who have visited; and neighbors and friends who have provided food for your siblings since Friday. Even the boys held their own, and had a lot of babysitting and cleaning to help with. It's hopefully a good wake-up call for us all to take the time to take care of ourselves. It's no coincidence that this happened when Dad had no classes, and our responsibilities were lighter on the weekend. That's such a tender mercy! I never had to find a seminary teacher! Can you imagine anyone responding to the want ad: "Needed. Early morning religious instructor, volunteer position, daily lessons, dark o'clock." (And only teaching twice this week due to two hour delays and no school, we're more than a little behind! The state of Ohio actually added four more allowable snow days, so the boys will not be losing their spring break, as of yet!)

_______ We're excited to learn more about the process you go through for transfers, and what you were hoping to achieve this time around. We're also excited to hear about how the first week of open chapel tours went.

I am very happy to hear you'll be getting some new shoes. Your feet and back will be much happier! Thank that President for his concern and assistance. 

That was quite the whirlwind tour last week. Indeed it comes close to the Amazing Race. You sound so busy and happy. I too became teary when reading of your visit to your first baptism. She's always held a special place in my heart as well. I hope she will be able to go to the temple - soon!

Thank you so much for all those pictures! How fun to peruse through your week with so much detail. We got your "secret picture", thank you! I know you requested PDF files for dumbbell exercises, but I couldn't do it, so I'll let Dad finish what he was working on for you and then send them.

Besides our hospital adventures, Sawyer began games with his all star basketball team. I left the hospital Saturday and watched him play in one game. I love when he can work with different coaches, and learn new things from each coach. This coach has really emphasized Sawyer rebounding for the team, as he is the tallest, and he was magic with the boards. He pulled down almost every single one, both ends, for the first half. He was unstoppable. I'm glad I got to go to that game. The coach rested everybody else but him, so he was very tired, but it was a great game. And since he doesn't play on Sunday, the bench warmers will have been able to play more today.

Porter and Hunter were driven to the Columbus temple on Saturday. Cooper stayed home to watch over Miller and Breyer. They were dropped off at the hospital on the way home to get one of our cars, as we had two at the hospital.

This week we received another arctic blast. Not too often you have more than one blast come through...this is our third! In Uncle Rich degrees, -10 Penguins! The Ohio river finally froze. Wow. That is cold. And it was only for one full day. It was beautiful watching cracks develop as the sun came out, and the cracks increasing with the temperature. We talked about going down to the bank to listen to the CRACKing sound of the ice, but obviously that didn't happen. I think our arctic temperatures are over. At least the pipe Larry fixed was fixed correctly, as we've had no water pipe issues since! I couldn't help but think of the pioneers having to cross the Mississippi River, that was frozen by Heavenly Father at the right time in the right place to facilitate their escape. And, of how cold their conditions were as they camped on the river bank. I couldn't even imagine camping in a tent during such penguin weather!

The Gilbert Arizona Temple has had tours before it is dedicated, and I found some thoughts by a Jewish Rabbi who was invited to attend. I love learning of others beliefs, and was touched by his thoughts. He said that he was personally escorted by an elder of the church from Salt Lake City, the president of the Gilbert temple and the architect himself, along with the governor, other government officials, including the Arizona Senate president, speaker of the House, various legislators, local government and religious leaders and educators. He said, "We were treated with the utmost respect, and they were proud to show us what they believe to be their holiest place on Earth. In the Torah we read about Moses learning a valuable lesson from his father-in-law, Jethro. Jethro tells Moses to appoint judges who will handle the burden of judging the people from morning until night, taking only the most difficult cases for himself. Jewish sages note that Moses learns this valuable lesson from his non-Israelite father-in-law Jethro, a Midianite. Our tradition asks the question based on this interaction: “Who is wise?” The answer, “One who learns from ALL people” (Pirkei Avot 4:1). I believe a common misconception that many religious people hold is thinking that wisdom can only be found in their own tradition. So what can we learn from other faiths? From the Mormons I know and have worked with over the years, I have learned about complete faith. It gives them serenity and an acceptance of adversity, which I admire. I believe in Judaism. But I think we can all learn from our Mormon neighbors and many other worldviews. Wisdom is the ability to learn from all humans and points of view. Such open-mindedness can only make our religion and our faith stronger."

In closing, I have a few thoughts on my reading in Alma. These are some of my favorite chapters! "Alma having established the church...seeing a great check, yea, seeing that the people were checked as to the pride of their hearts, and began to humble themselves before God, and began to assemble themselves together at their sanctuaries to worship God...watching and praying continually, that they might be delivered from Satan, and from death, and from destruction...(15:17)." I checked myself every time I walked back into your father's hospital room. And we experienced a literal deliverance from death.

I also love this scripture, which says, "And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among...thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls (17:11)." What a great reminder of the attitude check we need in our missionary efforts. I'm sure you'll have many things to share with us that personify this scripture even more.

My absolute favorite in light of the "hastening the work" proclamation: "And there was no inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming—That they might not be hardened against the word, that they might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but that they might receive the word with joy...(16:16-17)." We too are living in a time where we're preparing for the coming of the Lord, and have witnessed the Lord pouring "out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds... and hearts..." How exciting that you're playing such an integral part in this gospel plan!

We love you! We're glad you chose us as your parents!

Have a wonderful week...

Mom and Dad