With All My Love

I'm feeling guilty for my lack of pictures for you to enjoy, and words of wisdom. It must be summer! Or, I'm gearing up for another two years of dedicated sharing when your brother departs for Brazil at the end of the summer.

We spent a lot of time yesterday working on notarizing documents he needs. Hunter opened up a local bank account, as he's accrued a few checks to cash, and needed the free notary service. Paperwork makes him grumpy. He also had to type up a curriculum vitae, which I have yet to see.

I drove to Tyler for the first time, to pick up your brothers who were visiting Friday to Wednesday. I drove up Tuesday, and spent glorious hours in the new pool. Miller, who had hurt his toe and nail Friday, was on crutches when I arrived Tuesday, never venturing into the pool. That lasted about ten minutes, when I convinced him of the possibilities. He's very sensitive about injuries, blood, and feeling pain, and apparently put your aunt and uncle through gray hair moments just changing his band aid.

Dad and your brothers came home from scout camp successfully stinky. Bathroom issues negated most showers, and near 100 degrees with heat and humidity made water activities very popular and necessary. I know Sawyer came home with five completed merit badges, probably Cooper as well. I think Cooper grew while he was gone, he seems so tall!

Dad talked about scout camp in church today...I thought he was wonderful ;-) He spoke about how they only had one lure, and kept catching fish after fish. What are the lures in this world that catch so many of us? Pornography? He was amazed that something made out of plastic could be so catchy to the fish, and how it wouldn't even have fed them.  Satan uses lures to catch us, and it's always with those things that are not good for us either.

They arrived home from camp early, Thursday evening at midnight, so Dad could take Cooper and Porter to youth conference. It was an eleven stake event held at the University of Texas in Arlington, with Glen Beck and Elder Callister as the  headline speakers.

Hunter went and bought the garage shelves I had noticed in a Lowe's flyer, and also helped me assemble them. Yesterday I finished cleaning the garage: much better!I might get some hooks to hang bikes and golf bags, but otherwise I'm done. I need to de-vine some trees, shore up our drainage ditch, and work on water drainage off our retaining wall next. We found a BIG spider in the garage. Hunter and I enjoyed hearing Breyer's scream, as she found it first. When I caught it, it was so big it didn't fit on the bottom of the pint jar. She made it her pet, after it was safely contained, and even sang to it for a while. We released it inside the drainage ditch, so it would be cool, but away from the house. Her nurturing instincts are precious.

Dad's working on when and how to travel to California to see his father. He's looking at a few days between summer and fall semesters, and looking to take Hunter, Cooper and Sawyer. That will be an adventure for sure! Porter, if he decides not to play football.

I apologize for my lack of pictures! I'm out of touch with my camera, as it's been on the road for weeks. Know that we love you, and are looking forward to your visit next week, where there will sure to be a LOT of pictures being taken!

Love,

Mom