With All My Love

Elder Schenewark,

Elder Anderson’s talk Whoso Receiveth Them, Receiveth Me highlighted the need of the hundreds of thousands of children, youth, young adults who are not cared for within the bond of matrimony, reared by a mother AND father who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Many youth who felt alone, left behind or outside the fence.

Your father, and your grandmother, are ones who “embrace[d] the gospel without a mother or father to come into the Church with them”…They“hope[d] to create the family ideal in [their] own lives at a future day, became an important part of the missionary force, and kneel at an altar to begin their own families.” How blessed you are to have the care of a “father and mother converted to the Savior, sealed by the authority of the Priesthood, and  learn in your family to love and trust Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.” As a missionary you are able to “help God’s children understand what is genuine and important in this life. Help them develop the strength to choose paths that will keep them safely on the way to eternal life.”

Your siblings spent a little time coloring Easter eggs last week. I mention this after Easter as every time I pull out the hard boiled eggs, to eat, your sister cries. We’ve taken down the huggle pod, left the hooks up, and Sawyer used a wood bar to create a pull up station. Miller and Sawyer love it.

Sawyer finished the district track meet in fourth, jumping 9'6". He said he couldn't get his feet up, for whatever reason. His season is over.

Sawyer's and Miller’s games were cancelled this weekend due to “cold” weather. We had 83 degrees on Friday, and a strong enough cold front that blew through to make the high yesterday a balmy 33 degrees. Only in Texas. There were storms but not in our area.

Cooper's tennis meet on Monday resulted in a very close sem- final game they lost; he had to go back the next day, to see if they'd qualify to play for third, which depended on their team members losing their match for 2nd place. He won. Because he finished third in the district he goes on to regionals. Not too shabby for a boy who didn’t pick up a racquet until 9th grade, and has had no private lessons. Good on Cooper.

Hunter had a BYU club that sent him to a conference this weekend in Indianapolis, and he had a three hour layover at DFW airport. Dad and I drove up there, picking up a bagful of brisket and accessories, to feed him and his traveling club companion. We drove to one of the hotels on the airport premise, and sat outside in a balmy 83 degrees, and had a wonderful time. In their own words, “Best Layover Ever.” They also left with chocolate, cookies, and trail mix. It was good to see Hunter. It’s been a long time since Christmas. It will be good to see you. There’s a possibility I’ll need to have you call me Saturday evening instead. I’ll keep you updated. The other option is at 8 p.m. Sunday, if I can get the day off.

Interesting headline this week was London's "Intense New Knife Control Policies to Stop Epidemic of Stabbings." While the mayor declared the new policy, "It's not clear what local Londoners will now use to cut their food."

And, "Dallas County Sheriff’s deputies are on a manhunt for an escaped inmate." The inmate managed to get away while being transported from Frank Crowley to Lew Sterrett for booking Monday night. Police say the 21-year-old suspect took off running while still in handcuffs and was able to flee the area. The interesting part of the story? The deputies and detectives pulled all the family members in over the evening, and wouldn't let them go until someone cracked and told them where he was hiding.

That's it for the weekly news. Know of our love for you. Always.

Love,

Mom