With All My Love

Elder Schenewark,

To say "It was one of the worst days of my lives," may pop out occasionally over the tenure of our life, but to truly feel it was awful. Jarrod took Cooper, Sawyer and Miller to the Guadalupe Mountains, with the scout troop, and we knew they'd be miserable just because of the extremely unusually high temperatures we're experiencing this year. The base camp was set up Monday afternoon, and Tuesday morning they all left for overnight hike, going up 2000 feet, except Jarrod and Miller. They watched over the base camp, and Miller was able to do the Junior Ranger program at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park and at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The boys came back to the base camp sometime Wednesday, and Cooper was in pain. He threw up everything, including from the night before, around lunchtime.  Later, when asked if he needed to go to the hospital, he said yes. He was so matter of fact, and stoic, I think your father thought it would be dehydration, constipation...worse thoughts were bowel obstruction and appendicitis. It was an appendix that was inflamed and needed to come out. The doctor said it would not have made it through the night without rupturing. He was wheeled into surgery by 8 p.m., out by 10, with no rupture, no extended stay, no complications.

His troop picked him up, after packing up base camp, around 1:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon, ensuring Cooper would get a speedy check out with all his sweaty, smelly compadres camped around his bed.  Cooper was allowed to leave if they promised to stop every hour on the way home so he could get up and walk. Your family arrived home by about 9 p.m. Cooper left when he was 17, turned 18, and signed himself into the hospital. His best and first decision he made as a legal adult was to know he needed to go to the hospital. I'm grateful he's alive.

Hunter took Sawyer and Miller up to Tyler the next morning. He wanted to visit with Evan and Luke especially. They played lots of games, and spent time talking about future plans in the lovely swimming pool.

Hunter and I bonded over changing a flat tire on the Prius. Good times in 100 degrees, with no knowledge or experience between us, and the lug nuts tight as torque. We got'er done.

With Cooper home, we celebrated his birthday yesterday. Your sister Breyer had us all in smiles. She gave him a coupon for "One Free Lay On My Bed." Breyer has a nice view out her window, and it is often a coveted reading spot. She also gave him a mermaid painting she made. He requested a carrot cake. It was yummy. I also made Hunter three kinds of cookies for his class...my feet are barking from spending all of Saturday in the kitchen.

Hunter had double duty today giving a talk in sacrament meeting, as well as teaching the Elder Quorum lesson. He did a fantastic job on his talk, and I heard wonderful things about his lesson. He spoke on the attributes of a father, and used Elder Tuttle as an example. President Hinckley publicly asked for prayers on his behalf, with President Benson's support, and said that some might question faith when Elder Tuttle passed away, because prayers went unanswered. But then Hunter shared an account of Elder Tuttle shared by President Packard. He said Elder Tuttle shared that when he heard of the petition of prayers on his behalf, he asked the Lord to withhold his blessings from those prayers, and extend them to others who needed them more. He said this is an attribute of a father, one who is willing to give of his blessings to others, even if it makes him more flawed.

I appreciated his example, as you too have told me of your desire to forgo all your mission blessings for another. I love you. I love your example, and sweet spirit. We miss you dearly. I want you to know how much, not to make you homesick but know that the home fires are always lit for you and your cause.

Love,

Mom


Dear Porter,

I hope you have had a good week. What have you done for service? When was the last time you saw your mission president? Does he go home this week? How is your Bishop?

I leave with your brothers Cooper, Sawyer, Miller and Sister Breyer to head to Massachusetts. I would hope in an upcoming summer that we may be able to stay in New England (preferably in New Hampshire) for a good part of the summer. Those were good summers to be up there and I do find that Aunt Becky’s town to be pretty peaceful.

I look forward to seeing the rest of your Aunts and Uncles and your Grandparents. Plus we will see Tanner, Ann Marie, and Nora; in addition it will be good to see Hunter. We have missed him this week. We will and do miss you.

I did lose four pounds for the week I was at the young men’s campout. I am looking to make good progress this week. I will look not to have any soda on the trip and try to eat a fruit and vegetable at each meal.

We saw Luke this week. He said you get to make a podcast. It is good to see Luke. Have you asked him to visit with missionaries? Has he conveyed any interest in the church? Evan is thinking of going to visit Tanner at BYU and look at the law school. That would be an interesting development.

I saw Mom posted a picture of Hunter and his new cowboy boots, which he got from Brother Gammons. He wore them with a suit at his conference and that seemed to make quite the impression. Plus the boots are high quality made in Texas from a boot maker who has been in business since the 1880’s. We will have to see if he wears them at church in Sunday.

I think we are going to a minor league baseball game in Massachusetts on Friday. It will be law enforcement appreciation night and they will be giving out a bobblehead. That would be nice to add to the collection. I have received four bobbleheads in the last four months.

I look forward to your letter. Be safe.

Love,

Dad