With All My Love

Dear Elder Schenewark,

What a week. My emotions have been on a roller coaster. It was wonderful to hear from you. Thank goodness.

I haven't been able to see Nora at all! She's going to forget me! So I might have no cute photos to share. I did read about the new method of toddler rooms taking the motherhood rank and file by storm: Montessori - where everything the child needs is reachable by them. The mattress is on the floor, the light switch down low, no tall dressers, etc. I just want to know what the Montessori method says for kids that don't stay in bed. I needed a few bars around my boys.

Your father took Sawyer and Cooper to youth conference in the San Antonio area early Thursday morning. Of course, with any such trip, packing commences the night before and is still in progress at departure time. Your father was not happy about going, not happy about going in 105 degrees of Texas heat, and not happy to be told to bring equipment for the service project occurring in 105 degrees of said Texas heat. He was happy to have his counselor come with him, and to drive his other counselor’s suburban, especially when said suburban dropped a transmission on the first day after they were leaving their lake activities. My favorite story, which I had him retell just for me, was when Cooper stood and bore his testimony. He had the audience eating out of his hand with his command and humor, and became a legend. Sawyer contributed as well by inspiring his row of 12 to follow him to the pulpit one by one. They arrived home just in time to see the missionaries leave, having had to eat their dinner in their air conditioned vehicle, and to hear that Hunter had arrived back in Utah just in time to babysit Nora while Tanner and AnneMarie went to the temple.

This week was spent mostly working on two vehicles, the Ford van and Toyota Sienna, to make them driveable enough to pass inspection. The Ford, after Hunter took it to GoodYear, got the fuse situation resolved for free, and two new front tires, and the go for registration. We’ll finish it this week. The Toyota was a bit more complicated. The insurance company put the vehicle on, right away, but sent us a policy through email that had the vehicle beginning with our renewal next month. Then when the new email came through, it began the next day. So no inspection until the day Hunter was to leave.  Christian Brothers failed it due to a power steering leak, so he brought it back to GoodYear and passed. We’re waiting on one paper from Massachusetts, and that vehicle will be registered in Texas as well, and will be the vehicle available for you boys in Utah to use. Hunter’s worked hard getting both vehicles up and running, and we’re all blessed for his efforts. Having Cooper be able to drive the van to seminary will allow your father two less hours on the road each morning.

Hunter also spent a day going through his belongings and loading most of them in the van, along with a few goodies for Tanner’s and Uncle Zach’s family.

Hunter leaving makes my heart heavy. It should feel lighter, like my house but it's not. I cried all the way home after watching him drive away. He called me all afternoon and evening  feeling the same loss as I. It's been a glorious summer having him home, a luxury I never had with Tanner. I love you boys, and am so humbled to be your mother.
The Bible Dictionary defines “angels” as messengers of the Lord, and are spoken of in the epistle to the Hebrews as “ministering spirits” (Heb. 1:14). We learn from latter-day revelation that there are two classes of heavenly beings who minister for the Lord: those who are spirits and those who have bodies of flesh and bone. You are definitely of the flesh and bone class, ministering to those who do not have the gospel of Jesus Christ. As asked in Hebrews, “Are [we] not all ministering [angels]?” ( 1:14) May you continue your good works this week, ministering to those in need.

Love,

Mom