We hope your week was wonderful. We love you. We pray for you. We speak of you. Your name is held with love. Because I love you I’m going to ask that my Porter writes the letters to me.
Sometimes I feel like I’m reading gangsta’ P dude, or all your other flavors of the week. Give me sweet Porter. That’s who I miss. Your love for me was tangible and I’m in withdrawals.
I have spent every night this week playing games. I love it. The smile on my face won't quit. Admittedly I won a surprise match of Settlers, with Breyer, but the Phase 10 (really 5) was a blow out. And winning isn't the reason for my smile. I love my kids. The boys are very funny together, enjoy each other immensely, and bring joy into my life. I am a lucky mother.
One evening I asked Sawyer to sweep the floors and wipe the counters, and Cooper to wash four pans, so I could get in the shower. Cooper said, "Who's going to pull the plug?" I said, "You are. When you're finished." As I was walking away, I heard him mumble, "This is worse than any CIA torture." He's so funny!
Cooper and I finished the weekend out by working on the fire pit. Mostly Cooper. I’m just there for moral support and physical assistance. I moved the unused brick behind the dollhouse to stack. All the benches are finished. We purchased the remaining wood needed for the bench tops, which was cut by hand by Cooper and Sawyer. I’m sure Cooper will be working on them throughout the week. We also purchased stain for the wood, and screws to put the benches together. It’s been a good summer project, but I want it finished before the summer ends. I told Cooper I’d work on getting the grass around the fire pit back in shape. Last, I’ll need to purchase a piece of flat brick or so that will be tapped into triangular pieces to finish of the top ledge.
Watching Cooper work is a piece of art. He’s so methodical in how he approaches his creations. He spends a good amount of time researching. He moves on to sketching, which by themselves are works of art. He then makes a three dimensional visual, the fire pit was done in foam, even the rock pieces on the ground. How else would I feel comfortable in purchasing hundreds of dollars’ worth of supplies? He gained a few new tools for his collection, most notably a rubber mallet and metal hammer with a pick, which he uses to tap bricks firmly into place, or to shape them. When his material didn’t live up to his standards, it was discarded. I watched him pick out the 2x4 boards for the benches, wondering why some were set a side. He told me there were too many knots, or too large of a knot, or damage to the board from cutting, etc. Bricks were also set aside for other reasons known only to him, but as his vision would change, a brick discarded was once again used for his purposes. His physical lay- out included measuring, string placed on spikes, marks with spray paint. It’s been a joy to watch him work up close. He finished last night’s labor needing one brick for the final bench top piece, and was eyeing a few edging the garden Hunter worked on this summer. We still might borrow a piece or two, but we left the piece that cracked at the last moment on the bench for now as it was getting dark.
Speaking of Hunter’s garden, it lost momentum while we were in Boston. There were no showers turned on or dishes washed, so the sprinklers remained off. Besides no watering, the plants were nibbled upon, probably by deer that visit the subdivision at night. But it was a good beginning.
Speaking of Hunter, we’re waiting to hear how his weekend date with Lydia went. It can be tough calling home when your younger brothers salivate over every detail regarding friends of the opposite sex. Tanner survived, so I suppose Hunter will be just fine. He moved out of Tanner’s very small apartment, into his complex, paying just a bit to stay there until his contract began and his apartment opens. He’s actively looking for work, and resuming his presidential duties.
Cooper spent a long, hot week at tennis camp. The start time was moved from 10 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., with try outs beginning this week at an even earlier hour of 7 a.m. The Texas heat is too much, even in the morning.
Sawyer still works every day on his basketball prowess, and began thinking of golf and his upcoming try outs. I took them to the driving range and putting green yesterday morning, and then back to the golf course for a round of golf after lunch. They only played nine holes, but on each drive they would hit two balls and play the best ball. Dad also took them to the driving range, and I think he walked one time.
Miller is working on baseball try outs, his new proclaimed favorite sport, and throws with Sawyer in the evenings. They are a joy to watch, as there is joy in their time together. I wonder if someone who doesn’t know them would be able to see their joy as a mother does. I know our beloved neighbor Larry grew to see the joy as I did. How else would he endure us putting so many holes in his siding!
Breyer spent yesterday shopping. How fun to go to the store with her. Your brothers were there as well, but I can leave them alone for bits of time. Miller needed some socks. Sawyer needed a pair of golf shorts, and we found a teal and a purple pair just for fun. Cooper found a fun shirt with dogs all over, as well as the same golf shorts to use for tennis. Breyer came home with her white tennis shoes. Miller asked why she always has to have white tennis shoes, and I told him because Breyer likes to wear dresses and skirts to school, and needs white to look nice. He rolled his eyes. We found her a cute pair of baggy overalls, one dress, and a shirt/short ensemble. Happy back to school shopping. We’re still not saying the “S” word, as it makes Miller shiver, but we are taking baby steps to get ready.
I turned in the YMCA cancellation notice. I might try it a month in December, but definitely next summer.
We didn’t progress any farther with the cars this week, but have a plan of attack to get Cooper a driver’s license. We’ll be finishing up the necessary paperwork to register the Sienna in Texas, as we received the last document in the mail from Massachusetts. We’ll also be registering the Ford van. All are insured, and Cooper will soon need to be added to the list. So many checks off the to do list, so little time.
I got the blinker bulb replaced in the 4 Runner. Check.
Since Dad had replaced the front door lock this year, I had four copies made so I won’t have to worry about them being locked outside. Dad’s very good at making sure the house is always secure. Check.
We have the Prius loaded with books and clothes for donation. More still yet to be loaded. Check.
Mail Porter's very belated, formerly returned, birthday boxes. Check. I'll be checking back within six weeks! Kevin also got a box. Check.
I was reading “Prepare to Meet God” by Elder Quentin L. Cook, from the last session of General Conference in April, and thought a few comments would be appropriate to share. He spoke of the three keys that were restored, “for the last days and for the last time,” in the Kirtland temple, simplified eloquently by him as “gathering Israel (missionary work), sealing them as families (temple work), and preparing the world for the Lord’s Second Coming and the Kingdom of God (Abrahamic covenant). Then, he quoted Eliza Snow who said, "Each heart was filled with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”
He spoke of how home and visiting teaching, now “ministering,” "as taught so eloquently in this session, will prepare Latter-day Saints to meet God."
Love,
Mom
Mom
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