Good morning! Your letters take away the Monday morning sting often experienced as the new work week begins.
Breyer is a delightful lady. Her topic of conversation this week is her love of science. It’s her favorite subject. “I can hardly wait to go to school. Our teacher said today is the day we’re discussing matter and reaction.” Heady subjects for sure, for a second grader, but nonetheless, words that excite her enough to be an eager pupil. She confessed last week science was her favorite subject because that’s when they would get to talk about animals.
Miller has spent the second half of the summer, up to the present, reading all the books in the Harry Potter series. He is pages away from finishing the last book. And, he has been faithful in returning to school to take the AR tests for points. He leads his class handily. This is the year he’s working hard to lead not just his class, but hopefully his school, as the end-of-the year prizes are grand. He’s tired of the rain cancelling practices and games – going on two weeks-worth.
Miller and Sawyer repurposed my kitchen table to a ping pong table, and have played for hours. The things that get thought up when there's rain in Texas.
Sawyer has had two classmates in unfortunate incidents this week. One’s father, a Fort Worth undercover officer, was shot while trying to apprehend armed robbery suspects. Another, with her mother, was killed in a house fire. His golf was cancelled, and he opted not to participate in the 3-on-3 tournament this weekend because of the cost. We might have encouraged him otherwise, but were unaware of the event.
Cooper lost both his matches this week in tennis. He got invited to a paint ball party, and came home with multiple round bruises and a big smile. He’s taken over Hunter’s summer weed whipping job, and because of all the rain and sunshine, made headway into the now jungle-like growth. He’s finished two of the six modules for his written pilot license exam. And, instead of going with your father last night to the last Ranger’s game, chose to go to the stake dance. We're still waiting to see what Cooper scored on the ACT exam.
I fell asleep before everyone came home from their activities, with Breyer curled in my side. We had a nice girls evening, including painting toe and fingernails, making cinnamon rolls, cleaning bathrooms and folding wash, and watching – wait for it – Wild Kratts. She’s almost finished level 2 in her gymnastics class, and is so excited to move up and on.
Your father turned in his portfolio packet last Monday morning, the binder Monday afternoon, and can wipe his hands of it until April. That’s when he finds out the recommendation of the tenure committee. He’s in catch up mode a bit, but did find time to go fishing yesterday, as well as the Ranger’s game.
I was reading Small and Simple Things by President Dallin H. Oaks. He spoke on how over time the effect of our small decisions can be incredibly powerful, good or bad. “Consider the scripture study we’ve been taught to incorporate into our daily lives. Or consider the personal prayers and the kneeling family prayers that are regular practices for faithful Latter-day Saints. Consider attendance at seminary for youth or institute classes for young adults. Though each of these practices may seem to be small and simple, over time they result in powerful spiritual uplift and growth. This occurs because each of these small and simple things invites the companionship of the Holy Ghost, the Testifier who enlightens us and guides us into truth.”
President Oaks quotes President Steven C. Wheelwright, who gave an audience at Brigham Young University–Hawaii this inspired description of Alma’s teaching: “Alma confirms for his son that indeed the pattern the Lord follows when we exercise faith in Him and follow His counsel in small and simple things is that He blesses us with small, daily miracles and over time, with marvelous works.”
Many years ago, President M. Russell Ballard described to a general conference audience “how small and simple things can be negative and destructive to a person’s salvation.” He taught: “Like weak fibers that form a yarn, then a strand, and finally a rope, these small things combined together can become too strong to be broken. We must ever be aware of the power that the small and simple things can have in building spirituality,” he said. “At the same time, we must be aware that Satan will use small and simple things to lead us into despair and misery.”
Your missionary life is full of small and simple things, things asked of you to show obedience, things you do to be a better companion. May you, this week, especially notice your daily miracles and marvelous works.
Love,
Mom
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