With All My Love

Dear Elder Schenewark,

Good morning! It’s such a joy to write you letters each week, as I know we’ll be hearing from you shortly. It saddens me to tell you your second box came back this week. This one said unclaimed, versus the other two packages that came back as undeliverAble. 

The weather has taken a bit of a turn towards fall this week. We began with days in the 90’s and are ending with tomorrow in the 40’s. This will be a temporary swing, as mid 60’s to 70’s to 80’s is more the norm. But as a consequence, your sister and I prepared our seasonal hot cocoa station on the counter.

Halloween is approaching, and much debate has been had over prospective costumes. Cooper early on said he was going as the out-for-revenge Inigo Montoya, looking for the elusive six fingered man who killed his father. Much preparation and sweat was involved in forging THE sword, and he finished his masterpiece this week. He’s also been growing his mustache all summer, since he and his friend, whose costume will be the Dread Pirate Roberts, developed their plans.

The multi stake dance in Hurst was last night, and Cooper put on his costume for the first time. He did an excellent job. I was in bed when they returned so have yet to hear how he fared, but my jaw hit the floor when we compared Cooper to the movie version in The Princess Bride.

Cooper enrolled in an art class, as a credit filler class, and has thoroughly enjoyed drawing. We spoke with the teacher on parent night, and encouraged her to push him, as he’s always been talented in this area. She spoke of how disappointed she was that she gets him as a senior, but was thankful we were encouraging him to do extra. His three day assignments are usually completed in one day, so she’ll have him work on something else. We also encouraged her to have him enter local art contests. One of the Granbury festivals is this month, The Harvest Moon, sponsored by the local art contingency. They hosted an art contest, and Cooper found out this week he won second place. The picture is supposed to be framed, and wired, and dropped off by Thursday, but we’ll have to work with the art teacher and find out our part in this request. He won art supplies. And we’ll be stopping by the booth for sure next weekend.

Cooper also won his singles and doubles matches. He and his doubles partner scored three of the seven wins for his team, but it wasn't enough. The girls are having a tough team. He's looking forward to the spring season where he won't be playing team tennis.

Sawyer reminds me of you, socially. He loves to go to volleyball games, and football games. One of his good friends made the varsity football team, and others are on the freshmen team, so he goes to both. Cooper’s been joining him at home games Friday nights, wearing crazy tee shirts and ringing a cow bell. It’s fun to see them do high school activities together. He’s still practicing basketball, no golf last week though. He’s been admonished to get his Eagle Scout project papers filled out and quickly, as he’s running out of time to have the project ready for your brothers coming home to help in December.

Miller’s baseball season has been rainy. He had no games yesterday, and still has two or three weeks to make up. Dad ran into his old soccer coach, who wanted to know what Miller was doing. I’m sure Miller might be regretting his decision, as soccer games are usually not cancelled because of rain, but he hasn’t said as much yet. He did declare baseball as his favorite sport, hence fall ball. At school he’s determined to win the classroom, if not the grade, reading contest, collecting A/R points. He often has his nose in a book, which I love. His favorite books are about sports, although he did enjoy the Harry Potter series and the massive amounts of points from reading them. He still pushes Breyer to play chess with him, so she’ll represent the family at the annual second grade chess tournament. It is not her favorite game at all. And lest you think you won’t recognize Miller upon your return, know he still is slippery at avoiding chores and piano.

had her second grade play this week, based on a slumber party, pajamas and stuffed animal included. Unfortunately, she threw up 0130 hours the morning of, and I had to keep her home from school. Honestly, I should have just brought her in late, as she was fine the remainder of the day, but I do my part to not spread the love, knowing how much I enjoyed it spread all over by bathroom counter, floor and toilet. She was teary off and on throughout the day knowing she wasn’t going, but she held strong.

Breyer and I got to go to Chloe Count’s wedding shower yesterday. I just realized you may not know she’s engaged. She went on a blind double date with her roommate, who was dating his cousin. And he’s been up to A&M every weekend. He’s a returned missionary, a few years older, in the family dump truck business, an hour or so north of Houston. 

They’ll be married in December in the Houston temple, but there is no reception in Granbury. This was it. We had a ball. We dressed up together, did our nails and hair together, and walked up the hill together. We participated in games, ate yummy food, and loved every minute of our afternoon together. She was the hit of the party, of course. We had to write a note and put it in a bag, as our gifts didn’t arrive on time, but it made everyone laugh. I’m good with that.

Aunt Becky was called a few weeks ago about a baby boy needing a home. She expressed how her training has since lapsed, and how she has her hands full. The state worker was very sympathetic and understanding, but they do love her dearly. The baby was from a private adoption, involving an older single lady, and upon finding the baby had severe medical issues, chose to withdraw the adoption. The private agency came to the state for support in getting the baby placed. When Becky and Steve found out the baby’s name is Ben, and that he was born in April, as was their Ben, they were both touched, and have been going through the steps to bring him home. He’s five months old, and his name is Liam. You have a new nephew!

Your Aunt Kelly made Kevin a Halloween mummy, and his letter last week was funny with all the photos from his week-along. Sharing the love! Do you get his letters?

I’m working my way backwards through the General Conference talks, beginning with “Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints by President Russell M. Nelson. He said, “The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.” I consider our family one that already has tremendous power. We have been blessed with children that have embraced the gospel, its standards, and are willing to make sacrifices that have been asked of them. I almost yearn to have you all back again to grow and develop together under this new home centered program, but know your father and I did well. Of course we could have done better, and can continue to improve, but we both love the gospel, and knew then of its importance in the lives of our children. May you already have committed to this new home-centered program for your family to be, and begin with your companion in January.

Two other promises from President Nelson I loved were, “I leave my love and blessing upon you, that you may feast upon the word of the Lord and apply His teachings in your personal lives…I promise you that the Lord will bring the miracles He knows you need as you make sacrifices to serve and worship in His temples.”