With All My Love

Dear Elder Schenewark,

Good morning. We have a few smiles on our faces. We found your music video, on Facebook, as shared by your President. We found you. In the back row. Tall enough to see your smiling, singing face. Just what we needed to finish off the week.

We spent last week in the rain. A fall season in Texas usually generates four plus inches of rain. We’re close to thirty. Our back yard is mush. The roads are buckled and crumbling. The ceilings at work saturated, with the ceiling tiles bulging with water absorption, the air musty, and the trash cans strategically placed. The sun peeked out only for a few minutes yesterday, but at least the clouds generated no rain and the lake has remained in its borders unlike other lakes in the area.

Your Aunt Becky brought home Liam Friday evening, after spending all day at the hospital with discharge procedures. She’ll have her more than capable hands full with three special need children. They’re all ready to adopt him and are eligible in six months.

Cooper continues his stellar week from last we spoke, with an induction into the WIT program. Per Mr. Ochoa, he was highly recommended by the director of the CTA wing, as well as the Engineering Department. Ochoa still believes Cooper should be working harder in math class, as do I. 

Cooper was awarded his 2nd place prize of 72 colored pens at the Harvest Moon Festival. Sawyer and Dad cheered him on, as well as visited all the booths in the yearly art festival. Dad’s favorite booth was a man who made candles out of stones, and a trio of men that collaborated on knives. I was supposed to meet the family there, for the award ceremony, but was delayed to piano lessons. I now teach four young women at the Gammons house Saturday mornings, and was accompanied by Breyer and Miller.

Cooper posing with an old film projector

Cooper finished his final team tennis meet this week. Because of the rain, they had to secure the use of SMU’s indoor tennis facility, which wasn’t available until night, so he played at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening, and because the rain was on hold, return to a new Grapevine location for Wednesday morning’s completion. They won all their matches Tuesday evening, but against the returning state champions were not as successful. 

Sawyer found out this week the basketball coach has decided not to pull any freshmen up for the varsity squad. He was a bit disappointed, especially after knowing how successful he’s been. But having the pressure taken off of him is a relief. He had his basketball friend spend the night last night, after spending the afternoon at Pecan’s activity center. I’m hoping Nathan will go to church with Sawyer, but I’m not sure what the arrangements were.

Miller spent a whole week again, with no practice or games. He’s going nuts. He takes his excess energy out on Breyer. Whether they ride long boards together, or wrestle, or chase each other around the couch, she ultimately ends up hurt. Last night involved landing on her tooth while skate boarding on her belly, and getting a fat bleeding lip. A few days ago it was a finger jam, hard enough to put a black bruise around the inside of her middle knuckle. And she keeps going back for more.

The Elders Quorum had an activity last night they titled Guns, Grub and Knives. They had men specializing in each subject teach and present, demonstrate and answer questions. Miller was reluctant to go, but he's getting better about getting out of the house and socializing with his brothers. It would be very difficult for him to go if they weren't there. I think he and his brothers knew more about the knife man, because of Cooper's prowess in forging and creating, but they all enjoyed the event. Except the food. The food man backed out at the last minute, and grub it was: Dry whole-wheat-bread-with-too-much-fiber, bologna and processed cheese.

Breyer had a field trip to a Fort Worth theater that I was able to accompany her on. There was only one other mother that signed up to go so we had our hands full. She potty breaked the girls and I took the boys. The play was a court room drama involving the big bad wolf, and all his aggrieved subjects including the three little pigs, little Red Riding Hood, and Peter from Peter and the Wolf. The music was great, as were the costumes and actors. The message not so great as the audience was the jury, and voted to set him free. She does enjoy spending time with me, and the day was delightful. She also got me that night at her gymnastic practice. She’s one check mark away from moving up to the third level.

In reading Shepherding Souls by Elder Gary E. Stevenson, he said, “Because it is His Church, we as His servants will minister to the one, just as He did. We will minister in His name, with His power and authority, and with His loving-kindness.” He defined shepherd as any one. “From the moment we emerge from the waters of baptism, we are commissioned to this work. We reach out in love to others because it is what our Savior commanded us to do.”

Enjoy this time on your mission, unencumbered by the trials of daily life and responsibilities, to be able to minister full time. What a wonderful opportunity to serve a mission and devote oneself to serving full time.

The manuals for the new home program implemented in 2019 arrived on our doorstop. President Nelson’s quote - “As Latter-day Saints, we have become accustomed to thinking of ‘church’ as something that happens in our meetinghouses, supported by what happens at home. We need an adjustment to this pattern. It is time for a home-centered Church, supported by what takes place inside our branch, ward, and stake buildings” has me so excited for my children and their future families.

Be good. Write lots. Stay safe. Know of our love for you. Only nine months left!

Mom

Porter -

How goes it Porter? I was able to see your video with all the missionaries signing. your mam is trying to get Hunter or Tanner to translate.

Monday is a rough time to write. I have many stories and ideas throughout the week and then I sit here in the morning and forget/or am rushed to tell them.

Missionary news on the Homefront. Sawyer had a friend to come to church. He stayed the night and then came to church in the morning. I am not sure, but Sawyer thinks he may come next week.

My Sunday started off with me getting to church for Bishopric meeting early. I am usually late. but this Sunday I was early. However I forgot my church keys. The executive secretary showed up but he has no keys. we are waiting for someone else to show up and the the executive secretary is sweating bullets. He informs me that he has to go to the restroom. So i say "go behind a tree." But this was not a go behind a tree sort of deal, he had to go a number two.

He is a big man. SO I expect things would be big! This is not good especially with the ward truck or treat activity coming this Saturday. What he would leave could be found by a wondering child and that would be a foul trick.

Anyhow he is off to Racetrack gas station to do his business. And right when he drives out, the second counselor shows up. Next thing I know the secretary had made a u-turn. I quess all is well that ends well. But the Second Counselor informs me that he would have been at church earlier but he had to go a two and made a quick stop at his home. Thanks for that information. The key point is that there are these grown men laughing (I included becuase I made most of the commentary/jokes) laughing over this early morning incident which is funny, but it would be funny to a bunch of 8 year olds. Something just don't change.

Is your ward doing anything for Halloween? How is training going? Are you doing well?

miss you. be wise and careful.

Love you,

Dad