With All My Love

Dear Elder Schenewark,

Good morning! What a treat to talk to you on your father's birthday. Such a nice concession to families, allowing these extra phone calls during your service.

We are officially under the two week mark, and will now be counting at warp speed.

Miss B was going warp speed on a bike, coming down the hill on our street, and wobbled a bit and fell. She has a big scab underneath her nose, a big scrape on her hip bone, one on her elbow, one on her knee, as well as a couple of knuckles. She was well enough to enjoy a pool party with her activity day lady friends, but did not feel like going out into public for gymnastics or Y swims.

Your father and Miller spent the week at scout camp, leaving early last Monday morning at 3:30 am, thirty minutes before I get up. And I never heard them leave. He called me once, and sent a few photos, after he found the wi-fi spot at camp. They came home late Friday evening, and spent Saturday grumpy but happy. Miller said his favorite activity was archery. And he was good at it. He also enjoyed gaga ball and snow sports. He was very protective of the other boy that came from our ward, and was thoughtful enough to curtail his activities around the other boy's interests.

Jarrod and Sawyer journeyed to the temple yesterday with their names, and Sawyer being one of two young men that were there. Cooper was at work. Miller had a baseball game.

Miller's second tournament game was delayed by lightening, but he was able to finish it, and two up on the day. He pitched all of the first game, and most of the second, with a couple of solid single base hits.

I'm not sure which is the official engagement photograph, but they're both darling.

So happy Sara Jane has someone that absolutely adores her. 

Tanner is still thriving in his internship position. He brings home a few generic styled stories from the court cases he's involved with. While I was working the active shooter call in Dallas, on the Federal court house, his went into lock down mode in Fort Worth. He's not sure he wants to be involved with criminal work due to the heart wrenching cases that are handled there. Tanner did find out he made it onto the BYU Law Review. He did very well, especially for losing a day of the competitive write-on process to the time difference in Australia. He will have the opportunity to (don't quote me) write for the school's journal.

I hope his little family is happy here. We love having them here. As does Wagner. Even though AnneMarie is sweetly enduring through her allergies. Even though they live in a bedroom and borrow a house. It's theirs. Everything in the house is theirs. We just need family. AnneMarie and Nora visited the city beach and the Y pool.

One of my favorite neighborhood views! I love driving by the horse farm. This is probably the largest group of horses they've had.

Uncle Rich said his stake Relief Society President, traveling with an orchestra, saw you at the temple, and sent him a picture? I'm waiting to hear back on who this was, any input?


In Exercising Our Spiritual Muscles Elder Juan Pablo Villar states, "We could expend much mental effort reading and learning about our muscles, but if we think this will make them stronger, we will be very disappointed. Our muscles grow only when we use them. I have come to realize that spiritual gifts behave in the same way."

Your mission has been a perfect growing environment for you to develop, strengthen, make a habit your spiritual gifts. Reflect on how you will continue to do such as you return home.

Until we meet again, stay safe. Know of our love for you.

Mom

Search One Rescue Team

Today I learned about the Bois D'Arc tree - grows softball green hedge apples
that the squirrels love to open for their seeds.

The wood is valued for its flexibility in making a long bow.

Team Forest finished with human remain detection, and digging back up the sample.

Texas style poison ivy - big just like everything else
I spent the day mapping. Learning how to describe where I am in the middle of a dark, dank forest -
Without using all the amazing hiking APPS

Of interest to me was learning that one team member

is a veterinarian technician. The dogs will always be in good hands.

As well as the team member that worked at the medical examiner's office.

Questions about types of bones located in a search, and whether or not they're human is his specialty.

Boy Scout Camp 2019

Nora N'Updates

Letter #95

Well, there will be another no photo email, we're still waiting for the rest of the world to send them.

This week we were struck by the flu disease thing.
So we've been pretty much incapacitated for the most of the week.

We did get to go to the temple on Saturday to go thru with Pedro, the Padre from Itajubá, Minas Gerais.´Twas nice

A couple of times this week, when people asked where I am from. Then asked me if I am in the orchestra. Apparently the Boston Youth Philharmonic is in town (we actually met a couple at the temple).

And that's it for now.

Until next time,


Love,
Elder American Flight 906

With All My Love

Dear Elder Schenewark,

Good morning! Eighteen days and counting. I'm not. But every once in a while I stop to reconfigure. Oh my goodness! I just can't wait. We were singing all seven verses of How Firm A Foundation today. I was on the organ, and had asked Sis. Gammons what songs she would like me to play. That was one of her picks. The second verse had me in tears, which is not conducive to seeing music that you're trying to play. But these words touched my spirit, mother to missionary and back again.

In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—
As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

Thank you for your example and service. The Lord is indeed watching over his missionaries and their leaders during these perilous times.

Your father and Miller are headed to scout camp his week in Oklahoma, near the Arkansas border leaving o'dark o'clock tomorrow morning. The living room is cluttered with scout debris - cots, backpacks, tents, mosquito nets, swimming attire...but I can handle the mess. This is probably the last one for us. Jarrod has been scout camping it since before Tanner was born. He has spent 20 years summers serving the scouts during the summer. His employment has always made him the most easy leader to accompany the boys on their week long adventures and, along with six boys, was an obvious choice. I wish I could have captured a picture of Miller with his back pack on. I think it's bigger than him and most likely weighs more than him as well.

This week was Tarleton week at the semi pro baseball team in Cleburne,  The Railroaders. Most of the gang went for a game, leaving Breyer and I on Nora duty. I don't know who had more fun. Their game was in 100 degrees, no food or drink in the park except what you bought, and a very long game and late night. Breyer and I introduced Nora to gymnastics, enjoying her antics. She's a doll when it's bedtime, laying down with her binky and bear, and lights out.

We had her again on Friday when the gang went to the drive inn movie theater to see Toy Story IV, and the new Aladdin. I put her into bed at 9:30, not knowing it was that late. Oops!

We had a few air conditioning issues this week, and by Sunday needed an emergency call out. Because the units were less than a year old, it's on their dime. He found a  portion of the pipe not up to code, and spent a great deal of time fixing everything. Then we invited him to meatloaf and mashed potatoes. It was Dad's birthday dinner. And he got homemade vanilla pudding with bananas, graham cracker crumbs and whipped cream. He decided he'd be setting up his cot, and taking care of our A/C.

Tanner and AnneMarie hit the jack pot with Dad's present. They gave him a homemade boomerang from Australia, hand painted. It is awesome. I gave him a new blender for summer smoothies.

Work was exciting this past week with a shooting of a Federal court house in Dallas. It was my call. One of my units was the first to call it in, even though the suspect was firing his automatic rifle at a Federal building, and was being pursued by Federal employees. He was in the wrong place at the right time. I love my job!

I love you even more. I'm hoping time goes just a bit quickly these next two weeks.

Love,

Mom

Search One Rescue Team

Team Isaac, and handler Pat, gearing up for the search.

Today I learned how the sun causes the scent to rise, the wind causes the scent to move, and both together cause it to settle in trees and bushes, away from the original site.

Searching on hard surfaces is a lot harder than searching on organic material.

Chigger bites are SO annoying!

I've finished with my three visits, and am officially in training

Will begin training as flanker, the supporting unit for the handler.

The Three Musketeers

Matthew, Nathan and Sawyer

Tarleton State University Night at the Cleburne Railroaders

Cousins

Emily

Hannah with Aurora and Markus

Abbey and Riley

Nora N'Updates

 

Letter #94

Another dime another dollah

Lot's of service projects this week, everything from moves to clearing land

The temple trip got moved to this Saturday.

Had to attend a fireside about depression at the Stake, 90% of everyone fell asleep

And not much else, sorry Mom, but I'll see if I can call on Saturday.   

Love you,

Elder Domestic White Mouse

With All My Love

Good Morning, Elder Schenewark!

Less than four weeks and counting! Sorry. I am not trying to cause a panic, riot, or rush, but I am so excited.

Love,

Mom

Okay. Just joking. But truly that could be the gist of my letter. Aching to have my family all together. Hunter has spent a good portion of the week trying to get time off of work, from his brand new job of one week, as well as find corresponding airplane reservations.

And what a crazy few days it will be. Dad and I went to my orthopedic doctor together on Thursday, and scheduled the resulting surgery request for the 12th. We did it the day after you get home as he operates on Wednesdays and Fridays, and then I'll have the next week off on sick leave. Perfect.

Tuesday and Wednesday I met Ben and Joy for dinner in Dallas. They were in town for a convention Ben was attending for his job at church headquarters. Everything we ate was delicious, and I'd be happy to go back. But being with them was one of the highlights of my week.

Wednesday Miller and Sawyer golfed in a tournament courtesy of Hood County News and Granbury Country Club, both earning third place honors. Since then they've golfed nine holes and hit a few
buckets of balls.

Gammons bought a season pass to Six Flags, and was given six free tickets, to Thursday evening Dad, Cooper, AnneMarie, Breyer and Sawyer tagged along. They had a great time, all amazed at the rides your little sister was willing to get on. Sawyer and Dad frequented the log ride and a few others, but were content to stay on the ground.

Your siblings are loving AnneMarie and Nora in our house. They'd love Tanner except he's gone for so long every day. AnneMarie has made Miller and Breyer's summer so much better. When Dad isn't around she does lunch, and plays lots of games with them when Nora naps. AnneMarie goes on walks  and bike rides with Breyer and is so patient with our doggie demands.

Saturday I went to my second search and rescue training, at DFW airport. I always learn so much while I'm there. Your father also was away. He is considering volunteering for the Texas Guard, the units that replace the National Guard should they be called away, and a group that's cleared to assist the government in national disasters. He has a co worker at Tarleton that has been recruiting him for months. It's still under consideration. We both then went to Miller's all star games in White Settlement together. It was a hot four hours, and we weren't even in the sun or playing baseball. Miller pitched the first game, and went to third, first, and short to replace pitcher positions. He had a few good hits, but his team lost both games.

While I was giving a few haircuts last night Nora watched, absorbed all the boys' moans and groans, and started to cry for them. She'll be thinking I'm the bad guy for the next week :-(

I sent TannMarie out on a date when Nora went to bed. I did try to get them to leave before that, but they wanted the honors of reading her books and singing her songs. They went bowling at Pins, and hit Sonic.

Cooper turned in an application at Chick-Fil-A. He also turned 19. Very quietly. He requested carrot cake, and his present is held in reserve depending on what need he has before he leaves for college. His best friend took him rock climbing for his birthday.

Nora has her name for Dad. And is found in his bed in the mornings hanging out.

Miller gave his first talk today in church, on Father's Day. I'll see if I can get his script later. But in honor of Father's Day, think of your father, who loves you dearly. And with whom you will soon be reunited. He is the glue that binds us together as a family, literally and figurative. Elder Tom Perry said, "May we heed the voice of the prophets, who, from the beginning of time, have warned us about the importance of fathers in the home." We need no warning. We have one, now two, that are magnificent.

Love,

Mom

Search One Rescue Team

Human remains detection dog going to work

Deer paths are common through woods

But a four-way intersection?

Trailing hound on the scent!

thistle - Eeyore's food