With All My Love

Dearest Children,

I love you! Today we celebrate the birthday of my fifth son, Sawyer. I cannot believe he's 17! Being in 10th grade is mostly why, but also I don't want another child to leave the nest. I'm grateful for your continued efforts to stay in touch through your phone calls. Know your efforts are like a balm to an open wound.

Speaking of wounds, I received a few while traversing through the compass course at DFW airport.I did not pass this portion of the test - again. I don't feel bad, or discouraged. Most people train for two years before taking the national exam. I've been inside the maze three times, and missed by one leg. Point M is a wall of briers, thorns, vines that have me tripping, falling, unhooking, hence the new wounds. I was thinking as I was working my way through difficult terrain, trying to stay on a specific course, say 111 degrees, that just a one degree variance can alter the outcome at the end of the journey in a significant manner. So too can our hold on the iron rod affect our journey through life. Are we gripping tight, or reaching for help when we stumble? Do we step away just to peek, or keep our vision sure and strong on the narrow path.

I'm also grateful for your efforts to reach out to your grandparents. I know they appreciate your efforts, and are so proud of the lives you're all leading. (Hunter, they do need some help with unfinished projects while we're there.) I will be visiting them Easter weekend, per my mother's wish to have her children gather near Grampy's birthday.

Miller got to play in one more prime basketball tournament. He is the backbone of the team, and when he's not there they usually don't win. Miller had committed to a scout camp out, including shooting with pellet guns, and was welcomed back when he was able to make it to the game.

Sawyer has baseball practice even though it is spring break, and will end this week with a tournament. He participated in track practice on Monday, and after not having pole vaulted for two years, came in a foot higher than his previous record, and higher than anyone on the track team. They're excited to have him join, after he checked with the baseball coach about his intentions to participate when he could.

Breyer was a big help to me this week as we tackled spring cleaning at the speed of two days off. Wagner was sick three days in a row, so I had all the carpets cleaned. We took all the wash down to the laundry mat, as I had decided to wash all the sleeping bags. She put in the quarters, fed the $20 into the machine to get the quarters, loaded washers and dryers, and helped fold clean clothes. We were parched when we were finished. We also took advantage of their car vacuum center and car wash. She and I were pros at handing the hose back and forth, and taking turn with brushes, sprayers, and pushing the buttons. So much easier when you have help! Except expect to get wet! In exchange for all her hard work, she came home and found a neighborhood friend asking to take her on the safari ride in Glen Rose.

Dad is still making good waves at Tarleton, and becoming more brave in letting his ideas be known as his ideas. Even down to handling the corona virus. Everyone comes to him for assistance, and runs with his wisdom, offering no credit in return. We enjoyed a wonderful stake conference together. Saturday night session is the best kept secret in the church. Even though I played the organ Sunday morning, met Elder Ringwood, well acquainted with Uncle Rich and in his stake when he was stake president and having heart procedures - sitting with Jarrod - and telling him he's my sacred place - was the highlight of my weekend.

Love,

Mom