With All My Love

 Dear Elder Schenewark,

What a day! Usually I start out with what a week. But today, it's what a day. It was our stake conference, which began with an 8 o'clock youth meeting. Sawyer's friend Rylan wanted to come, and was willing to get up at 5:30 a.m. to get ready and drive to our house. We left at 7:15 a.m. The presidency said they start at 8 because they youth keep showing up, showing their willingness to get up for the Lord. Sawyer's friend, after sitting through their questions and answers showcase, questions retrieved from the youth the night before, and then the main session from 10-12, definitely showed her willingness to get up for the Lord. Or Sawyer. She told me today when she left how much she loves our church. She's adorable. And one year younger.

One of the youth speakers talked about a man who woke up one day and found he only had three hairs left on his head. So he said, "I guess I'll braid my hair today." The next day the man woke up and found he only had two hairs left on his head. "Well, I guess I'll part my hair down the middle." The next day the man woke up he only had one hair left on his head. "Well, I guess I'll wear my hair in a pony tail." The next day the man woke up and had no hairs on his head. "Well, now I don't have to spend any time doing my hair. This is good."

It was one of those tender moments that of course had me in tears. Grampy is always hiding behind life's moments or thoughts waiting to say hello. It was a good hello. I do miss him so and am thankful I can still talk to my mom.

Our stake media specialist spoke on gratitude, something our prophet asked us to think about more. His talk made me think of our time in Springlake. We were winding down our stay there, and had some animals that needed to find some new homes, and some good friends we felt gratitude for for the quality of life they brought as our family learned to embrace the gospel. So during the week of Christmas, we visited cherished friends, sang them the Twelve Days of Christmas song, and concluded with, "And a turkey in the Christmas box," presenting them with a live turkey. To this day it makes me laugh thinking of their shocked, surprised, flabbergasted faces. It's not like we were living in New York City, but even rural folks can be surprised.

The Fort Worth Mission recently lost two missionaries in a rainy day head on collision near Denton. So their talks started tenderly. Stay safe! The mission president's wife talked about a visit from Elder Renlund and his wife. Whenever she's asked a question about the gospel, her answer is, "Well, the short version begins with a young boy going to a grove to speak to Heavenly Father in prayer to ask a question, just like you. For the longer version, see my husband." Elder Renlund said, "Always go back to the grove." Find your sacred grove and return often.

The mission president spoke of the church's new initiative, Love, Share, Invite, and proceeded to demonstrate those three words in American sign language. Sawyer's friend knew sign language and said he was spot on. 

The big news of Granbury is that the popular series Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner, has a prequel being filmed downtown, starring Sam Elliott. They've cornered the Farina restaurant, renamed it Calhoun's, and will begin filming a portion Tuesday. They're also bringing in dirt to the stockyard to cover up the sidewalks, and removing all the telephone poles, and filming for three weeks.

Sawyer's basketball team played in the Aledo shootout Saturday - three games - last one - against Lipan - was the only one I could make it to coming directly from work. They're a 1A school, but state champions, and played awesome. It was a great game. They could learn a lot from those boys who have been drilled in fundamentals. Sawyer scored about half of their points. He attended the away football game the night before, and was caught by the photographer. That's the photograph on Facebook.

Tanner and family arrived in New York city and are thriving - even without their belongings. Although they've had to spend a chunk of money for things - because their belongings haven't been delivered - they're happy, they love their ward, have already been invited into the homes of others, have been out and about the city, and feel blessed in their decisions they've made over the last year.

Hunter and Jules have been out of touch this week. Porter headed over there to lunch on Facetime, and when he arrived there I could see a huge pile of boxes. So I know they've been busy unpacking and making it a home. Hopefully Hunter has let Jules handle most of that and buckled down in law school.

That wraps up the week - that I can remember.

Love you Cooper!

Mom

Missionary Moment

 

Missionary Moment

So 6 weeks until I'm halfway done. Its hard to believe I've only been out 4 weeks and never, not once, missed an email. I've left the city and moved to Monterey county AKA wine country. I wake up to the smell of manure in the mornings and stare at the endless fields of grapes and lettuce and broccoli. I was with my MTC companion for 4 weeks and then got a third companion and two more areas for two weeks. Our area is the size of other peoples zones. (zones usually have like 20 missionaries and 5-10 areas). Our poor car has been putting in the work. The best part of leaving the city is that we get to enjoy the people a lot more. One week in to this transfer, we had a man come limp running down the street towards us. I, having been in the city for 8 months, knew what this meant. This man had to be on drugs and was coming to chase us off because we were monsters in his lost mind. Something similar happened about once a week in San Jose. But I said, why not go talk to him anyways. So I unlocked the door to the car parked across the street and told Elder Johnson to run to it if he was in fact crazy. But he wasn't. I was shocked haha. Turns out Louis had suffered a terrible car accident and is slowly recovering motor functions to one of his legs and he was way cooler than we expected. Anyways, just a cool story. Other than that, I've just been grinding down here in Greenfield. Enjoy some pictures of Monterrey and Point Lobos, a park nearish to us.

Elder Schenewark

The winniest of poohs

San Jose Mission

Cheer Chaser

 Granbury vs Paschal

With All My Love

Dear Elder Schenewark,

I'm sitting at work doing the rat dance. Such fond memories from Ohio brought to the forefront because of a rat trap that closed - loudly - above my head. My toes are struggling to stay on the foot pedal. My fingers keep jumping off of the keyboard. And my voice is quivering worse than dealing with an in progress call. At least the maintenance man came out - 90 minutes too late - and found it. Still alive. Putting in the request for hazard pay, and thankful to be moving shortly to a new facility.

The first day of school was actually on a Tuesday this year, and I was home. The senior snuck out of the house before I was finished with Miss B's drop off, the middle school man quietly went about his business in his new blue with bananas shorts, and Miss B got up early to curl her hair. It's interesting to note all three of your siblings are in the last year of the school they're in. Three seniors, in essence as they'll all be graduating from their respective school. Miller ended the day at football practice, eagerly awaited by the coaching staff as they've slotted him in as quarterback. Sawyer started his day at basketball practice, and already the coach has them playing full basketball games. Sawyer thinks he's excited for the season. Breyer is participating in volleyball and gymnastics this season. Her summer season ended Saturday with an all morning tournament. Your father's school season began Thursday.

Due to Nora, Ingrid then Tanner contracting Covid it wasn't a surprise when we came home with Utah with sniffles. Miller seemed to have had the worst case, due to his cough, but not enough to slow him down. I had a few sneezes and a bad headache for one day, and grumpiness. Sawyer had his usual knee pain and didn't feel good for a day or two, including headache. But your father has come down with a more severe version of the variant. Definitely sticky, deep cough and lots of head congestion and sinus blockage. He's on the mend, staying home from work Friday, and church today. 

Porter got his LSAT score, barreling in with a 173. He's been invited by the law school dean to a fancy dinner Tuesday, to which he is bringing a date, and plans on dropping his score there at some point Not quite sure how he landed the invitation though. He finished up summer school, and is wrapping up his job in financial aid. He'll be switching to a tutor for an econ professor in the fall as he finishes up his senior year.

While we were at Hunter's reception, the lawyer Hunter worked for this summer, and who treated him rather unfairly in regards to pay, came with his wife. I thought they were lovely, and was happy to brag about all my boys, including you. Boss man was touched by Hunter as before he left, he contacted all other BYU internships and had them write a tribute about the lawyer, and presented it to him. He and his wife were so touched. Such a lovely thing to do for someone who might not be your favorite person, and a wonderful Mom moment. He too offered Porter a job, even before he begins law school. Sawyer got a 32 on his ACT and has scheduled one more exam this fall. Sawyer thinks he wants to go on a mission first, and then come home to go to Texas A&M, or BYU. We're all anxiously engaged in promoting the Y.

Hunter and Julie are back from Portland. They said the social issues are worse there and changed their plans to spend more time along the coast enjoying the beach and waterfalls. They're actually spending today moving into their new apartment, in the basement of Julie's brother. My wedding present is a mattress, as was Tanner's, so since they're home I'll get it in the mail. My hope is that your brothers can get together this week, before Tanner leaves Wednesday for New York, one more time.

Your father spent much of yesterday typing a portion of a letter... so fun to share this with you:

Dear Family,

School has started for myself and for your brothers and sister. Breyer began the last year of elementary school (5th grade), Miller the last year of middle school (8th grade), and Sawyer the last year of high school (12th grade).

We made it home from the trips to Massachusetts, Utah, Idaho, and California. When we left to go to Utah, I thought to myself that “this is the last time I am driving.” I have made the trip a number of times and I miss having your mother around. Yet by the time we made it back home (15 days later), I was glad we drove. Taking into having traveled to Massachusetts, in July, we traveled from Boston and the Atlantic Ocean to San Diego and Pacific Ocean. 

At first driving is very tiring, especially over some of the routes. Living in Texas, the start of the journey seems longer because it can take awhile to get out of the state and feel like you are making progress. Going towards Utah, I look forward to the first stop in Post for the Jackson Brothers beef jerky. We drive through Lubbock and onto Muleshoe, Clovis, and Fort Sumner. 

These towns bring back such memories of when we were living in Portales, of being together as a family, of following dreams and making sacrifices. It is a wide open and sparsely settled land. I appreciate the sacrifices made by your mother, when we lived out there. I also appreciate and remember well the sacrifice your Grandfather and Grandmother made to visit us when he attended a conference in San Diego and made a “surprise” visit. It was a surprise, but I remember thinking that “I would not be surprised” if they stopped and they did, yet it was still a surprise. Virtually the first words from your grandfather was that “You live (in Portales) out in the middle of nowhere.” In the end it is good to feel such love that family would travel to the middle of nowhere.

I do enjoy and am amazed at the changing landscape that I see when driving across the country. I also enjoy seeing the various people and communities. I do try to think about their lives, how did they get there, (sometimes) why do they stay, when did their families first arrive in that area, etc.. I am also saddened at the poverty that I see in so much of the land, which is often accompanied by substance abuse. I think about if theyhave  hopes and dreams, especially for their children. 

I think that there are three potential influences in peoples lives that can make a great difference, wherever they live in the United States. First is accepting and living the Restored Gospel. Truly if an individual will strive to live the gospel and incorporate it into their life they will have a productive and meaningful life (which is not contingent upon wealth). The second great influence is a good education. A good education that is embraced and not just suffered through impacts individuals and their families. However, it seems that getting a high-quality education is becoming more difficult for a number of reasons. This is very sad.  It is also possible to get a high-quality education without attending a university or college and individuals need to keep learning throughout life, though they should be grounded in a classical education. The third great influence is serving in the military. Serving in the military can change  the trajectory of individuals lives, if they take full advantage of what had been offered in the military. However, much like education, the military has changed and concepts of right/wrong and good/evil are not being taught and emphasized as in the past.

Dad

We love you! I hope your week is wonderful. That your threesome is over three cities is exciting! Enjoy the work! Would love to hear about your meetings with Elder Nash.

Love,

Mom

California Fires

 

Best Friends Forever

 

Hutchins Earns Posthumous Grand Marshal Nod

 NORTHBOROUGH — Dawn Rand was 19 when she began her career in local government. 

She took a civics course while she was in Algonquin Regional High School. As part of the class, the teacher had the students attend Town Meeting. 

Rand loved it — the atmosphere, how decisions were made, and the interchanges between the Town Meeting Members. 

There’s two sides to every story on how people view things, she explained. 

“It was always interesting to try to see both sides, and then to try to make your own decision from what you were hearing from other people,” Rand said in a recent interview.

Now, after spending 50 years in local government, Rand, who runs Dawn’s School of Dance, is being honored as the Applefest Grand Marshal. Former Police Chief Kenneth Hutchins will serve as honorary Grand Marshal. 

“It’s quite an honor,” she said. “There’s so many deserving people.”

Rand continues decades-long career in town government

Rand was elected and served as a selectmen until 2020. 

Rand had nominated Hutchins, who passed away in July, to be Grand Marshal. 

She had many interactions with Hutchins, sometimes talking with him and former Northborough Fire Department Chief Brian Duggan about issues in town over lunch.

“We had a great relationship,” Rand said. “We didn’t always agree, especially when it came to budgets. But Ken respected my view as well as I respected his.” 

Hutchins’ son, Aaron Hutchins, had started a campaign for his father to be Grand Marshal in the spring. He knew his father’s health was failing and hoped he would make it to the festival.

When he passed away, Applefest fell off Hutchins’ radar until he was contacted by Applefest Committee Chair Michelle Gillespie. 

The news made him happy, but also sad because he wasn’t around to appreciate it. 

“One of the things that my dad really loved was interacting with people, and I know that he would have just been over the moon to interact with people at the events and festivities,” Hutchins said. 

Applefest is scheduled to take place from Sept. 17 to 19. 

With All My Love

August 9th - 

Dear Elder Schenewark,

This was a wonderful week to put in the record books - due to the wedding of Hunter and Julie. Dad and the kids left Thursday morning, getting there Friday afternoon to watch Porter play in a doubles volleyball tournament. I flew out after a half day at work Saturday, arriving in time to shop for some food, go to the open house in SLC, visit Ben and Rich and families at Ben's house, go to the store for refrigerated items, drop off food at Tanner's house, pick up kids, and go to the hotel. It was a busy night.

The open house was lovely. Simple decorations, simple food, lovely people that didn't want to make the drive down to Payson. Think Sis. Parrish times thirty or so. Cute elderly folks that loved Julie and her family, that had watched her grow up, taught her in some capacity, served with her father. It was a ward reunion of sorts.

Sunday Jarrod and I attended church in Tanner's ward. At first I thought we were in the wrong ward, as Tanner and gang were in the foyer when they first arrived. We checked out of the hotel and after making a few sandwiches, drove up to Rexburg, Idaho. I had arranged for a large house rental through AirBnB. It was a beautiful piece of property on a private lake. There were plenty of beds, a pool table Miller loved, kayaks, paddle boards, ping pong, a hot tub, lots of games, food and fun. 

Monday we drove to Jackson Hole, WY, about 90 minutes away, and at a ski resort went down the alpine slide. We were the last customers of the day as there was a lightening threat. We found a yummy pizza place in town before we drove back. Sarah Whitcomb doesn't live too far away so she spent a lot of time with us while we were there. Julie also had her sister Rachel come, The Bachs met us there, after their quick trip to Montana. They've moved to California, and have a lot of boxes to unpack. 

Tuesday everyone else drove up to Yellowstone National Park, but Miller and I stayed behind to play the frisbee golf course. We also enjoyed the Best Corn Dogs in the World food truck, sitting by the lake, playing a frisbee golf course in Idaho Falls with Riley, Sarah's husband, and then going to a yummy hamburger joint. For dessert we also found a new business that sells homemade fried pies, so I bought about 16 and brought them home to share, with those that arrived back from traveling about 9 p.m.

August 16th - 

And obviously that letter did not get finished. I think I was too tired.  Recuperating from wedding festivities 'fer sure! It's a lot of work to create a wedding. I had nothing to do with the open house mentioned above, but when we returned Wednesday we began preparing food for the wedding luncheon and wedding reception. We did not have to do anything for the family dinner Friday evening - just drive north and partake. Breyer, your brothers and the Bachs were a tremendous help making boutonnieres, shredding pork, cutting peppers, building photo stands, building parking signs out of pallets. Julie did a tremendous job planning everything she needed, how to obtain mostly by borrowing, or buying on the down cheap. But it all was amazing. We are still waiting for the photographs from family members, so be patient, but you're in them all. We missed you. Your being there would have made the day complete.

The sealing, obviously the reason we gathered, was wonderful. President Hinckley's son, Richard, affectionately called Uncle Dick, was the sealer. He was also present for the family dinner Friday evening. His daughter and son-in-law had lived in Boston, and Grampy had called him as Bishop of an inner city ward (Soullier). He knew of your grandfather, got on his phone with his son-in-law, and texted back and forth for a minute. He read this to me off his phone, "He officially went by 'Hutch' and did call me as a Bishop. He is the best missionary I've ever known in the Church, including Clay Christensen. Ken Hutchins is the GOAT missionary. I love him dearly!"  Such a tender mercy to hear this thought about my father from a Hinckley. When I asked him if he would send me the text, he did. So now I have Dick Hinckley's number in my cell phone.

At the sealing he mentioned this connection to our family, and then recounted a moment when President Hinckley, at his last sealing at 97 years of age stood, and said, "I have now sealed each of my five children, and 23 of my grandchildren, and this, in my opinion, is the finest thing I have done." Consider sitting in a sealing, and feeling the significance of those words coming from a prophet and all his accomplishments while serving for 13 years.

I flew in Sunday evening, the rest of the family arrived Wednesday afternoon. Sawyer jumped back into the leather working business, Miller started chucking his frisbees, Breyer groomed the dog, Dad prepared school work. Life back to normal. 

Your brother's honeymoon to Ireland didn't work out due to covid complications regarding multiple tests and associated costs. They left San Francisco after three days, hunkered down in SLC for a few, and are now on their way to Portland since neither of them had been in the northwest.

Sawyer had a girl friend come to church today. She asked to come. She said sometimes her parents go to Stonewater, but mostly they don't. Between Dad sitting on the stand as Bishop, me on the organ during singing, Sawyer and Miller preparing the sacrament, we were concerned she'd be sitting in the stands all alone. But it worked out just fine, and she thoroughly enjoyed the meeting - the music was more appealing than the rock songs she usually has, and she enjoyed listening to the speaker, versus a professional speaker. She said she'd be back.

That's a wrap up, in addition to the other letters you're receiving, hopefully all the holes have been filled in. Know of our love for you. 

Love,

Mom

Summer Sweets

 Preslyn Gammons