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