With All My Love

April 19, 2022

Sunday was Easter. Happy Easter! We love you! 

Monday Miller had a spring league basketball game. Sawyer was going to go and help his former teammates coach the team, but had too much math homework and some leather. So Dad and I drove him up to Brewer. There were 12 boys, that were rotated fairly consistently, in the two games. They lost by a couple of points the first game against an Arlington team, and handily won against Brock in the second game. What makes these games letter worthy was the transition from when Miller first arrived to when he left. Plus his cheering squad. Since there was no school as part of the Easter long weekend break, he spent the day in DeCordova with a few friends playing basketball and volleyball. He got home right before he was to leave and hadn't anything to eat since his French toast breakfast. His friends decided they were going to go to his game. Very sweet, Three 8th graders he played with on his basketball team loudly cheered when he got into the game. Then they went out to CiCi's Pizza in Benbrook on the way home. 

During warm ups of the second game Miller dunked the ball. I missed the whole thing, but his teammates saw it. He went from sitting two rows back from the other 11 players to them asking him - during the game - to do it in the game. He tried only because they were so far ahead of the other team in points - but he missed. Again, the asked him to do it again - this time giving him a backboard shot - but it wasn't angled properly. Anyway, it was a nice transition for me to see, as him being in 8th grade, and being asked to play, is so awkward for all involved.

Sawyer has gone to a few services at Stonewater Church with his friend Ryland and when he comes home we've had a few discussions about the sermons. He enjoys them for the most part. Well thought out, well delivered, with a good message. I found one on the internet of similar value that I thought I'd share with you. Obviously our Bishop thought it was also a good message, as he shared it in sacrament meeting: 

“He received 39 stripes because 40 was known to kill a man. They wanted him alive. They held handfuls of his beard, and hair and pulled it out by the roots. They wanted him alive. They kicked, punched, and spit on him for hours. Until there wasn't a single spot on his body not covered in blood. They wanted him alive. They shoved a crown of thorns down on his head so harshly it stuck in his skin. They wanted him alive. After hours of being beaten, mocked, whipped, flogged, and tortured they made him walk with a cross. They made him carry it. A rough piece of wood with splinters digging into fresh wounds. They wanted him alive. They wanted him to feel every ounce of pain they could bring. He had to feel it in order to heal us. Crucifixion was historically one of the cruelest most tortured deaths a human could face. Hours upon hours of torture. Torture most of us can not mentally think of because the cruelty isn't normal. It isn't something our minds can comprehend. We celebrate Easter with pastel colors, happy children hunting eggs, and chocolate. Truth is there was absolutely nothing happy about the day Jesus died. It was cruel, bloody, and nasty. He could have stopped all of it. He could have called every angel in heaven to demolish every person standing and shouting "Crucify Him!" He didn't. He knew in order to have a Sunday you have to have a Friday. He knew in order to have joy you have to carry your cross. He felt everything that day. He knew he had to carry the cross. He never promised the cross you carry in this life would not be heavy. His wasn't. His promise is that Sunday is coming. No matter how heavy Friday is. Financially, emotionally, mentally, or physically. Friday is heavy. That cross is weighing you down and you are about to crumble under its weight. His promise was simply this. He won't make you carry it alone. What kind of king would step down from his throne for this? Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God did. For you. He did every bit of it for you and me. Oh yes it is heavy. So heavy sometimes you do not think you can take one more step. But look up, because Sunday is coming.”

April 26, 2022

Well obviously I didn't get that letter off. It's been a busy week. I flew out Wednesday night after work to Utah for Porter's graduation. I shared with you that Bro. Duncan found me in the airport. He also saved a good seat for me on the plane, and told me he'd give me a ride to the hotel - so I cancelled Porter. I was good to catch up with them, hear about Noah, and Emily's new baby. They're wondering if the heart issues are caused by the Covid vaccine.

They dropped me off at the hotel where Porter had waited up to see me - I was checked in by 1:00 a.m. - in bed by 1:30 - up 22 hours straight. We met again for breakfast, with Hunter, Julie and the Bachs. We didn't have long to linger as the ceremony at the Marriott Center started at 10 a.m. All the speakers were great, and the music fantastic. Porter sat with us, instead of donning cap and gown and sitting with 6K other graduates he doesn't know. So no pictures that day. The Bachs took us to Tucanos Brazilian Grill. Good meat. Great salads. Better company. We parted ways for a bit, and Porter drove me to say hello to Uncle Ben, stopped by for a quick hug from Aunt Jenny, then Shannon, Violet and Derek; picked up some See's Chocolate to share and some garment tops for Dad, and then bought two new tires for Porter's car. I pulled out of my hotel reservation and stayed the night at Hunter and Julie's - with the intention of watching a movie - but instead had yummy popcorn and conversation.

Hunter, Julie and I snuck back into the hotel - using my key card - to enjoy another breakfast, before leaving for the Marriott Center convocation for Porter's college. We learned his is the largest of the university and accounts for twenty percent of the graduates. I think they read 1200 names. Economics probably won't stay there past this year, but we got a few pictures before the down pour, almost met Porter's mission president, whose son also graduated from the same economics department as Porter, and said hello to Lee and Heston Chipman.

We changed quickly, stopped by Home Depot to purchase Kevin and Trevor belatedly Derek wedding presents of all-purpose tool kits, surprised to be joined by Uncle Rich. and then headed to the airport. Porter treated me to a yummy vegetable pizza from Dominos - switching Mozzerella cheese to Provolone - YUM!

The flight home was miserable. Flight attendants had to remain in their seats - so no snacks or drinks - due to turbulence. We couldn't get out of the storm moving from state to state. The wind was extreme. I could feel the plane being bumped sideways. But obviously I'm home safe and well. Porter originally remained in SLC, working at the library grading papers, as he was asked to pick up your grandmother. She's in town for the two sealings and wedding receptions. But not getting in until after midnight made for a long day for Porter.

That's the scoop from Granbury - Uncle Aaron had some big scoops happening this weekend with his call into the stake presidency. Good stuff. He called us Sunday evening. 

We love you. We're glad you're safe from the rattlesnake.

Love,

Mom