4/24/18 - Family Letter to Emma

Hi Emma.

How have you been. A pantsing war? Really? Why?

Why not have a bible battle? where you have word war with scriptural quotes.

I love you lots. You are an inspiration to us all.

(P.S. I'd love A jersey. Although 10 Is popular, could I get a 72?)

Love, Hyrum

M,

Hyrum is funny.  I don't think he knows how soccer jerseys work.  Get him a 10. 

NBA Playoffs have started and the Jazz are doing well.  I miss having you watch these games with me.  So far, no one has taken interest.  We are still involved with the JRT temple dedication.  We had the outdoor concert last week.  They were expecting 17000 kids with leaders maybe 22000 total.  We had closer to 26-27000.  It was crazy.  Most of those kids did not understand what to do at a concert.  they had 12 food trucks for all those kids.  Many of the kids spent the whole concert standing in food lines.  Hyrum did.  Mom and I stayed after to help pick up trash and load the trucks with all the equipment.  It was a late night but fun.  I had no idea what the "roadies" went through after everyone else went home.  We have been doing our "Question of the Day" with the band and orchestra. This last week was better than most.  We have had a few questions we ask them to ask a stranger as a "get to know you".  This last week I thought I would tease them a bit.  I made a sign asking them to share their "Most Embarrassing Story".  With the Orchestra I asked them to share their story which they were hesitant to do.  It was then that I revealed the real question to share  their Dream Vacation.  They were relieved.  It was a little different for the band.  I revealed the Most Embarrassing Story question and gave an example.  I made up an example of "when you go to Maverick to get a drink and the machine spills water all down the front of you.  you turn around and see your crush walk through the door and you follow her through the Maverick explaining "It is not what you think".  It turns out ok because you end up marrying her.  Oh, that didn't happen to me, that happened to Eric(The leader of the band)."   The band leader then grabs the mic and shares a story he has about farting near his girlfriend and having it echo in the hall.  The girl eventually became his wife.  He wanted to help the kids get their stories going.  I then changed my sign to reveal the true question of the day.  I was dying.  I was laughing quite hard.  Your Mom has been asked to lead the full Orchestra/Band at the celebration.  She was planning on letting her High School band teacher do it.  She is excited and terrified at the request.  It is an honor.  She will do great. 

Mari finally had her birthday party.  Mom let her invite whoever she wanted and we had about 25 kids show.  it was a Girls Camp theme.  They roasted hotdogs, smores, and watched Once I Was a Beehive.  Mari handed out bandanas and toe socks.  During the movie they got attacked by some boys wearing masks and spraying silly string.  the girls were mad and convinced it was Jace.  They started grabbing rocks to throw at the Chandlers house.  We calmed them down and gave them toilet paper and leftover wrapping paper.  They started ripping off squares of TP and throwing them on the grass.  I had to teach them how to TP.  Once we got back they were still wanting blood when the boys came back with water balloons.  It was all very exciting and the girls have been talking about it since.  I helped Jace at church to just say "I don't know what you are talking about" when asked about the party at school.  Another party for the record books.

Happy to hear you are progressing with the language.  We pray for you daily.  Make the most of the time you have.

Love ya kid!

Dad

Philippians 4:13

  SISTER!!!!!!

Girls Camp Jr. was a huge success! So we did who knew me the best Audree  won! we decorated beads of a fashlight neckles (home made.) we ate dinner, than we did presents ,we played a few girls camp games than It was time for the movie the sound wasn't loud enuff  but than only than Jace, Chace,other boys, AND Bishop Chanler came and silly stringed us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the girls wanted to get them back soo we went and tolet papered/trashed the chanlers house !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!but they got us back with water balloons. the girls still wanted to get them back but the party was about over. so most all the girls planned to tease Jace about it on Monday. soo enof about me so hows life . is the ctm life every thing you dreamed of?we REALLY MISS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

           LOVE

                     youngest sis

                                              Mari

Sweet Emma,

I'm so glad you are getting use to your schedule at the CTM.  It seems like it has been a good experience for you.  What a blessing to get to go out into the city to practice talking to people.  You have the faith (and hard work) to open your mouth and the Lord is keeping his promise to help fill your mouth with His words.  Great job!

Someone told me that the Brazilian people are very short.  Do you feel tall?  I'm glad you are getting along with the people you serve with.  I love hearing about what you are learning, about yourself, the country, the gospel, the people.

I checked on your bank card.  Jordan Credit Union said it is good to go and can be used just fine in Brazil.  I am putting extra money on there for a surprise that you will be getting.  You will know about it eventually😄

At our last Celebration rehearsal, my orchestra committee and I were talking about having one main conductor to lead all the youth conductors.  Doc (my old Orchestra teacher) and his son, Eric had such great vision about how we could accomplish this huge task of leading these youth in the huge Conference Center.  Letting Doc be the main conductor seemed like the most logical choice because of his vast experience.  Also, he was my favorite teacher and I wanted to give him this opportunity as a tribute to him and all those who he has influenced over the years (like in the movie Mr. Holland's Opus).  I didn't officially ask him to do this, but I indicated that he would do great with that.  My heart was breaking a little because I really wanted to be the main conductor but I knew he could do it so much better than me.  I was trying to think of what I thought would be best for the youth.

My orchestra liaison from the main Celebration Committee, Ashley, must have clued into this conversation with Doc because later she called me and said that if we were to have one main conductor, it should be me.  She said I was meant to do this and I had been in this from the beginning.  She asked if I would be willing to do this.  Of course I said yes.  My heart was so thankful....and overwhelmed.  I know I am not the most qualified, but I have felt the Lord's help all along.  I keep thinking of that talk you sent to me while you were at Snow...the one about how the Atonement of Jesus Christ can make up the difference in all we lack.  I know he will help me in all I lack.  I have been studying the music, including the band parts.  He will help!

Hyrum made SBO again.  His speech was great.  I will email it to you, but if you can't watch it because of mission rules, I will just tell you, it was LOUD!  Isaac Nokes also made it.  Eve is excited about being involved in PLT next year.  I'm proud of her for finding things to be involved in other than class officer.  She will be taking ASL as her language for the next 2 years.  I think she is excited to 'talk' with Eliza.

Today I went on a field trip with Mari.  We went to the Hutchings Museum in Lehi.  It was all about Utah History.  It was cool!  One of the docents at the museum brought her 'Great Horned Owl'.  This bird was beautiful!  We also got to hold a meteorite that was magnetic.  Mari wore her dinosaur shirt.  We learned that Saber Tooth Tigers could never eat a Woolly Mammoth because it's jaws would never open that wide.  They could only eat zebras, mules, and other animals that size (just in case you ever needed to know that!)  It was fun!

There was a boy named Tyler that wouldn't stop teasing Mari.  She played along acting annoyed (secretly I think she liked the attention).  Hyrum has this 'pineapple' thing going with Haley Butterfield.  They talk about their love of pineapples.  Last Sunday, Haley wore a dress with pineapples on it.  She also wore a pineapple scent.... Eve hugged her and commented that she smelled like pineapple.  Hayley said, "I love pineapple!"  Poor Eve, her date for morp looked like Kylo Red from Star Wars.  Eve was a good sport.  This guy did not appreciate how awesome Eve is. 

Tomorrow I'm taking Grandpops through the temple open house.  Friday, I'm taking Grandma Charlene and Grandma Shea.  I invited my brother and sisters but they all have to work.  I hope they got a chance to go.  Brother Burton, the head of the Jordan River Temple Celebration said that when the open house is over they will have to replace the carpet on the stairs, some of the wallpaper, repair walls and doors etc.  The temple must be worthy to be a House of the Lord.  I'm so glad you got to see it before you left for Brazil. 

Emma, we miss you and love you.  We pray for you every day.  In some ways it feels like you are still here with us even when you are in Brazil.  Whenever I think about you, I smile.  Thanks for being you!  You are a wonderful, fun, imaginative, smart, kind, generous, loving, organized, person.  I'm so proud of you! (Plus, you are CUTE!)

Whenever you feel unsure about the tasks ahead of you, or what you've been asked to do, think of Moses and the things the Lord asked him to do.  Study how the Lord helped him, even when he was nervous and unsure of himself.  Notice how the Lord gave him (and the children of Israel) what they needed when they needed it.  They were taught to live one day at a time by faith.

I love you so much!

Mom