10/14/18 - Family Letter to Emma

Hello Emma!!!!!!!!!!!

We watched that video you sent dad and Eve.

It was really cool!

Who was the kid in your lap? I couldn't understand

what he was saying, but he was hilarious!

Nothing much has changed here.

I miss you!

Hyrum

                         

                Olá Emma,

Então, como tem sido. Qual é o seu tipo favorito de comida lá?

algum novo contato?

vimos o vídeo que foi incrível !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eu realmente senti sua falta.

                                      Mari

        

M,

Thanks for the birthday letter you sent.  Bummer you couldn't send the pin.  I'm glad you mentioned that you were not allowed to send it.  I thought it was stolen.  Great job on the hair cut. It looks great!!  I was able to give it to Mom in a way that would surprise her.  Your letter came while we were at the funeral.  I save your pictures on my cell and gave it to Mom once we were in the van trying to leave for the cemetery.  I did give her any warning.  I just gave her the phone and watched her reaction.  I should have recorded it.  It was exactly what you would have guessed.  Eve was very proud that she was able to keep the secret.  I wondered how long you would keep your hair once the weather warmed up.  Eve gave me a tie with her picture on it.  I wore it all day.  It is a great gift.

Dean's funeral went well.  It was very long.  I forgot he was married at least 3 times before Grandma Charlene.  That is a lot of kids and a lot of memories.  Mari was asked to give some memories of Dean.  She did a good job and was very emotional.  She went almost last.  She spoke right before the Bishop.  I thought it was not very fair to have her speak where she did.  She was fine before the funeral started but a mess as it got going.  Once we got home your Mom and I were exhausted.  I didn't realize how stressful this last week was.  We were trying to provide a buffer between Grandma Charlene and Dean's kids.  Grandma Charlene was very concerned for reason we still do not know.  They were great and very accommodating to her through the whole process. We provided a buffer between Grandma Charlene and Grandma Shea.   Grandma Shea wanted to be involved but could not remember what she had already asked and what we were doing.  Grandma Charlene did not want her around needing things.  We were concerned that Grandma Charlene would misunderstand or misinterpret what was happening or being said.  She does not know if she wants to be buried next to Dean.  She initially did not want to be involved with Dean's kids after the funeral.  They have all but begged her to stay a part of their lives.  We will likely need to facilitate that happening.  It took me a few days to recover and just started to feel 100% right before the weekend.  

Lincoln is now home.  He had some problems with his Visa.  He was getting kicked out of Singapore.  They were hoping he could go to Malaysia for his last 2 months.  He has been kicked out of Malaysia at the beginning of his mission.  They had stamped his passport with a notice that he is a Immigration Risk.  Once he got to Malaysia he was detained.  They thought they could get him to Hong Kong.  He got on a plane to Hong Kong and they came onto the plane once it landed and walked to a detention area.  They referenced the Immigration Risk notice from Malaysia and denied him access to Hong Kong.  He said he got as close as seeing the Hong Kong Mission President through some glass but he could not get through.  They tried working with the Area Presidency over Hong Kong and they could not do anything so they put him on a plane to Los Angeles.  We got a text from Mark that Linc was coming home on Tuesday at 11:00 PM.  We went as a family and supported his homecoming.  Mark was concerned it easy going to be too late and too short of a notice.  We represented as best we could.  He spoke today and did a good job.  We can tell he is hurting a bit about missing 2 months of his mission but he is doing well.

Carrie and Christie turned 50 last week and Scott provided a surprise party for Carrie and Dean.  Scott asked us to smoke some pork.  Your Mom ended up doing almost all of it.  She did a fantastic job.  Your Mom know smokes meat! We delivered the pork and tried to stay around for the surprised but they were running late.  We left before the food was served.  Hyrum lost his starting spot on his football team.  The coaches moved two kids off the offensive line in an attempt to provide more support.  Hyrum was very disappointed but hid it well.   Hyrum likes football but does not love it.  I have disagreed with these coaches all season.  I think they struggle in many ways.  Hyrum is not their problem.  They have a lot of issues but he is not it.  He played some on defense yesterday and did well.  They lost to a team they should have beat.  The offensive line was a big part of the problem.  Your Mom and I are trying to balance our cheering for Hyrum's team with our desire to see the team struggle by playing Hyrum less.  We cheered quietly for most of the game.  We have one game left and then likely at least one playoff game.  I think we are ready to be done for the season.  Hyrum seems to be more interested in the Middle School musical tryouts than he is for football.  He has asked to not go to football practices but he is part of the team.  I'm making him go and see what he can learn from this situation.

We had Stake Conference this weekend and the theme was Ministering.  I have been thinking a lot of what the new Ministering means.  I had a great chat with your Grandpa about it while at Mark's for Lincoln's homecoming.  We are having the Ministering families over for dinner next Sunday.  I have invited Patriarch Tippets and his wife.  I have felt inspired to do this for many months and finally found the courage to do it.  I will let you know how it goes.

Keep up the good work.  We have been using your mantra often this past week.  Keep Loving.  Keep Serving.  Keep Going.  Love you tons. 

Dad

1 Kings 17:8-16

Sweet Emma,

I LOVE YOUR HAIRCUT!  It looks GREAT!  It looks stylish and manicured (very becoming of a servant of the Lord)  It looks perfect with your face shape.  I'm so glad you weren't afraid to try a new do!  I bet they were so happy to get your donated hair.  You've always taken such good care of it!  Many people around here (who get your emails) have commented about how much they like your haircut too!  I think you should keep that style!

I'm so happy for your experiences with Lucas and Lucia, Lorivaldo, Angelica, Leticia, Fabio.  Also you as a Conference Translator!  Also, glad you could have an impromptu jam session with President Tarso.  Fun times!  We also got  the Happy Birthday video that Sister Garcia sent.  That was awesome!  You look great!  Eve said, "Wow!  The people sure love her there!"  Dad said, "Missions are just about the best things ever!". (I think he would go back into the mission field in an instant if he could!) 

Your question about Ephraim:  (Genesis 41: 50-52) Ephraim and Manasseh are the sons of Joseph (who was sold into Egypt because his brother were jealous of him) .  From "Guide to the Scriptures" on the scripture app:  The Twelve Tribes of Israel- Abraham's grandson Jacob (name changed to Israel) had 12 sons (12 tribes of Israel) Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulon, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Joseph, Benjamin. Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob's first wife, Leah, lost his birthright blessing and double portion of inheritance because of immorality.  The birthright then went to Joseph, who was the firstborn son of his second wife, Rachel.  Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh shared his double portion of the inheritance and were counted as separate tribes of Israel.  In the last days the tribe of Ephraim has the privilege of carrying the message of the Restoration of the gospel to the world and gathering scattered Israel.  (Deut. 33:13-17).  The time will come when through the gospel of Jesus Christ, Ephraim will have a leadership role in uniting all the tribes of Israel (Isa. 11: 12-13; D&C 133: 26-34)

As a member of the tribe of Ephraim, you are fulfilling your responsibility to take the gospel to the other tribes!  What a great work!

This was a whirlwind of a week.  Dean's funeral was good.  It was really nice to get to talk to some of Dean's kids.  They went out of their way to be kind to Grandma Charlene.  Grandma Charlene was trying to be extra kind to them too.  It was awesome!  She even gave a genuine hug to Dean's ex-wife, Marilyn.  They had a good talk and they are friends now!  Miracles I believe are a direct result of you serving a mission!  Thank you Emma!!!!

Grandma Shea's birthday was this week too! (89 years young).  I gave her a pedicure and painted her toes bright pink called "Pizzaz".  She LOVED it! I also recorded some of her memories for Family Search.  We also met Lincoln at the airport at 11pm.  He looked so sad.  He wasn't ready to be home yet.  So sad! We went to Hale Center and saw "Wait Until Dark".  What an awesome show about a woman who recently lost her sight and how she had to figure out how to defend her home against criminals by using her other senses.  It was a spooky, dark (literally) show.   Dad and I also went to the temple (love that place!) and Scott and Janessa threw a surprise party for Carrie and Dean (50 years old).  We smoked pork for that party. Stake Conference and Birthdays this weekend. 

As part of the Adult Stake Conference meeting President Smith asked Delle and I to share the experience we all had while at the Trek Training in Wyoming.  We shared how we met a senior missionary who came up and started talking to us.  He was so alive with enthusiasm for the Gospel that in all his conversation we could feel his love for the Savior. His testimony was his regular speech.  President Smith encouraged us to radiate the gospel.  That when we talk, people have no doubt that we love the Lord.   I've been reading the Book of Mormon every day (President Nelson's challenge) and outlining all the scriptures about the Savior.  I am astounded how many scriptures speak of the Savior.  Nephi speaks of Christ in almost every verse!  (I bought a new Book of Mormon just to highlight all the Savior verses).  So far, almost the whole thing is colored!

Hyrum is considering auditioning for the school musical at OHMS.  They are doing "Pirates of Penzance".  Do you have a suggestion for his audition piece?

Emma, I feel that I need to remind you to be careful and aware of your surroundings.  I will continue to pray for your safety.

I love you so much!  I'm so proud of you!

💜 Mom