11/18/18 - Family Letter to Emma
Hi Emma was up ,
life is good here.
So mom and me made awesome pillow cases, there is a bee one that is my favorite!!!
I LOVE LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
School is school .
I just remembered how much I love PHO.
have a good week
LOTS OF LOVE
Mari
EMMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Being Samuel is so much fun!
I get to sing solo in the first song, and I'm
probably the smartest pirate in existence!
I also had a game night at John's, and we played
a game called Specter Ops. It was like Scotland yard,
but way more complicated. I beat every body as the bad guy!
It was so cool. How are you doing? Have you caught any Chameleons?
Love you!
Hyrum
Sweet Emma,
Thanks for answering my "mom questions". You have always been good at
managing yourself, ever since you were tiny...so I don't worry too much
about those kinds of things with you. I do like to hear updates on
those things every once in awhile. Just to check in. I'm glad you
understand 😊 That's cool that a member will be visiting
St George (or St Geezy as the Chandlers would say!) To mail a 3 lb
package it will be betweem $7-$13 (we can pay for it, or put money in
your account, whatever is easier). I will check on your bank account
this week to see if anything is amiss. We will try to take care of what
we can from here. Also, just to let you know, we sent Sister Blanco's
Christmas package, and one of your Christmas packages through USPostal
Service. If it costs money to get them out of customs, we will pay for
both packages. I'm not sure how to find out if Sister Blanco's package
is stuck in customs, but if you hear anything, please pay for it and we
will send you money for both. Does that even make sense? We hope you
like your surprises! One thing, I wanted to send you some of Grandma
Barlow's caramels, but her kitchen is still under construction and she
hasn't been able to cook anything. Too bad.
Dad and I just applied for our passports last week, just so we have
options. Kind of fun to think of visiting places all over the world.
We'll have to see how things work out with Brazil or some other fun
place.
I'm sure proud of you for making things workout with your companion.
You will never regret being a little too kind! I'm glad you are
developing these skills because they will serve you well your entire
life, at home, at work, at school, at church. When talking to Delle
this week, she mentioned how each of her kids were on their missions,
they each had companions who had problems with obedience. I think it's
pretty common (although it shouldn't be). There is always different
levels of understanding and application but it's up to those who know
better to do better with love. I'm always thankful for the 'handbook'
when it comes to rules etc. The handbook is essential as we teach the
Wards in our Stake correct principles. The rules are inspired. Mission
rules are the same way...inspired.
I have been reading in Alma 17-27. As I read about the missionary
labors of Alma the Younger, Ammon and the Son's of Mosiah, I am reminded
of the blessing of peace I received just before you opened your mission
call. Just like Mosiah was promised that his son's would be protected
as they preached among the Lamanites, I was promised that you would be
protected too. This gives me great comfort to know that as you are
obedient and focused, aware of your circumstances, and following the
spirit, you too will be protected. It is also interesting to read about
some of the trials (and success) that those missionaries had. I'm so
thankful that we have scriptures that testify of Jesus Christ and the
good news of His gospel.
I'm sure enjoying all the ukulele videos your friends are sending. I'm
glad you can use your great talents and beautiful voice.
Family updates:
We had Grandma Charlene and siblings over for our Thanksgiving Dinner
tonight. Dad's smoked turkey turned out great. He keeps getting better
and better. Schery made about 8 different desserts. It was
incredible! The cousins all had fun playing. Anthony and Lisa are
getting ready to take a trip to Hawaii. We were talking about their
trip when Grandma Shea (who is getting more and more confused) asked
what island you were serving on. Dad (being Dad) said, "She's serving on
the island of South America". No matter how we explained that Brazil
was part of a continent, she said "I know that". Then a few minutes
later... "now what island is Brazil on?" Dad told her that Brazil is not
an island. Grandma then said "well, what is it than?" . . . I guess
Brazil is part of a very large island called South America.
Hyrum has been having fun with his musical. He comes home happy every
day. After his first rehearsal, Ms. DeJesus told him, "Hyrum, you make
this look easy!" I think she likes him! She told him that she wanted
to cast him as the lead but thought it should go to a 9th grader. She
put him as "Samuel" but he is the understudy for the lead.
Eve, Mari and I had an opportunity to be in a music Sarah Arnesen did
for #light the world. Eve was the main character (no cello this time).
Mari was the little sister, and I was the mom. We will send you the
video when it comes out. It was actually a lot of fun to act as "mom".
I feel it was a great privilege for all of us to get to participate. I
find it very interesting that He has blessed us with all these
opportunities as a way to share our testimony, even though we have done
nothing to promote ourselves as 'you-tubers'. I KNOW that He is aware
of us, and places us in situations to meet certain people that we
wouldn't meet otherwise. I'm thinking back to the amazing opportunity I
had to do the Celebration Orchestra and all the special people I met
through that. I did NOTHING to promote myself...yet HE promoted me. I
feel that this was similar, He wanted us to be a part of this
video...and meet some of these people, and share our testimony through
participation. What a blessing.
I know He is aware of you too. He loves you and will help you meet
special people. You have a great work to do. I will keep praying for
you and sending you a hug every day!
💜Mom
M,
Props on learning stress management and patience. These are skills that
hopefully will stay with you your whole life. You will likely continue
to have companions or members that will challenge you a bit. Stay true
to what you know is required of you to do the work the right way.
Obedience, faith, and work ethic is everything. You have been promised
that the Lord will do His part if you do yours. I have been loading
these letter into the blog you created before you left. I'm loading in
the pictures you send along with the letters. I'm also downloading all
the pictures on the cloud from your camera. We don't have any pictures
since Sept 25th (other than the pics you send)? Are you having any
problems with your camera?
Life around here keeps happening. I was prepared to take a day off to
take the Middle School to the High school play like I normally do. Mr.
Perkins did not take his kids to the play this year. He is instead
taking them to see the Nutcracker. Hyrum was planning on going but he
is giving the 9th priority. Eve went to the play, In The Heights, and
discovered why it might not be appropriate for the Middle Schoolers.
There was some cursing and skimpy clothing. Lin-Manual was quoted in
the program that he is excited when kids of color do the play as he
hopes it gives them pride. He is excited when white kids perform it
because they have to learn the culture of Puerto Ricans and Hispanics in
NY in order to portray it properly. He also begged that they don't
brown their skin in an attempt to make the play authentic. This did not
stop the kids from spraying tanning themselves. I get concerned that
the tanning could be offensive to some. We didn't go see the play as a
family. Mari was a little disappointed but understood when we discussed
the subject matter. We will still support the Broadway Review and hope
for a better offering.
This weekend was eventful. Hyrum participated in the Oquirrh Fest
assembly. They are supporting a group that funnels money into Blood
Cancer research. I worked from home that day so I was able to attend.
They sent someone to share a bunch of facts and figures with the kids
that bored me to tears. I wonder what impact it had on the kids. They
brought on a young man who had Leukemia to share his story which was
helpful. On Friday Hyrum and I went to John's to play some board
games. We are likely going to have a few new games by the time you get
home. These are different games then we have had before. They are more
strategy games. Hyrum loves them. We played games while Eve had her
"Friendsgiving" dinner and Mom and Mari made Mari some seasonal
pillows. Mari has been wanting to decorate her rooms for the seasons.
They found some Fall decorations on clearance and Mari picked some up.
On Saturday Eve, Mom, and Mari to a music video shoot that someone has
for the #Lighttheworld campaign the church has around Christmas. Eve
was the focus of the video and Mom and Mari played supporting roles. It
took most of the day. we were planning on going to the BYU game that
night. It was raining most of the day and it was expected to be 35
degrees at the start of the game. I did not have the heart to take the
girls out so we stayed home, bought some pho and were planning on
watching the game at home. We borrowed one of the strategy games from
John and decided to see if the family would like to own it. Hyrum was
very excited. He attempted to help the girls in the game by doing
things for them and almost taking their turn. Eve, as you know, does
not like to have anything done for her and smacked Hyrum's hand quite
hard. This eventually became a bit of a brawl between Hyrum and Eve.
They wrestled and cheapshoted each other for a while and worked out
their differences. I think we will be purchasing this game and others
like them. We had a Thanksgiving Dinner with your Mom's side of the
family. Everyone came and seemed to have a good time. We smoked a
turkey and it turned out great. Schery made about 8 desserts and we ate
ourselves silly. We have had 2 positive family parties 2 months in a
row. Your Mom is very encouraged.
Keep working hard and doing your best. It will be enough.
Love ya kid
Dad
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