3/17/19 - Family Letter to Emma

Ola Emma!

How has it been in Brazil? 

Have you caught any sickness.  BEING SICK IS THE WORST!

What is your favorite food in Brazil?

We got new mattresses.  I think that when you get home you will really enjoy them. 

What is the best dessert in Brazil?

Lots of Love,

Mari

YO yo Emma!!!!!

My play was pretty great!

We performed three nights, and I had family coming to everyone.

I got some girls numbers, and we had a great party at Letherbies.
Grandma also gave me some chocolate strawberries, but when we broke them open

(Yes broke), they were all rotten, with a chocolate shell. Interesting.

But now, I have know idea what to do. I might start working out?

I don't know. How are you down there? I want to knooooooooooooooooow!!!!!

Love from

Hyrum

Sweet Emma,

I'm excited to hear how your week went.  What an adventure getting to know a new area and new people.  How do you like your ward there?  How are Greecy and Willian doing?  I put their names in the Temple Prayer roll  on Friday.  How is working with your new companion?  I loved the pics you sent of the 1 month celebration pizza.  You are so cute!

Hyrum's play was awesome!  He really rocked it!  We called Hyrum the "Manly Pirate".  He seemed to love the stage.  He was perfect for that part.  He also made some great friends (especially some new girls!)  That guy has game!  We went to the musical each night.  The seats were all reserved (that was nice).  On the last night our tickets were next to Mr. Eaton and his wife (their daughter Millie was in the play).  He asked me how you were.  He also asked about Hyrum (Eaton had seen the show each night).  He asked if Hyrum liked what he was doing. He said Hyrum was really good. He asked what grade he was in and if he was going to do it in high school.  He said he hoped he would join their program.  Hyrum in MDT would be awesome!  We'll see if he wants to continue this stuff.  Marilee Wilson sat by us one night too.  She really wants Hyrum back as a student.  We'll see what happens.  Hyrum's Teacher's basketball team won their region game.  They got fun muppet jerseys for the occasion.  Each boy was assigned a muppet character.  Hyrum is "Sweetums".  I'll send you a picture of Sweetums. David Medina is Kermit, Mason is Gonzo....I don't remember the rest.

Eve has been on a roller-coaster with these boys.  I'm excited for her to go on tour and get away from the drama for awhile.  I think she needs some Mickey Mouse.  Eve did great at her Solo and Ensemble but was very disappointed because the judge cut her off just as she was about to enter the emotional climax of her song.  The judge was very rude and just said, "Okay you can go now"....not "thanks for coming", or anything.  RUDE!  Emily Burton was accompanying her and even commented on the rude judge.

Mari has been quite ill.  High fever and sore throat.  She stayed home from church today.  Dad was so kind and stayed with her.  She seems to be doing much better now.  Mari is growing up so fast.  She is a little teenager.  She has a really cute style. 

We dropped off your package yesterday (also one for Sister Bernardao!).  The people said you should get it in about a month.  While there, I met Elder Swanson's mom.  She gave me the address for his homecoming in Draper at the end of June.  I guess he has a twin brother who is also serving in Brazil (just north of where you are).  Do you know Elder Swanson  (his mom said he was an AP)?

Dad has been working as hard as ever.  He does so much good!  What a great guy! 

This week, for family church, we talked about the importance of being of good cheer.  We talked about sowing seeds of Happiness.  The parable of the sower is talking about testimony but we looked at it also as sowing seeds of happiness.  He have to pull out weeds of negativity so water and sunshine can help nourish the seeds of happiness we plant.  I love family church!

Have a wonderful week.  Please be safe and remember that you are loved....so much!

💜Mom

M,

Are you settling well in your new area?  Did you go have a Treat Yo Self Spa Day?  Mom moved some money in your account.  Your mom said your call went well last week.  Sorry I was not able to be around for that.  I will be home tomorrow but I don't know if the times will line up.

Hyrum's play was awesome.  He was easily the manliest pirate they had.  He had a sexing Jack Sparrow First Mate vibe about him.  He rocked his solo.  The school has mic issues.  The mics kept going in and out.  The Curtis's have another drama kid in the family.  He was the Modern Major General and was fantastic.  We went all three nights.  The Ward represented well and many came to support Hyrum.  Mr. Eaton was there and was asking if Hyrum was preparing for MDT.  Marilee came to support and we asked if she had room for Hyrum if he wanted voice lessons.  She promised to make room.  Hyrum really seemed to be enjoying the process.  On the closing night we were trying to leave but we kept having female cast members who were trying to give away their phone numbers to Hyrum.  On closing night they all went to Leatherby's and we got some pictures back.  On one table we saw about half boys and girls all on there phones.  On the other table we saw Hyrum with the 9th grade girls engaging them in conversation.  I think he got a great deal out of the musical experience.  We have asked him if he plans to try again next year.  He said no, but then we asked him again after closing night and we was more warm to the idea. 

Hyrum is in the middle of Region Basketball.  It feels weird not having it on my mind this time of year.  Eve is having fun playing with the boys hearts at school.  Mari is awesome as usual.  Mom has joined the Herriman Arts Council in hopes that she can get Mari involved with the Summer show they will put on.  They do a play that is for 12 yr olds and younger.  She will get 2 shots at it.  We got our new mattresses delivered.  So far Mari and Hyurm love them.  Eve struggles.  The mattresses and memory foam and she finds herself so indented into the mattress that she lacks the abs and upper body strength to move or get out.  We might make a change if her struggles continue.

Eve had a rough Region music comp.  She had prepared a really difficult peace and we had heard it at her concert a few weeks ago.  I came home from work and she was in tears and had been crying for most of the day.  Her piece has a part where it has runs and it builds into a great climax.  The judge cut her off in the middle of a run and told her she was done.  Emily Burton was accompanying her and the Burton's mentioned to me how shocked Emily was.  There was part of the piece where the piano plays a lot and would have been a good place to stop.  The judge was very rude about it and offered no explanation.  We have not heard what her score was or if she is advancing.  Emily accompanied many other artist and had much more friendly judges.  It was a rough day.  She is doing better.

Keep up the good work kid.  We hope you are doing better and your comp is adapting OK.  We are excited to hear about your challenges and how you have overcome them.  Mom gave us a great family church about choosing to be happy in afflictions.  It reminded me of you.  We spoke with Mama Adams at the musical and she mentioned how she always appreciated that about you.  Give that optimism to your comp and it will be a lifelong benefit for her.  Keep it up kid.  We are very proud.

Love

Dad

“In my ninety-plus years, I have learned a secret. I have learned that when good men and good women face challenges with optimism, things will always work out! Truly, things always work out! Despite how difficult circumstances may look at the moment, those who have faith and move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out.”  Gordon B Hinckley