One of THOSE letters

Hi Ben!

You sure have been on my mind since we spoke on Monday. I wonder how many new things you’re experiencing. I imagine your routine is the same. Please let us know how you are doing and what we can do for you. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable with all those repeated requests. I just know that were here to serve one another. As I serve in the bishopric, there seems to be such truth to the fact that were here to learn to love and trust God, and to love and serve one another. You doing that to the maximum amount possible, and I would guess that your main source of frustration come when others don’t share that expectation. 

As you can guess, the preoccupation at home is news of the job. Admittedly, this is an anxious time for me and your mom. It feels like everything has led up to a positive outcome, things spiritual and things temporal. While I do have some amount of positivity towards the outcome, I also know there are no guarantees in this life. I’m sure that whichever outcome, there will be an emotional reaction, stress and worry about what’s next, and a redoubled effort to move forward. 

An amazing realization is how many people are praying for us. Ward members, neighbors, Ward leaders, Stake leaders, grandma and grandpa, your aunts and uncles, your cousins, your brothers and your mom, and certainly not least, you. That faith and love is tangible, its bolstering, it’s touching, it’s real. My sister Patti puts our name in the temple every week. Your cousin Cecily say that aunt Patti prays so hard she cries. As much as I need this job, the knowledge of her love is far more important to me. I know Grandma and Grandpa do the same, it’s so humbling and amazing to contemplate that kind of love. That’s why we’re here, that’s how the Lord loves us.

It’s been pretty quiet around here. I sure you got the pics of the U wall I did. Please remind me to never spray paint in the house again, even though I put plastic down everywhere, overspray was a problem, I spent most of this morning cleaning the carpet. Hopefully, it’s good enough for your mom, she is particular about her floor coverings.

Today is your cousin Cecily’s Birthday, we’re going to the Morellia tonight in celebration. Saturday were going waterskiing with the Harrison’s for Camille’s birthday. I can live without waterskiing, but it will be nice to be with family.

This week is the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, there are all kinds of great documentaries and websites about it. It’s probably the thing in my life that fascinates me the most. It seems so rare for civilization to cooperate on something so big, even more rare to do it without slavery or oppression.

————

Well, it’s night again. Dinner was fun, I LOVE those old time deep fried tacos. The Coopers came to watch movies after. We watched Shazam and The Wrong Trousers. After, Cecily asked Aaron to give me a blessing, I didn’t say no. She could feel how anxious I was. There’s something about family, they know how you are doing without you having to tell them. I gave mom and Artie a blessing after. The Spirit was really strong, and I feel comforted.

Sorry for the righteous Dad letter today, it’s just how I’m feeling. Ben, you know how far from perfect I am, how weak I can be. But I can tell you with complete assurance that God lives, He is our Father, He needs and wants us to be like Him, He sent His son to redeem us, and He only asks that we serve one another. However happy or disappointed I may be by the upcoming decision, I will know that and I will seek His guidance, seek His strength, and seek His comfort.

Love

pops