2/28/21 - Family Letter

Hey-o!

Performances have gone alright so far, but we had an interesting turn of events. We get tested every two weeks so we can perform legally, and forgot this week. So I've been performing illegally for two shows! I got tested yesterday morning, and it came back negative, so we're good. But it was a scary two nights, looking over my shoulder wondering when they're going to come haul me away. 

I've had a realization. I like making people happy! but i'm in a stage of life where not many people around me want to be happy. I noticed that I like making people smile or laugh, and that I liked people who smiled easily. theatre isn't really a place for that though. Everyone is so wrapped up in themselves that they don't care about being happy themselves. They worry about making others laugh because they feel accomplished through that. Do I feel similar? not really. I enjoy making people laugh not because it makes me feel good, but because they're happy. I don't care if I'm the one who did it or not.

Anyway, I love you, and I'm glad you're happy!

Love

 

Hyrum

 

HEY EVE!

Love the otter pop and the blankets! I AM IN ALOT MORE SCENES THAN IM SUPPOSED TO BE IN FOR NEWSIES!!! I made a goal on the weekends to run for an hour or so.Its going pretty good! Hyrum's musical went great! He did a really good job! I got invited to a party, and it was really fun! I found out at the party that my crush doesn't like me:( but it's ok. I GOT TO HANGOUT WITH MY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FRIEND!!!! She used to be kind of bratty, but she changed. I taught the lesson for YW today . I accidently studied for the wrong week so that's fun.  Anyway I have been missing you alot lot lately. Hope you having fun with your coms

L o t s 

O f

L o v e

 

MB:  hug hug kiss kiss little hug big kiss, little kiss, BIG HUG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Sweet Eve,

We have been laughing so hard over your otter pop themed movies and pictures.  The park you were playing 'rodeo' looked cute.  Did I see grass...not snow?  South Dakota!  Did you get all the music links I sent?  I hope some of those are useful to you!

 

Hyrum's musical is so much fun!  The Steeds came to see it and all they could say (besides how well Hyrum did) was "that was the weirdest show I've ever seen!". They have never seen the movie "Matilda" either. Hyrum is in a lot of scenes.  They put him in some small ensemble numbers where he is the only one NOT in MDT.  He's having fun! Most of the family is coming on Monday night.  Hyrum's show starts at 7:00.  We will be at RHS from about 6:10 on.  Will you be able to work around that?  

 

Emma and Matt came to dinner tonight. We were all laughing at your movies/photos on google photos.  It looks like you are having fun.  Emma said, "Good!  Mission's should be fun!"  How is training going? It seems like you are getting along well with these companions.

 

It snowed big fluffy flakes today.  We used the snowblower.  We tried to get the driveway cleared before Dad returned from his meeting, but just as he was pulling in, I accidentally blew a lot of snow INTO the garage, all over the van.  Dad was laughing pretty hard. Most of the snow melted by tonight.  The weather is expected to be in the upper 50's by the weekend.  Yea March!

 

This week in my music classes I'm celebrating composers born in March:

  J.S. Bach (Mar 31),  Vivaldi (Mar 4), Chopin (Mar 1), Andrew Lloyd Webber (Mar 22), Haydn (Mar 31)...just in case that info is useful to you.

 

Today in the Church News they reported on a Missionary Devotional by Elder and Sister Uchtdorf.  Did you have the opportunity to watch that? Elder Uchtdorf said, "Use your heart when creating them, (interactions on social media/technology), think of the people they are meant for, and seek the help of the Spirit.  If you aim for these goals, I promise you the Spirit will help you to touch the hearts and the minds of the people."   Sister Uchtdorf encouraged the missionaries to observe lovingly and listen carefully to the people and to the Spirit.  "You will feel and know in your hearts how to connect to members and how to benefit from their experiences in your finding and teaching."  She shared a letter that her mother wrote 4 weeks after her own baptism.  She said she wrote this letter because the missionaries challenged her to record her testimony so they could use it to help strengthen others that they were teaching.

 

I'm so proud of you.  You are doing a beautiful job.  I know our Heavenly Father is pleased with you and the good you are doing.

 

Stay safe and healthy!

I love you!

💜 Mom

 

Millie,

 

It was good to see your pictures of you and your companions.  You seem to be getting along well.  They seem to be as crazy as you are.  Crazy in a good way.  We got a small snow storm that came through last night.  I went to my meetings with 3-4 inches of powder on the ground.  I got stuck on my way to the meeting.  When I came home Mom and the kids were clearing the snow.  Mom was using the snowblower.  She was trying to clear a path for me to pull in and as she did she forgot which way the snowblower was throwing the snow and covered her van with snow.  She blew snow into the garage.  It was hilarious!  I'm still smiling about it. 

 

Hyrum's show is great!  He does a really good job and is very expressive.  He scared us a bit.  He was supposed to go in on Friday and get a rapid COVID test and he forgot about it.  He should not be performing without the test.  He was concerned all during the show on Friday night that he would be told he could not perform.  We got him a test on Saturday morning but would not get a result for 48 hours.  Saturday night he thought he would get pulled but it never happened.  We got the negative result so he is OK for Monday.  I'm thinking the teachers are choosing to not read their emails until after the play is over.  The play is cast perfectly.  I'm surprised the girl they have playing Matilda is High School age.  She is tiny.  They all do a good job.  I keep falling asleep when Ms. Honey starts singing about her home.  It is a great lullaby and puts me right into a restful sleep.  We have one more night.  It is a good thing he got the negative test.  He has about 20 people coming tomorrow night to watch him.  

 

Everything else is going well.  Mom accepted an offer for us to sing at Stake Conference.  I don't know how we keep getting ourselves into the "opportunities". She should be ready.  We have 2 weeks to get the hymn down.  Mari is singing songs from her show All The Time.  I did that growing up and it aggravated everyone.  this must be payback.  I don;t find her singing aggravating but it is not a good background to my many Zoom meetings.  

 

Love you kid.  We pray every day that you will have the capacity to do what you are asked to do.  Being a missionary in 2021 is a unique challenge and will create a lot of great stories for you to share the rest of your life.  Do your best and don't be hard on yourself.  You are doing great.

 

Love,

 

Dad

 

D&C 19:38-41