Boys in the Good

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

With All My Love

Dear Elder Schenewark It was wonderful speaking with you yesterday. I miss you! I miss all your brothers. Having all my children around me is my greatest pleasure. I don't know what I'll do when I'm home alone. The good news is I had so many kids, and for a long period, that I won't be left alone for very long. I think I'll be about 64 when Breyer graduates from high school! Hunter is having a grand adventure in Washington DC and Philadelphia. I'm excited Julie can see all those iconic sites with him for the first time. Tanner is thriving in New York City with his family, especially as the weather warms. I know Nora was sick for a bit has recovered. Porter will be coming home soon. That's probably why we didn't hear from him this week. I found a new bottle of ginger beer on the shelves in Kroger, sent him a picture, and found out Aunt Janel had also found the same kind, and had sent Luke an identical picture on the same day. We call them our twins. Speaking of Aunt Janel, Annaliese is getting married in August. She's been going to the Orthodox church, and met a young man, named Cooper Hayes, just a bit younger than her, who is a farmer. So she's been working on the farm, specializing in chickens. Sawyer is scrambling. He's hopping between end of the year activities - National Honor Society Induction ceremonies for new members, FAA banquet, lots of gatherings with his friends. And a calendar full of more to come. He just ordered his stole. Is going to wear your cap and gown. And hopes to get a tassel from a classmate who was shipped two. He attended the awards ceremony Thursday evening. The Bachs came in just in time for the ceremony, and have made my working days fun for those left behind. They've also spent a lot of time driving littles here and there as Dad was trying to get his classes wrapped up. Miller has enjoyed quite a few jaunts to the frisbee golf course, including the weekly Thursday tournament where he again placed first and earned $22 - plus entry fee winnings is always a bonus. He's won first three times, and third place once, and keeping track of his winnings. Miller played in 7x7 touch football Monday. It was only 95 degrees. Two games. But the breeze was delightful. His choir concert was Friday night. He had us all in tears, watching him escort his blind friend across the stage - for the last time - helping him up and down the risers - add in amazing songs - it was a great night. Breyer wrote a Memorial Day essay about my grandmother's brother - Roy Hill. He died while serving in world War II - and she won out of all the fifth graders at Oak Woods Elementary. She now has to appear at the Memorial Day Program and find out who won. The winner will be reading their essay. I'll share her essay later. She might have been on the computer, got up to do something, and had the vacuum fall on the screen. I think the computer is still working but half the screen is not visible. She was at Splash Kingdom for a little while on Friday, and got a sunburn on top of a sunburn. Breyer also tried out for the talent show, and for the first year - made it! She's very excited, has a very cute routine with three other girls to Guacamole, sung by The Best Tees and GoNoodle. 31 May 2022 This is weeks later - I don't even know when I started the above letter, but I will try to finish it. Our lives have been out of control this month - which always happens with a senior. Graduation on Friday was wonderful. So much better than the ceremony Porter and Cooper had in the convention center. There was live music, a balmy lake breeze, no bugs, and fireworks. Lots of names to read - around 550 - from A to Z, with the majority of the names before M. So the best was saved for almost last. Coach Breazealle was waiting at the exit ramp of the podium to greet Sawyer with a final hug. The coach was almost sobbing. He does love Sawyer, and told me he's "a hard one to let go," and one of five players on his all star team. There were a lot of pictures, a few graduation parties, more than a few late nights and one all night event for Project Graduation, so now he's in recovery mode. He's gearing up to work at the snow cone trailer, and start the outstanding leather orders. Soon. Dad leaves in the morning for Utah. He's going to ordain Hunter to the office of High Priest. I think just Miller is going. I don't feel good about leaving Breyer home alone, and I need her for the puppy. Miller will have a grand adventure, and a big brother to ride home with as Porter is coming home for a vacation of sorts. Sorry I couldn't chat as long - but know I love you! I miss you. I'm actually starting to get excited for your return! Sawyer got his paperwork all done just in time for President's trip to Europe. We're waiting to see if a counselor can push the button, or if we can reach him over Zoom. Until next week - Mom

Monday, May 30, 2022

Granbury Memorial Day Essay Contest

Memorial Day essay contest during a community celebration on May 30, 2022, at the Jim Burks Firefighters Memorial Park. The contest is named in memory of J.C. Campbell, a veteran and community leader who initiated the program to encourage students to commemorate armed services personnel who have died in service to the nation. The program objective for the fifth grade competition states, “Many students think Memorial Day is simply a day to ‘celebrate’ a day off from school. They don’t realize it is instead a day to ‘commemorate’ or remember those who have lost their lives in all American Wars. The objective of this contest is to help students understand the true meaning of this day.” Burrell was one of five Granbury ISD campus winners vying for the top prize. Others were: Virgil Farris, STEAM Academy at Mambrino; Sofia Ferguson, Acton Elementary School; Breyer Schenewark, Oak Woods School; Rainn Sherwood, Baccus Elementary School.

What Memorial Day Means to Me

Memorial Day isn't about having a good time and partying, or even getting together with family members. It is about honoring those who have died in our nation's wars and remembering that they gave their life to serve our country and provide for the freedoms we enjoy in the United States. We should live our lives in such a way to give htem all the respect they deserve. I have a lot of ancestors who served in a war but one man stood out to me. Not because he was in history books or in newspapers, but because he was just a normal man whose story of how he got to war and whose love of his country touched me. My ancestor, Roy Angus Hill was not born in the United States but in Victoria, Canada in 1918. he immigrated to the US in 1922 at only 4 years old. I understand how young 4 is as my niece is 4 years old. He enlisted in the United States Army when he was 22 years old. I have a brother that's almost 22 years old. Roy served in the 44th Infantry Battalion, Sixth Armored Division of the Third Army and was led by General George Patton. Roy arrived in France in July of 1944. He was ready to make our country proud, and he was prepared. He was part of Patton's great drive across Europe, and was part of the great rescue of the 101st Airborne at Bastogene, in the Battle of the Bulge, as a Tech Class 4. Those who held this rank were often addressed as Sergeant. Technicians possessed specialized skills that were rewarded with a higher pay grade. I don't know much about World War II, or Technician 4's, or the Battle of the Bulge, but my father showed me pictures of men digging holes for safety in a frozen land, in December, in Belgium. And of tanks, and the things of war. I've also seen images of war from Ukraine. Roy died the 1st of April in 1945 in Butbach, Germany, one month before the Germans surrendered, when he was 25 years old. I have a brother that's 25. Roy Hill was not even able to be buried in the United States but instead was transported for burial in Margraten, Limburg, Netherlands. I can hardly say the names of these lands, and probably will never be able to visit. Not one of Roy's family members has visited Roy in the Netherlands. No one has been able to lay flowers on his grave. So I choose to think of him more. to visit those I am able to visit more, to try hard in school so I can become a better citizen, and understand more the freedoms I am so fortunate to enjoy. This year, especially for Memorial Day, I remember Roy. Breyer Schenewark

Friday, May 27, 2022

San Jose California Mission Moments

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Oak Woods Elementary School Talent Show

Granbury High School End of Year Video

Emmie Vaughn and Ellie Patrick showed the End of Year video at the drive in last night free of charge. The kids took donations and then donated $600 back to the drive in. It was super cool for them to let the kids come and watch the video. They had concessions and the kids played yard games before the video started. Hopefully making this a tradition!