Week 67

 Feb 16, 2026

Dear Gracie,

We sent extra love-vibes your way this week because of Valentine's Day.  Did you feel them?

It has been warm and spring-like this week.  Before February got here, I had an unusual fear of how cold it would be.  I shouldn't have worried!  We have played outside for preschool and I've enjoyed walks and pickleball and Benson rides his bike to school when he can and has decided to learn to ride your ripstick.  (Not to ride to school--just for fun.)  He also had his youth activity at the park--I think they played ultimate frisbee.  We've also been enjoying watching the Olympics in the evenings.  I am always awed by the skills people have developed, and their ability to perform them under pressure.  Then you listen to the judges, who think that they have performed so terribly, only to find out they're like a second slower than the fastest person.  So I have been watching with the sound really low, and just enjoying seeing what dedicated people can do.

My Young Women's class activity this week was at our house.  Sister Hicken and I hosted a Valentines tea party for the girls, and they all came and all dressed up fancy, and we had a good evening eating treats and drinking juice (well, one girl and I did actually have some herbal tea for this tea party).  

Thursday was my preschool Valentines party.  It was pretty fun and maybe a little chaotic with the game of "keepie uppie" with a giant balloon (and smaller ones) and games and snacks and science and exchanging Valentines.  I took a good nap after that one.  The Hickens came over in the evening so that we could finalize travel plans for our trip to Germany, and we purchased (with points) the tickets!   We really are coming!  (But who is counting down the days??)

I taught piano on Friday morning as usual, but then I made myself go out for a walk, which I really did and really didn't want to do.  I'm glad I did in the end.  It was rejuvenating.  

Saturday was Valentine's Day!  Tessa started us off early with meeting at the school to go to VASE.  (She ended up getting 4's on both of her paintings, and an invitation from the judge to attend his community college class on watercolor!  ) Then I had my lesson and Benson had his, and he also went to the high school with his two friends to practice their marimba piece.  It was pretty rainy for much of the day, which was nice, but also nice that it let up by the evening.  At home we were keeping busy.  I made heart-shaped cinnamon rolls for a late breakfast (though they were not so heart shaped by the time they were cooked).  Dad put together an at-home escape room for me!  There were clues around the house and I had to solve puzzles to know where to go next.  He gave me a spa kit to enjoy--a blanket, socks, candle, eye mask, and bath bomb.  I put the blanket to use right away, and will enjoy the others soon!  Then we made a fancy meal for dinner.  I made heart-shaped bread "sticks" (though they were not so heart-shaped by the time they were cooked).  I also made a roasted red pepper soup, and Dad put together a spinach salad with homemade dressing.  The entrée  was salmon and veggies cooked "en papillote" (wrapped up in parchment paper and tied in string).  It was all SOOOO delicious, and it was fun to make the meal together.  Tessa and Benson were there, too, but Tessa was suffering from a bad cold and didn't want to eat much and Benson only liked the roll and fish, so we had plenty of food.  We were able to watch Emma's choir concert live stream that evening, which is always fun!  Caytie said she and her roommates went out to eat at The Brick Oven, and Scott and Kaitlyn celebrated the wedding of a friend in Rexburg in the morning and then drove home!

Tessa was still sick on Sunday, but came to church anyway.  She slept for most of the rest of the day.  I enjoyed the meeting.  I have been asked to give the talk next Sunday, so I'll be thinking of that this week.  (The topic is "God wants me to make and keep covenants with Him."  I will also be (co)teaching the young women on the same topic, so I hope to have enough to not be repetitive!  And feel free to send any thoughts you have on the topic... )  Benson and Dad played our little curling game while they watched curling.  I also played a game of chess with Benson. I've been doing some Duolingo chess lessons, so I finally feel like I can be a little competitive (meaning I won't lose in ten minutes).  He still beat me, but I was okay with that this time.

Today was President's Day, so we were off of school.  Benson and Tessa slept in, but I still had a full day--pickleball, YW class presidency meeting, food shopping, preschool prep, talking with college kids, dentist appointments for Tessa and Benson, a scout meeting to take Benson to and a band meeting to take Tessa to, writing this letter, and a few more things before bed.  Dad, Jason, and Benson also worked on the guard shack for a while this evening.  Back to normal schedules tomorrow.

We love you, Gracie!  You're our favorite missionary in Hamburg--even with an extra Roper missionary serving there!  (Did you find out where he's from?)  OH!  I'm reading a book about F. Enzio Busche, the first native German General Authority, called Yearning for the Living God.  He was born in Dortmund!  Does anyone there ever talk about him?  I'll put a blurb about him from the BYU Speeches website at the end of this email.

Love,
Mom

F. Enzio Busche

Elder F. Enzio Busche was born in Dortmund, Germany in 1930. When he was only nine years old, the destruction of World War II reached his hometown. After the first bombs were dropped on Dortmund, his family fled to eastern and then southern Germany. At the age of ten, Elder Busche was required by law to join the Hitler Youth organization. When he turned fourteen, he was drafted, along with all eligible boys of his age, into the German Army.

Elder Busche only fought for a few short weeks before he was captured and taken to a prison camp. Instead of killing him, his captors eventually released him and sent him home to his family; they were reunited in Dortmund. After the war, he became disillusioned with those who claimed to have answers to life’s problems. Those who once preached that Hitler knew how to solve Germany’s problems now claimed they had never said anything of the sort. This confusing behavior left Elder Busche confused and disappointed.

Eventually, he married his childhood friend Jutta. He studied different religions, but could not seem to settle on anything that made sense to him. When he had a near-death experience, he realized he needed to be cleansed from sin in order to prepare for the next life. With this new knowledge, he began his search anew. He prayed for months. One day, a pair of missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints knocked on his door.

Two years later, he was baptized a member of the church. His wife followed suit shortly after. Later in his life, he was called to be a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. His life has been filled with outstanding Church service and through his devotionals, he shares some of his incredible wisdom.

Winter Olympics are inspiring!

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