6/10/18 - Family Letter to Emma

Dear Sister Emma Barlow,

I am going to camp Jeramiah this Thursday! I hope theirs archery.

Sunday has never been the same.I miss seeing coco puffs in the panchery .

I when't to Lagoon with Sami ! I think cannible is my favorite ride!

Eny news to report . I miss you alot . Go be a missionary!

by the  i cut my hair!😄,I can't believe it I am able to shave .

                                   love little Mari

The sandwich dance at EFY was really fun.

I went! it was really fun. My company was really load and crazy! we won the cheer off!

I danced with a girl every slow dance! (that was the Highlight).

It was quite fun. I really miss you! we kind of toasted to you missionaries today at family night.

Miss you!

Hyrum  B.

M,

As I write this we are watching the Tony's. So far nothing too exciting to report.  The shows look semi interesting and all the winners have comments that are politically charged. We have skipped a few shows so far due to content.  It isn't the same without you.  We need someone to tell us what to pause and watch and what to skip.  Sorry to hear your investigators are not progressing.  Good luck finding others to fill your pool. 

We went to Chito (Cheeto) Bastida's farewell today to watch Eve play her cello.  They did a duet at the piano recital.  Eve was hoping to get back to our Ward's meeting because she had a friend who was speaking with the High Council. Chito spoke for 50 min.  He started speaking at 9:20 and was about to wrap up at 9:55 but then launched into a thankamony.  He wanted to tell each of his family members why he loves them and what he has learned from them.  He has 8 siblings.  Eve played her part and then we left as soon as we could.  I was late to  my primary calling.  All the kids were very concerned.  Eve missed her friend.  It was a little traumatic for them.  We are having a CTR 4 Messy Hair Pajama party this Saturday.  I think that will make up for it. 

Mari is shaving her legs and feeling all grown up.  Hyrum was at EFY this past week and had a lot of fun.  Jacob and he shared a room.  It was a good thing they shared a room as Jacob had a scare with his diabetes the first night.  Christie has a connection to her phone that keeps track of Cob's numbers and called Hyrum in the middle of the night.  Hyrum woke Cob up and made him have a juice box and some fruit snacks.  If Cob did not have that help it could have been serious.  He did not pick up a C.O.W. while he was there. Christie threatened he and Cob that they could not have one.  It worked.   

We had cabin workday this last Saturday.  We were going to spend the night but your mom got sick and decided to stay home until she saw me packing and then decided she wanted to go up.  We spent the night with John, Max, and Ava.  It was fund and a good memory.  Mari was with us.  Hyrum and Eve had EFY and Youth Conference.  In the morning we had Keith, Grandpa, Nate and Rocky join us,.        Mari ended up watching the kids while we went to dig a few ditches.  We ended up helping one of the cabin owners move some dirt and then Grandpa decided we needed to work on our own cabin.  Keith brought his big ladder and we filled in some holds in the chimney, we cut down a few trees, created a few log chairs for the TP, introduced the young kids to the deck fairy.  It was very productive .  We still have a lot of work to do.  Hyrum and I will have some fun knocking down a few trees and splitting the logs. 

How much is a Uke?  We can't get one to you.  If you want one you need to purchase it there and will likely leave it there when you come home.  We have purchased some virgin Mary stickers for your next package.  The package we sent has cleared customs and should be waiting at the mission home.  Anything else you need?  We were talking with the Kumps and they sent Jaron with a keyboard were he can type his letter during the week and not just on P-Day.  He will be in an area where he has limited wifi.  I wonder if this will cause problems with maintaining appropriate focus during the week.  It is called the Alpha 3000.  We found some on Amazon for $30.  Any interest?  Quick internal check that does not require a response - how are your letters to Brennen?  I'm hoping you can maintain focus and keep them were they need to be. 

Love you kid.  You are doing good work.  I've been smiling all week at the thought that you are speaking Portuguese too fast for the locals.  Do your part and the Lord will take care of the rest.  I have recreated my "What every missionary need to know" letter.  I was going to mail it to you but I don't when you will get it.  Do you want a copy?  You have heard all the council already.  Let me know and I will mail or email it.

Love,

Dad

D&C 19:37

Alma 34:40

Emma,

I'm so happy as I think of you as a missionary.  I know you are a good one!  I'm proud of you!  I love that you can buy a ukulele!  Good idea!  Do you  need us to send you a chord chart or any music or more money in your account?  Trisha Kump was telling us about a keyboard that she sent with Jaren.  This keyboard has a memory in it so Jaren can type into it all week (like a Journal) and then when p-day comes he can plug it into the computer and it downloads into his computer or email.  She says it helps him keep up on his letters (I guess he needs to communicate regularly with his coaches.) Would something like that help you out or mess up your routine?  They are about $30 if you decide you would like us to get you one.  Also, do you want us to send you a water-filter water bottle?

This weekend at the cabin Mari, Ava and I watched a Momma Robin give her babies a flying lesson.  The Robin Mom and Babies were in the nest on top of the electrical box on the cabin.  The mom robin sat on a branch near the nest and called to her babies (she had a worm in her beak).  One baby at a time hopped out of the nest and landed on the deck, flopped to the edge of the deck and jumped/flapped off and landed in a bush below.  The mom hopped to a nearby bush and called to the baby as if to say 'come a little farther'.  The baby flapped a little to land in the next bush.  The mom coaxed the baby on and on, rewarding it with a bite of worm every few bushes.  It was the most amazing thing!  It reminded me of how I felt when you moved to college and then to Sao Paulo.  I knew it was your time to fly, but it was hard to watch you leave 'the nest' ...but knowing you needed to learn to fly, thus realizing the true joy of being a bird.

It was a quiet week with Eve at youth conference and Hyrum at EFY.  Mari and I made her doll closet out of a crate.  It turned out cute I think!  Eric Matthews had his farewell today.  He is excited to be a missionary in California.  Isaac Sligting got his call to Sydney, Australia.  He is speaking English and very happy about that!  Harrison will be home at the end of this summer.  Little Ella Koon prayed for you by name in the closing prayer in Dad's class in Primary.  It was very sweet. They must pray for you by name in their family.  You are so loved!  There are so many people who are praying for you, and your success as a missionary.

Can we do anything for you?  We love and miss you.  We pray for you every day.  A tender mercy is that we still feel close to you. 

Love Always,

Mom

EFY and Eve answer to dance