7/29/18 - Family Letter to Emma

Hello sis!

How goes it! i made the same team as Logan for football.

We start practice tomorrow. I am so sore! I can barely stand.

Hope your having fun.

Hyrum 

hey sis , waz  up , 

                                in Ezekiel chapter  4-5  , its sort of like a math problem  i have been trying to figer out whata hin is in licwould

form.

me and sami have been going to Lagoon allot

 love you

         miss you

                        Mari💋💜                   

M,

It is great to hear of the successes you are having.  It is always wonderful to hear how member progress.  When I was serving we had a 12 step program we used to help people quit smoking.  We spent a lot of our money on cinnamon flavored mouthwash and postum (coffee substitute).  It was very effective and took a lot of our funds.  We were lucky we got feed for most meals.  These pictures with the member families are priceless.  Eve has been keeping us up to date with the communication with the YW in the area.  We hope you get your package in time to give them a few things we sent.  I don't know if you are up for a transfer but in my experience once you are feeling you are trained it is a sign you are ready to move on or at least move on from your trainer. 

This week has been a bit underwhelming.  just the way I like it.  I took time off for the 24th and took the family to see Antman and Wasp.  We had Lauren with us.  Carrie left for a month to tour Europe and left vague instructions for the care of Lauren.  We went to the Bryant's for a Burger and Dog.  We came home early.  They were planning on lighting fireworks.  We had Lauren for 3 days and it was starting to wear on Mari.  She did a great job trying to entertain Lauren.  Lauren would got from being a best friend to attempting to babysit Mari.  By the time Lauren left Mari was spent.  I'm proud of her.  It requires a lot of patience to do what she did. 

Hyrum had football tryouts this week.  He has really slimmed down.  he is starting to get a little taller.  He looks really good and they were having him play in areas he is not familiar with.  When he was a comparative monster he would be one the line.  He is no longer one of the biggest kids and will have more opportunities to play different positions.  He and Logan are on the same team and they are very excited.   It is unclear if I'm coaching this year.  We will likely find out tomorrow.  This will likely be Hyrum's last year.  Next year is when most kid will start playing with the High School team.  I think Hyrum likes hanging with the guys and being part of a team but it is not a passion.  I'm glad he gets a chance to play with Logan and few other friends from school.  This will be a very different experience than what he has had before.  We went to a viewing for my Mom next door.  Anna Lee Mackay passed away from a blood clot.  That is the mom who I grew up next to.  We just went to a viewing for their Grandmother a few weeks ago.  Grandmother was expected.  Anna Lee was not.  It was hard.  We were able to go through in one big Barlow clan.  Christie, Keith, Matt, Nate, John and family and Mom, Mari and me.  It is hard to know what to say in that scenario.  I felt like smoking some ribs so invited some family over. We have the Levers and Matt, Shirlene and Lauren.  Jaron got bored to I had Mari get Smash Bros started and to my surprise Lauren got right in the middle of the game with the kids.  It was worth the whole night to have that happen.  The ribs were not great but creating that moment was awesome.

I just found out today that I will be released from my Stake Sports calling.  I held it for 5 years.  I will be a Secretary in the Elders Quorum over Ministering.  We need to have the Presidency hold quarterly PPIs and they need someone to organize it.  I have some bitter sweet feelings about leaving Stake Sports.  I really enjoyed my calling and feel I did a decent job.  My favorite parts of it was making the player who has the lowest free throw percentage hand out taffy to each player and apologize for their poor performance.  It always got  laugh and made it fun.  We handed out many awards and kept stats.  I wonder if my replacement will keep doing it.  It is unclear if I get to keep my Primary calling.  The EQP wants me to be released.  I will get a chance to talk with the Bishop about it.  I think I can do both.  I hope I can do both.  I love my CTR 4 class and don;t want to leave them mid year.  We will see. 

Tonight we watched one of the Pirate movies and Mari was extremely restless.  I promised her we would go outside and swing the swords I made at each other.  An hour later the movie ended and Mom and Mari went outside to run around.  I thought they forgot about the swords which I was OK with.  Then Hyrum runs outside and throws swords at them and while they are catching them starts to swing his sword.  We started a new game we call Butt Battle.  The girls did not like to be hit in the arms so we decided that a hit to the butt would register as a kill.  We would get the girls flustered until they fell and then we would lift a leg and smack their butts as hard as we could.  Your Mom stayed upright but struggled to defend the onslaught.  We are teaching the lesson at the family night next Sunday and I plan to use the swords to teach the Armor of God.  I don't remember if you were home when we did not for the families I minister to.   We are going have Jaron in the middle of the circle and have some threatening members of the family surround him.  I still need to work out the specifics before Sunday.

Keep up the good work kid.  Remember the refiner's fire.  Be pliable, meek, and ready to adjust your habits and thinking as things change around you.  I'm crazy proud of you.

Dad

1 Samuel 16:7

Sweet Emma,

Did Francisca and Fabio get married?  What a fun story!  I also love your stories about you running all over the place.  These images make me chuckle!  Your 'card' idea was fun too!  "pick a card, any card".  Eve sure has fun talking to the YW in your ward.  We saw the picture that they took of you at church today.  You look great!  Those YW said that you might be getting transferred?  If so, how do you feel about that?  I think your ward will miss you too.  You are doing great things there!  What are some things you have learned from your companion?  From your area?  From the people in your ward?

Looking over my week last week, nothing much to report.  Today, Dad and I were asked to talk to Jr. Primary about our Temple Marriage.  Sister Yonk asked us to bring in a picture of us in front of the temple we were married in.  Ben (teasing like he does) asked Sister Yonk if we could bring in a picture of a Dinosaur-Themed wedding instead.  I don't think Jen appreciated it, but it was funny!  He always makes me laugh.  I also played violin with the ward choir today.  We sang "America the Beautiful".  

By the way, Dad and I get to handle the training for Trek!  We are hoping to create a unified training program so all the wards are prepared as we visit these special sites.  The Stake is paying for the Stake YM/YW Presidencies to attend a training in Wyoming.  We will be gone 2 nights.  Delle is really excited because she thinks it will be like a fun sleepover for us ladies!  I will miss Dad...but it should be fun!

Last night Dad smoked some ribs and invited Matt/family and Christie/family over to share them.  It was a fun little party.  Brennan surprised us with a visit too.  He came and ate some ribs and played Mario Cart with the kids.  It was good to see him.  We gave him the bracelet you sent and the shirt you borrowed from his mom.  I like it whenever I get to see some of your friends.  It's nice to see what they are up to.  

Hyrum is so happy to be placed on Logan's football team.  That will help me out too! (Jill and I can carpool and also visit during the games!)  This Fall starts new violin lessons schedule.  I will have 10 students.  I am saving for some fun trips that we can take as a family when you get back. 

This week we should be getting a new roof.  The color we picked is about the same as the one we had.  Your package still shows that it is in customs in Rio de Janeiro.  We pray that it will make it to you soon. It seems that most everyone your age is somewhere in the world on a mission.  What a strong Army!

I'm so proud of you!  We pray for you every day.  I love you!

💜 Mom

Emma,  I forgot something:

As a family we have decided to memorize one scripture each week. We quoted every day and I hang it around the house in various places. Last week when memorized 

John 14: 26 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be trouble neither let it be afraid.

 This week we will work on memorizing Mosiah 2:17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

 Join us if you would like! It has been fun! 

💜Mom

 

 We are starting to look at the possibility of purchasing a baby grand piano for the front room. We have been trying some out to choose our favorite sound.