4/29/19 - Family Letter to Emma

M,

We just had some bid news.  I was just called to be on the High Council.  It still has not sunk in and I don't have any assignments yet.  I will let you know as I know more.

The Tulip Festival was amazing!  It as beautiful as we could have expected.  I'm sure Mom will send you a few pictures.  IT was fairly crowded and wet.  We picked the only rainy day this past week to go.  We took the oversized umbrella so we were OK.  It rained for a while so we got cozy under the umbrella.  We got a few good umbrella shots.  Your Mom teared up in a few places as she said the "flowers were to happy to be here".  they had a smelling garden where the tulips where high enough so we could easily smell them.  We say the garden were all the Christ statutes are located.  It was spiritual to consider the life of Christ and all the plants that we say along the way to helped tell the story.  Around the Gethsemane and cross statute we noticed they planted prickly bushes and by the Resurrection a lot of flowers that are the first sign of Spring.  On the way out we saw Nate's family with Grandma, Grandpa, and Grandma Mildred.  We gave them our umbrella and they needed it.  Once we left it began to rain very hard. 

Luke Chandler got his mission call to Johannesburg, South Africa.  He leaves right before you get home.  He is very excited.  I purchased him a "Missionary Starter Kit" that had a large flag, many small flags, 2 flag pins, and a key chain for Melissa.  It felt good to see the flag flying outside his home.  It is a great looking flag.  Westin Gneiting announced his mission call to Fresno, California and said that he was "very relieved to be serving in California".  Missionary Call season is in full force.  Have you had a chance to talk with your Mission President about us picking you up.  The Kumps are planning to get Jaren but are meeting some resistance from our Stake President. 

I went with Mari to Dads and Donuts this past week.  It has been interesting to consider how many years we have been doing Dads and Donuts.  I get one more with Mari.  She is growing so crazy tall and it is freaking me out.  Mom and I were looking around the Elementary School and it felt kind of strange to be there.  It felt like we had outgrown the school.  Mari is doing very well.  She started the year not having any friends in her class to having some very close friends.  We are disappointed they all live on the wrong side of the canal and will be going to a different middle school.  We hope they can keep in touch.

Mom had arrange a very cool service project for the Stake.  We went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple and weeded the hillside you see passing the hillside.  They feed them some breakfast and Mom gave some info a out the temple, the grounds and what a special opportunity it is to work on the temple.  We had a great turnout and the kids had fun.  We did a lot of good.  The temple gardeners were very appreciative and your Mom was talking about making it a yearly event. 

Love you kid.  I'm happy for the experiences you are having and the woman you are becoming.  Stay healthy, Stay safe.

Love

Dad

Alma 45:21

Sweet Emma,

Have you ever experience something so beautiful and wonderful that it made you want to cry?  I did!  The Tulip Festival was the most beautiful, wonderful experience.  Thank you so much for that!  I can't remember the last time I enjoyed myself so much.  I loved everything about it.  I learned, I felt, I smelled, I was inspired.  I loved being there with Dad (and then Nate, Eliza, Rocky, Duncan, Grandma Mildred, Mom and Dad Barlow).  I love the weather.  The clouds were incredible! The flowers and gardens were food for the Soul. The Spirit around the Statues of the Savior was so nurturing.  Dad and I read  the scripture associated with each statue.  I also loved the plants they chose to place around each statue.  It told a story too.  For example, between Gethsemane and Golgotha, the path was lined with Black Barberry, these are vicious shrubs filled with thorns.  There were also olive trees at the entrance to this area and spring flowers representing the Resurrection at the statue of the Resurrected Savior. The rest of that area was planted with native plants similar to those that would be found in Jerusalem.

Those gardens, all of them, helped me feel that heaven was near.  Thank you Sweet Emma! 

We are very excited about Dad's new calling.  He will do great on the High Council.  The Stake Presidency was so sweet when they called us in to the office.  They first inquired about Dad's worthiness (they did this privately while I waited outside the office).  They opened the door and said, "He passed!" President Steed extended the calling and told him that they have been considering his name for a year but hadn't felt that the time was right until now.  They said that they knew he had good work ethic and good experience in the church.  They taught him to be careful what he says because he now represents the Stake and people will take what he says very seriously.  They said that with all the rumors about changes that are circulating (and will continue to circulate) it is important to let them go and not feed into the speculation.  They asked me how I felt about his new calling.  I told them I was so excited for him and happy.  I told them that I was looking forward to learning more about the organization of the church through his new calling.  They asked how this would affect our family.  We both agreed that the kids would all be fine and that they are very independent.  President O'Hara got a bit teary and told me that if I ever doubt my ability as a mother, I should know that I am doing a marvelous job. (So sweet of him to say that!).  They all gave us a big hug and told us how happy and excited they were to be working with both of us in the Stake.  They were very kind and said that we were a very prominent family in the Stake and we can do much good.

I am very excited about the brotherhood that Dad will experience with the others on the High Council.  As you know, there is something so special about the love that you develop for the people you serve with.  The past year, Dad has really increased his scripture study.  He has been keeping a record of his impressions.  I know he was inspired to do this.  I think this will help him as he speaks in different wards.

Speaking of recording impressions, I LOVED the recording you made about the things that you have learned on your mission and through the scriptures.  During family church today, we shared your thoughts about why some people recognize the truth when they hear it and some do not (depends on how well they knew the Savior before they were born)....what a sweet thought, that we knew the Savior well before we were born.  I'm so glad that everyone was born with the Light of Christ so they have a chance to feel that again if they choose it.

You are so loved!  Please be safe and enjoy your time on a mission.  It will be gone before you know it. 

💜Mom

Hi Emma!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 How was your week ?

I start safety patrol training this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I start  at the bike cage.

The weather is getting warmer  and warmer every day!!!!!!

Because other people were talking me and my friend had to get separated 🙁

 Any way it will be fine. Have you fully recovered? Also Crew was doing this weird  thing at church, I had to walk by him to get to the front because my name was called his feet were in the way so right as I was going o say excuse me he quickly moved his feet and said "oh I am so Sorry Please forgive me,"OK I forgive you And on my way back it was the same thing . But then he started making silly faces at me! The hole time this was going on I was like ," I wounder if this was a dare Or not,"

Miss and love Mari