8/4/19 - Family Letter to Emma

hi Emma!!!

 We are learning the song !!!and dances to School House Rock!!!!!!!!!!

 i am doing it with a school friend and a neberhood friend !!!!! it is fun!!!

Sami got a new phone.

I went school shopping with mom !!!!!

hope your week goes well!!! love u lots

 Mari

Wasa??

So I have to quit the musical to be "available"

for Missionary month. I just babysat Max Ava And Rowan, so

that was fun. I cant wait for you to get home!!!

Love

Hyrum

Sweet Emma,

Hyrum didn't like stage crew as much as he thought he would so he is choosing to be available for missionary month (just to clarify).  There are also other conflicts that will get in the way of Tech week.  We decided it would be better for him to get out now. 

None of us have signed up for the triathlon this year, but I'll be helping Dad until I have to go help with Mari's musical auditions.  Mari has been working on her monologue.  She seems to be having fun.

Rachel's wedding was beautiful.  It was a very long day, but she looked really happy.  We also went to Grayson O'Very's wedding reception.  We were in line with the Thorpe's.  They were saying they wish Cole could find the right girl.  Isabelle will be starting up at the University of Utah soon, Emily Burton will be moving to Snow in 2 weeks, Adrianne Matthews will be moving to Utah State.  It will be really different without them around.  Kade and Lauren will be moving to BYU in a few weeks.  The Ormsby's are in Hawaii right now (except Ethan, who decided not to go 🙁)  Max will be starting 2nd grade.  Rocky and Ava will be starting Kindergarten.  Now that Kade is home, the Levers will have Jacob and Jaron's Eagle Court.  Adam said that to be part of that Eagle's Nest everyone has to bring a stick, to make a real eagle's nest.  He's so funny!

Tonight Grandpa Barlow gave a lesson on the Plan of Salvation and told Angie that this lesson was for her.  He told her that he wanted her to know what they taught people while on their missions.  I'm not sure how it was received, but it took a lot of courage to present it to her.  Poor Grandpa Barlow is going through skin cancer treatments.  His face is in a lot of pain and he still has more to do.  His face is all red and burned.

Brad Fulmer took us fishing on his boat.  I was a last-minute addition to this brother fishing trip (Mari had a party and Eve had other things going on).  It was me and the boys (Dad, Hyrum, Matt, AJ, Keith, Jacob, Bro. Fulmer...and me!) It was really nice to have a chance to visit with the guys.  I even talked to AJ and I think we are friends now! I got to drive the boat and I almost kissed a fish...Jacob kissed it for me before we released it back into the lake.

I hope everything is going well with you.  Mari has been praying for you to find your 6 people.  She has strong faith. I fasted for you and Dad today.  I pray that you will know that you are loved and that you will finish strong.  We are so proud of you and your diligent effort to spread the gospel.  I came across an old article talking about the announcement of the age change for missionaries.  The article carried all the excitement and the increased desire to serve that so many youth felt as that announcement came.  It reminded me of your immediate excitement and desire to serve when you found out you could serve at 19.  I know this mission has blessed your life, and will continue to bless you.  I couldn't be any more proud of you than I am right now.

I love you!

💜Mom

M,

We are excited to hear who your new companion might be.  It was nice of President and Sister Ribeiro to take you on your hike.  It sounded like a great day.  The food looked great too.  Could a P-day get better?  You got some great pictures.  I'm still working on getting your pictures and letters organized.  It has been fun to see all the pictures you have taken.

We took the family to the Church History Museum this past week.  Eve suggested so we built it into an FHE.  They have a new exhibit of all kinds of art mediums from local artists.  It was fantastic.  We will likely be purchasing a few prints we saw there. 

We had Rachel's wedding this week.  They had a dinner for all the families at a church the night before the wedding.  They asked for everyone to give some advice.  Connor's family came very prepared.  I'm guessing they have some tradition in their family about advice giving.  Connor's Aunts and Uncles all came with some object they attempted to turn into some words of wisdom.  One brought a bread basket and mentioned something about blending their families together.  Another brought a pie plate and suggested when they fight they make pies for each other.  It was a very long drawn out advice session.  The wedding went well the next day.  It was crazy hot.  They had the reception at Magnolia Grove.  We did not stay long.  By the pictures it looks like it was a party.

We went on our annual fishing trip with Bro. Fullmer.  Mom joined us this time.  We went late in the season and it was very hot and not as many fish as we caught last time.  The fish we caught where very large.  When we were done he took us on a boat ride.  We saw parts of Strawberry Reservoir I had never seen.  We all got home safe with only a few sunburns among us.  With my attempt to change my job we might not be able to afford this trip again.  I hope we can.  It has been effective in getting Hyrum, Cob and AJ to form some kind of friendly feelings.

Love ya kid.  Super proud of what you are doing.  We fasted for you today as a family that you will have the success you are hoping to have. 

Love

Dad

Romans 1:16-17