Dec 6 2020 - Family Letter

Heyyyyo Sister Barlow This week has been pretty crazy. The auditions went good! I didn't make callbacks but that's ok. Dance auditions were rough. The dance was really hard, but I tried. How has your week gone? I got to have a late night with a friend that I haven't seen since rona started. It was really fun! Is the weather cold in South Dakota? I think that's all that major that has happened. Anyway, I hope you had a good week and were very successful. 

Love you lots 

Fuzzy head aka Mari 

 Greetings I Hope I find you well. And not frozen solid. My week was somewhat vague. Silver-rush started, and I bought a really nice hoodie. I asked Taylor on a date today, and it went well. Me and Logan are planning a double involving cookie frosting, elf, and ugly T-shirt making. I have matilda dance auditions this Monday, and the vocal audition Tuesday. I don't know what to expect. I'm not sure anyone does. I hope you watched the Christmas devotional! It was great! I especially liked Elder Holland's address. Logan got a job at Chick Fil A, and I'm going to apply there and some other places too. My first Job! I'll have less time for, well, everything. I'll figure it out though! 

From the kid who somehow developed a Santa laugh, Hyrum "Surround Sound" Barlow 

Sweet Eve, 

I'm so glad your Mission President sends updates on the happenings of your mission. They are great communicators. Sounds like they have some fun things planned for December. What a blessing to be there right now! 

Did you get a chance to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional? What wonderful messages! Matt and Emma came over for dinner, we decorated a gingerbread house and watched the devotional. We were thinking of you and the important work you are doing. We sang "Hallelujah" chorus really loud (did you hear us?😁) Right after, we got a text from the Barlow family chat (from Grandma Barlow) asking us if we sang "Hallelujah" chorus. Sounds like everyone did! I really liked President Nelson's message/blessing for all of us. Have you had any experiences where you have felt the Lord's love for you since you've been out. I would love to hear about them. Also, I fasted for you today. Any word about when and how we can get your cello to you? If needed, we can drive it up to your mission during Christmas break. If we did that, we could deliver it in a way that would not disturb/distract your work...like maybe drop it off with the Elders? Anyway, let us know. 

This week is combined rehearsals with all my classes. I'm excited to get to work with all the students of each grade. Each class has been learning a different harmony. This week is when it all comes together (hopefully!) Special experience from last week (1st grade class' rehearsal). We were singing 3 different versions of "Away in a Manger" and one of the little boys (who is a bit rough and tumble) raised his hand and said, "The Holy Ghost is here right now!" Yes! He was! I felt it and so did they! We stopped the rehearsal and talked about that special, peaceful feeling they were feeling and that it was Jesus' love for them. I couldn't sing the rest of the song with them because I was crying. I haven't felt that at school since orchestra last year. What a tender mercy! 

This week, our family will be preparing to sing "Angels We Have Heard on High" 4 part harmony for Sacrament Meeting next Sunday. Mari- Soprano, Me- Alto, Hyrum- Tenor, Dad- Bass. We will do it acapella. They are good sports! 

I hope I get the chance to talk to you this week. What a blessing that is to see your beautiful face and hear of your experiences! I'm not sure the timing of the rehearsals. I will send you my schedule via messenger. If it doesn't work out with your schedule, please know that I love you. 

Is there anyone you've met that could use extra prayers? Let us know and we will add them to our list. Right now we are praying for Luke Chandler. Looks like they are starting to send missionaries back to Africa. Looks like he might be the next to go (if it all works out!) Melissa said they have recently requested his immunizations and passport etc. Definitely a good sign! She said that Luke is a bit jealous of Kyle because , like you, Kyle can watch Disney movies. She said that Luke mutters to himself, "It's making me strong, it's making me strong...." 

I ran into Brother Barret (from the ward) he said that his wife (who was President Eyring's Secretary) also served a mission in the Dakotas. He asked me if you were serving the Lamanites. He likes that mission.

I can't wait to hear about your week. You should be receiving a box with your clothes this week (maybe Thursday?) via UPS. Let us know if you need anything else and we can put it in your Christmas package. I forgot to ask, where are your companions from? President O'Hara asked about you today.

Please know that we love you and pray for you all day long! 

💜 Mom 

 p.s. Great job on your facebook posts! You are very good at that! 

Millie, 

It has been fun to see your Facebook posts. Great job on adapting and to your situations. I have been wondering all week if I need to send you your laptop. Let us know and we will attempt to get it to you. Where are your comps from? We are starting to put together ideas for your Christmas package and they might be included. Don't tell them in case it does not work out. 

We have heard that several missionaries are starting to transition to their original assignments. Luke Chandler was asked by the church if his shots are up to date and if he knows where his passport was. The missionaries that are a month ahead pof him in tenure have been put on a plane and sent to Africa. He is very hopeful. 

Hyrum has a date this week. We have been encouraging him to start dating but he was waiting for Logan to have a birthday so he has someone to double with. It has taken some encouragement but it is happening this Friday. I suggested he ask a girl early. It worked out well as the first girl he thought about is not old enough yet. He ended up asking Taylor Ludlow at church. He handled it well. The girls were a buzz and we kept hearing Hyrums's name in hushed conversations. It is happening at our house. The plan is to cut, bake and decorate cookies and create an ugly Christmas T-Shirt with a white shirt and sharpies. I'm sure he will report on how it goes in the email next week. 

I start my new job tomorrow. I have no idea what I really do yet. It sounds like they are giving me a month to figure it out. I have a few meetings tomorrow morning but nothing scheduled the rest of the day. For 15 years I created my own schedule and workload and now I have no idea what I'm doing. It will work out. I know I have the skills to pay the bills. I just don't know where the bills are coming from or who to send the money to. I attempted to move into my "new office" but ran into some minor problems with the new fan I purchased. I had to uninstall it and take it back. I didn't have enough time to install it again because I wanted to watch the BYU football game. You choose a great time to go on a mission. It was a big game with a lot of hype which the Cougars lost. I didn't want to watch the end of the game but your Mom made me watch it. They lost at the last second being short of the endzone by one yard. I turned the TV and quickly went to the kitchen to fix dinner. Your Mom cried a little bit. It was brutal. I thought of you and how you are in a great spot right now. 

Keep up the good work. You are doing great work. Your efforts are noted and will be rewarded. Let us know if you have any requests for your Christmas package. Proud of you kid! 

Love, 

Dad 

Moroni 6:4-5