12/12/21 Family Letter

 Hi Eve!!!! 

This week has been crazy! 

2nd week of Oquirrh fest. I went caroling at petersons on Saturday.

Friday Grandma Milldred, Grandma, and Grandpa Barlow came over to watch elf and eat ribs. 

Tell ya i have never heard Grandma Laugh more in my entire life!

Thursday was the school dance. My sevie SBO told me ,``Hey ,my friend thinks you're cute, and he wants to dance with you.

" So I said sure! And I was getting shoved into him and he was getting shoved into me.

 Everyone was filming and It was really awkward. He was pretty cute. 

He was short. And one of my friends told me he REALLY Liked me.

The school dance was so FUN! My friends and I danced the hour away! It was so fun!

Wednesday was Family Fun Night! It was so fun I got to bring Joey! We did a doggy room. It was so fun! 

The Guy I like Named Tyler painted my face SOOO GOOD ( insert sarcasm)I got lots of pictures with friends!

I swear the Sbos and I are like family.

Tuesday we had our first Wizard of Oz rehearsal., It was fun! I love everyone in myt ensemble.

And Monday along with you was My freeday. That was pretty much a week

I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!
LOVE YOU SISTER !!!
  Mari Barlow

This week wasn't crazy, but it was busy

I've been performing almost every single day for the past two weeks.

Madrigals have performed the same routine 20+ times, and I'm very tired of twenty minute Christmas themed performances.

But we're almost through. I've 6 more performances over the next three days, but then nothing the rest of the week.

At least for now.

 My voice is still shredded, but hey. What are you gonna do.

Well, that's really it. Performances and school. Silver Rush is going well, but I've been gone so much that I haven't participated that much. 

I'm fine with that, but I'm going to try and be more involved this closing week.

Anyway, I love you! 

Good luck, and remember...

"Find what you love and fight for it" - Hyrum Barlow

In your case right now, find what you need to care about and fight for it. Forget the rest, and focus your focus.

Hyrum

Sweet Eve,

I can't wait to hear how you are getting along with your new companion.  I hope things are better!  When the Sister Missionaries came over for their meeting tonight they were so interested to hear whether or not you were re-assigned.  They said, "Prayers Answered!"

My orchestra concert went well.  It was fun to see those students so proud of themselves!  My favorite song was one that the Chamber Orchestra (with an electric guitar) did- "Christmas Eve Sarajevo, as performed by Trans Siberian Orchestra"  They did great! I was a bit surprised that Carden allowed an electric guitar...too modern.  But, surprises happen all the time!

This week are the Choral concerts.  Some favorites are:  7th graders doing "Fruitcake" and throwing ingredients all over as they sing (again, I'm surprised that Carden approved this).  5th grade girls doing "Hot Chocolate" from Polar Express.  It's supposed to be a 3 part harmony but the girls keep singing the same notes and are so focused on the dance that goes with it.  5th grade boys are doing a boppin version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" complete with boomwhackers.  It should be fun but I hope it's "Carden" enough! After this week SCHOOL IS OUT FOR CHRISTMAS BREAK!

Today in Sacrament meeting Stuart Timm sang a solo, accompanied by Johnny Butterfield.  It was great!  I am always surprised when people from the ward approach me to ask if they can do a musical number in Sacrament meeting.  Just today I had 2 more families volunteer- The Bennion Family, and Harrison Sligting and his new bride (she plays the cello).  Prior to that, the Larson Family wanted to sing, and the Cook Family also wanted to sing.  I am so happy that people are realizing that it's not about a "performance" but more about their "offering" to Christ. 

Yesterday, Barlow Family Band did our thing at the Park Avenue Branch (retirement) Christmas Party.  We did a few 4 part harmony Christmas Hymns, Hyrum and I did a fiddle/melodica duet, Mari did "Mele Kalikimaka"  and sang on her Ukulele. Dad did different versions of drums with various songs, and I did "O Holy Night" on my new violin.  We also did some sing-along songs and dressed the cute old people up as "Frosty the Snowman", "Rudolph" and a Hula Dancer.  We also shared around the hillbilly instruments to do "Jingle Bells".  It was really fun!  I love our musical team!

Emma gave us the sweetest gift for Christmas.  She took all of our old family movies and put them into digital format.  We were able to watch old family movies again! We found a sweet movie of you when you were about 4 telling us an article of faith.  I will try to send it to you.  You were/are so stinkin' cute!

We got the sweetest letter from the Friedli/Canland family!  They said,"Oh my goodness!  We LOVE your daughter! She has a light that shines brighter than most!  We were so excited to have her in our home, especially knowing that she came from the Candland's Ward. She helped me personally feel closer to home.  She is FUN, creative, thoughtful and just an all around WONDERFUL HUMAN! Thank you so much for raising her right, she is amazing!  Thank you for sharing her.  She has given my girls someone to look up to. She has given my son an idea to look for a woman who follows Christ.  I hope you have a wonderful Holiday season and know your girl is LOVED here in South Dakota.  Love, Heather Friedli and Candland Kids"

We put this sweet card up on the wall by our Christmas Cards.  It's a keeper!  

We are so proud of you.  Thank you for being so loving to all those you meet.  Our Heavenly Father loves you so much...and we do too!

 Mom

Millie,

I hope things are going better with your new companion.  We are eager to hear how things are going.

Emma and I spoke today in the Harvest Field Portuguese Ward.  It went well.  Emma spoke in Portuguese.  I did not.  I hope the message I gave translated OK.  I had a sister ask me about my references and I gave my talk to her.  It is always a relief when the talk is over but in a few days it will be time to start on the next one.

The Barlow Family Band was once again activated.  Tiffany accepted a chance for us to perform for the Park Avenue Branch.  We sang a few hymns and suggested they sing along.  They did.  Tiffany brought some costumes for them to dress up in while we sang a few secular songs.  I asked her what do we expect them to do with these costumes.  Tiffany said, "they will figure it out".  They did.  She dressed one of them up as Rudolph and said act like Rudolph and he knew what to do.  It also worked when we dressed one of them up as Frostie and in a hula skirt.  We were there for 30 min and left feeling like we did some good.

Hyrum is improving.  I think having the musical over is helping.  We are getting him some counseling. They offer some help through the school with some direction once we exhaust their resources.  We will get to see his doctor over Christmas break.  We are hopeful things will get better for him soon.

Love you kid.  You are doing a great job and making us all very proud!

Love,

Dad

Alma 17:9-10