My Barlow Sisters

My sister-in-law Lynette, is one of those amazing people you can't believe actually exist. She is an absolutely honest, accepting, comfortable person. She is an amazing seamstress http://www.ladydanburrysews.blogspot.com hard worker, supportive of her in-the-limelight husband, can crochet, cook, garden do about anything. She loves to wear dresses and skirts, most of it all made by herself. For Christmas she even make my kids Pajamas which they love. There is so much to learn from her. I'm sure often I seem so old, but she is a person I really admire and can learn from.

Then there is Marla whose husband is in the Navy. They have grown together and endured much together. He has been gone for a total of probably a few years worth of their marriage if you put it all together, even though they've both had health issues, they support one another and have two beautiful children. They have been though challenges I hope I never have to and I admire her for it.

Then there is Rebecca, sweet Rebecca. She was the first one of the family I knew I wanted to be part of my life. She had my husband and I out to their house from the time we first met and were dating and had us out almost every weekend until they moved. She'd make amazing dinners, melting rolls, always a smile and kind words. She had four babies while we lived here 3 in one year, twins and another baby, she is just one of those people who just keeps pushing forward endures through tough times and enjoys her family. Amazing mother, always with thoughtful advise and insights I really appreciate. Another example of service and family loyalty.

I was so excited to meet Mimi, the mother of six boys at the time of our marriage to add four more living children, a mother of ten. If there was a mother who can truly pull that off Mimi is the one, I've never even heard her really yell at her kids, the children love to help her, they have great respect for her, especially when they are older. She is an older sister I never had, I have learned a lot from her and appreciate her example, another person to exemplify.

Janeen, my husband's sister, died about five and a half years ago. I remember her coming up with her children to visit and our landlord wouldn't let them stay at our apartment, so we had to put them in a run-down hotel, but she was still grateful and appreciative. She knew the scriptures like the back of her hand, it was amazing. She dealt with some physical and mental challenges that would be so hard to endure, yet she did endure to the end. I look forward to the time I can met her when her body and mind will be perfected in the glorious time of resurrection.

I am grateful for the sister's I've added through marriage, I admire them and love them. Family is so important and when we look just in our own families we can find amazing treasures.

Someone Was Watching by David Patneaude

I just finished listening to this book on CD. A young adult book, if it was made into a movie I'd definitely see it. It would be more exciting if I knew this was based off a true story I almost want it to. It is about an eighth grade boy who lost his little sister, she disappeared one day presumed drowned, but.... you'll find out, but just so you know it does end well, if it didn't think I could have read this book if I didn't have the hope it would end well. A fun clean, wonderful adventure. Not an overly complex book with tons of layers, more simple and sweet. I'd give it three to four stars. Would recommend it to anyone, a nice read.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wrobleski

This was an interesting retelling of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. The uncle's name is even Claude (like in Claudius). You don't realize it's Hamlet until the tragic ending, you might have hints earlier, but it is different enough you don't know it is a true parallel until the end and then it all comes together in your mind. I thought parts of it were very well written and engaging. Other parts were written well enough but had too much unrelated detail that didn't apply to the story. You'll especially love this story if you love dogs. My sister Mary might like the references to sign language and communication without voice. It is about a young boy whose voice hasn't worked from a babe, so he and his parents use sign, though he can hear. (Parallels to Hamlet and his feelings of being unable to voice?). There is ghosts, mysteries, confused feelings and observations. I'd give it three or four stars, and feel like I could recommend it. I did skip some of the letters about breeding dogs and parts that had too much detail not directly related to the story, but in a whole good character development, I do like how the author writes from several different perspectives. Over all a good read.

Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz

I just finished this book, wow was it intense. It was probably the darkest book I've read, much darker than Harry Potter, but the same idea of good vs. evil. The real battle against good and evil. It had dark magic in it that was pretty intense and creepy. I was surprised it was a young adult book, but very well written, quite violent and graphic like his Alex Rider's series but covered some interesting subjects. Would I recommend this book? Yes and No. If it was made into a movie I don't know if I could handle it. I will probably continue onto book two, but probably wouldn't recommend it to myself years ago when I was less calloused. I would give it four or five stars, well written put together adventure/action novel.

My Father

It seems like I’ve had a hard time writing about my father, my personal history that section is lacking. My father holds a special place in my heart. While growing up I was always trying to please him and have his attention, a lot like M does with G.

Anything he was interested in: books, plants, stars, science, Underdog, Popeye, Muppets, Dune, songs he sang anything doing with my dad I loved too. I took every opportunity to spend time with him, even if it meant waking up at 5:30 am and doing irrigation, or 2:00 am to watch shooting stars. I memorized A Poor Way Faring Man of Grief as a teenager, knowing that was my dad’s favorite hymn.

I have wonderful memories of eating licorice together, especially the black kind (that is my dad’s favorite) on camping trips, and feeling disappointed with myself when I couldn’t get myself to eat the raw sardines. Getting baptized was a special event I remember my father talking to me, practicing with me and helping me understand the importance of being a member of the Church and having my sins cleaned. He is a wonderful example of service, he would always take care of his widowed mother-in-law with whatever she needed.

Work is important to both of my parents, my father is always in the yard and garden working, right now the latest project is the cabin. When we were younger the yard and orchard were the big projects, I think the original idea was for us kids to work hard, but my dad did most of the pruning, tilling, planting, we might help with the picking and irrigation at times, but he did most of the work outside.

For a long time I actually didn’t know what my dad did for his profession. He is interested in so many things, I thought he worked with plants, then I asked my mom what he did and she said he was a doctor, but that confused me he didn’t seem like the doctors I had met, he was my dad. If you meet him you’d think he was a scientist, inventor, botanist, plant geneticist, astronomer, politician, or missionary. I still feel like my dad is so smart and knows about everything, and if I had a question about anything he’d probably have an answer.

My dad is a fountain of knowledge. I remember randomly he’d come in my room and share some insight of wisdom like, “the only security in life is God.” Or “sometimes our greatest strengths can be our greatest weaknesses” (I think he was referring to my over active imagination). He is very protective of his wife, children and grandchildren. Very generous, very thoughtful, he and my mom will often hire people who need help always having many projects going on at once. The way they spent money was never indulgent, money was spent on family vacations, helping others, ideas to help their children, very self-sacrificing parents.

My favorite memories are Narnia memories while growing up he probably read the whole Narnia series 5-6 times through, starting when I was in Kindergarten in Oklahoma, also he would quote us poems he had memorized like “the Raven” , stories from The Hobbit and songs from the 3Ds and cowboy songs. I remember the singing, my dad’s strong voice lulling me to sleep or entertaining us in the car with tales of the everglades, of frogs, most songs with a kind of lesson.

There has always been service in the church, every calling taken seriously and fulfilled completely. Father’s blessings, healing blessings, Family Home Evening, Sunday sharing of spiritual thoughts and lessons. Personal Priesthood Interviews (PPI’s) at least once a month especially when I was a teenager. When I was sixteen my dad took me on a date, we went out to eat at Olive Garden and saw a movie at the foreign films, I was in heaven having that one on one special memory time with my dad.

When I was eighteen I got to go on a business trip with him to San Diego where we got to go to Catalina, see the San Diego temple, walk by the beach hang out with some of his friends and go out to eat, it was such a wonderful memory I’ll never forget and so nice to have before I left home.

Family vacations, example, insightful, wise, gardening, studying, continually learning and sharing, generous and wonderful, my father.

Good way to save money

So I've been recording our expenses and have been appalled at some of our spending esspecially when I talk to some of my siblings and they live off 1/3 or less of what I've been spending on groceries and such. Soooo, I haven't spent hardly anything this month, and my seceret? Don't shop and when I do it has been for exactly what we need like 2 gallons of milk and a carton of eggs and just using what I have around the house. Of course this will backfire when I've depleted every thing we have at home, but it is a good idea for this month since we'll be going on a trip soon and I can leave our fridge empty.

M's new room

So I'd like to know what you think. I would like to fix up M's new room for her birthday this summer. Right now she has fading wall paper that is half-way torn off on one wall and holes in another wall and permanent maker on another wall, blinds that are bent and don't work well, no closet doors, stained carpet etc... She's old enough not to destroy a new room so I'm thinking...

New white blinds in the window

Take off the wall paper and re-drywall the wall with holes.

Mint green color on the walls with a new white ceiling,

New white door, smooth the trim around the door with sandpaper and repaint as well.

Paint white trim around the closet, doorway and floor boards.

Wood-lamented flooring, with a matching ceiling/light fan

Blue and greened patterned material as curtains for her closet.

Paint her desk white to match

Organize and maybe build some shelves in her closet.

Have blue framed pictures and a blue framed magnet board on the wall.

All this matches with the two bedspreads she has one which is blue/white/green and another which is plain white. I have two natural wood pieces a dresser and book shelf I'll probably leave. I figure I can do all this for not very much money, the most expensive will the the flooring. Anyways, I'd love to get ideas or what you think.