Barlow Girls Visit Fort Worth

My mom and four of her sisters came to visit this past weekend. They take 2 trips together each year. One is every November to the Mistletoe Festival in Jackson, MS, and the other is to a destination of their choice. They've been to the beach, Memphis, New Orleans, and this year--Fort Worth. So I got to be their tour guide! Friday we visited the Money Factory where they are making the new 100 Dollar bills. Then I took them to Sam Moon, and we had lunch at La Madelaine. We finished the day with a scalding tour of the Stockyards and dinner at Babe's. (We weren't aware that when you order fried chicken they bring you half a fried chicken--in pieces of course. So 5 people ordered fried chicken--so we got a total of 2.5 fried chickens at our table plus the chicken strips Michael and I ordered. Needless to say, we have tons of fried chicken in our freezer!) Saturday we went to the Botanic Gardens and wandered around. We celebrated my Aunt Charlotte's 65th birthday on Saturday as well. Then we finished the weekend with dinner at Pappadeaux's Seafood. Lots of good food this weekend. Below are some pics from the weekend. You can see more on Facebook. They like to show their behinds in pictures, but I only included one of those. I try to keep this blog clean.

We are off to New Orleans tomorrow morning and then to the beach on Tuesday. Pray for good weather and no oil!! I need a good vacation!

Kevin's Wedding

Last weekend, we went home for Kevin's wedding. We had a really good time visiting with friends from college. I can't wait til we can see these people on a more regular basis. The wedding was beautiful. Below are some pics of the groomsmen and Kevin dancing at the reception. Yes Michael participated! He's clearly visible in the second row of pics, second picture.

MAYFEST

The first weekend in May, Michael and I went to MAYFEST. It's kinda like Market Street in Columbus and is on the Trinity River near Downtown Fort Worth. It was geared more towards the kids, but we had a good time. Below are some pictures from the frisbee dogs show and the duck races. Also is a picture of a guy wakeboarding on the Trinity River. This was a bit anticlimactic. They didn't pull him behind a boat, but there was a big wire run diagonally across the river. The wakeboarder held onto the rope that was attached to the wire and was pulled by a motor. Hence, there was no WAKE from the boat for the WAKEboard to WAKEboard in. It was interesting, but I don't think it would be as fun as the real thing. Definitely didn't look as cool.

For Daddy on His Birthday...

...one day late! Sorry about that! :)

My Top Ten Memories with Dad...in no particular order:

10. Going to the store on Tuesday mornings as a kid in the summer to "work" for 50 cents.

9. Going to the store every morning during my junior and senior year of college for Daddy time

8. Dad being the "cool" chaperone on field trips in 3rd grade

7. Test driving my first car on Lock and Dam Road when I was just 14 and picking me up from school one day in it. (even though I couldn't drive for 4 months)

6. Going to hit a bucket of balls with you in the afternoons and/or driving your golf cart while you golfed

5. Riding jet skis together...in particular the time we ran out of gas in the middle of the ocean and you convinced me it was an "adventure" so I wouldn't hyperventilate

4. Our phone conversations nearly every single weekday morning since I moved to TX--and how our relationships has grown and changed because of them (for the better)

3. "Sandwich snuggles" every night before I went to bed

2. The day I got my first ticket (only 1 month after getting my license no less) and you just folded it up and put it in your pocket because I was so hysterical. You never yelled at me. I appreciated that!

1. Dancing with me at my wedding. I know that wasn't your thing, but it was special to me!

I love you Daddy! Can't wait to make more memories with you! Happy Birthday!

Mother's Day

When I was a little girl, I wrote my mother a poem in honor of Mother's day. In it, I praised her for her ability to make me creamed corn. Now, with some age and perspective, I can find many things to praise her for, although making me creamed corn is always sure to be a success. In an effort to keep this moderately brief, two main things stand out about my mom. First, she is always ready and willing to listen. She has always been this way. I cannot remember a time in my entire life when I was not perfectly comfortable talking to her about ANYTHING. From childhood problems, to teen-aged boy drama, to "grown-up" (if that is what I am) fears and dreams. Whatever it is that's on my mind, she is always there ready to listen. As a child, we usually had our chats as she tucked me into bed each night--yes right up until the night before my wedding--or on long road trips to visit her family. Now, these conversations are on the either end of a phone, but I'm looking forward to the time when I can actually sit with her and talk about what's going on in life again. Second, mom has ALWAYS supported me 100% in the things I feel like God as led me to do in my life. She did this even when it was at great cost to her. (i.e. her baby spending 7 weeks on the other side of the planet as a summer missionary or her baby moving 8 hours away to pursue a seminary degree.) Her actions in response to these decisions speak volumes to me about what my mother believes about God. I know that she trusts Him to lead and guide my life.

For these two reasons and SO much more, I am thankful for my mama. I love you! I only hope that one day I can be as great a mom as you are.

Martin Bryant Benton

My apologies--Martin Bryant Benton will join the family in September. :)

Playing Catch Up?

Okay, so I feel like every time I blog now, I am apologizing for a 6 month absence. But Summer is upon us which means no classes and lots of fun things like the beach and babies.

So, Baby Burks that was announced at Christmas is now Jack Lucas Burks to be called Luke. Another addition will also be made this fall to the Burks family in Bryant Martin Benton--my cousin's son. My good friend in Fort Worth is due in June. They are letting the gender of the baby be a surprise but I had a dream, and its a girl. :) I swear every time I turn around, someone else is pregnant. Hopefully one day it will be me! I am hanging in there--just one more year of school. Then I can have all the babies I want.

Did you catch that--just ONE more year of school! Crazy huh? I'm ridiculously excited. I'm already "house hunting" in Starkville. I'm trying to convince Michael we should build. He's politely tolerating my ridiculousness and just laughing at me. But seriously--we have to have a place to live there. Why not start shopping early!? Hopefully whatever home I choose will last a LONG time--so I wanna draw out the process and enjoy it!

What else is there to tell you? Fun upcoming things? Well...I'm taking a one week class in May--hip hip hooray! No seriously--I am excited about getting a WHOLE class out of the way in one tiny week. Then its off to Cuba for a wedding. Michael's old college roomie is marrying a girl from Cuba. (you have no need to fear, she's not communist--its Cuba, AL). Kevin let me go on believing she was from Cuba the country for quite a while when they first started dating. Anyways, the hubbie gets to get all dressed up in a tux...:). Then the very next weekend the Barlow girls (all SIX of them) are coming to Fort Worth for Memorial Day weekend. I am sure many posts will be devoted to that little adventure. Then we are off to the beach for a week the first of June. I CANNOT wait! I LOVE the beach. I didn't know how much until an ENTIRE year went by without me visiting one. I'm here to say that will NEVER happen again if I have anything to say about it. I will even chaperone a youth trip to go, and I'm not fond of youth--unless you are Caleb or Carrie or Cason when he gets there. Teenagers scare me. Okay that was a rabbit trail. Back to summer plans. Then I'm hoping to come home for Ashley's baby shower and bring two good friend from Texas with me in June. Then hopefully Erica and Alan are coming to visit in July. Finally--the grand finale of the summer--sit and wait for Luke's much anticipated arrival!

Amidst all of that fun I will be working at ACH with my kiddies and counseling at Catholic Charities for my internship.

Here is a pic from Super Bulldog Weekend. I'm posting both of them b/c Dad and Ashley are giving the camera dirty looks in opposite ones. I wanted everyone to have a chance to look nice.