Happy Father's Day!

Daddy,

You have always been someone I could look up to. Two major things you have taught me: First, the value of hard work. My whole life you have been an example of hard work. There were times that it drove me nuts, but today I am glad that you instilled that in me. My work ethic has given me many opportunities that I would not have had if I did not value doing my job to the best of my ability. Second, you've always been 100% supportive of me and my goals and dreams--even when they weren't exactly what you wanted me to be doing! I cannot express in words how much I appreciate the support you and mom have given me over the years as I've tried to follow God's plan for my life. I wouldn't be able to do things like go to Thailand or live in Texas for 3 years without y'all behind me cheering me on and praying for me. I hope that when its my turn to support my own children I can do as great a job as you have done. I love you more and more as I get to know you better now that I'm older. I treasure our conversations and your advice on things. Thanks for being the best (and most handsome) Daddy a girl could ask for!

Love you,

LB

Happy Birthday Mama!

Happy Birthday Mama! I love you!

Top Ten Memories with Mom (in no particular order):

10. Even though I hated it at the time, curling my hair on Sunday mornings as a child. My 1st grade Sunday School teacher used to tell me she knew who won the battle each Sunday based on whether my hair was curled or not. Now I don't consider myself "dressed up" unless my hair is curled (which is still not often).

9. I have vague memories of this, but throwing my in the swimming pool and forcing me to learn how to swim. I'm so thankful that I am as comfortable in the water as I am on land.

8. All the car rides to visit your family in Hazlehurst and the conversations we had on those trips.

7. Your face when I walked out of the gym after cheerleading tryouts in 6th grade to tell you that I needed the check book because I made it. I never knew you didn't think I was gonna make it!!

6. When I was in preschool, you would drive really fast through the park on the way to school every morning after getting do-nuts to "get our stomachs". Every morning until they put in the stupid speed bump.

5. Shopping trips to Birmingham for clothes--just me and you.

4. The year you volunteered to plan my end of the year school party. I had lots of fun and was so proud that my mom helped plan it.

3. Going with Whitney, Stefanie, and me to Chicago--and dealing with my freak-outs when I thought we were going to be lost and never found again.

2. Planning the wedding. That was fun!

1. Our nightly coversations growing up. (yes this is definitely number 1 even though the others could come in any order). People talk all the time about how parents need an open line of communication with their children. I never ONCE during my growing up years doubted whether I could talk to you about something. I may have known it might not go well for me, but I knew I could always talk to you and you would tell me the truth. I know for a lot of those years you didn't think I was listening, but I was--and you were right. But you know that already!

Love you bunches and am thankful to have you for a mama!

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.