The Big Red T-Shirt

Mom's /grandma's passing three years ago

2007-12-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

December 11, 2007

Dear Family,

Dad wanted me to take a minute to just share some thoughts of mom on this day, the 11th of December, three years since she passed away. Dad and I were talking at the table, the other night, how mom passed away with humility and “enduring to the end.”

Some things that you might not know about mom in her last couple of months on this earth, is her incredible missionary spirit.(This was while the bed was in the family room, and I know her whole life.) Each and every person that came into this home, she shared the gospel in some way shape or another. Jane, the person that would come in on a daily basis to help me with mom, and come in a couple of nights a week to let me sleep, mom never missed a beat with her. On Sundays, she would turn on BYU TV and have her sit with her to listen to “Music and the Spoken Word.” In fact, I think she had the TV on BYU TV at all times, unless it was time for Jeopardy and Ken Jennings. Anyway, Jane did not leave this home, not knowing about the church. All of mom’s physical therapists, doctors, etc, she somehow shared the gospel with. She would hand out pass along cards, For the Strength of Youth., etc. I’m sure somewhere in there she gave out Books of Mormon. One of her physical therapists was Jewish and they talked and talked about each others religions. It was neat to listen to.

I guess the thing that sticks out to me the most, and I think you all got this from sisters in our ward, is that in the beginning of the week before her passing, Mom fulfilled her assignment as Visiting Teaching Supervisor by calling all the sisters on her route for a report. Many sisters, after hearing a week later that she had passed away, wished so bad that they had told her that they had done 100 percent VT, when here she was fulfilling her calling 100 percent.

Mom and Dad live so close to the spirit that when Dad gave mom a blessing the night before she passed away and released her, she knew it was the right time. She knew where she wanted to die and she was ready. She was not afraid. I hope I can follow that same pattern.

I love you all for who you are and for your wonderful examples. You’re the best. We’re having “Hawaiian Haystacks” tonight. I also made mom’s fudge, too. I don’t know whose happier, Travis or Dad.

Love, Tammy

2007-10-19T11:09:00.000-04:00

This week was red ribbon week at school. That means (for those who don't know) that the kids make pledges and do silly things to show that they wont do drugs, i.e. PJ day, silly hat day, school spirit day, red T-shirt day. Andy decided to wear his "family camp" shirt. For two days he sang, "The big red t-shirt stands for the Barnard Family, hoorah." He was so proud of his red shirt. I met with his teacher today -- he's doing really well. The funny thing is that his meds make him REALLY OCD -- I wonder where he got that from!?! So he spends a lot of time focused on things that just aren't really that important... Like getting nails out of walls... He's a little crazy.

Jaxson did his "Unusual Pet Show" today. Most of the kids made unusual pets, like dragons, unicorns, a liger (lion/tiger), and a cheetah/giraffe. Jaxson picked a bat because people don't have bats as pets unless they're Batman and since Jaxson is closely related to Batman, he needed a pet bat. But his bat was brown, not black, because some bats are brown, that's why they're unusual. He's cute. They sang some songs and showed us around the classroom. He was very proud and very excited to have me there. His teacher commented on how well he has been behaving lately -- no warnings even! Unfortunately, I think Jaxson inherited the Beard singing gene instead of the Barnard one. He sang as loud as he could, little angel, but he was so off key :)

I spilled Dr. Pepper all over my car yesterday. I stopped too fast and my 44 oz drink smashed into the dashboard and all over the floor. Guess what I get to spend ALL DAY doing tomorrow?? Serves me right for drinking that much soda. And my ipod broke! How does anyone survive without their ipod? I can't make it. My mom keeps telling me to wait until Christmas but I think I might die before then especially since my favorite time to have music on all the time is at Christmas time. I think I'm going to have to use one of my teller bonuses to get a new one. Life should have a soundtrack and my ipod totally holds the soundtrack to mine. The worst part is that I get a song stuck in my head and I can't get it out becuase it's ON MY IPOD!! I hate electronics.

My Good News Minute

2007-10-19T08:12:00.001-04:00

My kids are over croup and back to sleeping through the night!!!!

My Turn!

2007-10-18T10:49:00.000-04:00

This is our week of Stake Conference. It is always an amazing time at our house. We are so blessed with the Spirit of the Lord in our home as we prepare for this time. We will have our Sat. night meetings as usual and then 2 sessions of regional broadcasts on Sunday. I have been helping Rick's mom prepare some family names for the temple. One is her dad's brother that she amazingly lost track of. I guess if I think of moving to another country and keeping in touch with Uncle Charles after dad isn't there to keep the connection, maybe it doesn't seem so wierd but.... So I found his death records a year ago and started the process. I thought Rick's sister Lisa and her husband, Bill would like to help and maybe it would mend some pretty burned up bridges in the family. She seemed pleased to help and did all the work for John Charles (the relative) wife. Bill lost the card for Uncle Charlie and it sort of stopped. I have felt really strongly that we should keep going but wasn't sure what to do. I went to the temple with my submission number and they found it! Rick will take the name thru next week and we will get this family sealed! Families are Forever!!

How about a little carrot?

2007-10-15T12:50:00.000-04:00

I see that many of you have signed up to be contributors, so in order to get this off the ground, I will dangle a little carrot question that will be quick and painless to answer. Hmm...let's see...what could I ask? Ok, this is what the stake president asked me yesterday when I got my temple recommend replaced with the bar code recommend:
Tell me something good that is going on in your life right now. So there you are ~ let's hear it. It's kinda like the "Good News Minute" in Relief Society.
Valerie: I'm enjoying my calling in RS, especially working with Linda Andros and Hazie Brown, who have been my heroes since we moved to Virginia in 1981.

This is the beginning of great things...

2007-09-04T20:39:00.001-04:00

Here we are, family, in all our glorious color. Oh wait, no we're not, because I don't have the picture of our whole fam at Aspen Grove. Who has it? And would you please share it somehow :o)