A few of my Favorite things Part 1

I have been absent from the blogging world for a long time due to a lot of things that have been going on-so rather than bore anyone with the crazy details of my everyday life, I figured that I am long overdue for a "Things I am thankful for" post. It will go in phases because as I was thinking, I realized that I have a TON of things to be thankful for. The first thing that I am most thankful for is my family. We are the wonder known as the Barlow family and we started out like this:Steve and Jane:the early years. This is one of my most favorite pictures of my Mom and Dad and they still look at each other like this and make each other laugh. Love it. Over the years, we have grown and grown:We have added two wives and now 4 grandchildren and have expanded to this:
Together we make quite a diverse group too-mostly because we are all so talented:) Anyways, no matter what, through thick and thin, big hair and bad hair days, we are always there and we enjoy each other's company. I have been able to spend quite a bit of time with them over the past couple of months and it has made me appreciate our family that much more. I am going home for 10 days of fun at Christmas and can't wait! This is why I am a lucky girl...

My So-Called Life

I have been a little crazy busy as of late, but I thought that I would take a minute to let you all know what I have been up to:
1. I got to hang out with the greatest guys from my ward (including the Bishop) when I was the MC of the Mr. 64th Ward Pageant. Here they all are at the end of the pageant in their "Evening Wear" and notice their sashes that have their phone numbers on them: They all did great and competed in the talent, beach wear, evening wear and question portions and I got the best seat in the house. I also got to take a picture with them all, but the girl who took it won't give it to me because, yes, she is like that.
2. I got to attend a few events for my Fine Arts class and especially enjoyed the African Children's Choir. If they come anywhere near you, you should rearrange your schedule to go. Totally worth it.
3. I got to go home last week to do some recruiting for Utah State. We met with some really cool students and school counselors and even got to host an Open House at the Pleasanton Hotel at a room that was right next to the bar. Excellent. But best of all, I got to hang out with the cutest baby in the world:The only bummer is that I came back to Logan with a huge cold, so I am a little under the weather but determined to be healthy by Wednesday when I go back to Cali. Oh, and we also got to see the Twilight movie on Saturday...yummy!
So that's me right now in a nutshell and the combination of working, traveling, group projects and finals in the next couple of weeks makes Anne a tired girl, but it is all totally worth it. Hopefully.

Flashback Friday

There hasn't been a Flashback Friday in my world for a while, so I thought I would dig way back in the archives. I am pretty sure that this picture explains why I don't like the zoo. Enjoy.

There's a CHP in my Family

So, Laura and I just spent a whirlwind weekend at home with the fam and had a blast! First, we saw Chuck Norris in the Salt Lake Airport:
I pretended to be taking a picture of Laura in the decorative cob webs so that Chuck wouldn't get suspicious. Was it really Chuck Norris? Yes-that's our story and we're sticking to it! Then, we got to go see our brother Mike graduate from the California Highway Patrol Academy/look for future husbands. Mike got Tasered with Boatwright here, so he decided to join the family:Apparently once you have been tased with someone, you know him well enough to introduce him to your single sisters. Luckily, he laughed at our jokes so he is in. Besides the fact that Dad got stung by a vengeful bee, it was a great day! And, we got to hang out with the cutest little flower in the world:All in all it was so fun, except for the fact that our flight coming back to SLC was late and we didn't get home til after 2am, you get a bunch of Barlows together and it is a great time! I am so proud of my brother, Officer Barlow, and my parents who worked so hard to campaign for the Yes on Prop 8 effort-which even included Jane standing on the road in a torrential downpour holding signs and being yelled at to, "Go Back to Utah!" Like that would be such a bad thing...

Seriously? It is time to take action. Seriously...

So, it has been a while since I got riled up enough to do another Seriously post, but alas, now I am. There have been some things going on in the news and in the world around me lately that leads me to ask: Seriously?
1. I am very passionate about politics, especially right now when we are in the midst of two very important events in our history: the election of our new President and the Proposition 8 defining families in California. To my fellow Americans: We are very lucky to live in a country where we are able to vote and have a say in who leads our country. We are blessed to live in the land of the free because of our brave soldiers past, present, and future who have volunteered to fight for the freedoms that we enjoy every day. If you think that your vote doesn't count or that an issue does not effect you, it does. If Proposition 8 is defeated in California, mark my words, it will start a wildfire across the other states of this great nation and pretty soon our children will be taught in their schools that it is okay for the Prince to marry the Prince. Seriously. So, my plea to you is this: Educate yourself on the issues and vote what you feel is best for you and your family. Let me repeat. VOTE. It counts. It is a privilege. The future of our country is not decided by the registered voters. It is decided by the registered voters who vote. Seriously.
2. According to Proposition 8 that is on the ballot in California, to vote yes, you are voting yes to define marriage as "between a man and a woman..." and amending the Constitution of California so that the law will never change. You are not voting to have any rights taken away from anyone. If this Proposition is defeated, it will continue to be legal for anyone to marry anyone. It will become legal for any 2 consenting adults to marry anyone or anything. That's right, anything. It will also become mandatory that teachers are required to teach about same sex marriage in the schools. Grade schools. It will become illegal for a church (any church, not just the LDS church) to refuse anyone the right to adopt or get married in their church. This should be a scary thing to anyone who values the definition of a family. Like I said, if this gets defeated in California,I am positive that within the next 5 years it will be on the ballot of many other states with a lot of force behind it. Our Prophet and Priesthood leaders have asked us to take a stand against something that is attacking our morals. There have been many stories on the news that have interviewed "Faithful members of the Church" who state that they do not agree that the church is getting involved in this issue. All I have to say to these members is this: Maybe you should look up the definition of Faithful. Because I am pretty sure you have it wrong. Seriously.

3. On another completely different note: Halloween is coming! I love it. Seriously. I do not love, however, that some people think that Halloween=modesty free day. Just because you are wearing a costume does not mean it is okay to be scantily clad. Enough said. Seriously.

Yikes! The 3rd and Final Tag

Okay, so I have to admit that I have enjoyed the tags of the past week, so here is the last one. Hopefully you now know everything you ever wanted to know and more:

I am...Happy
I know...lots of random facts
I want...world peace. Really.
I have...good friends
I dislike...mean people
I miss...Sammie. Everyday.
I feel...busy
I hear...the humming of my computer and good music
I smell...like American Eagle (the green bottle)
I crave...bread sticks from Olive Garden
I cry...often. At commercials, TV shows, the news, when I am sad, or just because.
I search...for a new phone
I wonder...where I will be when I am done with my degree
I regret...not saying the right thing sometimes
I love...good weather
I care...about other's happiness
I worry...about the future of our country and California after the election
I remember...only the good stuff about people
I believe...the Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us
I sang...to the radio in the shower this morning
I dance...only when no one is looking
I don't...get in bad moods
I argue...about things that are near and dear to me
I write...a lot of papers right now
I win...when I try hard or bet at bowling
I lose...focus around 3:30 in the afternoon
I wish...that curly hair didn't equal frizziness
I listen...whenever anyone needs me to
I can usually be found watching...The Office
I am scared...of being alone
I need...lots of hugs
I forget...to hold a grudge
I am happy to be...a girl!

Yikes I have been tagged (three times now!)...Part 2

My next tag has come from Jen and I just have to list 6 Unspectacular Quirks about myself. Feel free to do this one too...although I prefer to think of them as "spectacular" quirks-so here goes:
1. I am a symmetrical thinker. What I mean by this is that I have to have everything hanging on the wall centered with the furniture centered and balanced. The pictures also have to be straight. I am always making sure that this happens in my house and in my office and I am sure that I drive people crazy, although I do get calls from friends asking to help them hang things...
2. The toilet seat lid in my bathroom always has to be down. If I walk in and it is up, the first thing I do is make sure that it is down-I think this is mostly because I am afraid of things falling in and I read a study a few years ago that said the water can spray up to 6 feet when flushed. Bleck.
3. I am always thinking of ways to decorate my house. It takes a long time and happens in bits and pieces, but I love to put the personal touch on everything that I have and make sure that it involves my personality. Here is a sample of a shelf in my room:
There is a pic of me when I am little, my Mom when she was little, my Grandma's copy of the book, "Anne's House of Dreams", a snow globe from Florence, a picture of the Savior that has been with me since I moved to Rexburg for my first year of college, an old world globe from my Grandparents, a handmade flower from a trip to Hawaii, and a few more things that speak for themselves. I love it every time I look at it.
4. I dance like a middle class white girl. I do not have the beat. In fact, I only dance when no one is looking because I am afraid that 911 will be called with the report that I am having convulsions.
5. When I go bowling, after I throw the ball, I strike my Wonder Woman pose of standing there with my hands on my hips. It is just a reflex-but come to think about it, I do stand like that a lot (refer to the above pic of me striking the pose). It means a lot of making fun of me when I am bowling, but I am really good at it if anyone needs me to be in a bowling league (or League of Justice).
6. I am entertained very easily. I can do pretty much anything and have a good time. This probably stems from the fact that growing up, if we ever said "I'm Bored" to my Dad, he would tell us to find something to do, or HE would find something for us that would be much less fun than whatever we could find. Thus, my brother Mike and I are both entertained very easily.
So, there are some quirks about me and I am sure that if you have ever lived with me, none of them are a surprise. But, if you are looking for something to do, call me-I am up for anything. Just don't ask me to go dancing...