Birthday Surprise!!

Well my birthday isn't for a couple of days, but last Wednesday Sterling got me good. We were down in So-Cal going to Disneyland with the kids and my sister's family. One night we decided to leave the kids at the hotel with my older nieces and go out to dinner. I thought it was just the four of us. In fact I kind of thought I had planed it. Little did I know everyone was in on this. So we are running late from dropping on the kids at the hotel. I didn't even have time to brush my hair, put on makeup or anything. We had reservations at the Rainforest Cafe and I thought we weren't going to make it. Sterling said he made other reservations someplace else just in case. When we finally make it there. Sterling kind of took off and went right into the waiting area. I hurried after him and saw his brother Spencer and his partner David. I said "Wow, imagine running into you guys here!" I totally thought it just a coincidence that we were there at the same time. Sterling gives me this look like "you are so clueless" I turn and look and there are about 14 of my friends and family staring at me. Then Sterling finally has to clue me in and say "It's a surprise birthday dinner for you!" Ok so it took me a while. I finally got it. Needless to say the night was sooo fun. It was so nice to catch up and visit with everyone. It really was the best birthday present ever!! Thanks Sterling, Spencer, David, Sherri, Matt, Shelly, Jason, Tammy, Casey, Marla, Josh, Summer, and Mike. And double thanks to Marla for the pictures!

It's been a long time...

I know I have totally slacked. Oh well. Just wanted to give a shout out to my new nephew Parker and niece Madison. Way to get born. Can't wait to see you guys! Not to much has been going on with the Barnes family right now. Just enoying life. So I saw this SNL clip the other day and laughed so hard. I have figured out how all of you babies with thick hair do it. (Todd and Oni)

Happy Friday!! Emily, Sydnee and Jacquie

While browsing through my pictures I saw this and started laughing all over again. This summer we visited my family up in Northen Cal and went for a beautiful hike. Only problem was we brought our dog, but their were signs all over the trail saying "no dogs allowed on trail". We were too far from home to take her back so we came up with this solution. I think it worked well.

Looking for a Good Book

Has anyone read a good book lately? I love getting recommendations for good books. I read The Historian and thought it was pretty good. Also the Thirteenth Tale was really entertaining. I picked up a book the other day and had to stop reading it after the first chapter. It was too sad. So I am looking for something a little on the chipper side. Anyway, if anyone has any recommendations I would love to hear them. Thanks.
This is a picture I took of Tess at the Bradford family reunion last summer. I messed around with it in photoshop. I think it turned out pretty good. Of course she is so dang cute so that helps!

Can you grown up a little slower?

I just love this picture of Abby. She saw me taking pictures and gave me the I LoVe You sign. She sure is sweet...most of the time :)
Anyway today Tessa bonked her head and automatically leaned in for me to kiss it. I love how kids think parents have magical kisses. I wish they wouldn't grow out of that. It is a sad day when you kid gets hurts and asks for a bandaid before a kiss better.

Thank Goodness for Unanswered Prayers

I had an enrichment meeting last night and I was really not in the mood to go. But those are probably the times when you really need to go the most and that was the case for me. We had a spiritual lesson about how to accept Christ's Redeeming love. It was a great lesson that I think I really need to hear at that moment and it was also so refreshing to sit and talk with the sisters. I really have a great ward. But for some reason this song kept repeating over and over in my head after the meeting. It is that Garth Brooks song "Thank God for Unanswered Prayers." (I changed it a little in the title of my post :) This really wasn't what the meeting was about, but it made me reflect on my life so far. How many times in our live's do we think we know what is best and what action we should take? How many times in our live's are we so certain we should go one way? Then to suddenly be lead in the other direction. How many times have we prayed desperately for something to happen or not to happen and it turns out totally the opposite. Oh, how hard is this to accept, when things don't turn out the way we planed. Or we realize we need to take another direction. Especially for me because "I" think "I" know what is best. But the most amazing thing happens when we get to look back and realize that "we" were wrong and the Lord knew what was best the whole time. I am glad he has the big picture. I am sure this has happened so many times I can't count, but I can think of two particular instances that have really stood out to me. One was when we know it was time to leave Firstline. All signs pointed to stay. All logic said stay. We wanted to stay, but we had no doubts it was time to go and that was the right thing. Another time was when I was in college and dating a wonderful man. He was cute, smart, funny and pretty much checked off my list. However, we both knew something was not right. I couldn't doubt it, neither could he. So we ending things. It was hard knowing I just let a great guy go. But just about a week later I met Sterling and then months later knew that he was right, and this time things felt right. I am so grateful to know that we can be led through this crazy life. We are not doing it on our own. I just hope that I can have the strength to accept what the Lord has planned for me and my family. Because I know it is for the best, even if sometimes it really hurts.
So know let me get off my soap box. I didn't mean to preach, but I couldn't get that song out of my head. Anyone up for Lost tonight?

Family Photos from October

I can't believe it is already March. Time just seems to fly by. I thought I would post some pictures from our family photo shoot last October. I know I am so slow, but they really are cute so I thought I would share.