*National Mother of the Year!!*

Jared's mom, Ileen Barlow, was just announced National Mother of the Year!

It all started when Jared nominated her for Oregon Mother of the Year back in February with this letter:

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February 5, 2007

The Oregon Association of American Mothers, Inc.

Post Office Box 25725

Portland, OR 97298-0725

Dear committee,

I am proud to nominate my mother, Ileen Loosle Barlow, for Oregon Mother of the Year. Mother is a fine example to mothers everywhere of dedication, love, endurance and selflessness. She is the mother of 10 children and 20 grandchildren (and counting!). She was a loving wife of 32 years prior to the passing of her husband, Elwood Barlow, who suffered from lymphoma. Mom is a two-time cancer survivor herself and she has endured the loss of her oldest child, Rochelle, who passed away at age 17 due to complications with meningitis. These experiences were extreme trials of faith for our family. Through the challenges we looked to mom as an anchor to our faith, and she never let us down. We were strong and able to endure because she was strong first. She provided each of us children with the seed of faith at a very young age – a seed that she then nurtured through many years of teaching and leading by example. Mother has instilled in each of us children a strong work ethic, a sense of self worth, a passion to succeed and an abiding faith in God. I strongly believe that my mother’s influence is the key reason all of us children have gone on to become successful in academics, professions, the community and in raising our own families.

Mom is not only a tremendous mother to her own children, but she has been a strong influence and wonderful teacher to many youth in our church and larger community. A few of her roles in this regard have included piano and organ teacher, Sunday school teacher, Cub Scout “pack mom” as well as “surrogate” mother to numerous foreign exchange students. Mother’s home, along with its large barn (a local landmark), has been a gathering place for members of the community for three decades. Hundreds and perhaps thousands of youth and adults alike have come to the Barlow home, hosted by mom, to enjoy barn dances, school field trips and simple, friendly visits.

I think mom would be an excellent representative of the mothers of Oregon. She understands the joys and challenges of motherhood. She understands what it is like to be a single mother who must provide for a family, for when Dad passed away she was left to care for a family that included four children still at home and two in college. (She returned to work while Dad was sick and has now supported the family for the past 18 years through her employment at Hewlett Packard.) Most importantly, mom fully understands and believes that motherhood is the most noble of callings, one that is of greater importance than all the treasures of the world. For these reasons I think that, as Oregon Mother of the Year, mom’s strength of spirit and passion for motherhood would bless the lives of many more individuals with whom she would meet. Thank you for considering Ileen Loosle Barlow as a candidate for Oregon Mother of the Year.

Best Regards,

Jared R. Barlow

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The rest of the family had to write letters and she had to write numerous essays and a biography for her profile. She ended up winning Oregon mother of the Year and going to the National competition this weekend.

Little did we know that it would go this far (although we should have known it would!) She is an amazing woman and deserves a little star treatment and recognition for all of her hard work over the years. Congrats, Mom! We're all so proud of you. You will be the mother of the year to us every year, but we're glad to share you with the nation for 2007.