Parker Happenings

Now that I think about it - quite a bit has gone on in the past couple of months!

- I visited Indianapolis for the first time for a conference and loved it - such a neat place! Peyton & I were going to go out for dinner but he was out of town during my visit...oh well, there's always next time. Anyway, I definitely want to go back & see all the sites & watch a Colts game. (I was by myself so didn't do much)

- Driven Youth had their first annual Freedom Weekend. (Disciple Now) It went really well! Kyle did an AWESOME job planning and organizing everything. We had Runks (from Levelland, TX) come speak and he did an amazing job as well. He's hilarious and always has a powerful message. For me personally, his messages have been a tool in some major turning points in my own life.


A few of the derby car teams:




- Mike, Valinda, Kevin, Emily, and my parents all flew up in March for the Midwest Regional. We love, love, love having visitors (especially family!) and had a great time! Adding the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 was a special bonus! We are so lucky to have such great families!


Magic!!


- I mentioned in a blog about 2 years ago (click here) about one of my good friends from HS, Caleb Campbell, being draftd in the NFL. The army changed their policy the day after he arrived at spring training camp & had him return. Well 2 years later, he has served his time & officially signed a contract with the Detroit Lions once again. You can follow him on twitter: LTCampbellLions I am super proud of his perseverance and accomplishments!

Check out who he's stretching with!

(for you non-football fans, that's Ndamukong Suh from Nebraska - the 2nd overall pick this year)


- I am seeing the goodness of God's plan in my job more now than ever. I just about thought the world had ended when I found out I couldn't get my IL stuff in time to teach math my 2nd year. Then, I got a PE job at the same school and felt better...til I started & my students were INSANE...and I was clear across campus (we have a big middle school) from everyone I knew. I cried just about every night for 2 weeks before school started this year...freakin out about having to teach PE and not understanding why a job in another district hadn't opened up. Now, I am thankful I stayed put. My classes have been much better. I love knowing so many more kids & therefore can enjoy sporting events. I've gotten to know some great teachers & administrators. And I've become so attached to many of my 8th graders that I've had for 2 years. I feel like I fit now. Most importantly, being 3 years in Alton saved me from getting cut and if I would've moved anywhere else I would be jobless right now. Praise God!

Last Friday was our 8th grade dance. I know none of you really care, but these kids feel like my own...so I'm going to post pictures & show them off. :)

Teacher friends:

Love these boys: (and worried like heck who is goin to take care of them/keep them out of trouble next year!)

I want my daughter to be just like this girl: LOVE HER!!!

The say she looks like she could be my kid...maybe it's b/c she is always at my side!


I want to take the 2 boys beside me home! (below..NOT above! haha)




- And last but not least...I'm pretty sure I bought too many flowers this year with my yard sale money. Check back in a month and I might be the house known as "flower power!" Ok. That's it.

Margin

HOLY SMOKES! I didn't blog in March or April...wow. I know my hundreds of readers have been disappointed - but seriously, after this I'm probably down to NONE - they're tired of checking! You may find it surprising, but I just haven't had a lot to say...I guess it's spring fever.

We started a new series at LifePoint last week called: MARGIN. Bob speaks on this type of thing at least once a year & several smaller times throughout the year. I always love it because as they say, "If Satan can't make you bad, he'll make you busy." Since I graduated college, busyness has become my biggest struggle. It's not something I'm proud of. I truly am improving as I become honest with myself about how bad the problem is, but it's a daily battle. And I'm not just talking about having a lot in my schedule....I'm talking about a personality trait...a bad one. Like freakin out trying to prepare my house before family comes (like Martha did in Luke 10:38-42) and even when my schedule is clear I'm thinking of the millions of things on my to do list or project list or house list or my "when I get time" list.

Although I wish I had more "Mary tendencies" I am also learning to appreciate my "Martha-like" personality. This thorn has caused me to learn just how truly dependent I am on God. I have been blessed with a husband who is willing to call me out and with friends that are like me to work with & encourage - especially Laci and Martha (my real friend Martha!) - who both told me "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" was a must read. I HIGHLY recommend this book if you struggle with similar busyness/worry/full schedules. I feel like it was written by someone in my head knowing my every though I fight the battle each day. I wake up asking God to reign in me, to be my one thing. I pray that I would focus on fellowship with Him & not worry about my to do lists. Sometimes I lose, usually because I beat myself. But, my goal is to win the war. Which is why I love doing a series at LifePoint on it once in awhile. It encourages me, keeps me accountable, and motivates me.

So, here's a few points (or a lot) from Week 1 of MARGIN that stuck out to me. I hope they encourage someone out there!!

Margin - the amount available beyond what is necessary; the difference between what you have and what you need

We need margin in time and money, emotionally and physically.

Most of us live at an unbiblical pace of life.

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE HAPPEN IN THE MARGINS!!


We get so consumed by good things that we miss out on great things.

If you constantly forget things...
If you can't remember where you're going...
If you have to write everything down...
If you frequently double book things...
You are too busy.

If you say, "Everyone else is doing it" or "Everyone else's kids are doing it and I don't want mine to miss out" then read ROMANS 12:2 (wide is the path to destruction - you will destroy your family by being involved in so much stuff!)

As margin decreases - your stress increases & your relational intimacy decreases. (amen - been there, seen this, burned the tshirt)

Don't wear busy as a badge of honor. Don't brag about it & try to one up others - it ain't cool.

We stay busy and involved in way too many things because we don't trust that God is going to be enough without those things.

We'd be furious if someone broke into our house & stole something. We'd find out who did it & get it back. We are robbed everyday & don't do a thing about it. When we say, "Oh I'm sooo busy" we should be convicted because we are making the choice to let Satan rob us & we are breaking God's heart.

If you don't go to LifePoint here's the challenge Bob gave us for this week:
1 - Sit still & listen 5 minutes a day.
2 - No phones out during meals.
3 - Don't say "I'm busy" to anyone.

Work on creating margin!