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!

Proud Teacher

Many of you know that last year I was willing to beat my head against the wall everyday rather than teach another year of PE. Luckily, this year I've learned that it was the batch of students I had more than PE itself that made the year soooo miserable! :) For the most part, I have a great bunch of students this year. It makes it sooo much more fun when I can participate with the kids. I've also really got to know some of the students since I've had them 2 years in a row now....and a majority of them play on the boys 8th grade basketball team. I am sooooo proud of them for winning 3rd in the state this year! (All you Texans...yes, I know it is a little ridiculous we have playoffs in middle school!)

I decided to brave the fan bus to attend the 3rd place game so we could have extra support. We took about 60 students...and let's just say the ride back was the craziest thing I've ever been a part of! One of those things you hear about but you never think it will actually happen to you!! Well, I made it. I almost committed murder...or at least assaulted some people....but I kept myself under control. Anyway, it was soooo worth supporting these guys:



Mrs. Nicolet & I with our faves....their true colors:

Wil making his *almost* half-court shot at end of 3rd quarter...I always yell at him for practicing this shot in my Intramurals class instead of other shots...so he was sure to let me know it paid off!

My all-time favorite student Keshon!!

My favorite 7th grader, LaVonte, who refused to move out of my way to take a team picture until I took one with him

Our fans that kept me sane on our bus ride home!

Daniel Fast

On January 31st Kyle & I completed a 21-day fast. (along with many other fellow LifePointers) We had decided to do the Daniel Fast - click for more info. It was one of the hardest & most rewarding things we have every done. Here are a few things that I learned through the process:

1 - My life is radically better when I depend fully on God in all areas - big & small.
2 - Eating out and caffeine had a much larger grip on my life than I realized.
3 - The power of fellowship with Jesus & him being my "one thing". (I've been reading "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" and it discusses when Jesus tells Martha that she is worried about many things but there is only "one thing" needed - fellowship with Jesus - Luke 10:41)
4 - God desires for me to have a much simpler life. (this ties in greatly with #3)
5 - I've had a greater sensitivity to God & His desires for my life and things I need to work on.
6 - I am so incredibly blessed.
7 - God is in control. The bigger the problem, the greater the chance for Him to be glorified.
8 - I have been more attuned to the waging war within me. (Romans 7:18-20)
For example: During the fast I was seeking God with a greater intent & making healthier eating choices all in one. Our lives were blessed spiritually, physically, and financially. I'm hearing the battle of, "You can just stop & grab something quick on your way home so you can have more time to clean" and "It won't take that long to just fix something good & healthy...you will save money...and you can clean what you can...it's not going anywhere." Of course, this is just one example...I'm hearing it all throughout my day in all sorts of crazy situations!
9 - and finally....beans definitely live up to their reputation when eaten daily!!!

Read the below post to learn more on the purpose of fasting. (or click here)

Clean House - Purpose of Fasting

During our 21-day fast Bob sent out daily devotions. I copy & pasted this one because I love the way it describes the purpose & importance of fasting.

Romans 8:5-6

5 For those who live according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.


Have you ever looked up at your ceiling fan blades or in the deep recesses of your couch cushions and noticed the filth that builds up over time? Even though we might clean on a regular basis, there are times when we need to go…a little deeper. We realize that what appeared to be clean on the surface was in all actuality, quite filthy.

The same thing can happen spiritually. As we go about our daily lives, there are things that can build up over time. Even if we regularly worship, pray and read our Bible, the different pressures and cares of this world can quietly build up, and end up consuming our lives. Without even realizing it, we can lose our peace, our joy, and our passion for the things of God. Our service to God, which used to fill us with life and excitement, becomes a duty that we must fulfill.

Fasting is the deep cleaning that helps us take our mind off of the things of this world and instead have a refreshed focus on the things of the Spirit. It is an incredibly effective way to get into the nooks and crannies of our soul and bring all those dusty old habits, broken mindsets and rusty attitudes out into the light of God’s truth. In fasting and prayer, our service to God returns to something we want to do rather than something we have to do.

As you pray and fast today, ask God to show you any areas where you could use a refreshed spiritual focus. Like David, in Psalm 51:10-12, pray that God will cleanse your heart, renew your spirit, and restore the joy of your salvation.

Pray with confidence, knowing that He wants to fill you with His life and peace.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I know...I'm a tad late! :) Actually my adapter to put pics on my computer broke. So I finally bought a new one so I could get all my pictures off!!


Kyle & I spent 10 days in Texas over Christmas and it was WONDERFUL!!! (minus the too much snow at the beginning!) Kyle and I received way too much...our family ridiculously spoils us...and we are soooo very blessed to have them in our lives!

We started out in Breckenridge with my grandpa. NORMALLY we spend Christmas Eve at Possum Kingdom lake with my mom's side of the family BUT this year the snow & ice prevented this. I was really bummed but I am very thankful we still got to hang out with my grandpa. (who is now 96 and still looking great!)

Luckily I found a holly bush on my search outside for something to use as our Christmas tree!

My reaction to opening my SNUGGIE!!

And even more excited....TWO SNUGGIES!!!

Awww me & Brooke....(please note unnamed object in background)



Christmas Day was spent in Abilene with my dad's side of the family. We had a wonderful time, fabulous food, and enjoyed totally spicing up my cousin's room with zebra print stuff! :)


Watching my fab cousins open their gifts: (Seth doesn't appreciate the zebra print decor quite as much as Ashton....or me....or Valinda....)

Things grownups get excited about for Christmas:



On the 26th we met up with Kyle's family and headed to Colorado for some awesome skiing! I haven't been that sore in a lonnnngggg time but it is sooo worth all the hurting! We stayed in a cabin at South Fork & skied at Wolf Creek...the snow was GREAT and the scenery was BEAUTIFUL!
All of us (minus David, Misty & Ryan) up on the slopes:

Right out the back window of our cabin:

David feeding one of the deer out of his hand:

Mike feeding the big buck: (How cool is that?!?!)


AND the NEWEST addition to the PARKER FAMILY!!! CASH!!! Isn't he ADORABLE?!?!!

A Few Good Men Tech Style

Ok, ok...as Griffin would say, "I know this is bad...but isn't it a little funny?"

My dad found this on one of his coaches message boards...


Gerald Meyers (Tech AD): *Coach Leach, did you order the Code Shed?*
Kent Hance: You *don’t* have to answer that question!
Coach Leach: I’ll answer the question!
[to Meyers]
Coach Leach: You want answers?
Meyers: I think I’m entitled.
Coach Leach: *You want answers?*
Meyers: *I want the truth!*
Coach Leach: *You can’t handle the truth!*
[pauses]
Coach Leach: Son, we live in a world that has sidelines, and those sidelines have to be guarded by pirates with swords. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Meyers? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for James, and you curse the Pirates. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That James’s small shed, while tragic, probably saved games. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves games. You don’t want the truth because deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties with your fat little girlfriends, you want me on those sidelines, you need me on those sidelines. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very bowl games that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a sword, and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a d**n what you think you are entitled to.
Meyers: Did you order the Code Shed?
Coach Leach: I did the job I…
Meyers: *Did you order the Code Shed?*
Coach Leach: *You’re dern right I did!*