January 6th, 2012 Or more like the last couple of weeks anyway. Whatever.
 Our sweet “Muntee Boys” (how TheBaby says monkey). We got them matching monkey footy jammies for Christmas Eve Gift. And BigMan immediately said they were buddies and dubbed them Monkey Boys. I adore them and their monkey suits!
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 The Baby who won’t eat anything lately discovered that he will eat tons of lettuce and tomatoes. Cracked me up. Who knew? He wads the lettuce up, crunches it and does a veggie eating dance! (Ignore the now fading sleeve and full body tattoos that the 2 and 4 year olds gave each other earlier in the week – we like to be punk rockers around here).
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 Speaking of punk rockers.
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 I got my hair cut the other day. Then dropped my phone for the umpteenth time and broke my beloved phone case. You’ll be thrilled to know that Matt surprised me with a new one – a hot pink gel case!
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My Girl learning time during school time. I love Math-U-See! And it’s why I just spent nearly $100 on 3 new math books for my oldest 3 kiddos and why I’m fairly certain I will keep on.
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And somehow, I think I forgot to show you one of my favorite pictures recently. This is My Oldest fast asleep Christmas Eve. When I went to turn out his light I found this. He was tracking Santa after we had used NORAD to track him earlier in the evening. It was too sweet!
January 4th, 2012 One year ago I felt strongly pulled to read the whole Bible again. I was up for the 90 Day Challenge, and I was pumped! Then my kids heard me talking about it and asked if I would read the Bible to them, since I was going to be reading it anyway. I gulped. And I talked to Matt and I prayed. If what I’d been telling them all this time that the Bible was an amazing thing and that God wants us to read it and know it, then why would I hide it from them? So, I began. At the beginning. And journaled some of it along the way. One year later we’re not only not through, but we’re not even out of the Old Testament yet (midway through Proverbs to be exact).
 Our Jessie Tree we did during Advent. Another thing I actually stuck to and finished. Despite the chaos through most of it.
The journey has been amazing.
One of the amazing things is that I’ve actually stuck with it. In the past I’ve been known to quit when things seem to be dragging out too long or getting too difficult or I’m not succeeding in just the way I think I should be. Such as, I feel like it should not be taking me this long to read through the Bible with the kiddos, but reality is.. that it is. I’ve had several friends tell me that I’ve inspired them to read the whole Bible to their own kids. And I’m wowed by that. I think it’s awesome. I think it should be a movement or something. But I want you to know reality right up front. As with all things worth anything in life, it ain’t easy. Especially if you have several small children. Who are determined to thwart anything that you plan to do. It’s just life. And many, many times I’ve considered giving up. I’ve wondered why on earth am I continuing if they aren’t even listening. I’ve kicked myself for yelling at their little faces to just sit down and be quiet for goodness’ sake! and then opening up the Bible and having to read it like I’m some holy saint. Oh my, humble pie. There are times I’ve read over their talking. There are times I’ve read through shameful I’ve-just-yelled-at-my-children tears. There are times I’ve gritted my teeth at their ugly attitudes and read it out of spite, ’cause frankly they needed a little “good word” in ‘em. There are times I’ve held a screaming toddler while pacing the room and trying to not scream myself all while reading about God’s law. And then there are times that His Goodness has poured down like rain over us and we’ve been washed so clean and so in awe of Him that we are speechless.
And those are the times that keep me going. God has called me to do this. To read to them from His Word. And I’m trying to be faithful, but I’m not great at it. I skip whole weeks sometimes, I wonder if they’re getting anything, and I shush them when they grumble about having to read “one more Psalm??”
But you know, what? God’s faithfulness to us has been unfailing even in the midst of my stupidness.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body. ~Proverbs 4:20-22
He has renewed my desire to keep reading over and over. Yesterday, for instance, as I was reading my Oldest mumbled after Proverbs 10:19, “That’s the one I’ll be working on.” And my heart leaped for joy. Then today after reading Proverbs 13:24 my oldest interrupted and said,”So did David hate his children?” He remembered back to 2Samuel13:21 (shudder!) and the discussion of what kind of father David must have been to be angry with Amnon, yet not discipline him for his great evil. (He didn’t remember verse numbers or anything, just the story, I had to go look it up). But it opened up a whole discussion of what is meant by “hates his children” with actions and not necessarily just feelings. And how important discipline and self-discipline are. Oh, y’all. Do you feel the magnitude of this with me? The Lord is taking what I am doing feebly and half-heartedly and making glorious wonderful fruit from it. Already. Already my children are hiding His Word in their hearts. Not with note cards and rote memorization (though, there is nothing wrong with that) but with stories, real life God-given stories that I was too afraid to read, but through obedience and prayer read on through anyway, trembling all the way. And He takes those trembly, mostly frustrating reading times and seals them with love on my children’s hearts. Opens their minds to questions that are deeper than I could have imagined.
I’m telling you these things not to brag on oh, look what I’m doing over here, high and mighty holy roller readin’ the Good Book to my kids, but rather to say, in spite of me He is doing a good work in them. I’m telling you, that if you feel a tugging to read to your own kids, pray much, ask your husband, pray much more, and don’t have false expectations. It’s more than likely not going to look anything like what you think it’s gonna. I don’t have my children sitting at my feet on the carpet hanging on my every word, most days I hear lots of moans and groans about “how long do we have to listen today?” and I have to wait it out at naptime until the 1 or 2 youngest are almost asleep. I have to read it during the day or it will scare them at night. It’s not how I envisioned it in the beginning (not much is in life), but it’s so much more beautiful than I could have ever hoped for (so much is in life).
My constant prayer through this is that His Truth will take root in their lives. That the little seed I’m scattering on the ground in what feels like a tornado sometimes, will create in them a strong unshakable foundation. I pray, basically that His promises, will hold true in the lives of my kids in spite of my sinfulness.
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. ~ 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (New American Standard Bible, emphasis mine)
January 4th, 2012 The other day was one of those hectic, running, never catching up or leading kind of days. It just kind of felt off for most of the day. But overall, it was a good one.
I went to check on Baby at naptime and I found Daisy Doodle the cat sleeping contentedly on top of him. Knowing Baby’s fear of her, I snapped a quick pic with my phone. It was too good.
When he got up I showed him the picture and he kept looking at it and me like he couldn’t believe it. It was a sweet moment in an off kind of day.
A few hours after that I was getting ready to do the dishes, Matt and his friend had just run to town to get a few things to try to make our new heater work, and the kids were playing with a friend over. Then I heard a thump from the front room and the kids, sounding distraught said the Baby had fallen on his head. From a box about 4 feet high onto our thinly carpeted concrete floor. When I got to him he was conscious, but not crying, he looked kind of like he was in a frozen scream with his mouth agape and looking beyond upset. I scooped him up off the floor in time to see his eyes roll back in his head, his color go very ashen, and then he went limp, unconscious in my arms.
I lost my mind.
I ran out the door, barking to all the other 5 kids I had in my care to get shoes, shirts, and get in the van. Simultaneously holding Baby close and yelling to God to please save him. Begging God loudly. The other children were scrambling to get shoes, crying, and standing a distance off. As I ran outside (hysterical, with an unconscious 2 year old in my arms) I saw that the van was gone and then remembered that Matt had taken it to town with him just a few minutes before. I panicked further. Not knowing what to do and drawing the attention of every neighbor within hearing distance. Baby, in this time, came to and began screaming crazily. I was already on the phone with 911 by then and his screams were drowning out my attempts to give the dispatcher my address. I handed the phone to my oldest asking him to give them our address and in the exchange hung up on them. They immediately called back, got the address, dispatched the fire fighters and medics, and insisted on staying on the phone with me even as I begged to hang up so that I could call my husband. Neighbors I don’t know had gathered by now and my children were huddled crying on the porch a few feet away as the fire fighters arrived in record time. One of the neighbors said she was a nurse (was wearing her scrubs at the time even) and reassured me that she was also a mom of 4 grown children, that my child’s color was now good, his breathing was steady, but that I was right in my instinct to call EMTs. They asked lots of questions, talked to my sweet boy, and assessed him. They watched him closely for a while, talking and attempting to reassure me all the while. As I retold the story again and again, it occurred to me that he was conscious when I got to him, and that he has always been a breath holder, though he’s never passed out doing it. There was that one time when he was a tiny infant that he turned blue and I sent the kids out of the room afraid he would pass out then, but he didn’t and I was calm then because he was just angry, not hurt. So, the loss of consciousness was his breath holding and not the impact. I couldn’t stop shaking and the medics threatened with a smile to get the oxygen for me if I didn’t calm down. Matt had called me back in the middle of it all to say that he was stuck in traffic and couldn’t get to me. I begged him not to panic and to just drive carefully to me. He finally made it home when the EMTs finished up and were getting ready to leave. His hugs brought more tears and weak knees. By then, I had reassured the kids profusely that it wasn’t their fault and that he was going to be okay. Baby was shaken, but okay and clinging like crazy to me. I was thankful for it, I needed his cuddles.
I reassured Matt that we would be okay and sent him back off to the store for the parts we needed. I asked him if he was taking the van this time and he said, “Never again.” But I was thankful he had it when he did. It kept me from trying to drive 6 small children to the hospital through traffic in a hysterical condition.
I was deeply crazy the rest of the night as were the kids. It was hard to move past it all. My oldest later told me that he wasn’t too worried about the Baby until his eyes rolled back and that when that happened he felt like he was going to throw up. My heart broke for all the other kids too.
That night as I sat cuddling Baby to sleep I snapped a picture of him. Because it was too close. I wanted to capture him. Keep him.
And today, days after the near event, I snapped another picture of him. One I love.
His footy jammies. He and his brother with stamp “tattoos” all over them, giggling over silly monkey pictures in a book, holding that furry alligator.
Today I am not oblivious to what I have. Even in the chaos and frustration, I know it’s special. I know it’s a blessing.
December 29th, 2011 
We sold the house! I have mixed emotions (sadness, grief, letting go…) but overall the feeling is relief. So glad that it’s over and we can move on and find closure. Heal. And rejoice!! The sale went through the Thursday before Christmas – such a blessing – we were able to buy a trampoline (and thusly nearly double our Christmas for the kids!)
Keeping to my declaration (of wisdom, stupidity?) I didn’t get a haircut the entire time we were trying to sell our house. I originally made the decision because we just couldn’t afford any extras and haircuts are definitely extra. Matt told me early on if I really wanted a haircut that we could set aside the money and do it, but somehow I promised myself I wouldn’t do it. And then as one sale fell through and the next sale was being delayed I began to worry that I would join the ranks of Crystal Gail. But I didn’t (whew!) and I took my girl and we got all dolled up last night (then went and bought me some shoes! woohoo!) I will get a picture of my new cut on here as soon as I can, but this morning with bed head and no make up it just ain’t happenin’.
This was the first Christmas (since having kids, I think) that Matt and I exchanged gifts with one another. And he did it up big – he bought me new dishes and silverware. Our first non-hand-me-down dishes since we’ve been married. I adore them! But I’m scared I’m gonna mess them up, because we’re the Parkers and we generally can’t have nothin’ nice! (I got him a coffee pot and some cologne – I’m not sure those don’t count as gifts to myself!)
I’ve put on a bit of the weight I had previously lost and it makes me sad. It’s not just the weight. As I talked about before. It’s the “why’s” behind the weight gain. It’s a lack of self-control followed by guilt. I hate the cycle. I need to just make the decision and break it again. Because I was so much happier before.
Homeschooling is rolling. With the exception of the last couple of weeks of the holidays. I’m ready for my schedule again. So next week when all the holidaying is officially over I’ll be planning and getting back to it. This year I will stick with our current curriculum plan, but I intend to incorporate a few unit studies along the way. I always get to a holiday and wish I weren’t a slacker. The kids will ask me why we’re celebrating a certain holiday and I rarely have an answer. Plus, I’m so scheduled with our current curriculum that I feel guilty when I skip our scheduled schooling to try to fit in a unit study. And I find myself (and the kids) sometimes burning out on the same old, same old. So, I’m going to intentionally schedule holiday unit studies throughout the coming year – I think it will make me a happier person! (any free unit studies suggestions are SO welcome by the way!)
We’re still working on reading through the Bible aloud with the kids. I never thought: A. that we would actually stick with this. B. Enjoy it so much. C. Not be through by now. On January 1st it will be a whole year that we have been reading the Bible aloud to our kids. I’m only in Proverbs. But I’m amazed at how much God has blessed our socks off by my determination to do this. It hasn’t been easy. I’ve discovered that the younger kids go completely nutso when I start reading it. I’ve begun praying for peace and for God’s hand over us while I read. It’s basically sheer determination to do it that has kept me going, but it’s been so great when I have that it encourages me to keep on keeping on.
With the sale of the house we were also fortunate enough to buy a dishwasher (to be delivered and hooked up in the next few weeks) and a furnace for our central heat (due to be delivered today!) The space heaters have gotten us through and I’m abundantly thankful, but I’m beyond excited about central heat! And I know that the dishwasher is totally frills and I’m also amazed at how, through prayer and God’s grace, that I’ve become content with my daily hour long dishwashing session, but I sure do look forward to the hum of an automatic dishwasher and the freed up time that will afford me!
The sicknesses have eased for now (except for one persistent cold the Baby keeps). So thankful!
I’ve spent less time at my computer lately and it’s not entirely planned. I just haven’t had the time. I actually got Photoshop from a friend for Christmas!! And I’m so, so, so excited about playing with it (though, of course daunted by learning something new!) I just have to find the time to do it!
Baby is potty training. Of his own accord. I’m not rushing and it’s not final, but he’s slowly making progress and that makes me happy.
I hope you all have a Happy New Year if I can’t make it back here before then!
December 22nd, 2011  Not that cutie up there; my husband. Well, that cutie up there has lots to say lately too, but this isn’t about him, I just thought you might like to see a picture of him. This post is actually about my other cutie, Matt, my hubby.
While the fam was watching the Michael Buble’ Christmas special Matt called me in and asked me if 10 years ago (actually it’s more like 12, but who’s counting?) if I had a choice between Michael Buble’ and Matt Parker who would I choose. I smiled and said Matt of course! He asked me why to which I replied, “Because you sing better (he does!) and I looove you!” I then asked him if 10 years ago (give or take a couple o’ years) he had the choice between me and Kelly Pickler who would he choose.
He replied, “You. Because you sing better and you haven’t had any ‘surgeries’.” Thanks, honey.
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Our sweet “Muntee Boys” (how TheBaby says monkey). We got them matching monkey footy jammies for Christmas Eve Gift. And BigMan immediately said they were buddies and dubbed them Monkey Boys. I adore them and their monkey suits!
The Baby who won’t eat anything lately discovered that he will eat tons of lettuce and tomatoes. Cracked me up. Who knew? He wads the lettuce up, crunches it and does a veggie eating dance! (Ignore the now fading sleeve and full body tattoos that the 2 and 4 year olds gave each other earlier in the week – we like to be punk rockers around here).
Speaking of punk rockers.
I got my hair cut the other day. Then dropped my phone for the umpteenth time and broke my beloved phone case. You’ll be thrilled to know that Matt surprised me with a new one – a hot pink gel case!
