Finally...

We finally had a Sunday that consisted of rest!! We went to church and then had an afternoon and evening of no responsibility! Well, minus the being a mommy and wife part;) It was wonderful!! We took a nap and Scott hooked up our brand new Wii, which was a fabulous gift from his mom:) We played Just Dance with the kids and then let them choose some of their favorites. Scott called me out while I was playing Paige in baseball, because apparently I was doing a little trash talking! I can't help it. It's in my blood;) I am looking forward to another week of my sweet family being home!

12/25/2010

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

Christmas Eve

Today while at church a recently discharged from the hospital man came through the door. He had no food, no home, and nothing but his clothes on his back and his bike. He was in need of mercy. And all I could think about was our Savior being thrust into humanity with much of the same likeness not being one who wanted mercy but the one who would give it. I love Christmas and I love all the things that get everyone excited, but I am so thankful to be able to give and receive mercy this day and every other day of my life. Thank you Lord for sending us a Savior...I needed, need, and will need Him forever! Merry Christmas.

Scott

PS Special thanks to all who participated in the Christmas Blessing. It was another huge success!

Christmas Eve Eve

Tonight we had our annual Christmas Eve Eve Party. It was a fun event filled with friends from church and even a few surprise out of town guests. All kids had a blast and very few rules were broken! Lots of sweets for desserts pushed bedtime back later and kids a little crazier. Sorry to anyone else whose kids don't go down easy! Can't wait for tomorrow!

Broken toe...

This morning, I was folding a load of laundry and stepped to the side only to find that I had somehow rammed my foot into the corner of the coffee table. The aftermath: the fourth toe on my left foot is B-R-O-K-E-N! I'm talking black and blue, I will throw up if you touch it kinda hurt. Too bad there is zero you can do for that. Just my luck though;)

Can't wake up...

Today is just one of those days that I just can't seem to wake up well! I have eaten breakfst and exercised and done a little housework, but still just don't feel completely awake and energized. I am scheduled to work from 3p-11p tonight though, so I'm thinking that I see a much needed cup of coffee in my very near future;) Happy Tuesday everyone!

Going private

We are going to be making our blog private in about a week. I told Scott I wanted to do that, and he switched it right away without me being able to warn folks and get your email addresses! So, during this week, will you please send me your email either on here or thru facebook and I will send you an invite:) Thanks!!!

She's 5!

I honestly cannot believe that my baby girl is actually 5 years old! It makes me want to freeze time. She's my tiny little petite Annalee who I love so dearly. She's full of spunk and brings joy everywhere she goes. On a side note, she can eat like a full grown man, so when offered her favorite foods on her birthday we have to be mindful to cut her off when we think she should be at capacity;) I can't wait to enjoy the day and celebrate our girl. Happy birthday Annalee!!!!

Winding down...

We survived the craziness of yet another day. Sometimes I feel guilty for letting myself get overwhelmed by little but busy normal,"I have three kids", day to day or even seasonal things. I know that I would look at all of these things from a totally different perspective, if there were some sort of tragedy or major event that happened. I'm a little morbid, but sometimes it's a good reality check for me. Today we watched our girls play basketball again. Thy were super cute, of course, but they got beat by flippin' giants on the other team:) It was fun though. They are so concerned about the snacks when the game is over, that they are not caring too much about their win/loss record;) Then, this afternoon, we had a little impromptu birthday party for Annalee at the park. It was chilly!!! Annalee had a great time. I can't believe she is gonna be 5 tomorrow!!!

It's here!!!!

The last day of school befor Christmas break is here!!!!! They are out for a solid 2+ weeks!!!! I have been waiting for this day since they started school:) I love having everyone at home. Now I just need to throw out some threats so they will "sleep in" in the morning ;)

Christmas Prgrams!!

Last week, Paige had her school Christmas program and tonight it is Annalee's turn:) She is dressing up as a Christmas tree, so I'm sure we are in for a treat:) I'll let you know how it goes!!

Growing up...

Tonight, Paige got her first phone call from a friend in her class. What?! I can't believe this! She is my baby! The good news is that it was a little girl! I would've hung up on a little boy:) She sounded so big and was so excited. However, I'm gonna need her to stay little for a while longer. I'm not ready for her to grow up as fast as time is flying!

12 days of Christmas

SO if you know anything about me (Scott) you know I am gift giver adn receiver. Tonight as I arrived home from work, I was met with the begining of the 12 days of Christmas. It started with 12 teeth a whitening. I am so lovin' this and can't wait for more.
Scott

Monday Night whirlwind

Annie is at work.

I am home working.

Kids had basketball (great defense)

They all had a ball.

Dinner to go.

4 days to go.

Christmas is near.

Soon we will cheer!

Not my best work, but it will make Annie happy to know she got the fill in blogger break tonight! Scott

Sunday again...

It's Sunday once again, and this Sunday is far from restful in the Parks' household! We have gone from church, making a boatload of phonecalls for an event we are in charge of, to shopping with our community group for our Christmas Blessing, to meeting up with Scott's mom to give her the kids, to the church staff christmas party, to now where I am getting a quick blog in while I take a break from writing out Annalee's birthday invitations! Like I said...not so restful. However, Christmas break is right around the corner, so I can see a light at the end of the tunnel!!!

Basketball

My two girls played in their very first basketball game today! They were super cute and it was hilarious!!! Their uniforms are a little oversized, but it's cute nonetheless. I will post pics when Scott uploads them:)

Friday Night Publix Trip

So my friend and I went to Publix with a bunch of kids in our van this Friday night. It was a good time had by all with candy canes and banana nut bread. Plus, I spent $23 and saved $34. Not my best but not bad.

The end of the book...

We ended our study of the book of Joshua in bible study today. It is really a great rich, very applicable portion of God's word! I really enjoyed studying it, and I really love getting to know the other women in the church that attend. Plus, today we had brunch to wrap everything, and let's be honest...who doesn't love brunch? It was delicious:) I am certainly looking forward to see what God has in store for us to study next semester!

These are the days...

Me...3 kids...still a bum tooth...hubby away at a conference until tomorrow night. Boo on the last two:(

The Annie Tooth Trials: Pt 2 12-7-10

So after the surgery last month, the real problem with the tooth ws the need for a root canal whic Annie had earlir this morning. As normal for medical people they never expect pain or other things to effect them and she was in a good bit of pain after the procedure. Also, most teeth have three roots that need to be canaled (guessed on that word) but Annie's tooth has four canals! So not only did it and will it require more work, they said we owed them more money cause she had additioanl canals. I thinks its cause we live near the delta so her teeth are just mirroring our land areas. So, I am bloggin for her and I want to take care of my wonderful wife who has not only had tis today, bt alos cooked dinner for her parents adn went to Paige's First Grade Christmas program. IT was really cool and since she may feel bad tomorrow...I'm gonna blog about t next for tomorrows date

Stupid tooth:(

Well...I have to have my root canal done tomorrow:( Boo on that! Thankfully my sweet momma took Davis with her for the night , so I don't have to worry about childcare. I will drop the girls off at school and head straight to the office. She said to plan to be there about 2 hours or so. Again...boo on that! Please pray that all goes well!!!

Sabbath Sunday!

We are trying to rest on the Sabbath! I hope everyone had a nice restful Sunday:)

12/4

It's date night!!!! We are about to head out the door and we have some sweet friends who are babysitting for us! Thanks Bryant and Celeste;) You guys are the best!

12/3

We went downtown tonight for something called "The North Poll Stroll". It was so fun!!! They had snow blowing off the balconies onto Royal street, an exhibit at the Exploreum about the Art of the snowflake, a walk through Whoville, and lots of other fun thigs covering 6 blocks of Royal St. It was full of Christmas spirit;) The kids just loved it! We had story time in the lobby of the Battle House Hotel, and I, personally, was mesmerized by how beautiful that was! Itwas good times:)

The girls...

My little girls are playing basketball this season! Yep. You heard me right. Basketball. They don't know a single solitary thing about the sport, but they are loving learning how to play! We are playing on a team at the community center that we volunteer at on Wednesdays to tutor. They have already made lots of friends, and while they might not be MVP basketball players, it will be good for them to learn plenty of life lessons in team sports;) I can't wait until their first game!! Really, I can't wait until their uniforms come in, because let's face it, they are gonna be super cute;)

December?

Is it really already December? I don't know why I continue to be so surprised at how fast time flies! I feel like I am always talking about, or thinking that anyway. But really! December? Almost another full year has gone by! My babies are growing up! I just need life to just slow down a little bit. Now don't get me wrong! I love what the month of December entails, with all the Christmas festivities, I just can't believe it has already made it's way back around again!

Give me Jesus

I have been humming this chorus all day, so I thought it fitting to blog about it;)

"Give me Jesus!
Give me Jesus!
You can have all of this world,
But give me Jesus."

Tis the season!

So, here's a confession for ya! I have worn Christmas pj's for the last three nights;) Yep, I love Christmas time!!! Also, I get new Christmas pj's every year, and if I don't sart wearing them now, then I won't get to sift thru the memories well;)

Sunday

We have been to church, and had community group lunch. We have changed all the kids out of their Sunday clothes and put them down for naps. And now...we rest! Have a great Sabbath everyone!

Making the most...

We are trying to make the most of our time off together. We went to see the movie Tangled last night and it was really cute:) We went downtown this morning and Scott took some pictures of some friends and after that we went to Chikfila and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! We met up with a few sets of different friends, so that's always a treat. This afternoon is the Florida vs. Florida St. game so Scott will be in the zone for a while. However, when that is over, we are going to get a Christmas tree!! Yay!!! I heart this season!! It's so exciting:) I hope everyone is enjoyin their weekend!

So glad...

I am so incredibly glad that today is only Friday, that I can hardly stand it! That means we still have another day off tomorrow. That my friends...is exciting;)

Turkey Day!

It's Turkey Day!!! I ran my long run today so that I might feel a little better about myself, as I indulge in the deliciousness of Thanksgiving:) We had a great day at my sister Dana's. All of my family was there except for my middle sister who was with her husband at the hunting camp:( We missed her dearly. I am very thankful for the many blessings the Lord has given us, and pray that I would pay attention and take note to thank the Lord more often than I do! Happy Thanksgiving everybody!!!!

Days Off

Today I am thankful for days off from school. I love when my kids and my husbamd have time off! It's so fun to me! Today we did some grocery shopping, had lunch, relaxed, made homemade pumpkin pie (from a real pumpkin;), and homemade chex mix. I love this time of year! It's not like we are doing anything super extravagant, it's just the thought of knowing that we don't HAVE to do anything if we don't want to! We can stay in our p.j.'s all day if we choose! And maybe we will;)

Family

Today I am especially thankful for family. Obviously my immediate husband and children. They are truly a blessing. Even when it's hard work being a wife and mother, they are always worth it and more! They are precious to me and I love them like I've never loved anything or anyone else, apart from the Father. I sometimes fall into idolizing my own husband and children and find myself loving them more than my Creator. I'm not saying that is right or good, just true of my life sometimes. Thankfully He's gracious enough to show me when I do:) They are my precious gifts that the Lord chose to give me and I am amazed on a daily basis of His goodness thru them!
I am also very thankful for my extended immediate family. Not sure if that's the way I should describe them:) Anyhow, you get the picture, i.e. My sisters and their families and my mom and dad. It's always such a special and sweet time to spend with them. Especially, around the holidays! Thanksgiving never disappoints. Well...except for the year there was no shoepeg corn casserole;) Christmas with all the family together is always full of great memories as well! We have certain Davis traditions, and that built into my life has led me to cherish traditions of my own with our family. The Lord has eternally blessed me and allowed me to part of and have my own precious family. For that, I am very thankful!

Working...

I am scheduled to work today from 3p-11p. So, today I am choosing to be thankful for my job at the hospital. I am able to make my own schedule, work some really short shifts, and the job itself is great. The people I work with are kind and very good at what they do. So, even though, alot of times the last thing I want to do at the end of my day is get dressed and go take care of more people...I am thankful that the Lord has provided this type of job. It has been a blessing and it allows me to be home with my kids and make the extra money we need as weell.

2 out of 3...

These two little munchkins had to make a trip to the doctor today. Annalee has an ear infection and Davis has been coughing alot and it was sounding like it was settling into his chest. So...a double co-pay and two antibiotics later, we are on track to make our way back to health, just in time for the holidays;) In light of that, I am thankful for the health of my husband and children. And myself;) The Lord has been gracious and merciful, and has protected us from things that we don't have any idea we were even protected from! I am thankful that he gives me a mother's intuition, whether it's in the middle of the night, and I just "happen" to wake up moments before a child cries out, or even thru the discernment of when to take them to the doctor

. I believe He is the one who does that in me:)

Saturdays...

I am thankful for Saturdays! It's not always restful or relaxing. Sometimes it might even be busier than the week. However, just the mere fact that I don't have to wake up to my alarm clock, makes me breathe a little easier! Even if I happen to wake up at around the same time, it is different because the cursed alarm did not wake me out of my peaceful slumber;) For that, I am thankful!

11/19

Thankful...

Today I am thankful for God's word. I love how it is truly living and active. I love how the Lord speaks so utterly clearly through it. I enjoy how refreshing it is and how applicable it is for each area of my life. I love the Father and am so thankful that the Lord cared enough to rescue me and call me His own daughter!

My 3 little stairsteps:)

Love her too;)

This is my Paigey Pie:) She is so tender. She has a heart for others. She is kind and thankful (most of the time)! Her smile lights up a room. The Lord has given her a new heart and she believes and loves Him with her whole heart! She is fun and caring and very motherly. She could probably babysit now, but seeing how she is only 6, I figure that might be frowned upon;) She is a good and faithful friend. She loves well, even those who are not so loveable at times. She's a dreamer. She wears her heart on her sleeve. She can be a little dramatic, but has grown in that arena over the last couple of years! She is beautiful. She is my first born. I love her. I am thankful for her:)

Love him.

This is my boy. He is such a sweet blessing. He has melted my heart. He gets away with things that the girls certainly never did. I'm not sure if it's because he's a little boy, or the only boy, or if it's just because he's the baby. He is certainly a character though. He can be rough and tumble, but can also give the sweetest hugs and kisses that you ever did see;) He is smart and simply hilarious! He is into Legos, which Scott is elated over! He loves his daddy alot, but he loves his mommy fiercely!! As do I;) I enjoy my time with him day to day while the girls are in school. We have developed a sweet bond during that time, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. He is a precious gift from the Father. I am thankful for him:)

Love her:)

This little spit fire is such a joy:) She exudes joy and excitement and is so fun to be around. She can be a little strong willed, but the Lord has softened her over the last year or so, and really she's pretty sensitive when you get right down to it. She's that child that goes full force into things. She doesn't necessarily consider the consequences. Which, can obviously, be good or bad depending on the situation;) I'm pretty sure that one day the fellas are gonna be beating down our door for time with her! Daddy is her main squeeze right now though:) I love her dearly. I love how freely she loves and lives. She is caring and kind hearted. She is silly, but soemtimes she says things so meaningful and deep that we question whether or not we're talking to a 40 year old;) Her traits are from an obviously creative God, who fashioned her to be our Annalee Grace. I am thankful for her!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy birthday to my precious hubby!!! He is officially 33 today. He is the absolute best and I don't deserve a man that is so good to me. I am truly blessed that the Lord has given him to us!!!

11/12

New pictures of the kids:) More to come!!

Veteran's Day

I am thankful to all of the men and women who serve and protect our country. I am also immensely thankful for their families as well, who sacrifice time with their loved ones for our freedom. I don't think I could handle it! I take my freedom and this country for granted on a regular basis. I'm thankful for days that are set apart to remind me of how blessed we are! Happy Veteran's Day!!!!

11/10

I'm still trying to feel better. It seems like the daytime is manageable and then from late afternoon to evening, my symptoms seem to increase:( Hopefully my sinuses will give me a break and I'll feel lots better soon!

Sick Wife

So Annie is not feeling very well so I am trying to make her feel better as best as possible. So please pray for her over the next few days. Thanks Scott

Yesterday

So blog people, my wife worked last night so she didn't blog. I am so grateful for all that she does at home for us,but to also go and help us as a nurse makes her the most amazing woman I have ever known.

Reunion time!

Yesterday after the race, we rolled on over to Mississippi for my family reunion. Sadly, we had to do it without Scott, since he had a wedding to photograph:( It was good times though. They had a jumpy house set up, so that is literally what my kids did the entire time, minus the small break I made them take to eat some lunch! I saw and talked to family that I hadn't seen in years. The food was yummy and the desserts outnumbered the food dishes in true Scarborough style;)

Race day!

The race was fabulous! Pics to come soon:) It started out a little on the cold side, but actually ended up being perfect running weather! Four of us ran together, and it was Katie's first race. She did really great!! She had never run that far before and she hung in there and made it! That's always so inspiring to me:) We were obviously not gonna win the thing, so it was a nice relaxed race. Scott came and brought the kids and met us along the race course a couple of times:) It was really cute to see my little kiddos cheering for me! Needless to say, I am super excited that race season is officially back in session!!!!

Date Night

Tonight is date night! Well, home date night, but still. I called a boatload of people to try and get a sitter and it was just not happening tonight! Also, I am running in the Senior Bowl 10k in the morning with some friends!! I am so excited! The last official race I ran in, was the marathon in February! Races as a whole are just so fun! So wish me luck!!!!

Thursday 11/4

A migraine conquered me today. Again, I am a terrible blogger:)

Sad times

A friend of mine miscarried last night. Aside from prayer and meals and just loving on her, there's not much I can do. My heart really goes out to them. In an instant I can remember exactly how I felt through the times that I lost babies. It is heartbreaking. In a matter of weeks I had found myself completely in love with a precious baby that God had given me. Even when those times were completely unexpected! I was convinced that God knew what He was doing, so I let my heart dive in deep and love and plan and dream up a whole lifetime with this precious one. That hope and excitement came to a screeching halt, when at a scheduled check-up there was a deafening silence, as the doctor and ultrasound tech searched for a heartbeat that the Lord had caused to stop beating. Tears overwehlmed us and we clung to the One that we hope in. As we have walked through this a few times, it doesn't get easier. It hurts deeper. Even if it was my 10th pregnancy, I think it would feel just as deep. I wholeheartedly believe that God is sovereign and is in control of everything. I believe He has worked through my miscarriages to sanctify me and draw me closer to Him. He has used those times to help me relate to others who are hurting and going through similar circumstances. He has proven over and over again how faithful and trustworthy He is. He has oddly enough caused me to go through both of them with a dear friend following days of their losses. He loves me and knows what is best for me but oh how fresh that sadness can be in an instant. We are continuing to pray for our friends and know that the same God we trust with our lives is just as committed to them.

Tuesday 11/2

As you can see, when I get out of the pattern of blogging, it is easier and easier for me to forget. I really want to keep up though, because I have the rest of this month and next month and I will have blogged almost everyday for an entire year! What?! So, I am gonna attempt to keep up:)

Swamped

Sometimes I stand in awe over the amount of laundry our family goes through. It is genuinely one of those things that is never just finished. We were out of town this weekend, so even though I was caught up before we left, I now have fallen far behind as I begin to play catchup from that.

In other news, I am beginning to train for another marathon!! Yippee! Actually, it's the same on we did last year in New Orleans. It was such a great race though, that I want to do it again:) I hope all goes well with training. You can pray that our bodies would stay healthy thru the training process as well as the race. I truly enjoy running. It's such a restoring time for me. That kinda sounds like an oxymoron (is that how you spell that?), but it's true! Stress melts away and I am able to just not really think for just a little bit.

Super Delinquent

The perfectionist in me wants to go back and try to catch up. The tired mommy in me wants to go to bed! I am doing much better since my surgery. I went for a follow up visit and everything was benign. Now I'm cleared to go get a root canal! Great. It will probably be another week or two before that happens, so my mouth has a little more time to heal. Our church had Cars with Candy tonight. We had a pretty good turnout and the kids had an absolute blast. Pictures are to come:)

Post Surgery update

Well, I am blogging for the patient who has been doing really well. She is recovering very well, but still can't open her mouth very well. Yesterday, the surgery lasted about an hour and we were on our way home. She slept most of the day. The doctor said that he removed scar tissue from her wisdom teeth and some bone marrow. The tooth was not removed which means she will still be having a root canal in the near future. Otherwise, Annie is getting better and the kids are all farmed out to both sets of grandparents. (My mom has the girls, Annie's parents have the boy). I'll serve as guest blogger until she feels better but please keep praying for her. I hate to see the love of my life in pain:(
Scott

Friday 10/22

My surgery to remove the cyst in my mouth is scheduled for tomorrow, so in light of that, I am blogging tonight! Please pray that everything goes smoothly and that he takes the other tooth while he's in there. I am scheduled to be there at 8am and I think it should be a pretty short procedure. However, I'll probably be pretty out of it. I tend to take a solid day to recover from anesthesia:) Thanks in advance for your prayers!!

Look-a-like

Ok, so not the greatest picture, but bear with me! Yesterday when we went to the farm, this was one of the gentlemen that we met who drove one of the tractors. He looked so much like the guy off the Adam Sandler movies (i.e. Waterboy), who talks and you can never understand him. You know who I'm talking about? Well, I could've sworn this was him. So much so, that I snuck in a pic ! Sorry for the poor quality. If you click on it you can see it a little better!

Seward Farms!

Paige shooting corn from some air gun. It was LOUD! She was a pretty good shot though;)

Paige taking a ride in the the trail of cows pulled by a tractor! It looked really fun! I wish I would've gotten on to ride!

Paigey Pie on the hayride!

My group:) Paige, Anusha, and Campbell.

Paige's first grade class:) Again, is my baby in first grade? It just doesn't add up!

Day by day

Today, Davis and I have gone for a run, let me get a flu shot, and then Davis waited (as patiently as his little 2 year old self would let him;), for me to do my skills checkoff stuff at the hospital. While not his finest hour, or mine for that matter, we made it! Now it's naptime for Davis/prepare for tomorrow because I have to work tonight. I genuinely have to take life day by day, because I tend to let my mind run miles ahead of me! It makes me crazy and a little overwhelmed when I try think too far ahead. So, we will do what we do today and trust the Lord. If He gives us tomorrow, He will also give me the grace and strength to get through that too!

Reality

Today we are back to reality! No more fun beach days:( It was fun while it lasted though. Well, except for the whol crazy stomach bug thing:( The girls have been taken to school and I took Davis to the gym because I had to keep childcare at Sportplex. Typical Monday stuff ya know;)

Sunday 10/17

Sunday we packed up and headed home. I felt much better, but still not quite right. It was good to get home and unpack. We had community group at the park so it was nice to catch up with everyone and enjoy the beautiful weather. I really do love our group! The kids basically lost their minds, when they saw Scott because they hadn't seen him since Wednesday. It was sweet:)

Saturday 10/16

Today I felt like poo:( We still took the kids to the beach and the pool, but I was miserable. I just couldn't recover well though. Thankfully the children were pretty obedient and they go to bed early so I didn't follow far behind them!

Friday 10/15

Friday we went to the beach again to play and then to the pool. Our kids were way past tired after that, so naptime was divine! Scott was still recovering at home. We played referee between the boys for a good part of the day. They really are like brothers:) Still a really good day though! Friday night Katie and I stayed up waaaayyy past our bedtime chatting. Good times:) In the middle of the night, however, the stomach bug claimed me as its next victim! Bummer:(

Thursday 10/14

Thursday we spent the day on the beach. The kids had a blast of course. The weather was perfect! We all walked on the beach just before the sun went down, so the kids could run off any last bits of energy. We put them to bed and talked and watch crazy shows on tv that otherwise there would be no opportunity for:)
While Scott was home, howevr, he came down with a stomach bug:( No good for him. Plus, he was all alone. Sad:(

Wednesday 10/13

Wednesday we left to stay at Katie Moore's beach house in Gulf Shores for a few days. It was me and my three munchkins, and Katie and her 3 munchkins. 2 adults and 6 kids. Let the madhouse begin:)

All of them

While I agree that this is certainly not the best pic of us, it is the most recent:) All of my little ones were home yesterday because school was out, and I loved it. I really do enjoy a house full. Sure, it can really wear me out, but it is always worth it. It makes my heart feel full. Maybe, I'm just feeling nostalgic because the weather is so pretty and the kids can play outside for an extended amount of time. Who knows? I do know, however, that I love them dearly and am thankful that God has given me the opportunity to be their mommy:)

Late...

It's late and I just rolled in from work. Actually, I got off and home a little earlier than average, but late to bed for me, seeing as how I would happily go to bed at 9pm like a maw maw. Our van is in the shop and needs all kinds of brake work, so I am carless. Our sweet neighbor is letting me borrow her van tomorrow to take the kids to school, so that is a blessing! We are waiting on the Lord, to see how He will provide for us. The price to fix everything is much more than we have, but somehow our God always provides for us. So...we are waiting:) Please pray with us as we ask the Lord for His provision!

Community Group on the Deck

Well we spent the evening on the deck sharing about how God's word has changed us, how we canpray for one another, and how chocolate chip peanut butter pie may be the best thing on the planet. Right up there with Amazing Bread! It's nights like this that community feels to easy. Also, continue to pray for Annie's mouth because she is in much more pain than she lets on most of the time and honestly, if she were any more graceful she'd be heavenly! If my wife has brought you encouragement ever, post it so she can feel the love that she has poured out for so many!
Thanks,
Scott

Tooth Update

I met with the oral surgeon on Thursday and it is some sort of cyst, so I will be having surgery Oct. 22 to have it removed. He may have to take the molar it is next to, depending on how wrapped around the root the cyst is. He seemed really positive. He said they would remove it and send it off to pathology to be sure it was benign, but the odds that it isn't is slim. So, really I would rather him go ahead and remove that tooth while I'm asleep! Especially if the cyst grows back. Otherwise, I will have surgery, then when I recover, have a root canal, then if the cyst grows back, I'll have another surgery and he'll definitely remove the tooth at that point! I would rather just keep it short and simple.

:(

Annalee threw up last night:( Please pray that this bug would be mild and that the Lord would protect the rest of the fam from getting it!

Doctor Doctor

I have my follow up appointment at 4 today to talk with the oral surgeon about what my CT scan looks like. Truthfully, I would be ok, if he said that he needed to put me to sleep, remove the cyst and take out that tooth. Keep in mind that I want to be put to sleep to have this happen. I hate dental work. It makes me physically nauseated to think about it. I'll let you know how it goes!

More of Davis

I know that recently it seems like all this is, is Blog O' Davis, but he's home with me all day!
The girls are at school so I miss alot of picture taking opportunities. It's like Davis is an only child, and he actually kinda likes it sometimes! I love having him all to myself though. It's fun for me, and I know just how fast time is flying and if I blink, he's gonna be graduating college. So for now, we will enjoy storytime at the library, and eating lunch at our picnic table on the deck in this oh so beautiful weather:)

Vegetable Soup:)

While this weather is so perfectly delightful, the one thing that can make it even sweeter, is a huge pot of vegetable soup simmering on the stove:) Ahhhh......Fall:)

Silly...

Silly boy, decided that watching the tv in his socks and undies while sitting on top of the coffee table was obviously the best spot.

Sabbath

I hope everyone had a nice restful Sabbath:)

Davis

I got a haircut! My mom FINALLY took me!

Also...Go Gators!

My tertific tiger!

This is my little terrific tiger! I guess this is the eequivalent of a citizenship award. She was the first one chosen out of her class, so we are so proud of what the Lord is doing in her heart and how He is growing her up into a sweet young girl. She was awarded this honor for demonstrating character by: always working hard, being kind, and following directions. That is certainly who she is:) She is so very precious and I am glad that we were able to celebrate with her today:) Sidenote: It's hat day at her school today. She doesn't wear her peasant hat on an average day;) It's not excactly uniform policy!

My big girl!

My sweet little Paige doing her homework. She is getting too big!

Messed up grill...

So...I'm having some dental issues. I had a terrible toothache on Monday and made an appointment for the following day. I'm thinking, I obviously have a cavity, lets identify, fill it, and be on our way. Nothing is ever quite so simple in the Parks' home. Keep in mind that, embarrassingly enough, I haven't been to the dentist in a loooonnnggg time. I'm not even gonna tell you how long! My kids have been, but not me;) So the simple cavity that I'm thinking turns into a root canal that's needed...but wait there's more! There's also some sort of cyst/tumor behind that molar! What!?!? So he refers me to an oral surgeon. I go see him today and he tells me that I need a CT scan done to see exactly what we are dealing with. They are gonna call me with that appointment. So here I am, waiting to see what exactly we are dealing with! Par for the course for me though;)

Praise!

My dad did great! He ended up having a stent placed in each renal artery. He had a blood pressure spike last night, but it came back down and he is being discharged this morning. Thanks for praying!!

Please Pray!

My dad is having surgery this morning for the blockage in his renal arteries. The surgery is scheduled for this afternoon. Please pray that my dad would do well and have a simple speedy recovery. Pray that the Lord would guide the hands of the surgeon and that there would be no complications. Pray for my mom as she waits. Waiting is always the hard part. Thank you in advance for lifting us up today!

Made for more...

Our Sunday school teaching has been titled "Made for More". It has been a very real and heart provoking teaching time. If we can really take hold of the fact that we are made for more than just our day in and day out lives! WE are chidren of the King! We share an inheritance with Christ! We have purpose! We have a Father who cares about us and wants us to glorify Him! The list could go on for years! Thank goodness for the hope that we are certainly made for more:)

9/25

We got home from a delightful time at the beach with our group! It was really fun:) We thought we might get rained out, but it turned out to be really pretty. The guys stayed inside for most of Saturday anyway though, because of college football! Our friend and host, Bryant, boiled about 10 lbs of shrimp, with potatoes and corn, and crab that the boys caught! It was YUMMY! Such a treat! I can't wait to get another community group getaway on the books!!

Community group gettaway

Tonight we are goin to Fort Morgan with our community group. I am torn because Homecoming at Hillsdale is tomorrow too. This will be a great time to go deeper but my freind Kevin is full of Grace adn truth and I treasure his words about the communty we both so love to serve in. Anyway, I plan on having a fun time tonight!!

Prayer

Please be in prayer with us as our friends Kevin and Shay walk through this day. They are having a family graveside service this morning and a memorial service this evening. Pray that the God of hope would continue to bind up the brokenhearted and bring them comfort and peace as they journey through this day and the ones to come.

Davis Quote

This is Davis' quote of the day:

He pulled out the Jesus Storybook Bible and said:

D: "Mommy it's the bible! Wead it to me!

Me: Ok! Hop up here and we'll read it.
What does the bible say?

D: "It say dat Jesus lus(loves) me!"

I mean, really, could you not just eat him?!

Trust

"Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His word.
Just to rest upon His promise.
Just to know 'thus saith the Lord'.

Jesus, Jesus, how I love You!
How I've proved You o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh for grace, to trust You more!"

Grieving

Today, our sweet friends Shay and Kevin Steedley, lost their baby. She was full term and went into labor, and the Lord decided to take her before she entered into the world. She was beautiful, and tiny, and perfectly made by a God who has been knitting her together in her mother's womb from the day of conception. We believe in a sovereign God who is in control of all things. We believe that her days were written just as ours are. However, we are deeply saddened. WE grieve and pray with the Steedleys, and will continue to hope and trust for them, even when they don't think they can. The Lord has given them phenomenal grace that comes only from Him, and the strength they have displayed and the glory they have still been able to give to our God during these tragic circumstances, is remarkable. I am thankful for Virginia "Ginna" Steedley. Today, she and her parents have caused me to see Jesus, and for that I am always grateful.

Day of Rest

I hope everyone enjoyed the Sabbath! Happy Sunday:)

Go Jags!

We went to the Jags game today to tailgate:) They had a fundraiser called Tailgating for Autism, so we endured the blazing heat in the name of charity;) The kids had a blast! Obviously they need some Jags gear, because they were decked out in Gator gear from head to toe! Scott was not complaining about that at all though ;) Fun was had, great naps were taken, and fluids were replenished. All in all, a really good day!

Friday!!!

After working the last couple of nights and keeping up with the pace of life, I am TIRED!! I am in desperate need of a nap. So desperate that I would be willing to nap in the middle of my cul de sac if I had time! And, if it were appropriate ;) I am so glad that it's Friday, I can hardly stand it. Now I just have to convince my kids that life will be much easier tomorrow if they will just sleep in :0) Here's to hoping (or feeling like their allergies are acting up and giving everyone a little taste of my friend "benadryl") Ha!

Joshua

We started our women's bible study this morning at the church. It is always so refreshing to get back into and see friends and meet new faces. We are studying Joshua, which I am really looking forward to. I love to study old testament books. I look forward to seeing God's faithfulness as we walk thru this book:)

Something sweet

Today I just had Davis with me, so I took him to the park with a friend to play. He ran and jumped and squealed, and had lots of fun:) Today I realized something little that I love and usually take for granted. He had a sweaty head. His hair was wet on the ends. I love that:0) It is sweet to me. If he wasn't here tomorrow, that would be a little thing that I would miss. I enjoy him so much. He and his sweaty 2 year old self ;)

sidenote...

I am bummed. I was going to put a premade chicken lasagna in the oven so I wouldn't have to prepare for dinner, because we have to go to Paige's open house tonight at 6. I got ready to put it in and realized that it takes an hour and a half to cook! I don't have an hour and a half! Guess I better rethink dinner!

It's me again...

After a nice relaxing weekend, I was hurled full force into a crazy busy Monday. My Monday included, working childcare for 4 hours at the gym while also keeping my neighbor's baby, putting two overtired children down for a nap that didn't last nearly as long as I'd hoped, getting those cranky children back up to spend an hour and a half in carpool picking up the girls (meanwhile the noise level grew exponentially), trying to get a quick workout in on the dvd player while my kids continuously tried to lose their minds, showereing and getting all of us dressed while waiting on the neighbor to pick up her baby, driving across the bay for a fundraiser for Scott's school, driving back across the bay after prying 3 little ones away from their daddy:( , and and putting the VERY tired kiddos to bed well after their bedtime. Yep. I'm tired too. Good night all!

Sunday- Community Group OUtreach

We are and have been looking at new ideas to reach out to the community in whihc we live adn serve? What do you do at your church? What have you done or seen that has been effective? I like to think of myself as a pretty creative guy, but on things like this, we need all hands on deck. So tonight, we are going to be making a list for our church and community group. Why don't you do the same? What can you do to serve others (who don't know Jesus) in and through your church?

Saturday- Hoping Florida is not the upset

So if yuo were aliove last weekend you probably heard how Florida about layed and egg and lost to Miami (not the one from Florida either.) So this weekend al we are asking for is good snaps. Not 50 points, not 4 interceptions, not a lights out defnese, or 400 yards rushing. Just get teh ball to the quarterback with out him losing it! High Expectations!

Making things great for the one who I know is great! Friday

So, we get a little weekend gettaway this weekend so I will be bloggin ahead of time for us! It suspects to be a great time had by many. Hope there are great stories adn pics to come.!
Scott
PS Annie yuor off bloggin until Monday! I love you with all my heart and am so thankful for our time together this weekend. It's gonna be great!

Update

The latest update on my dad is that he has a 95% blockage in one of his renal arteries and 50% in the other. Surgery has been schedule for Tuesday so please continue to keep him in your prayers!

So Fast!

Why does life seem like it's moving at lightning speed? Our days just fly by at a ridiculous speed. I want to really live to the fullest and be mindful that my Father gave me another day on this earth for a purpose. It's so easy, however, to get caught up in the daily busy bee mode! I'm thankful that the Lord is more mindful of me than I am of Him. He knows my needs and desires, and he gently guides me in the direction I need to go. Praying for my stubborn self that I wouldn't resist that guidance as my day to day unfolds! Happy Wednesday!

Prayers Please:)

My dad had a renal ultrasound last week and it showed about 70% blockage in both renal arteries. If that assessment is correct, then he will probably need to have stents placed in each artery. He is scheduled for a CT scan tomorrow at 1pm and we will know a little more then. Please be in prayer for him. Pray that the Lord would give us direction as the diagnosis and treatment is revealed and that my dad would remain healthy and strong throughout the tests and any procedures that might be needed!

Three Days come and Gone

Well its come and gone but I am sub-blogging for Annie once again. This weekend was her birthday and we had a great time going out to dinner last night and then relaxing all day today. We also started teaching Paige to ride her bike today and she did a really good job today. She still has a lot to learn but day one went really well.

Sweet:)

My baby boy picked his mommy some flowers today! Well, maybe they're weeds, but still a very kind gesture. I heart him:)

It's back!!!

Marathon training season is back and in full swing!! I'm excited and looking forward to some fall weather to accompany the many long runs that will have to take place between now and then;) I maight be waiting a while on cooler weather though!

In honor...

In honor of my husband......college football season is officially here!! Woo hoo! This makes him a very happy man, and I tend to enjoy it myself;) Go Gators!!!!

Another funny one...

Annalee: "Davis are you in 1st grade?"

Davis: "No, I'm not."

A: "Are you in high school then?"

D: "Yes."

Out of time...

I'm busy printing coupons. No time to blog:)

End of theMonth

The end of the month brings with it lots of things to do. We have to budget (also meaning we have to pinch pennies to make to the the end of the month:). I have to load our calendar up with all of our upcoming events. The calendar in and of itself is not necessarily my strong point. It's never as organized as I want it to be, so it kinda leads me to frustration. I gotta come up with a new system. I have to fill out my work schedule for the next month. Can you tell that I'm a planner? Planning and organization makes my heart happy:) The list goes on, but I won't bore you. Just know that my Monday was obviously fascinating, and I'd thought I'd share the details;)

The Sabbath

Our Sabbath isn't always so restful, but we had a good community group tonight, with good food and good friends. So, I am thankful that even though it's hard sometimes to get everything ready, that He still urges us to do it, because the payoff is much greater than we ever anticipate! Happy Sunday!

New phone!

My phone has been misbehaving ALOT the last several days! And by misbehaving, I mean, that calls would come in and go out, and people could even hear me. All I could hear, however, was silence. It was so frustrating! My texting still worked, so I could message people if needed, but it drove me a little crazy. So, we happened to be up for a free upgrade, and this is my new phone! Keep in mind, that I'm not electronicly savvy. I had a standard flip phone. Nothing fancy about it. And I am totally ok with that! So, tonight I am gonna take some time ad figure out how to use it! Wish me luck;)

Happy Day!

Happy 44th anniversary to my mom and dad!! What a testimony of God's love and grace! I love you guys and pray that you get to celebrate 44 more;)

Quote of the day...

Today, like most other days of the week, I kept our neighbor, Jenna. I usually put her down for a nap at 11 and then put Davis down an hour later. I wake them both up around 2ish to go get the girls from school. Today, however, Jenna's uncle came to pick her up a little early. By the time I woke Davis up, she was already gone. So, I get Davis up, get in the car, and we were on our merry way to school. Halfway out of our neighborhood, Davis, in a panicked voice says, "Oh no mommy! Baby Jenna!" Bahahahahahaha! He totally thought I had forgotten her! Which, don't put it past me, but I was certain for today;) It was priceless. Thank goodness I have little Davis to keep me in check:)

Be in prayer...

A friend of ours lost their baby last Thursday. She was 34 weeks and had an emergency c-section for high blood pressure. Upon assessment after the baby was born, they discovered she had Trisomy 13, which is a chromosomal disorder that has a grim outcome. Her baby died a few hours later. It is their first child and to say the least, they are devastated. Please be in prayer for this family as they walk this grief-filled road. The funeral is tomorrow. I can' even imagine. Please, please pray.

Feeling behind...

I am feeling behind today. I have a boatload of housework and organization that I want to do, I am just not feeling very motivated:( The good news is that it's only Tuesday. The bad news...it's only Tuesday.

Pleasant Surprise!

Annalee's school is closed today because the A/C is broken. When I told her she wasn't having school today and she would be staying with me, she just light-heartedly said "ok!". I love her:) So, this is my pleasant little surpise for the day!

Firsts...

Today is the first time in over 6 years that I haven't had a baby in the nursery! It is a sad day:( The kids all moved up in their classes for sunday school, which included Davis moving out of the nursery into the 2's and 3's room. I seriously cannot believe it! Usually our pattern of having babies would include a new baby by now! Not to say that I don't enjoy alot of aspects of the kids getting older as well! I just love having babies! I heart the tiny baby stage:) My good friend and neighbor has a 4 week old, so I have been stealing lots of cuddle time and kisses from her!

Little known fact...

I just thought I would share a little known fact about myself. I love the Little League World Series! Seriously, I look forward to it every year. I am so excited to spend this rainy Saturday curled up on the couch, while my kids are napping, and watching game after game:)

Yay!

I went to Publix this morning and spent $22 and saved $77! Definitely not a personal best, but still drives me to say once again that I heart Publix:)

Big Boy!

He had to have a backpack. No, he doesn't go to school, but he had to have one. H watched his sisters get new ones, and he was bound and determined to not be left out! So, Spiderman it is! He LOVES it! He wears it as often as possible, which works for me, because I can now use it as a diaper bag! He's so big:)

I heart Publix again!

Since I am now settling into the back to school routine, I am also settling back into the regular trips to Publix routine!! Yay! I've missed it:) I've been printing my coupons this afternoon in preperation for my trip on Friday!! I know. It's a little ridiculous how excited I get over this. Don't judge me.

Please vote!

Annalee's school is in the running to win the Pepsi Refresh Project! They would win $250,000 all allocated towards different things at the preschool. YOu can vote online at www.refresheverything.com/littletreepreschool . Also, if you have text messaging you can vote again! Just text 101735 to the number 73774! Please please please take a second to vote! YOu can vote every day until the end of the month and you can vote twice if you do it by internet and by texting:) Also, they are in 14th place outof like 1200 or so. They have to be #1 or #2 to win anything") Thanks!

It begins!

I started keeping our neighbor's baby today! So far, all has gone well. There is always an occasional hiccup, where we are out and Davis has to go potty. Since baby girl isn't walking yet, I have to hold her and help Davis potty simultaneously! Tricky, but we made it through:) Happy Monday!

Chubby Bunny

Remember the days of playing the game "Chubby Bunny"? Well, we have graduated to a new game called "This Is The Best Cracker Ever!". Yep...Scott won;)

We're Baaack!

We are back! The beach was great. It rained half of today, but it was still the beach and I love it! We had a fabulous relaxing time, but we are glad to be home:)

Off to the beach!

I am about to head out and pick up the girls from school, and then take all the kids to my mom's for the weekend! Scott and I are headed to the beach, at last!! Of course there is some tropical depression remnants hovering, but at this point, we don't really care! Pray that it's a great weekend for all of us:)

Daddy's first week back

This also happens to be Scott's first week back. We miss him. The kids just about lose their mind, when he gets home! Summertime spoiled us a little bit. We are trying for the second time to maybe go to the beach this weekend, but we'll see how that goes! I really hope it works out. The kids will be spending the night at Mimi and Papa's. Oh how they love to go there!!! So, all are excited about the possibilty! Now we'll just see how the Lord works it all out:)

Potty update!

My big boy is doing great! Even with the stomach bug, he did geat. And he got LOTS of practice, trust me! I have enjoyed it just being the two of us the last several days. He talks so much more when he's not competing with two other very cute little chatterboxes:) He's also really funny! He entertains me on an hourly basis! I am so thankful for him, and he has made even potty training, not quite so bad:)

Our Routine

Well, today is the official day we go back to our usual school routine. Scott was here yesterday, so it didn't count! Truthfully, I love a good routine/schedule. It makes me breathe easier. I feel more productive. I tend to get more accomplished because I have to. While I love it when Scott is home with us, he does kind of throw off my game a little bit. I tend to not want to do as much because he's here with us, and that is out of the ordinary! So here we are. Back to life. Back to couponing, and packing lunches, and laying out clothes, and finishing homework, and being a laundry nazi...etc. I am gonna start keeping our neighbor's baby this week though, so that will be a little different. She'll be one this month, so I have to go back to baby mode a little bit. I'm not sure how long I'll be keeping her, other than the fact that I'm pretty certain it won't be past December. I think it's gonna work out just fine. It just takes a bit of readjusting!

First Day of School!!

It's the first day of school again!!! The girls were SOOOO excited! Davis felt left out, so we let him in the picture too. He's still in school with mommy:) Paige's first day of 1st grade was fabulous. She behaved very well, made new friends, and she loves her new teacher! Annalee also had a spectacular day at preschool. When asked how her first day of school was, she replied, "Well...we had snack!" Classic. If you know Annalee, then you know that meant she had a great day:)

Getting old...

So this is a very recent pic of Scott and I. In my head, I am still about 23 years old. I just decided that was a really good age I guess, so I'm stuck there. Well, today I had a reality check. As I was printing coupons (reality check #1 that I'm getting old;), I had to put in my birthday, and I realized that my birth year doesn't pop up right away anymore! I have to actually SCROLL DOWN to find it!!!! When did that happen? 31 is right around the corner though, so I guess at some point I'm gonna have to accept this and just move on!

8/*/10 Just Kidding!

I thought everyone was better, but in typical Parks style, Davis decided he would be well for a good 48 hours and then throw up at 3:30 in the morning and have diarrhea all day! I'm praying that this is the end of it and that the Lord would remove this bug far from our house!

Good news!

It looks like the kids are on the mend! Praise the Lord!!!

Another one bites the dust...

The tummy bug has hit 2 kiddies, and today Annalee decided she wanted to join in! Truthfully, I'd rather her go ahead and have it if she's gonna get it, because school starts on Monday. The good news is, they've all been relatively normal throughout the day. They like to wait until the middle of the night, however, to surprise me with "gifts". Why is that? Why must they wait until the dead of night? Why can't they get it all out of their system when the sun is up? Anyway, it could definitely be worse, so I don't want to complain too much. The Lord is healing them one by one and hopefully we will be rid of this thing soon!

The fam

We had a little family dance session! The kids loved it, especially Annalee! If you have food, music, and dancing...girlfriend is in heaven!
Scott had it all planned for us to go to the beach Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week. All by ourselves! Well, of course, that's not how we roll. Paige woke up at 4 am on Monday morning with vomiting and diarrhea:( There goes the beach. As of today, Paige is better, but Davis is now complaining that his tummy hurts. We'll see what happens. If you would, please pray with us as we ask God to spare the rest of the family from this tummy bug. Thanks:)

My daddy:)

Love him:)

We danced to some country song that I had never heard called "I held her first". It was sweet.

Some dance pics:)

This dance was completely hysterical! I loved it! So thankful for all the folks who participated. It wsa literally, the best:)