The Parish Family Blog

A special date

2010-10-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

October 2, 2010

Happy 28th Anniversary Mom and Dad!

"Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised." -Song of Solomon 8:7

Praise God for a love that is unquenchable through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!

We love you Mom and Dad! Thank-you for your commitment and faithfulness to each other and to the Lord. Your passion for each other gives us vision for our own marriages. May it grow with each year ahead!

2010-09-30T23:05:00.000-07:00

A smattering of photos . . .

My new family

On my last trip to IL, Nate's Mom and daughters put on a shower for us. It was a special time! Nate and I are sharing our story here. :-)

So fun to have more girls in my family!

Looking forward to the wedding in 9 days! Yay!!!

B-day at the park

2010-08-27T00:21:00.001-07:00

June 30 marks a special day in our family! Jeremy turned 15 this year, and we celebrated by playing a game of disc golf with friends at Woodward Park in Fresno. I learned, *ahem* that I need to sharpen up on my throwing skills . . . (surprise, surprise!) while Jeremy came in third. How can that happen when we both played for the first time? Hmm . . .

He's gonna make it!

Everybody had their own throwing style. :-P

The only things needed to play disc in Fresno. :-) That water bottle is just as important as the discs!

Preppin' up to throw

Come play!

Flying

2010-08-12T22:31:00.000-07:00

Free . . .

Simon recently discovered a popular "jump-off" spot for hang gliders about 30 minutes away from our house. One afternoon, the Littles, Mom, and I joined him and zoomed up the mountain to watch them take-off.

I wish you could have seen the look in Simon's eyes as he watched glider after glider take the plunge. (Literally!) Someday this dream may come true . . .

Mountain joy

Chatting with the owner of the spot. He was a devoted Christian and couldn't stop praising God. Isn't it a blessing when you find believers at the most unexpected places?

The Latest Lillyism

2010-08-07T21:23:00.001-07:00

Tonight, as we were getting out some butter pecan ice cream, Lilly said "I want butter dot com".

Dad

My Man

2010-06-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

“For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him, from generation to generation.” - Luke 1:49-50

Grandma Colleen sent these verses to me in a letter during the first days of my courtship with Nathan. This beautiful song of praise, composed by Mary, has echoed in my heart through the past months like a beautiful broken record . . . I can't do anything else but lift my hands in thankfulness and praise to the One who has done great things for me, an unworthy servant.

“Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgements are a great deep . . . How precious is Your lovingkindness O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.” -Psalm 36:5-7

Please forgive the recent silence of the blog. Frankly, my heart has been too full to blog. :-) In the past months, God has led me to the man I have been praying for since girlhood. This man is heaven bound, a pilgrim on the earth. He is a man who loves Christ and His Gospel with an intensity that overflows. He is a man who stands forgiven, regenerated by God’s grace and mercy. He is a warrior for truth, active in the battle to spread and preserve Christ’s gospel. A man with compassion for the lost and a love for the unlovely. God surprised me by gradually winding my path closer and closer to his until soon, they will merge as one road, leading both of us, hand in hand, to heaven. We are engaged as of June 9th and look forward to a wedding in October!

“Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” -Hebrews 12:1

I can’t wait to run this race with Nathan, confident in this promise: “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.” -Psalm 37 23-24

Sometimes when I pause, take my eyes off Christ, and look towards a veiled future that will probably hold many challenges and difficult experiences to walk through, I begin to fear, knowing my own sinful flesh and weaknesses. But as Paul wrote, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” -Hebrews 10:23. Those fears I have are doubting God’s faithfulness and ability to preserve and finish the work He has begun.
As those wiser and more mature than I have reminded me, it is the Gospel that makes two people able to become as one in every way that God intended, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. It is the Gospel that cleanses us of our selfishness and sin, enabling us to love and serve each other with the love of Christ, which then leads to an intimacy deep and precious, the kind of intimacy God intended between a man and his bride. Knowing this, I am filled with hope and joyful expectancy. For it is not in my own strength but in God’s that I can rely. With this hope in our hearts, we can walk confidently together towards the heavenly lands, not blind to the realities, or dangers that we will encounter, but steadfast, relying with unshakeable trust, on the mercy of God.

Thank-you to you, my precious friends and family for all your love and support during this amazing season of my life. Come praise the Lord with me!

When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.

-C.S. Lewis

What greater thing is there for two human souls, than to feel that they are joined for life - to strengthen each other in all labour, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting?
-George Eliot
Adam Bede

In marriage, each partner is to be an encourager rather than a critic, a forgiver rather than a collector of hurts, an enabler rather than a reformer.
-- H. Norman Wright and Gary J. Oliver

A Special Event

2010-06-12T22:28:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, we were blessed to witness an extra special event . . . Daniel and Kendra's baptism! God has been alive in their hearts and lives, doing amazing things. His faithfulness is unbelievable. Praise Him!

The baptism was held in the Chenette's (Daniel and Kendra's pastor and family) backyard. Nathan was even able to be here! Yay! :-D

Kendra first . . .

Confessing and testifying of God's masterful work.

Hallelujah!

Daniel next . . .

Yay!!

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Before the baptism, we went to the beach, played in the water, and toured one of the mansions Daniel is working on.

Craftsman

Dancing in the streaming light

Mr. Toothless!

Kisses from Mommy

Sweet Emmy . . . I love you!

Is Grandma huggin' a tad too tight Livy? :-)

Fun in the Sun

2010-04-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

May 11, 2010

A few weeks ago Mom, Jeremy, the Little's and I took a spontaneous trip to L.A. We planned two days of museum's, beach time, fun shops, and best of all, time with Daniel, Kendra and their Littles! We went to the Children's Museum first:

By the grace of God, we survived downtown L.A. traffic and arrived with smiles! Quite a feat I assure you. :-P

Our destination

Dancin' in the lights.

Camera's and funky faces just seem to attract each other. :-P

Our faces were completely unplanned . . . great minds think alike right? Ha! :-)

Inside the museum - so much to see!

Marveling at the amazing kelp forest.

Amazing things outside . . .

And inside!

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When we were "museumed out", we toured the beautiful rose gardens just a short distance away. It was great to run and play amid so many beautiful blossoms!

Kendra teaching Livy how to fly. :-)

Delight

No one warned us of the Tyrannosaurus Rex running loose throughout the garden!

Or the monkeys in the trees!

Two cuties.

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After touring the rose garden's and stopping for some sweet, drippy, sticky ice cream bars, we sat back and enjoyed a fantastic Imax movie about enormous waves and the crazy surfers who ride them. It was amazing! In 3D, the viewer can feel a bit of the thrill without wetting so much as your little toe. That realization was bittersweet. Does watching a film like that one enrich your life by making you feel a little of what surfing enormous waves would feel like? Or does it rob you of the necessity of actually surfing to know at all what it would be like? Hmmm . . .

3D glasses are the best!

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The next day we played at the beach and walked along a beautiful bike trail that skirted the coast.

Precious times. :-)

For the Love of Lupin

2010-04-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

April 10, 2010

Little girls are made of daisies and butterflies and soft kitty cat purrs
And all the precious memories of times that once were.

Little girls are made of angel's wings and giggles and a firefly's glow
And all the happy feelings, deep inside, that we all know.

Little girls are made of cinnamon and bubbles and fancy white pearls
And snowflakes and rainbows and ballerina twirls.

Little girls are made of sunshine and cupcakes and fresh morning dew,

And these are the reasons, little one, why everyone loves you.

~Karen Barnes

Yum . . .

2010-04-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

April 10, 2010

This spring we joined forces with the Callis family and raised meat chickens to fill our freezers. We began the process with 50 chicks. However, Ranger tested them for flavor, and left us with 26. We butchered the remaining chickens a few weeks ago. It was . . . a good "get tough" experience for me, who was wracking my brain for a way to avoid being part of the process. :-) But Eden Callis, with her pioneer spirit was an inspiration, and we all pitched in for a very satisfying result! (Come taste for yourself! :-)

Innocent, unsuspecting, trusting . . . are you feeling sorry for them yet? :-P

This is what the were facing. Terrifying!

Preparing for internal excavation.

David's ingenious chicken plucker was the star of the show!

In she goes! (He? She? Not quite sure on that one. ;-P)

Squirt in some water, add some power, plop her in, and in a few minutes, you have a plucked beauty!
A job like this inspires all sorts of faces, for they mirror our emotions. :-)

The gloves were marvelous!

More Family Time. :-)

2010-04-02T19:55:00.000-07:00

April 2, 2010

After the conference, McCrackens came over with Max and Jenny to enjoy an evening all together . . . just like old times. :-) It brought back memories as we all walked the paths, sang together, and enjoyed laughter and fellowship. We are thankful for the blessing of family!

Parish Family #3

Whatdya see up there Graham?

We took a few minutes to snap some McCracken family photos.

Cuteness

Love . . .

More love . . .

Sister craziness and fun. Love it!

Romance was wafting across the fields . . . those flowers do it every time. :-P

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When the light began to dim outside, we all gathered inside for some music. Jenny and Kaylee delighted us with a beautiful duet.

Fun . . .

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Friday marked the end of our RTM week. Mom, the Littles and I were blessed to take Max and Jenny to the airport. Those three hours were filled with much conversation and catching up.

Goodbye kisses.

It was so hard to watch them go. We miss you!!

Family Time

2010-03-27T19:34:00.001-07:00

March 28, 2010

After the conference, we were able to spend some precious family time. Our friend Nathan, from Illinois, took a group picture, and the rest of the day we enjoyed a rest in the beauty of the outdoors.

Uncle Jeremy and Livy

Dan and Emmy

Auntie Jenny - we miss you!!

After we took the family picture, Max, Jenny, and Graham walked back to the house to pack up while the rest of meandered our way down, me snapping pictures of girlies all the way back. :-) One of my favorite things to do!

Funny faces . . .

Baby fingers.

Tears, hugs, and goodbyes. The worst part of the day was waving goodbye to Max and Jenny!

Even Graham doesn't like goodbyes! :-)

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After saying goodbye to Max and Jenny, we all rambled out to the fields to enjoy some exercise.

Uncle Simon and Jaelynn

Jacob in his element. :-) Frogs.

Stopping to enjoy the view

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The next day, Tuesday, we took Nathan up to see the giant sequoia trees. It was fun to soak in the mountain air while getting better acquainted.

Have a wonderful week!

RTM - Saturday

2010-03-27T17:27:00.001-07:00

March 28, 2010

Bright and early Saturday morning, the Cox twins began the main conference day by reciting a poem about manhood.

Dad spoke once in the morning and once in the afternoon. His first talk was titled, "Rise Up and Act Like Men". His second, "Fathers, Grandfathers, and Sons".

Listening . . .

Jean-Paul Chenette, pastor of Oak Brook church in Thousand Oaks, where Dan and Kendra attend, was gracious enough to drive up and present his talk titled: "Pure Hearts, Powerful Lives, Productive Days".

After lunch, the men and women broke up into two sessions. All the ladies gathered in the house to hear Mom share, while the men stayed in the shop for Max's talk on purity.

All the gals.
Sharing . . .

Besides Max's session on Saturday, he also spoke on Sunday afternoon.

Mrs. Byer managed all the food during the conference. She made sure that all the food was properly prepared and set out in time for both meals. Because of her service, Mom was able to have time to prepare for her session and welcoming people as hostess. You were an enormous blessing Mrs. Byer. Thank-you so much!

Lots and lots of food!

Volleyball during lunch break.

The rocks along the walking trails were perfect for an impromtu photo shoot!

Sharing food and fellowship.

Sugar and spice!

After dinner, Daniel and David Mannlein both shared their personal testimonies of God's redemptive power in their lives for salvation. It was a very special and emotional time of praise for God's great goodness!

For more info, go to www.returntomanhood.com

Return to Manhood 2010

2010-03-21T14:37:00.000-07:00

March 27, 2010

Friday, March 10, marked the beginning of the 2nd Return to Manhood conference. Thanks to the help of so many, we were able to host this special time of encouragement and fellowship once again. It was a memorable weekend. Emotion filled testimonies of God's faithfulness mixed with exhortation towards Godly manhood and womanhood made the weekend convicting, but praise filled.

The Byer family arrived before the conference started to help with the preparation. They were amazing!! Without the help of their family, RTM 2010 would never have been what it was. A big thanks to each one of you for every thing you did to make it possible to host this event!

Much to our excitement, Max and Jenny arrived Wednesday evening, and Daniel and Kendra on Thursday night. It was the first time we had all been together in over a year. :-)

Jenny was such a blessing . . . always seeing what needed to be done and quietly doing it. Even down to the mundane dishwashing. A big thanks to you Jenny!

Mom and Dad . . . planning and preparing.

Break time.

Meanwhile, the ladies faithfully rolled silverware. . . a lot of it. :-)

I couldn't resist a photo of these two gents. :-)

We love you Graham!

A quick "Mother/Daughter" shot. :-)

Thursday was Mr. Byer's birthday!

We all gathered in as he opened his gifts. Through this experience, we found out something new about Mr. Byer. His middle name starts with a "c". C for Chocolate! :-P

Yummy!

I like to tell the children that within the depths of my lense is a little man waving to them. They always like to wave back. :-)

Preparation . . .

More preparation . . .

And more . . .

Yay for Mommy muscles! Thanks to the skill of my sisters, we enjoyed fluffy white rolls for dinner the next day.

We were strictly forbidden to touch these lovely, golden rolls. Some around here considered that torture, but it was for the common good. :-)

A big "Hurrah!" for whoever invented the Ergo!

Taking a few minutes to snuggle.

Kendra is almost done with a gorgeous quilt she's making for Max and Jenny. Isn't it beautiful?

The guys all pitched in to transform our shop into a conference room. It was a bit rustic, yes, but full of character right? :-)

Food awaiting its fate.

Friday evening finally rolled around, and the conference was underway!

Dad opened up the conference with a short talk about the famed, "Ivory White Tower", (Take a peek on the website, www.returntomanhood.com for more info on that.) a big welcome, and introductions.

Max led us in song.
Mr. Cox mid-exhortation.

Following Mr. Cox's session, fellowship, food, and music were enjoyed. :-)

Smiles and snoozes.

Haley Byer helped me tremendously with picture taking. This artistic shot is hers.

Happenings

2010-03-06T22:28:00.001-08:00

Last Wednesday, we enjoyed meeting the entire Adams Family who were passing through and stopped by on their way to Sacramento.

The night they arrived, we had a fun evening of singing and games with a few Werzinski's, and David Rutz, who was also in the area.

The next morning held more music-making. Jacob joined in on the mandolin. ;-)

Three violin's, one cello, two guitars, and one mandolin completed the ensemble.

Meanwhile, a lively conversation was taking place in the dining room.

How about it Jeremy?

The girls enjoyed playing with Isabelle so much! She was sweet to join in their play and games that morning while the 'olders' were playing music and the adults visiting.

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Friday morning, Simon, Lilly, Mom and I drove down to Simi Valley. There we attended a funeral for Uncle Jung's father, who had passed away due to an infection he developed after his kidney transplant. It was a special trip - and we were able to spend time with many close and extended family members.

Just before we pulled away . . .

Lilly was so excited to have these girls all to herself. :-)

All grins.
Jaelynn and Uncle Simon sharing a special moment.

Mother/daughter. :-)

Emmy has grown so much!

Eliot and Elianna, Uncle Jung and Aunt Lisa's children, also my 'Texas' cousins.

This morning, these three soldiers left to fight off the Yankees who had invaded Mooney Grove park in Visalia. :-) They had a great time and came back riddled with grapeshot, big smiles, and a whiff of campfire smoke lingering about them. It was a great day!

The Lord is Good

2010-03-06T14:37:00.001-08:00

The Lord is good to those who wait for him. To the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

-Lamentations 3:25-6

Bruiser

2010-03-04T22:14:00.000-08:00

This fellow escaped the butcher's knife. His friend, unfortunately, was not so lucky. John Rico Jr. is now packed away in our freezer . . . our first 'grass fed beef'. He tastes delicious!

Be thankful Bruiser.

2010-02-28T23:30:00.002-08:00

February 28, 2010

A few weeks ago, Simon, Jeremy and I had the opportunity to meet the McDonald family at the Callis home. Playing music, singing, and sharing good food and fellowship together made for a very special evening!

Simon received his crane operating license in the mail two weeks ago. He is now a fully certified heavy equipment and crane operator. Yahoo!!

He has also been doing the finishing touches on our guesthouse. Just in time for the conference!
Jayni came to me the other day with her newest creation: a marionette puppet! Isn't she lovely?

Jayni and Hannah Becker spent special time together when we spent two great days with the Becker family last week. We were able to go horseback riding, do 'circle' time together, take a hike up in the flower-laden hills, and do a lot of playing. A big thank-you to the Becker family for their love and friendship!

Beautiful smiles
After an exhilarating ride, we hosed off Cowboy together. I was thankful for my helpers!

Lills . . . enjoying the hills.

Peek!

God has filled my heart full to overflowing with awe recently. The beauty of His creation all around me is breathtaking.

Ratty and Mole

2010-02-19T08:49:00.000-08:00

February 19, 2010

"Friendships need the space and time represented by the open country and the river in The Wind in the Willows. Friendships thrive in the open air and wind and sun. Their value is missed or misunderstood in a world in which money is mistaken as the measure of nearly everything and utility becomes the sole test of value. Friendships exist for their own sakes."

-Vigen Guroian Tending the Heart of Virtue

Art prints by Charles Van Sandwyk

Living History at the Parish Ranch

2010-02-18T16:43:00.000-08:00

February 18, 2009

While Mom was away, Dad organized a Civil War 'live fire' day with some of our friends. With appointed officers and reenactment gear, the guys drilled, did plenty of live fire shooting, and also shot some clay pigeons with today's guns. A big thanks to everyone who attended! It was great fun.

Drilling up to snuff.

Do I see smiles in the ranks? One at least. :-) Thanks Mr. Smith!

Simon and Tim Smith keeping an eye on the arms.

Eden Callis graced the field wearing her lovely period attire. Her femininity was a delight.

Yay Connor!

Loading is an extensive process with these reproduction muskets.

But thanks to the trusty 'Butterboy', Talon Smith, they accomplished the feat successfully. :-)
Nurse Parish and Private Smith kindly agreed to pose for me.

Pals

2010-02-02T22:51:00.000-08:00

A New Year

2010-01-27T17:23:00.000-08:00

January 29, 2010

Happy late New Year's! We had a great time celebrating with Dan, Kendra and the little girlies.

Smiles from Jaelynn Grace.

Who would know which girls were the aunties and which were the nieces?

Jayni and Lilly bounce off the walls in anticipation of a visit from Jaelynn and Livy.

Miss Emerson Faith is growing like a little sunflower! She has a smile that would bring flutters to any heart. We love you sweetheart!

Kisses

It was SO good to have some catch-up girl time with Kendra! She's my big sister in all but blood.

Precious . . .

When Mom and Kendra took off to scour the Vintage shops in downtown Visalia, the boys took Daniel out to join the ranks of the Parish brigade. :-)

Thank-goodness for ears. Hats would be awfully bothersome without them.

Earlier that day, Daniel and Jeremy worked on some finish work for the Guest House, which, now that Simon is home, will hopefully be finished soon.

New years or not, Saturdays are the Parish work day. It's great for the mind and the muscles!

Preparing to paint a masterpiece.

Mom has discovered a Christian decorating magazine, called Life Beautiful, that she is showing here to Kendra. We've only received two issues so far, but both Mom and I have been uplifted and inspired by its encouragement to live a beautiful life.

Once a lego boy, always a lego boy.

December 23 marks a very important event in our family. Jaelynn turned four! We didn't get to celebrate with her until New Years time, but it was still special to share in the beginning of another year in her life.

Princess things

Sweet Livy kept me laughing with her sense of humor. Happy go lucky and outward focused, Livy is always up for an adventure. We miss you Livs!

Saying goodbye . . . it's been too long already since their visit already. Come see us again soon okay?

2010-01-24T07:49:00.001-08:00

January 25, 2010

After we said goodbye to the Welch family Tuesday morning, we packed into a rental SUV, and set off to Oklahoma. We arrived late in the evening, too late, unfortunately, to see Graham, but early enough to settle in to the cozy yellow home on Frank street, give hugs all around, and begin catching up with Max and Jenny. Those four and a half days flew by! In the meantime, Max and Jenny were gracious to overlook the piles of bedding and large suitcase stacked throughout their home. :-)

Cuddling

Stories with Grandma, Aunties, and Uncle. :-)

Catching up

And playing games

One evening, we enjoyed the company of M&J's next door neighbor. He kept us laughing with his stories, yet, we appreciated the 'life advice' he shared with us as well.

We celebrated Jacob's 7th birthday while we were there. Happy Birthday Jacob!

Another afternoon, Max gave us all a tour of the University. The architecture was spectacular!

Unfortunately, I was not allowed to photograph my favorite place . . . the library. Just sitting in a place as beautiful as that must inspire great scholarly reflections.

Morning sunshine!

What a crack up!

Graham-boy is very loved.

In fact, we even had the privilege of watching him practice walking.

When Saturday rolled around, we tidied up for company. Dad's brother Uncle Craig, his wife Aunt Rene'; and Dad's sister Aunt Lisa, her husband Uncle Jung, and their two children, Eliot and Elianna drove over from Texas to spend the day. We enjoyed catching up, celebrating two birthdays, and even a great conversation in the evening about courtship and marriage. :-)

Aunt Rene' is sitting beside Mom in the picture above, with Aunt Lisa beside her.

Swings provide amusement for Littles and Bigs. :-)

Aunt Lisa, Jenny, and Graham.

Max and Jenny are only a short walk away from a park. Jeremy was excited about that! :-P

So was Simon it seems.

Two birthday boys, Eliot Paek and Jacob Parish.
Aunt Rene' brought the cake . . .

Along with a stack of fun color and activity books for the Littles. A big thank-you to Aunt Rene'!

Chattin away . . .

Brothers - and both history buffs! In light of our recent reenacting adventures, we had a lot of Civil War talk going on that day.

Uncle Jung is a wealth of information. A few years ago, he and his family moved out onto a ranch in Texas. It was great swapping stories about the many things animals teach can teach us. :-P Some of those lessons aren't so fun. He is also the one who helped us into target shooting. The guys have done a little hunting with him as well.

Gals on a bridge. Original eh?

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We laughed when we saw the next sequence of pictures. These are the events leading up to a family picture.

Can't you hear the wedding photographer . . . "Okay, everyone look at them kissing!" Ha!

The final 'goodbye' shot.

But . . . since those often nasty, necessary words, 'good-bye', are not a pleasant ending . . . I decided to end on a much happier note. Grandpa and Graham!

A Week in Norman

2010-01-18T21:05:00.001-08:00

January 18, 2009

Please forgive my disposal of chronology. Our trip back east was amazing, but my posting of it will be backwards to forwards, starting with one of my favorite parts. :-) A blogger's privilege right?

Here are some words that describe my special week with Max, Jenny, and Graham:

Warmth, love, popcorn, watching Little Dorrit, heart-to-heart visits, hugs, White Christmas, relaxation, books, discussion, girl-talks, bookstores, wet baby kisses, reading stories, singing, scrabble, giggles-chuckles-and hearty laughing, walks in the snow, and much more.

Thank-you my dear brother and sister for the retreat, for the love, and for the way you made me feel like your home was mine. I love and miss you so much.

Max preparing for the C.S. Lewis class he is offering through the University for seniors. (Age 60+). His personal library is a treasure trove. :-)

Jenny kept us well nourished with her excellent culinary skills. Homemade pizza, the best ham I've ever tasted, gourmet fish, chicken and rice, and lots of delicious salad. Yummy!

Look at those white shiners!

Aunt Sally got the antsies and set off to explore the neighborhood and work out in the process. :-) The exercise was exhilarating, especially because I was escorted by the most handsome gentleman in Norman.

We were blessed by a white Christmas! No more dreaming for these Californian's . . . it was real. Powdery, softly falling, blanketing everything with millions of intricate crystals - snow on Christmas Eve is magical.

Imagine your surprise when, on Christmas morning, you open open gifts that you had picked out yourself! :-)

My sister and I. I love you Jenny!

Joy

On Christmas morning, we took the opportunity to snap some family photos.

Graham's first taste of snow. Does he like it? What do you think?

Christmas dinner is almost ready! Yum . . . just imagine the delicious smells wafting through the home. :-)

Dinner was a delight. Savoring every bite, talking about all sorts of interesting things, and doing lots of . . . laughing!!! :-) Laughter is sweet to the soul.

God has placed these two together in a way no man could. They are soul-mates. Watching them gives me hope. :-)
There is mistletoe above them of course, it's just invisible.

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Saying goodbye was not pleasant. It rarely is. I savored my last few minutes with them, smiled with Graham, and with a heavy heart, walked through security where, to my confusion and consternation, I heard my name called over the loudspeaker. My plane was leaving in four minutes! The Lord was gracious in allowing me to catch my flight, and travel safely home. Home is a beautiful place, but one I returned to with an ache in my heart. Norman Oklahoma is too many miles away.

SOS Conference

2010-01-06T18:34:00.000-08:00

Our family vacation back east began in Cincinnati, Ohio. There, we attended the Sufficiency of Scripture conference put on by the National Center for Family Integrated Churches . Speakers such as Voddie Baucham, Paul Washer, Scott Brown, and Doug Phillips were featured, teaching on topics that were both convicting and refreshing to hear. Besides the teaching, a big highlight of the conference time was fellow-shipping with families we hadn't seen for a long time, as well as meeting new ones. If I heard correctly, there were 2600 conference attendee's!

Sitting in the airport -

Bird watchers, people watchers, T.V. watchers . . . these brothers are die hard airplane watchers.

We stepped into the hotel and were greeted by this sign. Hooray! We had made it at last. Because of the time change, we arrived at the hotel without eating supper. Thankfully, there was a cozy restaurant nearby. I can only imagine the waiter's surprise when we all came trooping in at 12:00 midnight for supper.

Conference attendee's were given free passes to the amazing Creation museum located just a few miles away from Cincinnati. While Simon and Dad attended the church leaders luncheon Thursday afternoon, the rest of us headed out to enjoy the museum. There, we met up with many other conference families. The halls were abuzz with conversation. It was great fun!

I especially enjoyed the Adam and Eve exhibits. Unfortunately, the low lighting challenged my technical photography skills. These pictures don't convey what the figures did - that breathtaking moment when Adam met Eve for the first time. The scene was beautiful.

We were happy to see a replica of Gutenberg's printing press, something we've studied in history this year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My family was stopped several times by families who recognized them from Peter Telian's video, To Be One. :-)

We enjoyed sharing the conference weekend with the Mr. Welch, Amber and Hannah who drove up from Tennessee. With these lovely friends, I was in seventh heaven. :-) Lots and lots of chatting, (can you imagine?) and even a visit to the sauna . . . created great memories.

Another highlight was the chance to see the Thomas family again! Unfortunately, there wasn't near enough time to catch up - one of the frustrations of a conference!

The hotel

Mr. Washer = Conviction

This is a photo of a room they had set aside especially for fellowship. On top of the tables, were signs for each state represented at the conference. Because of this, families were able to go in and eat with other families from their own state.

Listening to Doug Phillip's session on Aesthetics.

On Saturday afternoon, we packed up, took some photos, and drove to Tennessee with the Welches. Out time was short, but we had a blast spending time with them, also getting a feel for their new home and community.

I'm thankful for this precious friendship.

Here in Tennessee . . .

where the Welches made us feel so at home. Thank-you so much for your generous hospitality!

Sunday afternoon, chattin' as we wait for our food at a Mexican place after church.

Underneath the church on stilts. :-)

The charm of a country community is best felt on foot. :-)

Sunday evening, Amber got out her collection of miniature tea sets and treated the Littles to a real tea party. Even the boys got to join in on this special event!

Precious little one . . .

Monday evening, we visited the Courter family. They served us up a delicious hot meal and blessed us with wonderful conversation. Again, the time was too short. Thank-you all for sharing your home, your smiles, your testimony, and your joy in Him with us.

This is a snapshot of No Greater Joy, our destination on the walking tour we took. :-)

Personal Holiness

2009-12-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

December 2,2009

"It is a snare to imagine that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do; God's purpose is to make us one with Himself. The emphasis of holiness movements is apt to be that God is producing specimens of holiness to put in His museum. If you go off on this idea of personal holiness, the dead-set of your life will not be for God, but for what you call the manifestation of God in your life . . . I am called to live in perfect relation to God so that my life produces a longing after God in other lives, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God is not after perfecting me to be a specimen in His showroom. He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He likes."

-My Utmost ~Oswald Chambers

Marvelous Monteray

2009-11-25T21:00:00.000-08:00

November 31, 2009

Ever visited the Monteray Bay Aquarium? If not, better start making your travel plans! We explored this beautiful place of wonder along with the Callis family and the Carter family, which made it double the fun. After locating the fine accommodations that Mrs. Callis arranged for us (she's a professional "priceline.comer"), we set off for a stroll along the coastline, taking pictures along the way. The older I become, the more I am struck at the beauty of God's creation. Instead of running along with the Littles, hopping from one sight to the next, I find myself joining the adults as they quietly stop and marvel. Somehow, it takes time to take soak it in and let the wonder evolve into praise. Despite the tugs and cries of restless Little's, this process is a worthy one.

When we found a beach at the end of our stroll, a few of us 'Biggers' backtracked to a spot of grass we had noticed for a game of Ultimate Frisbee. Lots of fun, as always, but definitely something Miss Parish needs a lot more practice on! Supper in the motel room tasted delicious after the afternoon at the beach. Even more refreshing was the weight room and pool we visited after dinner. The next morning, we made it to the aquarium on time, and thus began another day of wonder and awe at some of God's most awe-some of creatures!

An interesting angle, yes, but the only way to get all of us in together at this location! Thanks to Phillip and Eden Callis for the set-up.

There are times when the faces refuse to be stifled. :-)

This is a random photo, but I couldn't resist posting it anyway.

Chattin' . . .

Children of light.

Beach combers

The Callis's took the opportunity to take some family portraits of the Carter family.

Catching up
Hmm . . . frisbee or photography? Which one will he choose?

The seahorses were fascinating! Even kissable. :-)

Stepping out on the deck for a good view and a few pictures.

Jimella, Eden and I were able to stay in our own room during the weekend. It was a treat to get to know them better as we shared some great stories, laughs, and girly conversation.

Reflection fun.

This was the first time our family had met little Hannah Callis. What a precious bundle of new life!

Aren't these knee's just darling?

This 'touching' exhibit was quite interesting for the littles.

Jellyfish . . . a marvel!

After saying goodbye, we found a beach side Mexican restaurant in which to relax, gulp down much needed water, and catch up with each other. We had a wonderful time enjoying these delicate and fascinating creatures, but even more so, spending time with our precious friends and family in Christ. We are so blessed to know you, and treasure our fellowship with you!

God bless~

From Quebec to Califonia

2009-11-20T23:28:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, we enjoyed a visit from the Adams family. Originally from Modesto, but currently living as missionaries in Quebec, this homeschooling family was traveling through California to complete some law exams necessary for their studies. They had found our blog online, and contacted us via email about meeting each other while they were in the area. It was great to visit and learn about their unique life in Quebec and the way the Lord is working in their lives.

After the chess game,
They offered to help bring in an old/but new to us hutch that Mom found at an antique store. It was exceptionally heavy, so we were glad for the extra man power.

With the weather turned cooler, and the hill beginning to turn green again, a walk outside is both energizing and satisfying to the 'beauty palette'. In addition, walking and visiting just seem to go together.

Thank-you Adams family for the visit. It was great meeting you!

Something is missing . . .

2009-11-18T15:55:00.000-08:00

Can you tell what it is?

New Office!

2009-11-16T16:37:00.000-08:00

November 12, 2009

Thanks to the Lord's goodness, Dad's business, Mangini Associates Inc., Telian, Parish, McClain, celebrated the opening of their new office building October 14, 2009. I was asked to snap some photos of the event, which spelled 'fun' for me! Through the past few months, I have had the opportunity to step into this world, my Dad's world, a bit more. It is hard to explain what it means for a daughter to see her Daddy in action, to meet the men who work with him and witness the sincerity of their respect for him, to see the fruit of his honesty and integrity. My heart swells with praise for God's work in my Father throughout his life.

The ribbon cutting- don't you love the scissors? The middle couple is Dad's partner and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Telian, while the couple on the left is Mr. and Mrs. Chris McClain, the other partner in the business.

This is Dad, Grandma Shirley, and Great-Grandma Lucille, with Rick and Susan Mangini, the original founders of Mangini Associates. Mr. Mangini has a great sense of humor as you can see from the picture below. :-)

The office gals: Candace, Bridget, and Julie.

Dad and Jesse G. have been working together for years, and he appreciates Jesse's work ethic and honesty. It's wonderful for friendship to coincide with work.

It was a blessing to share the evening with Mr. and Mrs. Werzinski! The
Carter and McCracken families were able to come as well. It meant so much to share the evening with our dear friends.

Before Grandma Shirley moved in with Grandma Lucille, she worked with Jamie McClain's mother. Their status as co-workers soon grew into friendship.

Dennis and Judy Hustsell,fellow believers have been a part of Mangini Associates for many years.

I apologize for the pictures on this post that don't have an explanation. Format problems are to blame. :-)

Bye Simon . . . -sniff-

2009-11-16T15:56:00.000-08:00

Simon has flown the coop. For 6 weeks at least. Amid the tears of his sister and streams of life counsel from his parents, Simon packed up his bedroom, hooked up the trailer to his truck, and set off to ATS, a heavy equipment operating school. We drove out together, he to the school, the rest of us to Monteray. After an In and Out lunch together, Simon followed us until his exit. We beeped and waved wildly until he disappeared, a grin that stretched from ear to ear on his face. WE MISS HIM! But Simon is in his element. Driving enormous heavy equipment every day . . . what more could a guy want? :-P

2009-10-16T22:27:00.001-07:00

"Sometimes, flying feels too godlike to be attained by man. Sometimes, the world from above seems too beautiful, too wonderful, too distant for human eyes to see . . ."
-Charles A. Lindbergh

Labor Day Fellowship

2009-10-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

On Labor Day, our family enjoyed great fellowship time with the C. family. We didn't know them very well before that day, so it was special to visit, hike around, make cards, and play games together. I snapped a few photos of the day, but unfortunately never took a family shot. Hopefully we'll see them again soon and get one then! :-)

Summer Days

2009-10-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

Climbing tree's and summer days go hand in hand.

Living History: A Weekend From the Past

2009-10-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

October 9, 2009

Dreams really do come true. At least, this one did. :-) Ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of being a Civil War Reenactor. I was convinced that Dad would enjoy it, and pleaded with him every year to join - all to no avail. Until this year that is. Thanks to friends, we were recruited into the 3rd Arkansas regiment. October 2-3, 2009 was our first reenactment as participants. It was a blast! Reenacting is about the closest one can be to truly experiencing the 1860's. This is both sobering and exhilerating. Something within me longed to truly 'get into character' and imagine that I truly was in the 1860's, to truly portray someone of the period, and stay 'in character' througout the weekend. Something just felt wrong to be chatting of everyday things when living in that atmosphere, wearing those clothes. However, another part of me rejoiced that my brothers 'deaths' on the field was all an act, and not a reality as they could have been back then.
All in all, reenacting was wonderful fun, and a great family hobby! Now for more research and sewing . . . :-)

Blessings to you,
~Sally

P.S. I was right . . . Dad loved it!

The 3rd Arkansas. Yay boys!!

Cavalry doing their best to flank the Federals.

All of our soldier brothers were gallant: dancing with us, offering us their arms, tucking their coats around our shoulders during the chilly evening, doing all those things that make a girl feel like a lady. Thanks for the special memories guys.

A courageous brother and sister.

The Stars and Bars

When Eden fell on the field, her fellow nurse uttered a piercing scream. It was a painful reminder of the many innocent lives taken during this bloody struggle.

The men of the 3rd Arkansas regiment drilled, marched, and fought with great discipline and precision. In fact, on a training day before the reenactment, our men were told that the regiment they were joining had a reputation for being this way, so they had better contribute and not mess it up!

The grace of this sidesaddle rider was a beautiful sight.

Little girls . . .

are so precious!

Daniel and Kendra arrived on Sunday. It was special to see them, and share the fun of the event.

Grampa lovin' on his Emmy!

Kettle Corn was quite popular for all ages.

Cuddles for sweet Charity Rose

The 3rd Arkansas marching down Main Street.

Spectators.

Here, a battle worn soldier is pushed back into line.

While another (Mr. Smith) though wounded, bravely stayed in the ranks.

There's our boys!!

These bright trousers on a Zuave soldier weren't the best camoflauge, but made for impressive uniforms.

Who is that handsome man tipping his hat so gallantly? :-) I love you Dad!

Mom, getting her cuddles in before a battle.

Sweet smiles

Beautiful curls

An angel of mercy tending to the wounded.

Our boys advancing.

A group 'smilie'.

And a group 'frowny'. In other words, 'authentic'. :-)

Mr. Smith is a fabulous cook! He served a delicious meal of roasted sweet corn, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and steak, grilled over the fire. Everything tastes better when cooked over a fire, and this meal was no exception. Thank-you Mr. Smith!
The boys are here 'authenticating' Eden's apron. :-P

Confederate Privates Smith and McCracken.

Kaylee and I by the beautiful cavalry horses.

I fell in love with this camera. Isn't it wonderful?

Kayla is here helping the confederate field doctor preform an amputation. Whew! She has nerve!

Waiting to be called on the field.

Kayla, getting to know her fellow nurses and doctor.

'Behind the scenes'.
Joining the Confederate medical group.

Fellowshipping with family and friends was special.

While the men drilled, the ladies spruced up for the day. :-)

Breakfast in camp.

Happy Anniversary!

2009-09-04T15:39:00.000-07:00

We are praising God today for the five years of marriage He has given Daniel and Kendra.

Happy Anniversary you two! :-)

A Walk in the Oranges

2009-08-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

August 27, 2009

We love and MISS you Daniel, Kendra, Jaelynn, Olivia, and Emmy!!!

Camp Dwight

2009-08-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

August 24, 2009

We harvested our tomatoes before leaving for Camp and found one with a nose! :-P

Early Friday morning, we met the Smith's and the Callis's at a hotel off the freeway. Our plan was to travel together all the way to Camp Dwight. Talon Smith and Jacob, great pals, had a few minutes to 'get the ants out of their pants' before Callis's arrived at our meeting place.

Mrs. Smith and Mom had took the opportunity to catch up before hitting the road.

A peek into the Callis van, with a few extra's.

We stopped for lunch in Redding, at the home of Greg Smith's sister. She warmly opened her home to all of us, who enjoyed the refreshment of her lawn and the opportunity to stretch out a bit. Thank-you!

Figuring out the road plan . . .(despite Lilly's protests ;-) Amazingly, all three Dad's wore navy blue shirts that day! Great minds think really do think alike.

Happy little girls are a precious sight.

A bit sour Abigail?

A tempting offer

Have you ever felt like this while taking a road trip? Lilly's face displays her every thought. Her opinions about sitting in the car for hours and hours were no exception.

After several hours of travel, we arrived at the KOA in Klamath Falls, Oregon. This KOA was very comfortable, and such fun to all stay together!

Settin' up camp

Mexican food was on the menu. Delicious!

We met Mr. Callis's parents in Klamath Falls.

And enjoyed a visit with them.

The whole group. Serious and . . .

Silly. :-)

Just a few hours later, we arrived at Camp Dwight,

helped in the kitchen,

took pictures,

played around,

and gathered together in the barn for meetings and music.

Worshipful music

Who could resist these brown eyes?

Chad Johnson and his wife after he shared his dramatic testimony of God's grace in his life.

His mother, Paula Johnson, was radiant with a soft joy. I was blessed by her smile and spirit.

Hugs after Chad's moving story.

Mrs. Callis and Mrs. Chad Johnson have very close due dates!

Carpet ball - a mixture of pool and bowling that all ages can play.

The pond and stream nearby felt so refreshing during the warmth of those July afternoons.

Mr. Greg Smith and his son Talon . . . getting ready to splash!

Hi Mrs. Smith!

The boys dominated the basketball court most of the time, but every so often, one would spot a graceful, feminine shot, preformed with the excellence of polished skill. :-) You go Hannah!

Watcha thinking Justice?

It's been wonderful to fellowship with Greg and Lori Smith the past few months. Traveling together and sharing camp was a great way to get to know each other better.

Unfortunately, this is my only picture of the infamous water-slide. Water, dish soap, and slippery black plastic are not very conducive to photography. :-) Both the water slide and the zip line were wonderful fun though! The zip line was tall enough that in the beginning, I felt as though I were flying. Zipping is exhilarating!

Along with carpet ball, there was also foosball available. :-) I wonder who won this game?

The next pictures are a few highlights from the talent show.

I really enjoyed meeting Liz. She is the photographer for No Great Joy ministry and a friend of the Welch ladies. Her sense of humor is loads of fun.

The women's meeting on Sunday afternoon.

Simon was in his musical element as he played with the Baeur (I'm sorry, I don't know to spell their last name!) brothers. They are both very talented musicians.

Ultimate frisbee fun.

And some sweet ladies to chat with while dipping ones toes in the creek. :-)

Little Girls

2009-08-20T17:14:00.000-07:00

August 20, 2009

"Who would ever think that so much can go on in the soul of a young girl?" ~Anne Frank

"Pink bows and pretty things,
Fancy dresses and golden rings,
Little girl wishes and princess dreams,
She dances on stars and moonlight beams." ~Veronica Curtis

"Little girls are . . . a sweet new blossom of humanity, fresh fallen from God's own home, to flower on earth." ~ William Massey

Surprise
Beverly McLoughland

The biggest Surprise
On the library shelf
is when you suddenly
Find yourself
Inside a book-
(the HIDDEN you)
You wonder how
The author knew.

Oklahoma!

2009-08-03T17:07:00.000-07:00

August 3, 2009

Before Max and Jenny left, we were able to celebrate two very special birthdays together. Dad's birthday is July 2, and Tim McCracken's is on June 30. Yummy food, (including the Dad's favorite pies, peach and pumpkin made especially by Kaylee) a picture slideshow, presents, and a movie out under the stars made the evening very special. What would we do without family? So often, it is relationships above any other earthly 'thing' or activity that truly give meaning to life.

Two happy couples
And two happy Dads. :-)

The presentation of the pies

Presents and onlookers. :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This picture is an example of the precious evenings we spent with Max and Jenny during their time living here. :-) We miss you three!

Graham toes

The birthday celebration happened while Mom was in Alaska for cousin Natalie Semmen's wedding. This is another thing that happened while she was away . . . Jayni learned how to de-bone a chicken! "Yay!" cheers Sister Sally, "Ewww!" groans Jayni. ;-) Actually, she was a great sport and did a good job.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saying Goodbye: The morning after Mom flew home from her week in Alaska, Max, Jenny, Simon and I loaded up in the already loaded van and headed down our dusty driveway bound for Oklahoma. I'm so glad that McCracken's were able to come out that morning for the final good-byes. It was a tearful, heart-wrenching, bittersweet morning. Tears mingled with smiles as we promised many e-mails and phone calls to each other. Guilt flooded my heart as I stepped into the van, for I had a few more days with them ahead of me. The trip to Oklahoma was special, and the trip back, a great experience for Simon and I. It was the first time we had ever drove that distance by ourselves. I felt like a grown-up!

Necessity forces creativity. :-) It actually worked!

Tired but happy.

Prayer before we left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fernando Ortega + Graham = Picture below :-)

Supper in the hotel room . . . These hotel stays were cozy evenings together, chatting about all kinds of things, enjoying yummy drinks from Trader Joes, and in this particular case, watching Arranged on our laptop. This movie promotes some interesting thoughts, and is a good one to discuss after watching.
On the road again . . .
We passed many beautiful canyons on the way.

Poor Graham. Teething and long car trips are not the best combination. (As we found out! :-)

Simon kept smiling through it all though. As his shirt says, Do Hard Things! Does moving to Oklahoma count?

Hanging out during another hotel stay . . . in which we found somebody's supper leftover's on the top of the entertainment center. Yummy! Just what you are craving after hours and hours of driving. Imagine the laughter and joking that ensued after that discovery!

Here, Simon demonstrates the common feeling. :-P

Getting gas . . . again . . .

I spy a Graham! Can you find him?

Thank goodness for laptops!

Ipods.

And faithful drivers!

Turning on Frank Street. We're almost there!

Exclamations of delight were erupting when this picture was taken. The adorable yellow house on Frank Street was whispering a welcome.

From this . . .

To this! Hooray!!

Graham was relieved to be out of the car. He looked so tiny in the midst of the empty house.

Uncle Craig and Aunt Rene' arrived a few minutes after we did. They kindly offered to help move in, and came with plastic containers full of goodies! Everything from cleaning supplies to bottled water, they blessed us all and especially Max and Jenny with their thoughtfulness. After a big day moving in, we enjoyed a night out at Pizza Hut, and lunch the next day together. Uncle Craig, (Dad's brother) and Aunt Rene' only live about three hours away from Max and Jenny, so thankfully, they aren't too far away from family.

Movin' in!

Simon meets Oklahoma humidity.

Sunday afternoon was a perfect time to explore the neighborhood.

Nothing goes to waste with a Graham around!

To celebrate the move, we opened a bottle of sparkling cider on Sunday night. The funny thing was, it had been placed in the freezer to chill a tad too long. :-) Max got the job done though.

And what is Sunday night without popcorn? In addition, how can one have popcorn without butter? The absence of gas and a microwave forced Jenny to take desperate measures. Her patience payed off in the end and we enjoyed delicious popcorn as a result. Hoorah for candles!

Goofin' off

,The morning we left, we all hopped into the car one last time. Max and Jenny took Simon and I into Norman, which is only a few miles away, where we saw his new college. The campus was cool and grassy, with large tree's shading it's lawns. Many brick buildings built with grand architecture were clustered together forming an extensive university. I'm sure Max will enjoy the rich, cultured feel of the campus.

I hate saying goodbye. Especially a good-bye such as this one! Jenny and Graham stood outside and waved until I couldn't see them anymore. A very sweet season in our life drew to a close with the move of Max and Jenny. We love and miss you very much!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On our way home, Simon and I stopped at the Meteor Cater in Arizona. What an amazing sight!

Back on the road . . . miles and miles of it . . .

Simon was an awesome driver, protector, mechanic, and companion. That trip created special memories for the two of us.

Silly pictures that happened as a result of boredom. :-P

Coming soon

2009-07-22T22:05:00.000-07:00

Only a few days after Simon and I returned home from Oklahoma, (post to come soon) we headed off to Oregon to attend Camp Dwight. It was an amazing weekend! I just downloaded my pictures and am hoping to have a post up soon. :-)

Blessings to all of you!

~Sally for the Parish Clan

Parish Party!

2009-07-13T13:14:00.000-07:00

July 13, 2009

Before Max and Jenny moved, all three Parish clan's met in Morro Bay for a weekend stay at a lovely beach house. Dad's business partner, Chris McClain, generously offered it for our use and it provided a perfect atmosphere for family time. Within walking distance of the beach, we soaked in the sun, surf, and sand, hashed out everything possible to hash -visiting wise-, played music, and attempted some family photos. (Thanks to a tripod!) Another special treat was an afternoon spent at the Welch's home where we celebrated Simon's 18 birthday. Thanks for your hospitality and thoughtfulness Welchs!

Music time

Happy Birthday Simon!

Close communication

Emerson Faith has deep brown eyes with a wide, serious, expresssion. There is a sweet femininity about her personality already beginning to show. We love you Emerson!

Hugs on the patio.

A thorn among roses . . . ;-)
Candid during a visit
Jacobi the lego man
Graham is sampling some carrots or sweet potatoes here, something orange anyway. :-) Yum, yum little man. We love and miss you!!

Jaelynn is growing up so fast, and adores playing teatime and dress-up with Jayni and Lilly. Likewise, they are always eager to spend time with her! It's fun to see the girl troop heartily enjoying themselves in play.

Waiting for Dan and Kendra to get here!

We couldn't make the trip without a flat tire of course. Thankfully, our men had it fixed in a jiffy. :-)

Our Graduate

2009-07-11T17:32:00.000-07:00

July 11, 2009

Simon John Parish

"He Has Heard" :: "Yahweh is Gracious"

"That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
-1 Peter 1:7

Congratulations on your accomplishment Simon!