Lively Livin'

These past few weeks here in Orange Cove has kept us on our toes! We've traveled apart and reunited, made a lot of memories, spent precious time with friends, enjoyed loads of fun, and endured moments of nervousness (called piano recitals!) All in all, these have been wonderful days. Praise the Lord for His goodness and mercies that are new every morning.

Two weekends ago, I was given the opportunity to participate as an extra in a film that is currently being produced by some families of the church in Bakersfield. For more info on the film, the website is . . .
The adventure of producing a film was a whole new experience for me, and one that I enjoyed wholeheartedly! Especially watching the great way everyone involved worked together. Prayer and trust in the Lord was evident in the cast and crew, which made a wonderful atmosphere. Saturday we all drove to Frazier Park to film for the whole day. I was a Russian girl, "Natasha" who was a friend to the main characters. The colorful costume, great conversations, and a new adventure for me in the world of film made the day a blast! Below are a few photos.

Joshua Moore; Director, Producer, Camera Man, etc, etc, etc. ;-)

Deciding where we're all supposed to go and do for the scene.

The much anticipated and looked forward to event "The smashing of the violin".

Miss Joselyn Rowland and the beautiful bouquet of mountain lupine that she gathered!

The Gals- Joselyn Rowland, Me, Kristen and Ashley Haymond- We got to be Russian for a day!


Monday, Mom, Simon, and Jeremy all drove to pick me up in Bakersfield and continue on for a short but sweet overnighter to Daniel and Kendra's! It was wonderful to see them all again!

( Little Jaelynn couldn't stop giggling at Uncle Jeremy!)


Thursday, June 29 was Jeremy's birthday! He invited a buddy over for Wednsday night and had a full day the next day! Fishing, cleaning, (Mom taught them how!) and eating the fish, swimming for hours, and playing all sorts of things. You are a very special part of our family Jeremy! Your cheerfulness, sense of play and diligence add so much to the atmoshere of our home. May you grow to be a man after God's own heart. Happy Birthday!


( Jeremy was given a guitar for his birthday and has worked very hard to learn his chords and strumming technique. He learned "Amazing Grace" and plays and sings to his heart's content. :-)

Friday was cooking and baking day for me, shopping day for Mom, and a day filled with anticipation for all of us! Max was scheduled to fly back in to Fresno after an RZIM conference in Chicago and I couldn't wait to catch up with him after his week. (post soon to come)


Saturday we all enjoyed a family day of rest and relaxation up at Hume Lake. Simon has spent long hours fixing up our small little sailboat in order to sail with the wind on the lake. Many fun filled hours were spent zipping back and forth across the lake with only the wind to propel us!

Real Life Application of Science

This from an Australian by the name of Ross Gasking:

"Scientists tell us that for every 10 years , after the age of 40 or 50, we shrink 1.5 cm . Which is just over half an inch per 10 years.So in 100 years we shrink 15 cm (6 inches).


"So in 900 years Methuselah would have shrunk 54 inches. I suggest he might have started off at 50 yrs old at about 5 ft, going by existing knowledge of the Ice Man etc. So that leaves him as 6 inches high at age 960. He died at 969 years old. Except that science also tells us that ones ears grow at a rate of 0.025 mm per year. Also our nose grows. And our hair disappears.


"So to answer your question,. ..according to science, Methuselah could have been 6 inches high with big ears and nose like a , well, a squashed elephant. This is not so silly, because it allows an explanation of how Noah, who built the ark when 500 years old and only 2 ft high, would have fitted in all those bigger animals to the ark. By selecting dinosaurs which were from antiquity and therefore fitted in a proverbial matchbox,if he had one. He was able to save heaps of space and also save on food allowances.


"This is the explanation science would give us . Rivetting, yes?


"And you heard it first here...Allow me more, Enoch was a fast developer, he at 600 years was measuring about zero, and escaped burial altogether. This is why it says he was translated. Science would tell us that translated means slipped out sideways...yeeha ! way to go!"

The Great Left Brain / Right Brain Dichotomy

Max brought home a wonderful scientific thought, establishing a solid foundation for that great assertion of truth - Left Brain / Right Brain Determinism.


It goes like this: It is very true that there are two sides to your brain, a left side and a right side - the left side has nothing right in it, and the right side has nothing left in it....


Hahahaha.


I love that.


Scott

Happy 15th Simon!

June 14, 2006 a very special young man in our household turned fifteen years old. Your hard working, enthusiastic attitude, and determination are an example and blessing to all of us, Simon.

We love you!

"You're Only As Old As You Feel"

A very special birthday arrived June 4, 2006 when Great-Grandma Lucille McAllister turned 90 years old! That day was a special one as most of my Dad's family gathered together at our home to celebrate 90 years of love. Grandma Lucille is Dad's grandma, my great-grandma, and Jaelynn's great-great-grandma! She has left us a legacy of love that has been passed down through generations. Proving the quote in the title above to be true, she moves about freely without the use of a cane, walker, or wheelchair. Grandma is a spirited woman with a kind word and smile for everyone . . . except when you try to gas up her car for her without using her money. Dad learned his lesson on that one! :-)


Some of my favorite things are Grandma's tight, warm hugs. Her smile and sparkling eye shine with a love that time will never dim.

Throughout the day, Grandma was serenaded with numerous songs. Some causing giggles, others tears. A poem was read, a speech was given, all to honor this beloved and remarkable woman. The matriarch of the Parish Clan!

Fathers Day

To my wonderful Father~ Thank-you for laying down your life for us, for teaching us about the Father of all, our Lord and Saviour. Thank-you for your example in Godly manhood and fatherhood. The impact of your sacrifice reaches farther than you'll ever know.

WE LOVE YOU DAD!!!!!!!!!!



Loving us, and spiritually leading us,

We have enjoyed many special times!


Passing on words of wisdom from 23 years of wedded life,

Teaching us how to work,

And how to play!

Intermittent Explosive Disorder II

As a follow up to Sally's post below giving the link to the article "'Road rage' gets a medical diagnosis" http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13152708/from/ET/, I would like to make some observations about what this article presents.


First, note that a single study is used to establish a basis for taking a common occurence and making it a full-blown mental illness. Licensed professionals are then quoted to show that this single study is being used to support the latest up-to-the-minute diagnoses. Then, by extrapolation, this single study is used to assert that as many as 16 million Americans are affected by this mental illness. This is astounding.


Dr. Emil Coccaro, a study co-author, is quoted as saying that this "disorder" is more than just "bad behaviour", but it includes biology and cognitive science. Wow, what had we missed before? If we cloak our problems of living with scientific terms, we can say that adrenaline rushes and thoughts flying back and forth across the synaspes of our brains are really mental illnesses.


When a person goes to a basketball game, sees an exciting play, leaps off his seat and yells out loud...what is happening? Well...biology and cognitive science is what is happening. It is well known that during such excitement, brain chemicals are present that are not normally there in more sedate settings. But the question is, did the chemicals cause the excitement, or did the excitement cause the chemicals?


It is okay to yell at a tense basketball game, but not to yell in a tense traffic situation. The potential of danger makes one a mental illness and the other a part of normal life. Is it not the same chemical reaction?


Dr. Coccaro makes the assertion that the disorder involves "...inadequate production or functioning of serotonin...." How is it that such an assertion can be made from a survey that is reported to be a "face-to-face survey...[using] diagnostic questionnaires...." How is it that a cause and affect relationship can be established between brain chemicals and behavior based on subjective answers to a subjective questionnaire and not based on objective scientific testing of the chemical / behavior process?


Hmmm...perhaps the basketball game involves adequate production or functioning of serotonin and the traffic situation does not. Take your pill for traffic, but not for basketball games.


Admittedly, temper outbursts that are way out of proportion to the situtation are not a good thing and are a common occurence. And I would suggest that they are much more common than this article suggests. Let us dispense with statistical analysis and make a giant leap, using common sense and common observation and boldy assert that every living human being has had such outbursts at some time in life...at least during those first months and years of life. Thank God for parents who promptly meet those outbursts with loving discipline.


But notice that such infantile outbursts are not included in the study and the more juvenile type are mentioned as the onset of this dreaded mental affliction. That provides more interesting rabbit trails to investigate...but also allows the entrance of more body chemicals as a causation - hormones.


Think of it...face to face surveys...people talking to people. Both the questioners and and questionees affected by honesty, morality, pride, depression, happiness, inattentiveness, poor memory, indigestion, full stomach after lunch, apathy, enthusiasm, etc., ad infinitum. And here we are, relying on memory, in the middle of this sea of human subjectivity, to establish frequency of occurence and extent of property damage.


I'm afraid that I don't remember how much it cost to replace the bedroom window that I broke when I threw my baseball mitt at my older brother. But I do remember that he ducked, and I had poor aim, and that neither I nor my parents had the money to replace the glass. I learned the hard way that throwing things was not a good way to go.


And then we read that the existence of such a disorder is actually breaking news to mental health specialists. What??? Where have they been all these years?


How many attacks does it take to determine that a person has this mental illness? Do the same cognitive and biological processes take place in all explosive anger situations? Or is there a class of afflicted which experience a different and truly explosion which could be labeled as a mental illness?


And why is it that we need licensed professionals to tell us that inappropriate outbursts of anger have a "profound and ongoing impact on a person's life"? When have we not known that?


We get to the real heart of the matter when we read that the problem is "treated" with a combination of antidepressants and behavior therapy. Of course, this is why the words "biology" and "cognitive science" were used...they establish the foundation for the "treatment". Yes, drugs to mask (not cure) the emotions, and behavior therapy to address the...well...bad behavior. But wait a minute, that is the very same treatment given for depression! What is going on?


Psychologist Jennifer Hartstein is quoted as saying that "many people are not aware of the disorder." This is ludicrous. What she really means is that people are not aware that the psychological industry has slipped another one into the bag, making yet another category of helpless sufferers, assuring itself of additional patients on which to practice, sucking in insurance payments, and prescribing yet more antidepressants.


It is significant that every one of the sins listed in the New Testament is now classified as some kind of mental illness, disease, disorder, etc., in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM - IV), the current edition of the catalog of psychological disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. This manual is compiled by consensus voting, meaning that if the majority of association members VOTE to make some behavior a mental illness, it goes into the book. So much for the rigorous and critical scientific examination of proposed theories which is the foundation for all good medical practice and scientific understanding. So much for protection from charlatans and quacks. So much for the real science.


A few years ago, I was startled to read, from a highly respected psychiatrist, about the reality of these psychological pronouncements. He said that most of today's mental illness are not diseases at all and are diagnosed only by subjective lists of symptoms. These symptoms are grouped into packages in order to fit the diagnostic manual, even though these groupings have no scientific foundation or validity. So in effect, these things have no known cause, no predictable course of illness, no specific and reliable treatment, and no reliable response to treatment. Their diagnoses by therapists is not based on blood chemistry, scientific testing, or any objective observation. Diagnosis is strictly based on the subjective judgment of a "trained" individual applying "experience" in the use of arbitrarily composed lists of symptoms.


A few years ago the newspaper recorded that the US Congress was debating whether to allow full Medicare coverage for every disorder listed in the DSM - IV or to continue limited coverage (limited to the most serious). The article listed jet lag, caffeine addiction, and religious problems among the "diseases" which might now be funded by Medicare (by default, this would extend to many insurance programs). It concerns me that you and I are considered mentally ill by these professionals because they would say that we have "religious problems". Are jet lag and caffeine addiction really mental illnesses? The extent to which psychological thinking has enveloped our culture and even percolated among us is astounding.


Scott Parish

Warning!

Warning to all ladies who are visiting the Parish Ranch!!!


If, when you are visiting, you happen to make biscuits, the Dough Snatcher may appear. Do not be alarmed and resist the urge to scream. The best defense is keep watchful eyes on your dough at all times. These pictures were caught by a hidden camera.

The Dough Snatcher uses many disguises, so beware.

Oh My . . .

Dad read this at the dinner table tonight. Check it out!

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13152708/from/ET/

Is this really the world we live in?

"We've Found Gold!"

If you are a resident of California, the history of the Great Gold Rush is of great importance,and will at some time in your life be drilled into your brain. :-) Consequently, you'll find yourself visiting the famed Columbia State Park, which is an old Gold Mining town, walking in the little candy shop, the one with the little jingly bell on the door, panning for gold (or in our case, watching others pan for gold) and smelling the musky scent of tools, cabins, and equipment that are centuries old. The opportunity for the Parish Family to do just that arrived a few weeks ago.


Because of some classes in Sacramento that my Uncle Scott was taking, his wife, Aunt Cindy and family, Heidi (16), Frank,(13) Miranda, (9) and Emily,(7) from Bend, Oregon decided to come along and do some sight/ family seeing. We were able to stay in a condo all together in the tiny town of Angels Camp. Somewhere I definitely want to go again! The quaint shops downtime begged you to step in, and I'd gladly go back to oblige them if I ever have the opportunity!


The days we spent to together there in Angels Camp were few, so visiting was taking place almost non-stop. Of course, we spent much time sightseeing as well. The older I get, the more I understand the reason why 'older people' (which is anyone above your age when you're eight years old.) spend so much time enjoying each sight. I used to get so impatient to move on, but now I find that I'm the one others are impatient at! Sometimes gardens and locations are simply too beautiful to rush through. They demand a wandering gait . . . a meander that allows you to take in all the sensory details.


Okay, okay, I can hear you sighing "There she goes again!!!" so on to the most important part of a post. Pictures! :-)

Here's Simon, checkin' out the condo. It was a fun experience for us; staying in what felt like a house inside, and outside, like a hotel with the pool, recreation room, etc.

The below photos were taken when we visited the beautiful garden paradise of Ironstone Vinyards. We originally planned to go here because of their 'gold mining' museum and beautiful gardens, but we ended up taking a tour of the winery itself! This expansive estate hosts up to 75 weddings a year . . . which is a testamony to their exquisite gardens.

Here we are posing with a miner. He was quite the character! ;-)

This piano, in the wine-tasting room (No, we didn't taste any! ;-) was more than a century old! I wonder what stories it could tell if it could talk.

Above is an enormous gold piece that weighed 44 pounds! It was found recently, in 1992. Anyone up for some mining??? ;-)

Our tour was quite fascinating! It did smell a little sour though. ;-)

~Columbia State Park~ We . . .

Visited the candle dipping shop,

Rode in the car quite a bit,
Visited the Merchants,

And of course, the candy shop!

Last, but NOT least, we hiked down to an AMAZING natural bridge! It was quite wide and mossy in the front, with water dripping down off it. As you waded deeper in, the cavern narrowed into a tall, narrow cave, with amazing rock formations inside. The water was icy, but we were able to swim all the way through the cave and out the other side where the stream flowed in.

God's handiwork is incredible!

Here is Mama' enjoying herself!

More on the Telians

Not to be outdone by those Hubers Peter and Jesse Telian show some real comic faces. You will have to judge for yourselves who is the comicist.
















Of course, Scott and Donald, trying to keep a low profile in the middle of all of this, were caught having good fellowship.

Last Saturday evening, we were blessed by a visit from the Telian family! They were passing through the valley, and were able to stop in on their way home ~ Thanks Telians!
It was an enriching evening of fellowship that consisted of much visiting, laughter, music, game-playing, and various outdoor activities. We enjoyed so much getting to know the Telians on a more personal basis, and we were uplifted by our time together.


May there be many more such visits in the future!


~Below are a few pictures of the evening . . .

The friendship of these precious young ladies has blessed me so much. Each age fills a special place in my heart!

No evening of fellowship is complete without music!

Games . . .

Storytime . . .

Mother's Day 2006

Here are the happy eaters. Sally, Kristen Joy, Anna, Mom Parish, Grandma McAllister, Jeremy, Joseph, Mark, Simon, Ruthann, and...and...oops, I cut my dear wife out of the picture! We are thankful for all mothers!


God has commanded us to honor our mothers and He hooked a promise to that command...that our days would be long in the land. We recently heard that did not necessarily mean a long life, but it meant a continuation of generations, enjoying God's blessing as a result of the honor of parents.










We also discussed the circle of life in the generations recorded in the Bible...many mother's names mentioned, representing much sorrow and joy over the course of many years...mothers deeply involed in it all!


Sally copied out quotes from "Daugher's of Destiny" which she passed around for each to read, showing the impact mothers have made on lives of famous men. Of course, many non-famous men, nameless, have been encouraged in doing their duty by faithful mothers, making a difference in ways that only God knows and keeps recorded in His book of those who love Him and speak often of Him.


And here are two happy Parish ladies. One mother in Isreal, and one dauther of the King.

Mother's Day 2006

Here are some fine young shining faces taken after our meeting yesterday.


Sally, Simon, Joseph, Anna, Jeremy, Mark, and Kristen Joy.





















And of course, here is a better closeup of some beautiful young ladies.

Head Over Heels

Okay, okay, settle down. I guess I got a little carried away with the title. Let us be rational here. What we are looking for are the cold hard facts. There is a time to put away all bias and look at reality objectively, and that time is now. In no way do I intend to offend anyone's sensitivities in the following analisys. Again, when discusing truth claims such as these, it is important to leave emotion and sentiment out of the process.


Ahem...


Last weekend I was able to finally spend some quality time with my niece, Miss Jaelynn Grace Parish. (Kind of rolls off the tongue beautifully doesn't it?) I simply want to announce that she is the absolute (unqualified) best baby I have ever come in contact with, in my long life of 20 years.

1. Jaelynn is the most asthetically attractive baby alive, to date. (in otherwords, cuter then any other baby.)

2. Jaelynn is tempramentally impeccable.

3. At this point, little can be known about Jaelynn's intellectual faculties, but based on certain activities of the vocal cords and vision instruments, caused by carefully designed stimuli, Jaelynn shows promising signs of genius.


If after viewing the photograghs below, you still have objections to my propositions, I have two suggestions to be followed in order.


1. Visit your local optomitrist and make sure you are using the right prescription. Then look at the provided photograghs again.

2. If the above procedure doesn't change your mind, the only option is to take a trip to Woodland Hills, CA, and hold Miss Jaelynn Grace with your own hands.

May 4th ~ The National Day of Prayer

"On this day of prayer, we would like to lift up the soldiers of our country Lord, who are away fighting for the freedom of others. We pray that You would keep them in the hollow of Your almighty hand. Protect them, give them courage, give them peace, and draw them to you Lord. There are many who don't know you, and we pray that you would even change them, and draw them to You. We pray for those who do know you, Lord, that you would be their firm foundation, and their Rock of Defense.

Remember them Lord . . . "

In your prayers today, please remember our soldier who is fighting bravely in Iraq, Thomas Semmens. Thomas is a crew chief for a Black Hawk helicopter. He has had many sobering experiences in the few months he has already served. Including are the deaths of 8 fellow soldiers from the Alaska National Guard, who left the same time he did. One of those fellows was his age and had become a good friend. We pray that Thomaas will arrive home safely after he returns from service. He was married in July of 2005 to his sweet wife Julie, before flying out to the field of battle a few months later. May our Lord bless and protect you both. Please know how much we love and support you Thomas!!! Our prayers are with you always.

~The Parish Family