God's Call

Can you remember a time when God called you? Summarizing, the apostle Paul explained God's call to salvation in Christ with a few words. "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me," Galatians 1:15-16. He reveals Christ in us. The call of God to salvation is through the gospel by His grace.

Nathan is HILARIOUS!

Nathan never ceases to amaze me. When I think back about last year's Christmas events he was only 18 months old. He knew that the season was special, but he didn't really know why. Now, only one year later, he understands SO much more.

I put up the Christmas tree today. I bought a new 4 and 1/2 foot tree and brought his train table from his room to the living room to place the tree on so he could enjoy it more. When I took the tree out of the box and told him what I was doing, he absolutely lit up. All he could say was, "Oh, my gracious. It's wonderful!" over and over again...I finally (after I quit laughing) remembered that Jamey put a recording application on my iPhone. I got him to sit down long enough to tell me about the Christmas tree again. It's pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

I want to attach the sound clip so badly, but I don't know how to do that on my blog. I would love to know if any of you can help me. I so badly want you guys to hear it. Please let me know if you can help.

God is so good! Have a GREAT Christmas Season!

wow

I'm rather speechless.  We found out today that my mother-in-law has Parkinson's Disease.  I'm still in the process of 'researching' the disease.  I just ask that you PLEASE pray for her.  Her name is Marion Parker...everyone calls her 'Mamye'.  I also ask that you pray for her husband (my father-in-law) Neal.  He's having a hard time with this also.  I know that God is in control.  He is the Lord of their lives and I know that He will provide healing in the best way He sees fit.

Sausage Balls

This is a completely random post. I've been cooking for 15 years. I've helped my mom with gourmet foods when she owned a restaurant. I've helped cater weddings and retirements. In all this time, though, I've never made sausage balls. I figured they'd be too complicated or have too many steps. It wasn't until tonight that I realized that there are only three ingredients...Bisquick, cheese, and sausage. I love sausage balls. I don't mind making them either. The end.

I'm married to a teacher and proud of it ...

There are times during the year, being married to a school teacher, where it would seem the term "second fiddle" would apply. Not that its intentional or not that teachers put their families on a shelf, its just during these times we share our caring, loving spouse with children ready to be molded with the knowledge teachers are excited to impart. The start of a new school year is one of those times.

I have heard some say that our public school system is simply an old system that has out-lived its usefulness and I guess those people have their points to make. However, I know those people don't live with a teacher! I see the love and care the teacher that I married has in her heart for the children that become part of my family for that school year. In fact, I have always told people that we have 15 to 20 kids every year. I know that these kids aren't "ours", but in a way they do become like our own children. There have even been times when my wife who has taught Kindergarten was even called "Momma". Now most teachers correct those children with a simple reminder of their name and move on about their day. But I see something different. I see those children feeling the care and, dare I say this in this day and age of political correctness, genuine love from a serving teacher.

There are times when this spouse of a teacher would like to be more selfish and hold onto my wife. Then I think of all those little minds walking in during the first day of school maybe even a little ... OK, alot scared. Its then I step aside and watch my wife from my self go off to help those little minds with all the preciseness of a Brain Surgeon, all the academia of a Scholar, all the determination of an Olympian and swell with pride. I then resign to the fact that a new school year has started, and, being honest, I look forward to the next summer break. Even so, I understand that at that time those little minds will be much bigger from knowledge of how to read, count coins, solve math problems, the excitement of Science, Music, Art, and on, and on, and on. So, I sit back and say a prayer for protection and open minds ... and for summer break.

-Jamey Parker

Very Tired

We were up all night -- about every 2 or 3 hours -- trying to keep Nathan's fever down. I'm very sleepy and definitely exhausted. He's acting more like himself; he's been playing with his trains all day. He's still running a fever -- I think the highest today has been 101, which definitely beats yesterday's high of 103. Someone I talked to today told me that there is a 'fever virus' going around, and that it only lasts 2 or 3 days. We were at McWane Center on Friday, so he could have definitely gotten it. Maybe we're over with the worst of it. We'll see how things go tonight. I think I'm about to take a short nap just in case.

A Very Helpless Feeling

Nathan has a fever tonight. It came on about 5 o'clock or so. It's been between 100 and 103 since then. It's 12:22 right now. I've given him medicine and even put him in a cool bath an hour or so ago. It helped for a little while, but the fever won't break.

I know that fever is his little body's response mechanism, but I hate the feeling of just not being able to 'fix it'. He's not his laughing, jolly self. He just doesn't feel good. I don't know what he is fighting off, but we went to the McWane Center yesterday. Jamey seems to think he picked up something from there. Who knows?! I just want him back to his normal self.

My prayer is that God will touch his little body and heal it. I pray that I'll know what to do and know when I need to do it. I LOVE being a Mommy, but it's times like these that are so stressful. I pray also that God will give me the discernment to figure out if there is any other way I can help. God Bless Nathan and his little body. Amen.