Tis the Season...

 I figured since I haven't posted in awhile I needed to get my writing on. There has been a whole lot going on at the Parker house the past couple of months. Just to give you a minor update we still have not heard anything further on our adoption process. Although we have really enjoyed the idea of adopting through the state we aren't so sure this is the route we are going to continue on. There has been several set backs some in which are completely out of our control.

 Let me just say as far as the program goes it is wonderful for couples who are wanting to foster but when it comes to adopting we aren't sure it's right for us. After talking to several other families and just by asking general questions things haven't turned out the way we imagined. Right now we are praying about other options such as using a Christian adoption agency in Fayetteville. I will keep you posted on what we decide. Either way God will bring our child to us.

 Well we finally got the trees decorated and the lights put on the house! Yay! Now if we could just get all the presents wrapped. I know in service my wonderful husband acted like he didn't enjoy watching Christmas movies with me but I beg to differ. Just the other day we watched a movie and wrapped presents. I even tried to do it when he wasn't home but he wouldn't let me.

 So this Friday I will be making 5 dozen cookies for a cookie exchange party I was invited to on Saturday. So I would just like to say I tried to get my cookies from Paul's but Sheena would not let me! If my cookies taste bad all I can say is "She made me do it!" She even helped me pick out the recipe. Hope everyone likes eggnog as much as we do! :)

 Landon experienced a first last week. Congratulations on making it through your first black Friday sale. He has never been shopping with me on this day ever! There were times when he would just go stand in line so that I could go grab all the things I needed. He would just stand there half asleep holding my place so we could check out. By the end of the night he turns to me in the sweetest way only to say " I will never go shopping with you ever again!" He was definately a trooper. He is in for some more shopping because we aren't even close to being done. We like prolonging our shopping. Every year we go out on a weekday to eat dinner and do some shopping. It seems so busy on the weekends that during the week we can look around and just enjoy time together. We even sneak in some hot chocolate. Well I will definately take some pictures of our house, trees, and cookies so that I can post them soon. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!

I need a moment.....

  This post is rather ugly. Just a warning. My flesh has been creeping up on me a whole lot this week. When I say a lot I mean an abundance. I have noticed that in order for me to deal with it sometimes I have to just lay it all out and walk away. My problem is simply this....I don't want to wait anymore!!  I want my daughter/son here in my arms. I want to finally be a family. I want to be normal. Fleshy huh? I know...I am sorry. 

    We have been on this journey to parent hood for a very long time. If it was up to us we would have had our family finished by now. Unfortunately things don't always turn out the way you plan. This is exactly when the flesh wants to rise up and the devil throws more thoughts my way. It's not easy this waiting and being patient. Last night Pastor Evan preached a message on having a vision set before you and not just my vision but God's vision for my life. I needed to hear that.

      For so long my vision has been to have a family. A family of my own. It was to be a mom and to take care of my family. It sounds silly but I dream of the day I can hang a stocking on the mantle that says Baby's First Christmas or an ornament on the tree that has the year they were born. I want to be a normal woman who talks about her kids in conversations instead of feeling awkward and out of place. I want my kids to grow up around our friends kids who are the same age instead of feeling like we are in different stages of life and have little in common. I want to actually take a family photo and not just have a picture of the two of us. Most importanly I want to hear the words "Mommy I love you" and feel complete.  Selfish I know....I told you this post was ugly....Forgive me.

           As happy as we are to adopt it still comes with it's ups and downs. Just like with infertility it is an emotional roller coaster. In both of these processes you have very little control on the outcome. This is not something that someone else can fix, make happen, or do for you. The whole journey takes every ounce of faith you have. I am not going to lie it's hard.

       After last nights service I knew my vision needed to change. I need to stop focusing on ways to do it in my own strength and get back to resting in His presence. That is where I will find the peace I so desperately need right now. Today in the midst of these feelings I am thankful for the plan He has for us. I don't know how or when  but I do know He will bring our children to us someday. So as the song goes " While I'm waiting, I will praise you while I'm waiting".... You know you want to sing along! Go ahead it will make you feel so much better!! I already do! :)

*Parenting Class Part 1*

            So a few weekends ago we had our first parenting classes for our adoption process. I have to just say I know these classes are necessary for people who intend on doing foster care or for some who adopt children with special needs but I think I could go my whole life without ever hearing about some of those stories. For the purpose of privacy I can't give details on what all we talked about but I will tell you that after a few hours I wanted to choke some parents and grab a box of tissues to wipe my tears.  As we were finishing up the last bit of the class for that night they reminded us that it only got worse as the classes went on! Are you kidding me?? How much more do you think I can take? It makes me sad to know that people don't realize what a precious gift they have been given nor do they care. 

        On a side note we finished all of our PAPERWORK!!! WOO-HOO!! This is actually something to truly celebrate. It literally took us exactly a month to the date to get it all done. Now all we have to do is finish the rest of our parenting classes which take place this weekend from 9-7 on Saturday then 1-6 on Sunday! Needless to say we have a very long weekend ahead of us but once those are done we are ready for our first interview. The interview was suppose to be done before the parenting classes but our background checks weren't back yet. So after the interview if they think we are mentally stable enough to have children in our home we will have a home study and then be on our way to parenthood.

       One of the big things we had to have done was CPR classes. I schedule the class a few weeks ago with the American Red Cross but had to pay 120.00 up front. They told us that if we had to cancel we would only get a portion of the money back which at the time we knew we weren't going to cancel so that was fine with us. Well we received an e-mail last week that the FSM fire department would do a class for us for free but we had to reply as soon as we could because they only had room for 3 couples! Well we decided to take our chances with the refund and book the free class. So we contacted the ARC to cancel our class but no one contacted us back for a few days. Then out of no where Praise God we received an e-mail saying they were refunding the full amount!!! That's Right we have Favor!! Within a few hours it was deposited back into our account without any problems. 

     The CPR class was so cool! It was at the fire station so the entire night we got to listen in on the calls being made to the local police station and the other fire stations! The guy was really informative and told us lots of stories about people he had rescued. It was pretty funny watching people do CPR on a doll named Annie because each time you had to come upon the victim and say "Annie are you okay? Are you Okay Annie?" which then resulted in each one of us belting out the rest of Michael Jackson's song.  We had a great class.  Well one month down and hopefully only a few more to go! The Journey is long but our steps are ordered by the Lord!

*It's ready and Waiting*

Well this weekend we finished the NURSERY! It seems like I have waited an eternity to get that room finished and now it is done!! I have spent many hours in here praying, decorating, and doing inventory on all the things I have already bought. I am very proud to show it off so here are a few pictures! I hope she likes it as much as I do! The very thought of a little one having a room to call her own makes my heart melt. I wonder if you can guess what my favorite color is by the pictures?

Landon's Mamaw made the curtains for us and the cute pictures on the wall are all courtesy of Mrs. Dar! Thank you both they are amazing!!

As you can see I already have diapers and a bag ready to go! I even have a floppy pillow!!

We still need to paint the crib black but Landon thinks that would be extremely difficult so for now it will be mismatched! I am sure she won't know the difference so it will be fine!

This final picture is of all the clothes and diapers I have been gathering for the past 6yrs!! That is only a half of the clothes! You can't see the bottom of the closet but it's covered in piles of clothes too!! I didn't have enough hangers or drawer space!! Needless to say Landon has put a ban on my buying anything for awhile!! I can't help it!

I hope you like it as much as I do!! The next time you see pictures of this room it will have a baby girl on the floor playing with all her toys!! I promise the pictures don't do it justice but they still look cute!! Here is the latest quote I found!

"Born not from our flesh, but born in our hearts, you were longed for and wanted and loved from the start."

* C.A.L.L. Meeting #1*

We had our very first adoption meeting last night!! It was a night full of mixed emotions. This particular meeting was mainly focused on people who want to start foster care but we did get some information on our adoption process as well. We will be having our first home visit interview in a few weeks then we start our parenting classes!! We will be doing 30 hrs of parenting classes in just two weekends! That makes for some very long Saturdays and Sunday evenings! It will be so worth it though. We might even be able to get it all done in 4 mo instead of 6 if we turn everything in and pass our interviews. Woo! Hoo!


So last night we both had to get fingerprinted by a police officer at the meeting. That was a first for me. Just imagine me with ink all over my fingers and then walking down a dark hallway to get to a bathroom at a church I had only been in a few times. It was not pretty! I ended up going into the boys bathroom because that was the only room with a light on! I just knew if I tried to feel around in the dark for the switch in the women's then they would see my little hand prints everywhere!!


In the mean time I will be fixing things around our house, getting a list of information put together in a folder, and filling out a book of paperwork that has to be turned in at the end of October. I can do it right? No pressure! lol!! I know it was only our first class but I am just going to enjoy every part of it even if I have to force myself! Who says you can't fill out paperwork and enjoy a Dr. Pepper too!! It's so excited to know that God has a perfect child out there who is needing parents just like us and a church family just like you. I can't wait to hold that little one in my arms for the very first time. God is so Good! My next post will be about our first interview! That should really be interesting!! lol! I found this quote today and had to share it with you!


"You had a journey to make, A trip to come through, To parents who were praying, And waiting for you." -Judy Pelikan

*We are excited to announce.....

We are Adopting!!! Excited?? Jumping up and down?? Don't worry we are exploding with excitement too!! Well let me tell you how it all came about because I am sure inquiring minds want to know more. I had always said when I was a little girl that when I grew up I wanted to adopt a child and give them a loving home to grow up in. Well after much prayer during the summer we felt so much peace and excitement building in our spirits that we knew this was forever going to change our lives.



It's so amazing how God leads you to the right people at just the right time and that's exactly what happened with us. Through my work I was able to connect with a wonderful spirit filled woman who has been working with adoptive families for a couple of years. She is a leader of a group named the C.A.L.L. They work along side the state of Arkansas and local churches to match families with children who are needing homes. After talking with her about her own adoption process I knew in my heart that this is the way we needed to go. There are several parenting classes we have to take, lots of paperwork, and many more things we have to accomplish before being able to get matched with a child but it will be so worth it in the end.



Hopefully my next couple of blogs will be about our first class, the adoption process, and many more things we are looking forward to as we start this journey. We are believing that early next year we will be introducing you to a perfect little girl that God has blessed us with!!

*Well Family Fun Night*

So our Minute to Win it was a huge success. I wish someone would have video taped each event because the pictures do not give it justice. I know they are posted on facebook but for those of you who don't have access to that here is a few.

This game was called Cookie face! Contestants had to move an oreo from the top of their head to their mouths using only their face muscles!! It was my favorite game of the night!! It's not easy so try it if you dare!!!

This was the balloon toss that we had for the kids. It was a big hit with the kiddos and kept them cooled off from the heat!! I had 25 waterballoons for them to  bust and needless to say they were all gone in about 5 minutes!!

This game was Johnny Applestack! Each contestant must stack 4 apples on top of each other! This was one of the most intense competitions we had. Everyone had their serious game face on!! Great job Mira and Evan!! 

Overall it was a great night with Jake Schlegel taking home the title!! We had a great turn out and tons of food to chose from. We were able to meet some new folks and just have a fun time of fellowshipping with one another!! Thank you Lord for Godly relationships!!

*Wandon...the name of Champions*

Last Saturday I spent the day with my brother's family.  We went fishing down at the Alma pond and of course we didn't catch any fish but we had fun. We weren't exactly sure how long we would stay for the simple fact Lynnlee who just turned 2 doesn't really have the attention span to fish for long. I think she had more fun talking to the fish than she did holding her tiny fishing pole. She was way cute though!

Alexis our 10 yr old who has blossomed into a beautiful and smart young lady learned not only how to bait her fish but also to cast it out into the water. You could just see the sheer happiness of her accomplishments on her face each time she cast her line across the water. I was one proud aunt!!

I always laugh at the things kids say but that day I laughed a lot!! Lynnlee is talking way more these days and she is quite funny! She definately takes after her dad on the humor. She loves her uncle Landon but she has a hard time saying his name so it always comes out Wandon!! Wandon didn't join us until later that afternoon  because he's not a fishing type of guy. Him and my brother chipped golf balls around in the back yard for a while until the girls found out and wanted to join them.  We opened the door and Lynnlee spotted Wandon...

Lynnlee: Wandon!! Wandon!! (running as fast she can towards him) Wandon!!

Wandon:  Lynnlee!! (still chipping away not even looking at her)

Lynnlee: Wandon I need you!! Wandon I need you!!

Wandon: (turning towards her) You need me, what's wrong?

Lynnlee: (her arms raised in the air) Hold me Wandon!!

I  am not sure whose smile was bigger hers or his!! I know deep inside his heart melted just a little bit knowing that this little person needed him and only him for that small moment in time. It was way sweet!! I think he got a small glimpse of what our future holds whenever our family comes along.

Alexis and I have always had a special bond that makes me smile when I think of how much we have grown up together. I say that because I was only 15 when she was born  and ever since she has been my best buddy! We share secrets, sneak away for ice cream, and have lots of conversations that anyone listening in on would be laughing hysterically at us. Here was our most recent conversation:

Alexis: Boonya (that's my nickname I have had since grade school) How tall are you?

Me: Oh I don't know maybe 5'0 ft!

Alexis: I hate to tell you this but your short..

Me: Thanks!  Why do you think that?

Alexis: Boonya!! I come to your nose and I am not full grown.

Me: Great next thing you know you will be wearing my shoes..

Alexis: Boonya!! I already do wear your shoes...see these are your flip flops!!

Yep!! It was a great day even if I am short and my niece can wear my shoes!! lol!!

Here we go a tripping..

Yep I did it again! I tripped! Only this time I wasn't laughing it off like a joke that someone just told me. I was humiliated. For that past 2 years we have hosted a men's basketball tournament in honor of my dad to raise money for the Alma Boys club. Well this year we played a lot of the games at the old Alma High School gym so we pulled out all the bleachers for people to sit on while they enjoyed some entertaining steals and air balls.

As the teams were warming up before one of the games I started to panic because I thought I had lost my keys. I started running up the bleachers just as my flip flops slipped off the step and I fell face first down the bleachers while spilling my sonic drink all over my shirt. The worst part of it all I think wasn't the big softball size bruise on my shin or my drink dripping off my hair it was the fact that I almost landed in the lap of a friend Landon went to school with. That was on Saturday. I am about to tell on myself major here so please enjoy a good laugh.

Monday I was so excited that I was able to go to the gym. I had been sick for 3 wks and was forbid to go workout per Landon. I was running on that treadmill like I was chasing after a cherry cheesecake when it happened. I started coughing, hard and loud. At first I thought I was getting way too hot so I slowed down just a smudge to get my breathing under control. I was totally fine until I coughed so hard I thought I blew the roof off the building. That's when I felt it! Yep! I peed all over myself!! So needless to say I had to quit the gym early!!! Hope you had a good laugh at my expense!! I know you needed it!! Hope you have a blessed week!

On the road to fitness...

So yesterday Landon suprised me with a membership to Fitness One! I have been wanting to get back in shape for quite some time but I never seemed to get "around to it". I ran/walked on the treadmill for about 15 min. then got on the bicycle for another 10min. I will be honsest when I got home I couldn't feel my legs. It felt like I was having muscle spasm all night. When I was in my teens I played all kinds of sports so I was in tip top shape. I so want my body to get back to the place where I can see muscle instead of flab. I miss my rock hard arms and legs. I have set a goal to lose 20lbs by this summer so I can wear shorts again. I know this will be a tough goal to accomplish but I am so ready to turn the corner in this area of my life too.

I know I need to get healthy and stay that way. I thought about training for a marathon after I lose the weight because it's something I have always wanted to do but that will be another journey on down the road. I'll keep you posted on my weight loss success!

Out with the old and In with the new!

Here we go again! This will be my second attempt at blogging but I figured a new year and a new me is grounds for a new blog! I am hoping it turns out better this time around. One reason I didn't enjoy it as much last time was because it didn't feel like my own. Landon basically put it together for me and I wasn't sure how to do anything! This time I did it all by myself. However, I know that will change as I do more with it.

I hope in this blog to reveal a new side of me. The real me not just someone who thinks of things to say for no purpose. I hope my journey to becoming a God fearing woman, an amazing wife, and someday a mom inspires you in some small way to be all that God has called you to be with some laughter along the way. Be blessed!