Happy Everything~Christmas 2012

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas this year. I can certainly say that we had a perfect holiday. It was exactly what I wanted: quiet, relaxing, and fun. Of course we wished that we could have been with our families, but we made the best out of it just being the four of us. Christmas Eve started early, as usual! I can't wait for my boys to learn the art of sleeping in! We headed out to breakfast and to run a couple of last minute errands. We made it home early afternoon and got dressed in our pjs. I dreamed about just staying at my home in my pjs the week before Christmas break! We had company for a little while and I started my baking and treat-making for our neighbors. We rocked out to Christmas music and enjoyed each other's company. I was all nostalgic and thinking about my mommy so I decided to make one of my favorite dishes of hers~ chili. I'm sure mine didn't even come close to hers, but it made me feel like I had a little piece of her still right here with me. We ate dinner together and just hung out some more.

We set the timer on our camera to get a rare family photo.

Ryan and Evan took a few minutes to play with last year's Christmas present~finally!

We even had a white Christmas! It was the perfect kind of snow~ pretty to look at, but not enough to shovel and it was gone the next day. That's the kind of snow I don't mind. Finally, it was time to put the Peas to bed so we could set up for the big day. Let me tell you, toy makers today make sure that their products are secure! Took me forever to get some of their toys out of the package! I rewarded myself with a little play time for my hard work though. I'm just a big kid, and Thomas the Steam Engine sure was fun!

We knew they were going to be so excited! Those drums? My boys LOVE the drums! Ryan especially has a love of music and each Sunday after church he makes a beeline to the drum set if he can. We seriously want to get him in music lessons when he gets a little older. Here is where I should post a video of Ryan and Evan waking up and seeing their presents. Let's just say one of us ran into some technical difficulties and thought we had everything on camera. Turns out, we had nothing and only a few pictures!

It was hard to convince the boys to leave their toys, but we had a church service on Christmas morning. Afterwards we had a luncheon where we served lunch to the homeless and gave out presents. What a wonderful experience it was! It was an honor to be a blessing to others. What a blessing it was to just be together. After all, isn't that what Christmas is really about? I know that the boys are still too young to understand any of this, but I hope that these seeds we are planting will sprout later on. It truly was a very Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas

The Parker four would like to wish each and every one of our family and friends a very Merry Christmas. As we enjoy this Christmas Eve, dressed in our new pjs, listening to Christmas tunes, eating dinner and treats, and preparing for tomorrow's festivities, we are reminded of what this holiday is really about. Before we open one gift tomorrow we know that we've already received the most precious and priceless gift of all~ a loving Saviour in Jesus Christ. We wish you much peace, love, and joy.

Headed to Church

I'm pretty sure this was the last time the boys (and Daddy P) would allow me to dress them in longalls, so I'm savoring the moment! #southernboysinct

Meanwhile, this was Happening..

I was supposed to be wrapping presents and making peppermint bark, but instead I was cleaning the walls.

I learned two things tonight: ALWAYS do a room sweep for crayon contraband before bedtime and NEVER run out of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers.

E is for Evan

Look at what our boy did yesterday! While waiting for his dinner Evan decided to write his name. While he didn't write his entire name this time, check out the E that he wrote. It's the neatest, most perfect E ever, and he did it all by himself! Way to go Evan:)

Loves of My Life

Newtown

Eta I started this post yesterday As I sit to write this post today I'm about 10 miles from Newtown. Newtown is a quaint, sleepy little town not too far from our new church. Two of my coworkers live here. When I saw Newtown for the first time I remember thinking how cute and peaceful it was. Now 20 babies lay dead in the area morgue.

I found out about the shooting at the end of my third period class yesterday. We teachers talked in hushed tones about it. We wondered if our coworker's son was old enough to be in school yet. What about his wife? Did she still work in the system? I'm sure my colleagues were thinking the same thing I was thinkng~ what would we do if that had been us? We have a plan, a signal, and a procedure. But will anything really save us from a madman(a mad man?) with a gun intent on shedding blood?

My babies....what about them? I knew at that moment that they were safe. Still, the what ifs haunted me, and still haunt me right now. How do I keep them safe in this world? Realizing that that isn't totally possible is frightening and it leaves me feeling hopeless.

When I picked my Peas up yesterday, I couldn't stop hugging and kissing them. I doted on them the whole night. I couldn't help but think about those parents, 20 sets of them, who weren't able to do the same. Then I thought about the family members of the teachers who lost their lives. After all, aren't we always our parents' babies? My daddy called me when he first heard the news. I had a class, but I answered his call because I knew what he was thinking: please let my baby be okay. I wept for those families and I'm sure there are more tears to come. I'm challenged as a teacher too. I can absolutely think of a few kids who have similar traits that the media is reporting the shooter had. How do I deal with them and not be afraid? I know it's not right to presume, but these are my honest thoughts. What if this happens to us? Will I know what to do? Am I as brave as those teachers who sacrificed themselves for their kids? Would I be able to keep calm? Could I think fast? Would I just freeze? I don't know. I went to church today and there was a heaviness in that place. People were crying; it was sad. But just being in the house of the Lord, feeling his presence, hearing the encouraging words from our pastor...I realize that I still have hope. There is still hope for us all. May the Lord rest the souls of those who we lost senselessly and way too soon. May the Lord wrap his loving arms around the grieving parents and loved ones and comfort them as only He can. May the Lord keep us all.