Larry Wayne Parker 08/10/54-11/23/08

When trying to gain control of ALL my emotions and type this, bare with me.

I have been a part of this family for some 22+ years. I babysat the kids, vacationed with the family, and later just became one of the kids. I can't count the MANY days and nights and meals I shared with them. And the 'family' photos we trotted off to RR to take. And the races we went all over NC to. The family arguments we often had with raising pre-teen and teenagers!! The food fights we had. The tears and laughter we shared. The good, bad, and ugly that any family had!! To say I love this family is a HUGE understatement.

As I sat with the Parkers yesterday, we spoke that we NEVER in a million years expected he would die this way. We all had bets he'd die in a car wreck going 100+ mph in one of many fast cars this man was SO passionate about. I never thought I'd get the call that such a giving and loving, kind and compassionate man would be gunned down on his very own back porch while his wife, step-daughter, and grandaughter fought for their lives a few 10 steps away.

This man was a father to many, a brother, an uncle, a grandaddy, a life savor to many. He was a dynamic mechanic and a devoted friend to many. I never knew him to have any enemies. Plain and simple, a GOOD MAN!

Please continue to pray for this family and the family of the other victims- whom on last report, the mother is expected to pull through. Praise God!

Bowen is Going Potty!!

Yes, that's right, my baby is potty trained!!!! He started Tuesday and had 3-4 accidents. I trained both of mine with underwear..Karley might have used 5 pull ups the entire time. Bowen REFUSES to wear one. He says "I aint wearing no diaper!!" So, Tuesday night, he stayed dry ALL NIGHT. Then at home yesterday and all last night, NO ACCIDENTS at all..He even pooped on the big potty!! So, we gave Judson all our diapers today! More than a whole box of Pampers...

My proven theory on potty training girls or boys, DO NOT force it on them. They will do it when they're ready and not one day before!! Karley was FULLY trained in 2-3 days and it looks like Bowen will be too.. And when I say 'trained', there aren't ANY accidents ever! My kids know how to pee and poop beside the road if need be!! Jamie can take credit for Karley pooping in a cotton field, but that's a whole different blog!! LOL!

How 'Bout that snow??!!??

Don't know where ya'll 'stay-to' but we had a beautiful 20-30 minute snow this morning.. It was around 7:50-8:00.. It was pretty decent size and pretty thick.. It must have been in very few spots, b/c Shelley nor people in Jackson got the size we got.. YIPEE!! LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!!! I love it!!

#3

Okay, party number 3 for the weekend..

Jamie and I Halloweening it Adult Style.. Can ya'll believe Jamie went to this extreme to dress up?? He kept saying, "Add more, right here!" a trip.. First Halloween party Jamie and I have EVER been to--and folks that started in 1998!!

#4

ok, so I got 3 & 4 backwards..

This was Erin & Joe's Baby Shower we hosted at our house. Remind you all that this was party #4 for us in the SAME weekend... Halloween Friday night, Bowen's party Sat., our Halloween party Sat. night, and this shower on Sunday. All of this the SAME week that Joe's Mother passed away! The flowers with Mickey Mouse in them were some that the D'Arco's had at her funeral services. Joe asked me earlier in the week to bring those home with me so that his mother would be at the shower!! One pic of Erin and her mom Darlene, another with Memama.

They got lots of goodies and I can't wait to babysit baby Reagan!!

#2

These are from Bowen's 3rd Birthday Party..Sorry Donielle, apparently Janna took the pic of the cake with her camera not mine.. Anyway, Judson is shown here helping Bowen open some gifts..Granny & Grandaddy gave Bowen his first REAL set of golf clubs. Yes, that's a REAL hard driver he and Jamie are playing with!! Look out Karley! and shins..

#1

Well, in MY defense, I figured I'd better blog or 'get outta town!' So, here's the first one-- Halloween '08- and before you think or say it--better late than never. I've been swamped every since Halloween week.. Bowen was a Pirate and Karley was a Sparkling Witch.. We had a ball at the Conway Baptist Church Fall Festival again this year!! Thanks Michelle!!

Thank God

Thanks to Michelle Burgess for sending me this email.. VERY meaningful and important..Something we all need to make time to do. hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

DEAR GOD:


I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now.. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears ; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed;

I am thanking you right now. I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.


I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.

I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me.

God is just so good, and he's good all the time.

Thanksgiving Humor

Just think...if the Indians had given the Pilgrim Fathers

a donkey instead of a turkey we would all be having a

Piece of ass for Thanksgiving

Another Baby

Jonathan and Mary Jenkins welcomed a very healthy baby boy last night at 7:39 pm, Weston Zane, to their beautiful family. He weighed in at 6 pounds, 2 ounces and is 19 inches long. Mom and baby are recovering from a C-section at Southampton Memorial. God IS good!!

Below is a picture I 'stole' from Kelly Peele's blog..

Hold your breath as you read

Well, most of you ladies won't believe what you're about to read, but it's the TRUTH!!

I've been going to Open Arms Church for about 10 or so months now. I've been praying for the 'knee bending, back breaking experience' that I've heard SO much about. Well, unfortunately for me, I was beginning to doubt all that jive. Thinking it was just crazy folks that over exaggerated their personal experiences when called to answer God's plan.

Hang in there with me as I take you back to a week or so.. I had a little too much to drink two Fridays ago.. And suddenly, I didn't drink a drop all last week. That's REALLY uncommon for me!! Now, I'm not an alcoholic or anything, but I love to take a drink with the best of them!! Then, I talked to Donielle for 2 HOURS on Wednesday night--we spoke for a while about religion and being saved, sinning and always gonna be a sinner(something I've struggled with understanding).. I had a few beers Saturday afternoon, and then went on to the Halloween party Saturday night. Had a blast.. Drank all I wanted, even had a shot of something like 'fire in a bottle' with my girl, Shirley!! Drank more, danced even more, and then something unexplainable occured! Brace yourself. I took a sip of my beer, had at LEAST a half a beer left, and walked to the trash can and threw it away! Yes, Tina threw a perfectly good beer away, and no I wasn't drunk or sick! Then about 11:30, I approached Jamie and asked him if he was ready to go home... SHOCK-this never happens!

So, yesterday morning, like all the rest, I got up took the kids to Sunday School and while I was in the restroom (of all places!) I started humming a song that we havn't sung in a LONG time..But it was in my head STRONG! Yeah, yeah, whatever...On to Praise and Worship--what was the 2nd song, yep you guessed it--that song.. Shelley might be able to verify that we haven't had this song in a good little spell-"Lord, I Lift Your Name on High"..anyway, by about the 10th word, I broke out in a CRAZY hot sweat, and began to sob like a newborn baby!!! NO JOKE!! And no, all I have been smoking are my Salem Lights!!

This was like NOTHING I had ever imagined.. I really believed that this experience would be like so many other fantastic things in my life--shared with Shelley(after all, it was HER idea that I try this church).. Moving right along, I couldn't make it to the preacher, but I grabbed my friend Mrs.Joan (whom I have talked with at length numerous times about all this in Sunday School) out of the Praise and Worship team, and simply said, "I'm ready!" She cried, I cried more, we cried even more! Then I front of all my church family, minus my bestest friend (another Chapter), I committed my life to God!! WOO-HOO!

So, yes, I have officially and publically been saved! We have several others in church that are waiting to be Baptized also, so we will soon set a date for all that!! I LOVE this feeling and this NEW me that I have uncovered. I wanted to shout it from the roof top..and still do! I didn't have my cell with me, so I had to ride 35 minutes home without telling a single person, except the kids of course! I'm still teary about my transformation..

So, for the non-believers, you just keep thinking that God won't ever TAKE control of your life and work in mysterious ways through you. It does happen, and can happen to anyone that turns things over to him. And I'm living, breathing proof that God loves all of us and will accept you with ALL your faults--even partying, trouble making, rednecks like me!! Keep praying and believing in his power! It works! You need him in your life. Praise the Lord!!