Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

A couple weekends ago we made a little trek out to Marshall, Texas for the annual Parker Brother's Reunion. Here are three of the Parker Brothers who brought their families together to eat, chase kiddos and reminisce.


This year Jeff's parent's hosted the reunion out at "The Farm" where Andy (Jeff's Dad, aka CPapa) grew up.

This beautiful old home was built by Andy's grandfather beginning in 1904. In the past couple of decades it fell into terrible disrepair as it sat unused by the family and abused by vandals and a vicious Texas tornado. I wish I had pictures of what it looked like a few years ago. Suffice it to say that it wasn't unusual to find a cow wandering the first story and they were lucky not to fall and get stuck in one of the many holes in the floor.

Andy has poured his heart and soul into restoring his old home over the past couple of years. He and Sara have spent untold hours out there planning, gutting, cleaning, painting. It is stunning! They still have big plans (a garage with an upstairs apartment is currently under construction and there are rumors of a pool) but it is amazing what has been accomplished already.


I love this big old tree that was knocked over during the tornado but is still thriving.

We enjoyed visiting with family. I met some relatives for the first time and caught up with others that we've not seen since before Bennett was born.

Bennett got loved on by everyone. Especially his favorite cousin Haley.


And I fell in love with this doll of a little boy named Byron. He came dressed in his cowboy best including hat, holster and rifle. I had a lot of fun taking pictures of him and his big blue eyes.


In the evening CPapa took us out with him to feed the cows. This farm used to supply the town of Marshall with all it's dairy. It is no longer a functioning dairy farm but Andy is working to grow the herd. There were lots of little babies, some just days old as well as a few expecting mommy cows that lumbered along in the heat with their swollen bellies. I felt for them.


Bennett wasn't real sure what to think about the cows at first.


But eventually he warmed up to them and tried desperately to get one of the enormous animals to come eat from his hand. None of the cows took him up on the offer.


I know he's going to enjoy coming out here more and more as he gets older.


After the extended family left we sat out on the front porch in the beautiful twilight, eating leftover barbecue and chatting. Then we got to enjoy a gorgeous east Texas sunset. Perfect.


I look forward to spending many more weekends with sweet family on this beautiful land.

ECHO! (Echo...echo...)

I don't even know where to begin with this post because I'm so excited about what when on at the Echo Conference last week and I have a zillion things to say about it, but I'm afraid y'all might not be quite as hyped about it as I. And I do hate to bore my dear readers.

But seeing as how your potential boredom hasn't ever stopped my ramblings before I guess I'll press on. Feel free to skim. Or skip. Whatever.

It seems that it was just the other day when Jeff came home from a particularly inspired conversation with Rob and said, "We think we're going to do a conference." I responded with something supportive along the lines of, "How interesting, dear! Tell me more about it."

But what I was really thinking was, "Seriously? Another venture? Don't you guys have enough on your plates already?"

Let me back up by telling you that Jeff joined Rob Thomas (no, not that Rob Tomas) less than five years ago as the first employee (besides the creator/owner of course) of what is now known as Igniter Media. Since that time they have grown to a company of 16 employees and four divisions: Igniter, Worshiphouse Media, Collide Magazine and, most recently, Echo Conference.

That is a lot of change in a little time! Jeff often says they are never at a loss for new ideas up at the office. They are a bunch of dreamers, enthusiastic visionaries that are always coming up with new and better ways to do things and schemes for great new products and services to fit their little niche of all things having to do with media and Christian ministry.

And they are fabulous at it! They have put together an amazing team of passionate and talented people that create excellent products to enhance the reach and influence of churches and ministries as they seek to glorify God and share His love.

But I was nervous just the same.

I shouldn't have been. Despite a lot of challenges faced by the team this summer they managed to pull together an outstanding, exciting and inspiring conference for men and women interested in using media to further God's kingdom. I cannot tell you how proud I was to watch it all unfold. There were moments during the conference I would sit back with tears in my eyes, just thrilled to see their months and months of hard working coming to fruition in such wonderful ways.

Since the conference I've been doing Google searches and stalking blogs to see what attendees are saying and I've found nothing but positive evaluations and enthusiasm for next year's conference. Here is a great review/recap of the conference if you are interested: Rhett's Blog.

And here are a few of my pictures from the event taken with my fancy-schmancy new camera (which I'm still learning to use).

I got to help out with registration and "hospitality" which is perfect for me because I love to talk to strangers. Seriously, I get energized greeting and chatting with random folks and helping them feel welcome.

Some of the front desk crew. Ashton (an Igniter/Echo summer intern), Lisa (dear friend and fellow employee's wife/volunteer) and me.

Jeff, me, Haley and Rob. I just love these folks! It is truly a blessing and a joy to be a part of this adventure with them. Not only do Jeff and Rob work together but they are some of our favorite friends and also our neighbors!

The auditorium filling up for the opening session. So exciting!

The band did a great job with the awesome opening number and also led worship a few times throughout the conference.

Jeff greeted guests, made announcements...

...and played the straight guy (as in, not joking around) to the hilarious Johnny and Chachi duo.

Johnny and Chachi where a hit. As always.

This is the Friday night keynote speaker Donald Miller. The other fabulous keynotes were Mark Batterson, Matthew Paul Turner, Todd Wagner and Mark Steele.

Conference attendees hanging out in the lobby. (photo taken by the lovely Kirby Wagner)

Some of the team (employees, interns and volunteers) getting instructions.

I don't use Twitter myself but tons of the attendees do and they twittered (twitted? tweeted?) all weekend about the conference. There was so much twitter activity that Echo made it into the top categories just after Olympics and Michael Phelps. How 'bout that??

Introducing...

...my new favorite toy! I call her My Precious.

I have a lot to learn and I'm so excited! I litrally can't wait to
dive into the instruction manual and read it from cover to cover,
highlighter in hand, taking copious notes.

And the classes! With our purchase we got 18 vouchers for photography
classes at Wolf. Woo hoo!

And yes, I took this picture in the car. We're on our way to Marshall
and I just couldn't wait to share my exicetment with all my bloggy
friends!

Misplaced

For anyone who has known me longer than oh, about eight seconds, it will not come as too much of a surprise that I spent much of my day today searching for a lost cell phone. My mom used to tell me I'd lose my head if it wasn't screwed on. Before Bennett was born I had multiple nightmares about misplacing my baby.

But I feel I've gotten better at keeping track of things over the years. And I swear one minute I was talking to Haley about plans to go to Lifetime Fitness for a workout and swim and moments later the phone had absolutely vanished.

This, as you may imagine, was quite a dire situation.

(An aside: I clearly remember being in college and stating with conviction that I couldn't imagine why I would ever need a cell phone. What in the world could be so important that it couldn't wait until I got home?)

Oh, I just want to go back and shake that silly little college girl. Um...what if I see a funny sign that reminds me of a friend? Or I need to tell Jeff that Bennett just farted at the store and then laughed at himself? These kinds of things just CAN'T WAIT!

Besides, I feel as though I've lost an arm when I don't have my phone. Tell me I'm not alone here.

I tried retracing my steps. No luck.

I looked in all of Bennett's favorite hiding places. It was not to be found in in the pantry, TV cabinet, bedside table or kitchen drawers.

Haley arrived to pick us up and she called my phone a couple of times as I ran from room to room listening for that peppy little jingle. Silence.

I really felt like I was losing my mind. It was JUST here in my hand!

I decided to give up and let Jeff help me look when he returned from work. Sometimes all it takes is a pair of fresh eyes to discover I left something in a terribly obvious place like on the kitchen counter.

Jeff got home and dug around in couch cushions as I checked in purses I've not used in months. I even looked in the dryer. Maybe I really had gone nuts and put it in there as I was switching out the laundry.

Not feeling very hopeful, I asked Jeff to call my number one more time. Crouching next to the dryer I heard a faint diddlee-dee-dee sound.

It took me a few seconds to find the source. And then a few seconds to comprehend how my phone managed to end up there.

Wait for it...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Moms of toddlers, do you have a guess??
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.


Yes, my friends. My dear son dumped my iPhone into the Diaper Champ. See it in there among the stinky refuse?


That bag was scheduled for a trip to the trash bin first thing in the morning.

It would be a sad way to go for a perfectly healthy iphone, hanging out in a landfill, nestled in dirty diapers for the next 500 years. It's probably worse than the Blackberry that met an early demise after a flight from the second floor to the hardwoods below, courtesy of Mr. Bennett Anderson Parker. At least that was a quick and painless death.

Maybe the boy has something against my phones. We'll let his psychotherapist address that in a few years.

Keeping Cool(ish)

I admit I have been a slacker mom this year about getting out for typical wet summer fun. It is just so much work to do the whole swim diaper/swimsuit/sunscreen routine for the thirty minutes he would actually enjoy the activity.

Until this past week that is. Suddenly it kind of felt like "get wet or die". August in Texas. Gotta' love it!

Last Friday my awesome sister Lisa came to visit and we attempted another trip to the splash park. Since it was easily 130 in the shade I decided on the way there that if we weren't getting wet then we weren't staying. It was just too miserable.

Bennett was much more brave this time than our last visit and we all had a great time!

Bennett especially enjoyed gathering water in cups and pouring it out, usually on himself. Some of the other kids around were more than willing to help him.


I think this is a super cute picture of Bennett and his Aunt Lisa. It would be cuter minus the posing pre-teen in the background.

As he gained confidence that a little water in his face would not kill him, Bennett grew increasingly interested in the jets that sprayed straight up. He loved trying to cap the spray with his hand and push it back to the ground.


Now that's my big boy!

Then we got to do some real swimming on Saturday at Elliott's First Birthday Party. It was so fun to splash and swim with all the other kiddos. I didn't take many pictures because, well, I was swimming! The pool was the only sane place to be.


Elliott, Bennett and the "Fort Worth Girls", Kristen, Laura, Tricia, Me and Allison. We've all been friends since middle school or earlier.

Bennett also got to practice his baseball skills at the party. He has bats and balls at home and understands that the bat is supposed to hit the ball, but in the absence of a t-ball stand his attempts look more like hockey practice.




And I decided to go ahead and blow up our little baby pool for the back yard. What's the problem? It's only August! We have at least two months worth of pool-worthy weather left.

I just didn't want him to grow bored of it too early in the summer before the REAL heat set in.

Yeah. That's it.

Well, I decided that nekkid, in the late-afternoon shade, no sunscreen swimming works for us. It's the lazy mom's way.

Our afternoon swim time is starting to follow a predictable routine. Play with the ball. Pour water from the cups. Splash around with some kitchen utensils (the ladle is a favorite). Then spend half an hour doing the following: throw said utensils out of the pool, crawl out to get them, make the largest splash possible throwing them back in, laugh, crawl in after utensils, repeat.





I just love that little bare bottom.

He's going to just hate me for this when he's older, isn't he?

First Lollypop

I had no idea a little DumDum could make such a mess! We are both
covered in sticky slobber.

But we will press on. Two more errands to run before we head home
(and into the bath tub).

Fourth Haircut

It was long overdue!

And he held onto that ladle the entire time. I'm learning to pick my
battles already!

Elliott is ONE!

Happy birthday sweet Elliott boy! We had a great time at your swim party yesterday, thanks for inviting us.

I remember the first time I met you. It was so exciting, waiting at the hospital for you to be born. Your momma was a champ and worked hard to get you here safe and sound. I feel so special that I got to be a part of that wonderful day.




It was also fun for you and Bennett to meet for the first time. Bennett was so much bigger than you it seemed impossible that he had ever been that small or you would ever get so big. But you are catching up fast!



We've had a lot of fun playing together over the past year. We love to hang out with you and your sweet family.







What a blessing to be given such sweet friends. We can't wait to spend more time getting to know you!

God Didn't Make Me A Fighter

Tomorrow I'm going to call Sears again. I couldn't fall asleep tonight because I kept rehearsing my conversation with Mr. Manager Guy. These types of conversations always so much better in my head.

I think: "I understand that you are doing what you can to help us under the policies that you have been given but my husband and I have decided the solution that you have offered is not acceptable. I am going to need to speak with someone who has the authority to change or override this policy that seems to be standing in our way."

I say: "Um, well, thanks for all you've done to help us out. But are you sure that is all you can do? I don't want to be any trouble, but it just seems like we shouldn't be charged for something that isn't our fault. Oh, okay, sorry to bother you."

Since I wasn't sleeping anyway I got out of bed to write down some of my brilliant points that I'm sure will wither Mr. Manager Guy's will to rip us off.

Or at least maybe a script will keep me on track any time the words "I'm sorry" threaten to slip out of my mouth. Which is often. I have a habit of apologizing for other people's shortcomings in such situations.

It's as if I think their lack of customer service is my fault for being too difficult. Why should I expect a high-dollar product to work perfectly for longer than a few months? I mean, come on, they are willing to fix it. So I should be content to live with a fridge that is only running cold every other week. Right?

Alright friends, pray for my strength!