AI "What UP Dogg"!!!!

Well I think it's about time to check in on my fellow American Idol fans...so how do you guys feel about the performances and eliminations at this point...I wasn't disappointed at all with our most resent loss...
Bye Chikezie.....

A prayer for my friends...

Last evening at our life group I was asked a very simple question by my friend Diana..."what's your favorite book in the bible". I told her Philippians definitely one of the top picks for me...I began thinking...you know it's been a while...and today in my quiet time I decided to read Philippians again...as I am reading I'm remembering why it's one of my favorites...one of my favorite passages being Paul's prayer in the beginning of the book. Today I pray this prayer with my heart. For my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ who choose to fight the good fight...

Philippians 1:9-11

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God...Amen

A Couple of Random Questions???

Matthew 27:50-53
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

I've often wondered why I've never heard a sermon on these particular scriptures...

And what were these people who were raised from death doing for the 3 days before Jesus was resurrected?

This part of Jesus' death on the cross always has intrigued me...well really the whole raising from the dead thing has (regular people not Jesus)...Here is my question, trivial as it may be but what happened to these people who were raised from the dead? Did they die again eventually... were they raised from the dead to bring glory to God then to die again at a later date?
Hmmmmmmm.........

Welcome to the Family Bud!!!!

He's here!!!! Everyone I would like to introduce the newest member of our family Bud!!! Weighing in at 60 pounds...we have 100 days to get Bud fattened up to a wopp'n 260 lbs...

Today was the day...the Parson, Gillum and the Avila families were off to an early start this morning on a mission to pick our prize hogs...

After picking Bud...Brittani was quickly put to work on her first Hog owner task...





A SHOT...WOW!!! Look at her go...she's a natural...

Here she is getting the feed thingy (I still don't have the lingo down yet) ready for her baby Bud...with Mia making sure the Job is done right...just like a Gillum...

I'll leave you with my favorite picture of the day...

Bud being inconvenienced by his buddy Boss (Hog) Kick'n back not about to move an inch!!!


Thank you Gillum's and Avila's for taking us City Slickers under your wing and showing us the ropes...you'll never know how much it means to us...you guys are awesome!!!

Remember his death...

In honor of our Lord Jesus Christ on this Good Friday...listen...worship...and remember...

Just a thought...

I read a quote today that really got me thinking..."The deepest longing of the human heart is to know and enjoy the glory of God". We were made for this. Isaiah 43:6-7 says "Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth...whom I created for My glory," says the Lord...The ache in every human heart is the ache for this... As I ponder this truth...I'm reminded once again how important it is to not only allow God to fill every part of me and not to allow my self to be fooled that anything else in this life will ever satisfy me...but to also live out loud with my life so others can know this same hope...to pray for the sons from afar and the the daughters from the ends of this earth...it saddens me to look around this life and see so many lost people trying to fill the desire that God instilled in each and every one of us for Himself with so many other things...Not realizing that we are starved for the glory of God...

Thank you God that I don't have to rely on self, status, relationships, material possession, substances...which will never fill me up...Thank you God for creating me to know you, follow you, worship you...help me to be conscious of the world around me...to remember to pray for my neighbors and the people of this world...help me to live out the purpose that You created me for...to be doing my part for Your kingdom so all may come to know You...Amen

What did he just say to me!!!!

OK, I woke up this morning, walked around a bit and realized I was sore in a lot more areas than last week when I started running...soooo I tell Darin this is weird I'm sore all along my sides and my arms are sore too. He said.....................Maybe there's a lot more pounding since you went farther!!!! WHAT!!! WHAT EVER!!!! He new right away that was not the statement I was looking for...and I...well I was just speechless for a moment...then we both just jiggled oh I mean giggled!!! WHAT A DORK!!!

Monster Trucks!!!

Darin, Brittani, her friend Baley, Colton and The Gillums went to see the Monster trucks and Motor Cross show at the Savemart Center on Saturday...They had a Blast!!! Did you miss me??

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

Every Monday I meet with a group of girls and today we decided to have a special St. Patrick's Day celebration since all of our kids are on spring break...it was great fun!!! We missed you Jen and Mia...Mia we hope you are feeling better our little fabulous girl...

Menu

Hot Dogs (not green)

Green Mac n Cheese (which of course Colton didn't eat)

Green Grapes

Granny smith apples

Celery with peanut butter and green m&m's

Green Hawaiian Punch

Green home made ice cream (Thanks Amy!!)

Oh Man!!!!

Well week 2...I ran a 1/2 mile today and once a got over the near death experience I was pretty amazed I could actually do it!!! Jack was a little confused but pleased non the less...

A note from Colton...

This afternoon as we arrived at the restaurant we were going to eat lunch at today...I realized Colton was intently writing something on a pad of paper in the back seat of the car...I asked him what he was writing and he said nothing...turned it face down and obediently got out of the car to enter the restaurant...later this evening he came to me with a letter folded up very neatly entitled Epic...and this is what it read...
Dear Epic Church,
I think that this is the best church. Because I learned so much more about God...even though the boys team in kwizmo looses like every time but I will learn. And I have a question for Bruce Kane what was the best thing that God did for you?
Sincerely,
Colton

I can't wait to hear Bruce's answer...

God continue to reveal your self to my precious little boy...
Thank you Epic Church for investing into my children...

I can't believe it's over...

Well the weekend has officially come to an end and I can't believe it's over...it went by sooo fast!!! We had such a great time...Mom, Dad, Dave, Sharon, Tim, Michelle, Chandler and Regan...thank you soooo much for coming all this way to see us...I can't tell you what it means to spend time with friends so dear to our hearts...I love you all!!! I'll be keeping up with my balderdash definitions so I can take you all down the next time!!!!!!!!

I did it!!!!

One week of running down and I must say today was easier than Monday...I have to be honest. I can't imagine adding another 1/4 mile next week...but I know one thing...Jack will be ecstatic!!!
Thanks for all the encouragement...you guys ROCK!!! Oh and so now when I'm jiggling down the street...I'm just imagining all my fat dropping off my body:0 It's great...

I am soooo lucky!!!

So 8 of my favorite people are coming to visit this weekend!!! Mom and dad , Dave and Sharon (my second parents) their Daughter Michelle, whom I grew up with and have many memories that I wouldn't trade for anything, her husband our friend Tim and their 2 girls Chandler and Regan... The Parson House is buzzing with excitement...tonight I will be making enchiladas for everyone to eat for dinner tomorrow night...The Kanes are coming over and we will be having a fiesta!!!! Enchiladas, Spanish rice, Bruce and Rhonda will bring a pot of beans and salad...and I have a special dessert planned...I'm think'n a little guitar Hero maybe some dance dance revolution and some kind of sitting game too for the old people...they'll need to rest after a while...as far as the rest of the weekend it's anybodies guess but I know it will be filled with fun, laughter, love and friendship...it doesn't get much better than that...

AI not a disappiontment!!!!

What a great show last night...I was so surprised by David Archuleta forgetting the words...poor guy...well here's my top 3...who was you favorite? Carly by far was my favorite...
Carly Smithson
Brooke White
David Cook

AI

AI tonight...I can't wait!!!! I know, it dosn't take much to make me happy...but hey what can I say:)

What was I thinking!!!!

I've always had this dream of being as healthy as I can be...from what I put in my mouth to what I do physically and emotionally...I have all kinds of books on these subjects and have done lots of things like yoga...pilates...daily exercise...herbal remedies...healthy eating plans...low fat...low carb...no carbs...high fiber and soooo many other things of course never truly making a life change...it can last months but eventually...well we all know the story...

As I am getting older I've committed to becoming that health conscious person I've always wanted to be...it's a huge mountain to climb but I am determined!!!

All this to say I've always wanted to be a runner...Hmmmmm...I never thought it would be easy...and I was right...my VERY athletic and health conscious sister Erin came to visit me this weekend and I told her about my running dream and her being the runner that she is was quick to give me beginner tips and tricks of the trade...she told me to start with a 1/4 mile nothing more and nothing less at least 4 x's a week and then increase a 1/4 mile every week until I'm up to 3 miles a day...so I said "a 1/4 mile that's just embarrassing. I'll have to do it when nobody in my neighborhood will see me so they aren't wondering what I'm doing running a 1/2 a block and walking back to my house"...anyway I started Monday..Me and Jack (my dog) I got out there started running and panting about a 1/2 a block into it...Jack did great pulling me along like a champ...I think the only thing that wasn't jiggling was my ankles but I kept on going...Erin was right!!! Just as I thought I was going to pass out and my lungs were going to collapse I was at the quarter mile...Jack was so disappointed!!!

I did it again today and I am sooooo sore I can hardly stand up....isn't that sad!!!

Well you gotta start some where!!!

Prayer of Thanks...

Thank you for the cross Lord...Thank You for the blood that You shed that now stands in my defense...Thank You for being willing to go through all of that so I could be free from a life of hopelessness...Thank You for loving me that much...

AI Eliminations...

I was not disappointed at all last night with the eliminations...I think America got it right!!!
What do you think?
Good bye...Asia'h, Danny, Luke and Kady

AI girls...

Lets give it up for Amanda Overmyer...and not just because she sang the song I dedicated to Darin in high school...Oh my gosh...who is going home tomorrow? What do you guys think?

A worship prayer

May I worship You with reckless abandon. Fill me with who You are. May every word that passes my lips bring glory to You . Fill my cup with the over flow of Your presence. You are more than I could ever ask for. You fill this earth with beauty...You are Creator. Every day that passes is because You allow it. I stand in the midst of Your presence and I cant believe You take the time to see me... You are Way Maker, Great Provider, I am, Peace Giver...I love You, I am in love with You...You are in love with me...

AI guys....

Well...I just watched American idol today...thank God for tevo...I'm with Paula...i think the guys did a great job last night but I do have a favorite....Michael Johns...so was anyone else surprised at what his wife looked like...yes caddie I know...Hmmmmmm
Can't wait to see the girls tonight....