Be Still?

I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. Everything looks and seems normal about life, but nothing really is. I'm terrified this feeling I have is the calm before the storm. Through these last few days of chaos and trying to digest what just happened to our family, I keep hearing God tell me to "be still." Really God, be still? Anyone who knows me at all knows that being still is not one of my strengths. I would sweep the sidewalk if there wasn't anything else to do. So, I'm trying to obey. I'm sincerely doing my best to let my heart and spirit be still. It's so hard when all I want to do is fix this mess. Again and again I am abruptly reminded that there isn't anything I can do to fix this. However, God can (and will!) and my job is to stay out of the way. I shared these thoughts with Donald and headed to work. When I got in the car, Chris Tomlin's song I Lift My Hands came on. If I had to sum up the message of the song it's this: Be still and let faith arise. Had I any doubts God could speak directly through music, they would be gone. God reminded me today that He is right beside me every second of every day and will sustain us through this trial of our life. Being scared and terrified isn't acting out faith. So these next few days I'm going to keep focusing on being still and using this time to let my faith grow. This makes me nervous because I don't think God would tell me to grow my faith in Him if I wasn't about to need it. However, I can honestly say I'm excited to see God show off in our life. And I'm even more excited to give Him ALL the glory for it.

Prayers for The Parrs Please

Dear friends,

I am earnestly asking for your prayers for our family. Inspiration is lacking for eloquent words and there's really no great way to share this. So, I'll keep it short and sweet. Thursday we received news that Donald's company was "restructuring" and as a result, he was laid off. Friday I received news that the bookstore where I work part time is closing, effective August 13th. In a matter of 48 hours, we have become one of the unemployed families the news reports on so much. We have some pretty major plans and decisions to make & a pretty short time frame to make them. The only way I can imagine surviving the next few weeks with any sort of sanity left is to ask my friends to lift our family up to the only One who can make sense of this mess now called our life: our Jesus.

Miss Independence

After bath one night, Donald and I were debating over who was going to blow Coco's hair dry. While were each trying to persuade the other to do it, we suddenly hear the blow dryer turn on. We just looked at each other and laughed. Our little Miss Independence strikes again and puts us in our place. See that beaming look of pride on her face??

My girls

Oh my, how my heart was full this weekend. "My girls" came to see me!!! We had a weekend jam packed full of nothing and it was wonderful. Shopping, dining and sun bathing with 3 of the best women in the world! Laura summed our relationships up perfectly when she said, "I love how we can be so honest with one another." Friendships like ours are rare & I will cherish these ladies forever!

A pretty cute picture considering Laura is both in it and the photographer.

Chillin' by the pool

Side "ponies!"

Coco LOVED brushing & playing with Audra & Kasey's hair. She LOVED having the girls here.

Kasey quickly gained "aunt" status and has since even had a baby doll named after her.

More hair fun

Going to dinner & a movie

This is the dinner where Laura & I were (thanks to Kasey!) BUSTED for stealing pens.

Mayyaka River State Park

On July 4th, we took advantage of the beautiful sunshine and took a trip to Mayyaka River State Park to take an air boat ride and walk the Canopy Walkway. Not exactly my dream location to visit but we all had a great time and had a few personal discoveries as well. 1. Coco learned she doesn't like to sweat and even shared with Aunt Jaime that "it isn't pretty." 2. I learned that taking a nerve pill before going on a (hot & boring) boat ride leads to an extreme desire to nap. 3. Jaime learned that while she LOVES hiking and spending time on nature trails, her children do not share her enthusiasm.

Jaime & her babes at the top of the Canopy Walkway - 74 feet high!

KK & Jillian catching a cat nap on the air boat.

Daddy & Sebastian swapping sugars.

One of the many alligators we saw on the boat ride. The crazy thing is that in the same waters we saw all these gators, we also saw several people kayking. A little too close for comfort for me!

A cute & quick pose by Aunt Jaime

Sebastian walking across the Canopy Walkway. No fear at all; he loved it!

What a Kodak moment! Look closely at Coco's face.

This was around the time she discovered she didn't really like to sweat.

That's my girl...

Donald adding the Parr Family to the carved up tree.

Cute kids!

Why I don't enjoy nature trails: Exhibit A

Handsome Parr dudes

Aunt Jaime & all the kiddos

Fish & Turtles

One of the first adventures we we went on during The Hunter Family's visit was to the library's pond to feed the fish & turtles. The kids & I have seen a small alligator on 2 previous visits so we had high hopes of seeing it again. Unfortunately, no gator sighting but we had loads of fun feeding the massive fish & turtles.

My Forever Friend

Two years and one month separates us in birth:

August 24 1977, September 24,1979

Nearly 180 degrees separates us in personality:

"Type Z", Type A

NOTHING will ever separate us from each other

I feel like I just put half my heart on the plane back to Tennessee. That other half is called my sister, Jaime. She inspires me in so many ways. She loves unconditionally, she accepts everyone for who they are and she has the biggest heart of anyone I know. Having her here for 3 weeks was so wonderful! It almost made Florida start to feel like home. One trip to the airport and I am snapped back to reality. She's headed home and quite frankly, I'm pretty jealous. When I got back in the van from the airport I noticed a card she left me. Since I have no words that could say it any better, I'll just let the card do it for me. This post is dedicated to you Jaime: my big sister, my family, my forever friend. I love you bunches!

What Is a Sister?

A sister is someone more special than words.

She is love mixed with friendship and a million favorite memories that will always last.

A sister is a hand within your hand enfolded with love and understanding.

She gives you a feeling that makes you wonder what you would ever do without her,

and no one is loved so dearly.

-Carey Martin