Driving Into The Sunset

Beautiful Sunset
Crosses Everywhere

2007 to 2008 Christmas, Happy New Year

2007 Christmas in Gatlinburgh, TN
Christmas in Jonesborough, Tn
2008
From our house to yours,
we pray that 2009 is a very
good, healthy, prosperous year
for you and all your family.

MAY GOD'S BLESSINGS BE UPON
US ALL!!!!!!!!!

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

Greenwell Springs, Louisiana

Magnolia Leaves
Putting on the lights!
Ken, Kenny, Jason

Jason, Kim, Josie, Ryley
Bunnie and Brody

Bunnie, Kenny, Ryley and Wayne

Brody, Ken, Bunnie, Wayne, Whitney

Jason and Kim

Ken reading the Christmas Story

Brody, Wa, Josie, Wayne

Wayne watching the family play Apples to Apples

Bunnie, Whitney, Kenny, Wayne, Ken,

Ryley, Brody watching Tori play

Christmas Carols on the piano

Whitney and Wayne

Josie our little princess

Jason, Josie, Tori, Ryley

Mexican Christmas Eve with

Ken, Bunnie,Whitney, Kenny, Brody, Wayne

and Tori

Wayne and Wa opening presents from

the family

Wayne opening presents from the family

I WILL POST MORE PICTURES AS WE CONTINUE

TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD,

JESUS CHRIST. WE ARE INDEED

A VERY BLESSED FAMILY.

"THE BOOTIE POOZLES"

Dynel, Tena, Bunnie, Theresa, Denise
Tena, Theresa, Denise, Bunnie
Ron and Tena
Ken and Bunnie

Brittany and Denise

David, Ken, Ron, Bob

"TA DA"

I would like to introduce to my world

the famous Bootie Poozles of Johnson City,

Tennessee. At this moment they are the

only group to claim this name but only

becausethey have been able to keep it the best kept

secret ever. They are famous for giving

great dinner parties, slumber parties, shopping

sprees, birthday parties, but they like

to call themselves "The Accountability Group".

They support each other during the good and

the bad, ministering to each other and

praying for one another as situations

arise. God has blessed each one of

these families and they in turn bless

many others with their prayers, love and

gifts. All are wives and mothers, some are

even grandmothers, the best job in the

whole world.

This picture was taken at Bunnie's

house for Christmas of 2008. Wayne and I

were privileged to participate this year and

consider ourselves very blessed to have

been recognized by this group of ladies.

I don't know if we will be able to be with

this group again during this stay but we

surely did enjoy our time while we were

with them.

NO CABLE, ARE YOU KIDDING?

Kenny, Tori, Bunni

Waner and Brody Jason, Kim, Josie, Ryley

Jason, Wayne, Bunnie and Tori

Brody, Ryley, and Wa

Bunnie, Kenny, Ken, Tori, Wayne

Jason and Kim

FAMILY FUN

Well, you can tell by looking at this family picture

we are in Tennessee. It is so very different from

our quiet life in our little apartment. Both have

their advantages. ha ha It is just so much fun

when we get to Bunnie and Ken's and Jason

and Kim and their children come over. They have

all disconnected their cable and only watch

select movies so there is no sitting around

on the sofa watching ballgames or sitcoms.

We had just finished eating dinner and I was

checking my email in the kitchen and there

were some funny things so I shared them

with everyone. We had such fun just laughing

and talking and enjoying the kids.

When Wayne and I drove up that afternoon

on our way up here, we pulled into the driveway,

Brody came running out of the garage and

went straight to Wayne's side of the car

anxious to hug his neck. At first I was a

little disappointed but then I thought how

special that was. Brody has not known a

grandfather on any side of any family. He is from

Russia and adopted and Wayne is the only grandfather

figure that is in his life on any regular basis.

Right now Jason, Bunni and Wayne are

sitting at the breakfast table have a great

conversation laughing and just enjoying

sharing. My children have accepted Wayne

into their world with no reservations. I am

so very thankful for that and I appreciate the

love and respect they show him all the time.

I will send more pictures as time goes on.

Entertaining Strangers

Hebrews 13:2

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for

by doing, some have unwittingly entertained angels.

This has been a wonderful time of exchanging views on the

subject of "The Shack". Most people that have

read the book are moved by it whether they believe

God would actually do what this book says He

does. It is not specifically for those that have

lost a child. I believe it is for all people who have ever

experienced the feeling of whether God actually

does love us. And one might ask "How far will God

go to show us His love. "? Well, the bible is full

of examples not to mention the one about giving

His only begotten Son to die so that we might be saved

from our sins.

Below is another email I received from Jason. We have had

\some great conversations and for this I am so grateful.

I just wanted to share this last one on the Shack. Who knows

what topic we might cover next!

-

I would like to add to some of my previous emails. I have heard a lot of talk about the Shack and the characters the Trinity portrays. The reason I didn't have a problem with it, is for the simple fact that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have taken on different forms all throughout history. We have read of the descending DOVE, the wind blowing is a sign of the Holy Spirit, Jesus became man to save us, etc. Burning bush, cloud of fire or smoke. God seems to become whatever we need right as we need it. Since He is soo big, I believe He has to take on these different forms to show us He can't be put into a box. God is our King, our Lord......He also becomes our friend when we need one, body guard..etc Jesus, the King of Kings......also He is our savior, guiding light, hope, etc. Holy Spirit, the Helper that came after Jesus, ..... our comfort, our interpreter, spiritual connection to spirit world........you see where I am going with this. In the Shack, the black woman was there as the comforter, later He became the older Father figure because that is what the lead character needed at that moment. I just think it was a great visual, that GOD will be WHAT you NEED, WHEN you NEED it. And He knows what you need...... I also agree with Alma about He wants us to obey and worship Him,,,,, I just though it is easier to hear, obey, pray and worship, once you understand the love he has for us. Recently I have come to believe He loves me more than I had originally believed. That epiphany has made it possible for me to see that I don't NEED to worship him......I WANT TO!

Thanks for letting me share this with you. Jason

The Day The Lights Went Out

Painting by "WA"

Who would believe it snowed 5 inches in Baton Rouge, LA 2 days ago? I was born and raised here and never saw more than an ice storm. Biggest snowfall in 80 years so the experts are saying. During this beautiful snowfall our electricity went out for over 24 hours! So I had plenty of time on my hands to do not much. In a small apartment there just isn't that much to do to keep you busy. You can only take so many naps. he he he...........

The one thing I had been trying to accomplish was to finish reading the book "The Shack". I finally realized all this snow was just for me. God had to literally take everything away from me except that book and a flashlight! I would pick it up, read a page or two and lay it down. I had read enough to know sort of what was involved and I didn't want to go there.

For those of you that have been reading my blogs from the very beginning you may remember I started writing so that maybe in some way I would be able to remember some of my past. I had forgotten so much about Susanne and I wanted to remember. I knew that when I got into this book I would be taken back further than I wanted to go. Hard to explain this but it is the only way I can say it.

For those of you who have not read the book I will not give it away. It is a book well worth reading even if it is fiction. I had so many things to deal with while walking backwards into the past. I did not have a problem at all with the way God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit were portrayed. Why you may ask? Well, all my life I was taught that God was way way way up there, and I was to be fearful of Him, Jesus was not mentioned much and the Holy Spirit was never mentioned. I went to church 3 times a week, every week until I got married.

I believe the writer of this book chose his characters carefully, trying to stretch our imaginations to reach outside the box we keep our God in. I even saw the humor in the character he gave God. I think it was meant to touch all of us self-righteous, white, Christians and make us realize how we have made God into what we want Him to be, what we can accept and live with. We have limited God so much that He can barely walk outside our churches and bless anyone. We say "God can do this but God does not do that"...........

I know now why I have had to endure some of life's storms and heartaches and disappointments. When things are at it's worst is when I call out to God. If all the bills were paid, we had good jobs, everyone healthy, vacations were a reality, pretty home, nice car........wow. Who had time to remember to pray?

But the day my knees were knocked out from under me, I couldn't stand. All I could do is ask God "Why"!......? Why did YOU allow Susanne to die? I know she is with God and I thought I was over all the anger and other emotions that go with death. A lot of the questions I have been asking myself were dealt with in the book. Some still aren't answered. Even though this book is fiction I felt God talking to me. Sometimes God inspires writings, pictures, storms, people to get His point across.

God is real! God loves us just as Jason wrote earlier. God has my Susanne I know that. I will never know exactly how many people were touched by her death. Had she lived and I stayed on the same spiritual ground I was on I would be so lost in myself.

I finished this book at 12:30 AM Friday morning! Finally! I had finished it and remembered much more than I wanted to. I cried and cried, just remembering Susanne and how sweet she was and how much I missed her. Then I was okay! I could smile and thank God for bringing her back to me for a short period of time and helping me to heal what was still there.

AT 3:30 AM that same morning I woke up. Wide awake! Suddenly I began shaking uncontrollably! I have done this before but when I was praying. This will shock some of you but I can pray in tongues and that is when this would happen. I happened to be sleeping this time though and when I woke up I continued to shake for several minutes at a time. I started to get up so as not to disturb Wayne, but he was already awake and he asked me not to leave. This went on for about 30 minutes. I knew and I believe Wayne knew that this was the Holy Spirit telling me everything was going to be OK.

So you see! God is not in a box of any kind. He loves us and wants to spend time with us. It is ALL about HIM. Not us! Jesus died for us and wants us to remember that! The Holy Spirit loves us and wants to be with us ALL the time. They are Holy, they are ONE and they love us and care about what we are going through.

I started reading this book in June of this year, stopped in the middle of it and have fought to finish it for the past 2 weeks at the request of Jason. Bunnie had given it to me in the beginning and I just told her I could not finish it.

Susanne died May 24, 1985. Twenty-three years ago. I still miss her to this day but I would not call her back if I could. For whatever reason I have had to read this book and backtrack so far I really don't understand! I do know that my son has been brought to some great realizations of our Father in heaven, my daughter and son in law have read the book and been touched by it. God can use anything He chooses to touch HIS children and I can promise you that the devil is not going to use something that will turn you towards God. So for those that think this book is way out there I hope you will give this some thought and prayer and maybe your lights will go out so you can only look for God's light. His light shines through any darkness and shines brighter than any other and last forever!

<

Seeing Through God's Eyes

Kenny, Brody and Tori

Josie and Ryley

Kim and Bunnie

AS SEEN THROUGH GOD'S EYES

by Jason Parker

If you pray, pray to see with God's eyes. To see what He sees. This has changed the way everything looks to me.I have always considered pretty people to be pretty... just like the rest of the world. I have always thought a pretty sunset was pretty....just like everyone else thinks....you see where I am going with this. God sees what He has made, through His eyes. It is a totally different world to me. Even rainy days, and cold days, seem beautiful. But the people are what is the most different. I have always been a "nature" guy. I never really was a "people" guy.

-

My sister.... lets see if I can say this without offending her. She is more beautiful now than any other time in my life. God sees an absolute gorgeous woman, beautiful eyes, glowing hair, amazing smile, wonderful mother, great wife....etc. You probably see where I am going with this too. I always saw my big sister as a mother figure, always disappointed in me for my failures. I saw an uptight, semi-boring, rule follower. I still loved her.....she just wasn't GOD BEAUTIFUL. Now she is, and it makes me smile just to

think of her.

-

My wife...... I have been married almost 10 years. I haven't been the husband I should have been. I am blessed enough to have a wife that has given me time to get my act together....not that I have it ALL together, just that I am getting there. I thought of her as pretty, smart, and somewhat funny, when I met her. I always thought she was attractive on her good days...and the bad days....well, I still loved her.. ha ha... But really, I saw a good woman to marry........Now- I can't believe I have her. God sees an absolute brilliant woman who is very strong and independent. The perfect mother to the two perfect children God gave us. God showed me how lucky I am to have her and how much true MERCY I have in my life. God cares sooooooo very much about the little things in our life. If you can see what He sees, you realize that you deserve none of it. We don't deserve the breath that is in our body, or salvation. Back to my wife for one last thing.... Kimberly Sue Parker is the most beautiful woman in the world...... I miss her every time I

close my eyes.

-

I see my nieces and nephews in a different light now. . I always thought the tall one was pretty, the short one was cute, the littlest one as KID cute, etc...you know. Just like most people think of their relatives. Just being nice in most cases....But now, I see all this potential in every one of them. Kenny Jr. is and will continue to be great.... to be around, talk to, just in general. Tori, with one of the most beautiful names there ever was, Victoria Lynette, is stunningly beautiful, and she is still young. She has years left to show everyone how beautiful she is on the inside as well as on the outside. Brody is the pinnacle of what all men want to look like and what all women want to marry. Blonde hair, pretty eyes, great smile. He will be fine in life. Anyway, they just all seem to look different to me. All beautiful in God's eyes because he took special care and time to make each one of us to His exact specifications.

-

I love my family like I have never loved them before. If I have left anyone out, it is only because the reader of this is probably getting tired of me using the same words to describe everybody. This world, the animals, the people......God made us all for us all. We are to enjoy what He has given us, enjoy His presence in our everyday lives, enjoy friends, family, movies, and motorcycles........ha.......because He loves us so very much, He gave His Son, just to be with us. That is a love I finally have begun to see..... By the way, when you see what God sees, the mirror is not as scary as it used to be. Instead of seeing an overweight, long haired, needs to shave guy.....you see a child of God who is truly loved for being just who he is. Its great for the self esteem.

-

I have found out that by writing things out it just helps me to understand more clearly some of the things God is doing in my life. Mom has invited me to use her blog and share some of my thoughts with any of you that care to read this. She says that her writing helps her more than anyone and now I am beginning

to understand that.

-

I have not forgotten my other relatives that I feel so close to it is just that space is limited and I have to write all these thoughts down as I have time. So hopefully I will be adding to this again in the future. Thanks again for any of you that are reading this. It is a great thing to share with others what God is doing for you. later..............................

The Shack

"The Shack"

I am still trying to get through this book

"The Shack". It is a modern day version of

"Pilgrim's Progress" I think. It seems like every

time I decide I have a few minutes to read,

something comes up and the book gets

put aside again. I am wondering how many

of you have read this book or even heard

of it. Anyway if any of you have an opinion

of it please email me. I know people are

very careful about putting their name

to a blog with an opinion

even though I would love for others

to hear what some of you

think about things. But I would never

post your emailwithout

asking you first. And I have no way

of knowing who leaves a message

unless they choose to give

their name. I do have the privilege of

taking your comment off if it is not nice.

It doesn't have to agree with my line

of thought or faith, just let it

be kind. ha ha

I will post more as I read.

The Shack as Jason saw it!

Jason and Kim Parker

The Shack, just seemed to put into PLAIN ENGLISH what we have been told all our lives. God Loves US. Really. Anyone who has children should understand this principle. If your children do something wrong, you don't hate them, abandon them.....you still love them. If you have two children, can you decide which one would go to heaven and which one would go to hell? If you were the judge. NO, you couldn't. You want both of them to go to heaven...so if someone has to die to please the judge....the parent would do it for the sake of his children. This is what our Father did for us. A price needed to be paid so He could be with us. Before we were born, while we were sinners, Jesus died for us. Because of the JOY set before Him, He endured the cross. What JOY? The joy of knowing we could finally reach heaven and spend eternity with Him. He is soooo interested in our lives, He put everything on this earth and everything in this universe here just for us. He put mysteries in plants, animals, oceans, and the stars because He knew we would be a curious creature looking for adventure. How did He know that.....? Because we are made in his image....Their image. That's right...God in three Persons......The Trinity... How can you be three but one......We all are in a way...I am one man, but I am a husband, father, son, and a brother. One man- 4 persons. It is okay to pray and thank the Holy Spirit, Its okay to ask for Jesus's Love and ask God for Blessings. They are 3 in 1. So much wisdom and glory couldn't fit into one package could it......FOR NOW, ITS ALL I have GOT!

This is an email I received from my son, Jason, this morning.

I asked him if it was ok for me to share this with my friends on

my blog.

I hesitate to say too much about Jason but I can sum it

all up by saying he surely is special and I love him with all

my heart. Guys get a little embarrassed if mom's get too

carried away if you know what I mean.

I am in the process of reading the "Shack" again. I only got

half way through when I just stopped. I was so reminded

of Susanne so much and I just got bogged down in the

pain of losing her so I just closed the book. This was months

ago. Recently Jason called me and suggested I finish

the book. It had a great impact on him. So because of

Jason I am in the process of reading the book again and

I pray that I will be able to finish it. It is a different kind

of book. By Jason's recommendation I recommend it to

you. After I finish it I will write on it again. If any of

you have read the book and have something you would

like to add please send a comment. I believe Jason would

be interested in hearing others feelings after reading

the book.

HOW MUCH DO WE TRUST GOD

IN HARM'S WAY
REJECTED BY THE WORLD

ISAIAH 53

JESUS TRUSTED GOD WITH HIS LIFE

Jesus knew when He was carrying His cross on His back what was ahead

Him. He knew that in a short while He would be nailed to that cross to die.

He also knew His Father in Heaven. He trusted everything He had to the God of all, the Great "I AM" to fulfill his Word that had been prophesied for ages. He knew that God's Word was truth. He knew that He would be resurrected in three days and be in Heaven with His Father alive and well.

I don't know how many of us, even though we know the story, the beginning and the end could right now say......"Ok Lord, I truly believe that if I give my life to these crazy people and let them nail me to the cross that I will be resurrected in 3 days and be with you in heaven. Bring it on!!!!"

We speak faith and trust and belief in our Lord Jesus Christ but do we really mean it. Are we willing to accept God's Will when something happens to change our plans. Did we pray enough to know that we have given it ALL to HIM, to do with as He pleases.? Did we pray at all or did we pray OUR will and not give God permission to change our plans if He so chose to do so?

Have you ever wanted something so bad so very bad that you just couldn't say...."Ok God this is how I want it to be but if You have other plans so be it".

Have you ever truly had to face the fact that you could not truly 100 percent turn your children over to God, truly trusting their fate into HIS hands? No one can possibly love my children like I do.!

I can understand this type of thinking because at one point in my life I truly believed that. I know something inside of me knew this was wrong thinking but I could not truly with all that was within me turn my children over to God. I knew I could handle things, I would watch them closer than anyone, I would protect them from everything or I would just make them stay home where I could have total control of everything they were involved in, I had given birth to them and no one could love them as much as I did.

I had to go through a very tough lesson to become a true believer in God being a great guardian for my children, or should I dare go so far as to say "FATHER" to my children A Spiritual FATHER. Now when I look back I cannot believe I was so narrow minded and stupid. Yep, stupid. God made my children, He just used me as human instrument to let His children come into this world. He chose to BLESS me with HIS blessing. How cool is that.

When Susanne died and left this world to be with her FATHER I was devastated. But through all the pain and heartache and loneliness and guilt and all the other emotions that go with this type of sorrow God showed me how much He not only loved Susanne but me also. I learned how to truly trust,

TRUST God with everything. Every breath I take is a blessing. As I watched my sister dying with cancer I saw how precious each breath was. As I watch the beautiful world God has given us to enjoy I am so thankful for my eyesight and pray for my brother's eyes to be healed from glaucoma. I am praying for an 8 month old baby right now who will go to the doctor in the morning to see if she will have to continue chemo or if her eye will be removed due to cancer.

So I know that God has my children Bunnie and Jason, and their mates, Ken and Kim and their children, Chris, Jessica, Whitney, Chase, Kenny, Tori,Brody, Ryley and Josie in HIS HAND and that no one will snatch them from HIM. I also have an extended family now since Wayne and I have married and together we TRUST GOD to hold onto Laura, Amy, and Jennifer and their mates, Brad, Shane and Blake, and their children, Chelsea, Chloe, Gabe, Andie, Reagen, Scott, Tyler and Tanner and little Rylea. Isaiah 54:13 says, "All your children shall be taught by the Lord and great shall be the peace of your children." AMEN

There are some really really big problems out there. Not to mention nuclear war, recession, global warming, famines, earthquakes, tornadoes, droughts, etc.........if we really , really think about it, how foolish are we to think we can change any of these things without Our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS. We have no choice than to TRUST HIM with everything. EVERYTHING...........

So, take a deep breath, give it all to GOD, throw HIM a big kiss and thank HIM for all HE has done for you and your family and loved ones and go to bed and get a good night's sleep. After all, tomorrow is another day...............to TRUST AND BELIEVE.......................

LOVE IS

I Corinthians 13

Love never fails...

Love suffers long and is kind,

Love does not envy;

Love does not parade itself;

Love is not puffed up;

Love does not behave rudely;

Love does not see its own;

Love is not provoked;

Love thinks no evil;

Love does not rejoice in iniquity;

Love rejoices in truth;

Love bears all things;

Love believes all things;

Love hopes all things;

Love endures all things;

Loves never fails;

When I was a child,I spoke as a child;

I understood as a child, I thought as a child;

but when I became a man, I put away childish things;

Abide in faith, hope, love, these three;

but the GREATEST of these is

LOVE!

I painted this on a chest for my grandson

several years ago. My intentions when

I took this picture was to write about all the

cute little things I have painted in the

last 5 years or so. This sweet lady took me

into her painting world and taught me

a little of what she knows.

It opened a whole new world up for me.

I was able topass hours of time by painting.

Then I started giving thingsto friends and family

that I had painted. Helped decorate

a few pieces of furniture etc for my

grandchildren's rooms.

This is the only picture I took of any of

my painted pieces. And as I looked

at it I was so reminded that

this scripture says it all. We must

love.......without love nothing

else matters.

Love is the GREATEST...

Thank you Tena for all the time, energy,

paint, brushes, paint books and advice

you gave to me. It opened a whole

new world up for me. I pray

that God will heal your

hands and that you will be

able to start painting again.

I am trying to teach my little

Tori and Ryley everything

I know about painting................

pass the baton thing ya know.

Love is a mighty great tool to use

when trying to reach people

in the name of the Lord.