The Day after Christmas

Christmas Morning, 2012

Excited kids ready to open presents!



Cute polka dots from Nani!

Drinking his coffee from his Christmas mug from Josh

Flakes-Jonathan's 10 seconds of fame!

Here's the video from Jonathan's play, FLAKES! Sorry for the poor quality, but you should be able to see it somewhat. Jonathan is in the bottom row, far right. He did great-I was a proud Mama!

If You Build It...phase 3

Well, here it is! The weather cooperated today and I was able to put the finishing touches on the snow plow. Tomorrow I deliver it to the school for rehearsal and Friday is the big day! (Oh, and HALLELUJAH it fits in my car!!)

If You Build It (Phase II)

OK, so I have been procrastinating on this snow plow project, but tonight I got some inspiration and got working again. If you missed "Phase I" click here. This is what it looks like now.

 

 

It still needs some fine tuning, and a coat of paint, but I think it is coming along! Jonathan was excited to get in and try it out. Thankfully he only has to make one "drive" across the stage because I'm not too sure how long this will last. So far, so good.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Hand made

Josh's art class made Christmas ornaments out of glass. This is so beautiful that it will probably end up as a sun catcher in my kitchen window after Christmas!

If you build it...

Jonathan hopped off the school bus and ran down the driveway to the house. He handed me a letter from his teacher and breezed by me to get a snack. I opened it and began to read,

"Dear Mrs. Parra,".

Now the last letter that started this was was letting me know that Jonathan had been misbehaving on the bus so I moved to the sofa to sit down and continued reading aloud.

"I have selected Jonathan to be the snow plow for this year's Christmas production of Flakes. Since you did such a nice job on Jonathan's costume last year for the production, I thought you might be up for this challenge."

I put the paper down to look at Jonathan, who was washing down his devoured peanut butter sandwich with milk.

"Jonathan?" I started, "I thought you were going to be a snowflake? I already bought your costume!" I said, hoping to find a loop hole out of this seemingly monstrosity of a project. His smile disappeared after hearing my words. "OK" he said.

I often refer to Jonathan as my "outside-of-the-box child". Nothing is ever simple with him. He is constantly thinking of a different way to do what I have asked of him. To a black and white gal like me, it can be very frustrating at times.  Yet, he has such a sweet heart and usually sees that I get frustrated and changes what he is doing. Then I try to remember that scripture in Proverbs that says,

"Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it." (amplified version).

It's a tough balancing act not squelching his unique spirit. I have to admit that sometimes I am not patient, and I just want it done my way.

"Do you really want to be a snowplow?" I asked half heartedly?

"YES!" he declared emphatically.

How do I say no to that?? Well, I didn't. So the project has begun.

Last night, I went to Lowe's to pick up some boxes they had saved for me. (Thanks Paula at Lowe's on Clemson Blvd in Anderson for making a little boy's wish come true!) The boxes were huge, so with the help of a nice employee, we broke them down so they could fit in my SUV. It was a tight squeeze, but thankfully they all fit.

This morning, while brainstorming about how to tackle this project, I did what any smart, non-crafty mom would do...I googled how to make a snow plow out of cardboard! (What did non-creative people like me do before Google? (They probably made their son be a snowflake! Haha.) Anyway, I have a plan...and it's going to require lots of duct tape, but I think it will work! Here's phase 1, with the help of my lovely assistant. I have a long way to go, and only two weeks in which to do it, but to see Jonathan's smiling face plowing snow on stage will be all worth it!



Do not adjust your screen, our Christmas tree is crooked! :) It has character!
 




December 2012

Is it really possible that it's December already? Where does the time go? Is it also possible that our oldest son is about to turn 11 in January? Five more inches and he catches up with Luis and I in height...I am enjoying this season in time. We are almost out of the diaper era (10 years straight and counting!) It's such a joy watching the kids grow and become who they were destined to be. Parenting isn't for sissies, but it's the greatest labor of love there is!

Happy Thanksgiving to Nani from Jonathan!

My sweet girl...

Well, we have said goodbye to soccer for another season. Here are a few snapshots of Jonathan...unfortunately none of Josh this season, although he played really well!

Dad and I, 2008

Papa and Nani with Lily Nov. 2009

My Parents on our Wedding Day 1996
 

Dad and I, 1996
 

Act 1, Scene 1

The stage is set, the lights are dim. Your whole life has been merely a dress rehearsal for that which is to come . As you pass from this moment to the next, as you exchange the seen for the unseen, the temporal for the eternal, know that my heart aches with each thought of your absence, yet somehow swells with the hope of knowing that you will finally be home. An unexplainable peace rises from the depths of sorrow. A calm in the midst of despair. I take comfort in knowing that your last breath here will be your first, there, and the eternity that was set in your heart from before time ever was, is soon to be your reality. As the curtain falls cueing the next scene, I am overwhelmed with ovation. Bravo, my Dear, Sweet Father...Bravo.

 

Soccer season!

It's that time again! Look how happy Jonathan was after his first game of the season...he scored 2 goals and his team won 5-0! Way to go Bandits!

Almost 3!

School Days, School Days...

Here are the traditional first day of school pictures...Josh started 5th grade (his last year at the Elementary School, and Jonathan entered 2nd...his last at the primary). They were so excited that they set not one, but three different alarms so they would be sure to wake up on time for the bus that comes at the ungodly hour of 6:40am. 5am came around awful early but they were up, dressed and ready for breakfast before I even heard my first alarm...they were super excited!

Back to School Bash in Berea!

What an amazing day we had evangelizing to the Hispanic community in Greenville with our brothers and sisters from our church, Redemption World Outreach Center. Many children and adults joined our team from a local apartment complex for a day of face painting, dancing, devotionals and puppets. So many accepted Jesus in their hearts. This is just the beginning of greater things to come! Here are some snapshots from the day.

My sweet friend, Mary, from England, married to a man from Colombia, South America. It was so fantastic working alongside her today!

Josh and one of the residents of Hunter's Park battling a drinking contest! Josh won by a few sips only!

When we first arrived...excited to get started!!

Our friend Ron (background with hands raised) cheering on the boys team!

Yetter and Karina teaching the kids about Jesus!

Lily having her nails painted!

Josh, minutes before we were about to get started!

Jonathan and Matthew...great buds!

Just the girls tarp...take this times 2, and add in the parents....there were so many hearing the gospel today!!

Back to School

School supplies, new clothes and back to school haircuts...yup...it's almost time! Jonathan was mad I made him cut his hair...now he can't "flip it" like he likes to do. I reassured him it would grow to a flipping length in no time.

And here's some just plain Jon and Lily love!

Dog Days of Summer

It's August. It's hot. This is what the kids do every afternoon lately! Rough life...

And here's some cute shots from a recent birthday party with some friends from the Spanish church.