Author: Stephen Parker

Woke up this morning to January 1st. Mason said, “we only had 1 day of summer and now it is winter again.” At least we can have a snowball fight.

Comments:

John said…

Wild Days in Rexburg! At least you can save on lawn mowing time and enjoy the thrill of a snowball hitting your ear.
Thursday, May 01, 2008 5:28:08 PM

Stacie said…

I was shocked to say the least! But the afternoon was nice ey!
Friday, May 02, 2008 8:47:34 AM

Mom and Dad said…

The people here are amazed and feel pity for us. We live here at 90′ above sea level about the same latitude as San Francisco. Don’t put away the winter coats yet.
Friday, May 02, 2008 1:06:17 PM

jana said…

I was amazed myself to wake up and go walking in a snow storm!
Friday, May 02, 2008 9:11:46 PM

We are moving to the new domain name, www.stephensparker.com/wp seemed to be the most liked by all and easy to remember as well. Please update your Favorites/Bookmarks to use www.stephensparker.com/wp from now on…Let me know if you have any questions.

Comments:

Anne said…

Thanks for all the work you put in to this. I am trying to remember how to set it as the page that comes up when you go to the internet, sorry, I forget things quickly. Also, I was wondering if there is a way for me to make a column like the months but for my races, quilts. Is this way to much to figure out? Thanks!
Monday, April 28, 2008 9:40:38 AM

jana said…

Sounds good! I like the name you chose. Thanks for your hard work to keep us connected!
Monday, April 28, 2008 10:18:02 PM

I need feedback on what name we should use for the Bruce and Sharon Parker family website. Please leave your comments on what you prefer….there is a company in Denmark that wants to purchase ssptech.com really bad and it is not the best fit anyhow so we need to get a new name…

stephensparker.com/wp
Jbpclan.com
Brucensharon.com
Islandparkers.com

or any others you may like better that are available.

Comments:

Jana said…

I think that you are on a roll with all of those names! They all sound great.
Friday, April 25, 2008 4:21:59 PM

Mom and Dad Parker said…

Flip a coin and then choose the one you want. They’re all good. Mom likes parkerfamily more than a “Sharonbruce” thing.
Sunday, April 27, 2008 7:44:18 AM

I couldn’t help but notice that yesterday Derek was out plowing his fields in preparation for planting. As I drove to work this morning I noticed he was getting his grain drill all hooked up ready to plant. Then later today I look outside to see a snow storm. What ever happened to “April showers bring May flowers” I always thought that meant rain showers. Crazy weather around here.

Comments:

Dad and Mom Parker said…

Rain or snow it all makes water for the ground, but we’re sure you must be getting tired of snow. But you do know it will melt now, so that’s good.
Thursday, April 24, 2008 3:07:24 PM

Anne said…

Yeah…we have had sun, rain, and snow today! Crazy weather here to!
Thursday, April 24, 2008 4:24:59 PM

Jana said…

I was thinking that it was November 24th this morning I had to double check my calendar… sure is crazy weather, but I guess it will all pay off in the end. I love them Taters!!
Thursday, April 24, 2008 7:14:48 PM

Steph said…

We had a hail storm yesterday. I guess the weather is crazy everywhere. It has affected the price of wheat and rice too. We have been warned for a long time to get prepared and now it is time to be tested. We are going to plant our garden this weekend rain, shine, hail, snow. Hopefully it will be better weather then what you are having. Enjoy your warm house!
Friday, April 25, 2008 9:09:48 AM

I was asked last week by Gwen Lee to change from the early morning shift at the recommend desk to the Baptistery. What an upgrade!!! I loved greeting people, but this takes things to a whole new level. It is such a fun place to work when everyone there is there because they sacrificed to be there. Definitely a highlight for the week. I am just so thankful to be able to be a part of the great plan.

Comments:

Anne said…

So neat! I am glad you have the opportunity!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 4:08:22 PM

Jana said…

That is really cool maybe next time our youth comes to do baptisms well see you!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 8:25:04 AM

Steph said…

Pretty good gig. What is Gwen Lee’s calling? I hope you are there in a year when all the girls can go to the Temple.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:30:57 AM

Dad and Mom said…

That’s so cool. The Orr’s (Dad’s cousin) wrote us from the Ukraine, they said it’s a week long event to go to the temple for people in the Ukraine. They travel by bus for 3 days and do as many sessions as they can in one day and get back on the bus and travel 3 days back home. We are so blessed to have a temple so close. It doesn’t seem like much of a sacrafice fro us. But what a great place to be able to be. Proud of you!!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 10:56:28 AM

John said…

Great work. Keep on building the kingdom. You are blessing both the dead and the living. We all need each other to make it. You will be all tuned up for Lily’s baptism in a few years.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 1:31:39 PM

Stephen said…

Steph, Gwen Lee is a secretary to the Temple President so she is right up there…
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 5:21:37 PM

Steph said…

Cool!
Friday, April 18, 2008 10:01:49 AM

Tonight I taught the priests in our ward about networking. I was surprised that out of 5 boys none of them had ever heard of a packet, frame, TCP, UDP, port, patch cable, switch, or even a hub. I thought that was common knowledge for the youth of today :-), I guess I was wrong. Those are words I use around the house all the time so my kids are familiar with them. I guess I am more of a nerd than I thought I was…Just so you know a packet is a basically a bunch of bits with a header payload and trailer…they are what travel across the internet with great speed.

Comments:

Dad said…

I’ve heard of a cable and a switch and a hub. I even changed a few of each of these with you in houses and cars. The ICU and UPT are less understood especially for us old guys.
Thursday, April 10, 2008 4:19:20 AM

John said…

Do the Chickens have large talons??? I didn’t understand a word that kid just said.
Thursday, April 10, 2008 2:47:41 PM

Anne said…

I’m am with your scouts. Thanks for letting us in on some new lingo. You learn something new everyday!
Friday, April 11, 2008 8:21:34 AM

jana said…

You are pretty white and nerdy, but your still my brother! I love you and your willingness to teach us about technology!
Friday, April 11, 2008 10:18:39 AM

Paulo said…

Cmo? No te comprendo! Hablas espaol?
Saturday, April 12, 2008 9:49:07 AM

Yesterday we decided to build a bike rack so we would have a place for all of our bikes. Our kids wanted to do what John does with his kids during conference. We have been at their home on many conference weekends and he always makes a fun project for the kids. As I was rounding up all my welding tools so we could weld it, I couldn’t find my welding helmet. I asked Jodi to run over to Dad’s and grab his while I get things all in place. I remembered that when I was younger I would weld sometimes without a helmet. With this in mind I proceeded to weld the frame work together. I noticed I couldn’t see for a minute after I finished but thought it will go away with time. I didn’t realize how much welding I had done until Jodi arrived with the helmet (she ended up having to get it from Dad’s new shop since it was packed up).

I placed the helmet on and finished the rack. As usual I was trying to do too much in too little time. I ended up running into the house and changing my clothes in order to make it to Priesthood mtg. I noticed at the mtg my eyes starting to hurt a little but thought it was just from the smoke from welding the galvanized steel on the rack.

As I went to bed my eyes started to hurt even more so I flushed them with Saline and went to bed. Wow was I in for a night. As soon as I closed my eyes to go to sleep it felt like I had a pound of sand in my eyes just grinding with every eye movement. I got up and flushed them again and tried to sleep, but nothing helped. I took some Ibuprofen to see if that would help, but it didn’t seem to do anything. Eventually I was able to hold my eyes with my hands and was able to get to sleep…but that didn’t last long. I woke again around 1 AM because of one of my frequent night sweats. I felt like I was laying in a bath tub it was so wet. As I opened my eyes to flush them again I thought they had been glued shut with super glue, the burning felt the same as when you get the fumes of super glue in your eyes. They hurt 10x worse than when I went to bed only now they hurt when my eyes were open or shut. I flushed them for about 20 minutes but they still just burned.

At 2:30 AM I decided a shower may help them, so I showered for about 45 minutes. They still hurt, but I just forced them shut and let them drip with the flushing of my tears. I kept thinking of the words to the song, “One heart in the right place”, “There’s no telling how much the sunrise means, to the one who had a terrible night” that was me for sure. The morning finally came. I think that was the worst pain I have yet to experience.

Education is not cheap – I learned my lesson! Sure you can weld without a helmet but you will pay the price. The delayed effect is what gets you, I thought I was fine but the damage had been done.

Facts:
Arc Burn – A burn resulting from brief exposure to intense radiation.

Symptoms tend to occur a number of hours after exposure and typically resolve spontaneously within 36 hours. The sensation has been described as having sand poured into the eyes.

Comments:

Jana said…

Man you are the same big brother I grew up with too impatient for the right equipment! Glad you are feeling well again. I bet the bike rack looks great!
Sunday, April 06, 2008 3:12:37 PM

John said…

There are two ways to learn. Thanks for saving us some future pain. I am glad you are doing the conference tradition. We actually did not do anything this year. I did repair the tether ball and air up some balls but we had a pretty mellow year in terms of projects. Take care of the eyes. You only get one set and there are some pretty cool things to look at out there.
Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:48:58 PM

Anne said…

OUCH! I hope you get some sleep tonight, sounds rough. Next time use a helmet!
Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:49:14 PM

Lance said…

Sounds like fun I feel you’re pain I had to have metal that was melted into my eye remove 3 times now. Twice they had to drill the rust out of my pupil. You would think I would learn my lesson. It felt very similar. Not very fun take it easy. Hope you start to feel better.
Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:50:05 PM

Dad said…

When you arc weld without a helmet, keep your eyes closed. Hope you haven’t done any permenant damage.
take good care of your body, it’s the only one you get.
Monday, April 07, 2008 2:32:28 AM

Steph said…

I know what it is like to have night sweats, take 400mg of vitamin E around 6 pm and it will help, that is what Dr. Barton told me and it works. As for your eyes, be careful with them, I had fluids build up under my cornia this weekend and it was a scary thing to think about loosing sight. Take better care of yourself so we can have a healthy, fun, Stephen for a long time. Love ya!
Monday, April 07, 2008 9:53:47 AM

Aunt Susan said…

Do you bowl and are your hands and feet about grandpa’s size? If so, have I got a deal for you.
motaba20@msn.com
Monday, April 07, 2008 12:36:05 PM

Stacie said…

Crazy boy! take care of your body. God only gave you one to take care of! I glad for Jodi that you have a place for your bikes though!
Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:50:02 AM

Mason and I spent some quality time under the hood today. It was such a fun time to share with Mason teaching him what an Oil filter was, and how to remove the drain plug without getting oil on your hands. He topped off the wiper fluids in all the cars while I changed the transmission fluid in the van. We later serviced the tractor, he learned what a grease zirk was for and he is getting pretty quick with the wrenches too. He reminds me a lot of me when I was his age, takes a little nudging to get him out there but once he is there he is on the job. He sure loved the creeper too.

That covers some of what dad taught. Now for Mom, tonight we planted the starts for our garden this summer. Alexis and Lily are going to try their luck with watermelon. I am just excited to get some tomato’s and jalapenos for making fresh salsa. We planted 72 starts of all kinds of good stuff. It was fun to feel the spirit of Mom as we planted these tender little seeds. She taught us so much about little things that become great later on. Thanks Mom and Dad.

Comments:

Mom and Dad Parker said…

Thanks for passing on only the good stuff. Children are such great work and play companions. There’s something special about covenant relationships.
Sunday, March 30, 2008 11:26:13 AM

Jodi said…

I am glad you have good parents that taught you so much, what a blessing! Thanks Bruce and Sharon…
Monday, March 31, 2008 2:27:05 PM

Anne said…

Sounds like some good times with the kids! Enjoy every moment…the best way to endure to the end is to enjoy to the end!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008 10:00:41 AM

Jana said…

Very cool, way to pass the torch along…I am a bit nervous about the garden bit we have never really had much luck with those so hopefully mom’s got the soil up in her spot all seasoned so we will have an abundant crop this year so the kids can learn to work too.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:44:02 AM

Tonight I was touched by the kindness of my good children. Lily was on the couch feeling a little under the weather with the chills. I asked Alexis if she could use her warm red blanket and that started the chain. She gave her that blanket and then went looking for another, when Mason saw the need he immediately grabbed his blanket that he was using and gave it to her. Olivia then grabbed her blanket and offered it to her. Before we knew it she had about 5 blankets on her. Kindness really does matter and was shown tonight. Thank you Alexis, Mason, and Olivia. This was a tender mercy moment for me.

I was impressed with how well Alexis, Mason, and Lily worked tonight. We had to pack our food storage out of the cold storage area to the storage room. It was getting too damp and cold in the cold storage. They setup a chain to pack the 25 and 50 lb bags of wheat, rice, beans, and oats. In all we packed over 2000lbs of food in just a short time. Great Job kids.

Comments:

Stacie said…

Way to go kids! Take care of that wheat its piceless you know!
Monday, March 24, 2008 10:31:32 PM

Jana said…

Wowzer you kids are strong! Way to work em. We know were to get some goods when we run out!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:39:13 AM

lily parker said…

thank you dad you are the best!! i want to hlp you
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 10:26:42 AM

Anne said…

Looks like some great team effort! Keep up the good work!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:22:34 PM

Dad said…

Lily you are the best 6 year old helper in our family thank you.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:29:51 PM