Change is in the air

You are reading about the new Enterprise Systems Analyst at BYU Idaho!

My friend Peter Stilling called me about 3 weeks ago and told me that he was being deployed to Iraq with the Military. He asked me if I  would consider taking his job. WOW! This came from out of nowhere and I had to take some time to process the news. I love working for AMX! They have been so good to me, I plan on working for them part time in the evenings and on the weekends to keep things rolling smooth.  I am excited for the change but nervous at the same time.

Jodi and I decided to fast and pray about it and both felt like this is the new direction for us to take right now. It is a leap of faith and will not only be an adjustment monetarily but also asks me to give up the flexibility which we have all really liked. 🙂

I am grateful to know as we trust in the Lord he will direct our paths.

Comments:

Mom and Dad said…

Do your best and you will always progress. You are a great person.
Friday, May 13, 2011 11:10:04 AM

Stacie said…

congratulations! Good Luci with it all!
Sunday, May 15, 2011 10:31:41 PM

No Go

I went out shopping in the metropolis of Rexburg. While my usual store to visit is Walmart, I remembered a cute navy blue vest JT's size on a rare visit I made to Kmart a month ago. I decided to go pick it up because it would match the new bow tie I had just made for JT. As I was walking through the aisles of Kmart I noticed a rack of ties in the men's section with the sign 30% off. I strolled by and found 2 acceptable ties that would work for Mason and Stephen. I thought of the comment Stephen made when I showed him the fabric I had used to cut out the ties for him and Mason with – he said, "those are bright." I was nervous that they would feel too "noticed" in the ties I was about to create, and when I saw these ties and the price of $6.99 next to them, it sealed the deal. It would be No Go for the home made Easter ties this year! I still plan on making the "bright" ties up for the future, maybe Mason will be brave enough to wear them both?!

Comments:

Steve Baldwin said…

Great pictures! Great Family! Thanks.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 9:26:40 AM

Ri Ri said…

you have a cute family
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:19:45 PM

Magan said…

Cute kids! The dresses turned out so cute. My favorite is Lily’s.
Sunday, May 01, 2011 7:56:30 PM

The Untraditional Easter

This year I "uncharacteristically" became the [nice?] scrooge of Easter. I mean I'm usually all for complicating and specializing in holiday celebrations! Go big or go home is usually my mentality. It isn't that I was trying to make some sort of official point of rebellion against commercialism. I just wasn't gravitating toward it this year for some reason. I am pretty sure it was a bit of let down to my younger three children who have been pumped up at school and in every store they visit. I provided no coloring Easter eggs, no Easter candy, and no Easter basket. I told them I even asked the Easter bunny not to stop at our house this year! WHAT?! Lily thinks I am insane…she really just wanted his autograph. Only a new Easter Church outfit from me and a delicious Easter dinner provided by the famous Grandma Parker were the physical evidence that Easter came and went. (Oh, I forgot that we went to the Sugar City Easter Egg hunt with grocery sacks in hand so that JT, Olivia, and Lily could feel festive)

What happened on the inside though, I wonder? My children and husband were very supportive and "got" what I was doing without complaining or feeling left out of the Easter social circle so to speak. Just goes to show that once in a while – it is refreshing to be simple and stick with the basics. I hope their thoughts were able to be directed to the miraculous and awesome gift that our Heavenly Father and Brother Jesus Christ allow for us: the opportunity to be able to live with them and our loved ones forever! As for me: "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, confused at His grace that so fully he proffers me….I know that my Redeemer Lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives."

Comments:

Stephen said…

It really was nice to be focused on the real reason to celebrate.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 8:25:31 AM

Michelle said…

Good for you-it is easy to get caught up in the fluff! I love the dresses-super cute!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 1:06:47 PM

My Exciting Project for the day

I've been wondering what I could do for the boys at my house to give them a little piece of me for Easter. I have almost finished making all of my girl's something special so my focus is shifting to da boyz. You can imagine my delight when I came across this pattern for ties! And it is free!!!! Here is the link in case anyone else has a hankering to make a tie.

http://www.purlbee.com/fathers-day-ties/2009/5/21/mollys-sketchbook-fathers-day-tie.html?printerFriendly=true

Getting Older

I'm finding out that the older I get the better I can understand/learn certain aspects of this mortal existence; yet on the other hand, with that understanding, I discover just how much more there is to know – and so it goes.

Comments:

Ri Ri said…

I am so grateful for time. We all have it, so use it wisely.
Saturday, April 16, 2011 10:46:02 PM

Stacie said…

That is exactly what I am going to look like at 90!
Saturday, April 16, 2011 10:54:14 PM

Spring Break?

I am kind of done with everyone complaining about the weather. It feels like it's been the same conversation for 3 months! BUT really, today is spring break and we woke up to a blanket of snow all over our yard. I guess to look at the glass half full I could consider how green all of this "moisture" will make my grass? When spring actually springs we will appreciate it soo much more this year.  Happy Break to us all. 🙂

One of a Kind

Stephen and I often refer to our third child, Lily, as "one of a kind", and she is in so many ways! Today I have a story to prove one of those ways…

Last night as I tucked Lily into bed she showed me some coupons she had been making. They said things like, "will babysit for free", "will mow your lawn", "will vacuum your house". She wanted me to get the keys to the car and drive her around the neighborhood to drop off the coupons to all of our neighbors. I thought it was such a thoughtful gesture, but the hour was much too late. So I offered to help her make a flyer to take around today instead in hopes of a deferment. She went for it!

When she woke up, the first thing she reminded me was of making the flyer. When she got home from school, some of the first words out of her mouth were, "can we make the flyer now?" I put her off long enough to finish a project and she was so helpful with JT and Olivia so I could hurry faster. Finally at 5 o'clock this evening we sat down to the computer and made up this flyer. She was soooo excited to make her list of the people she wanted to take it to. I drover her around and she delivered the flyer to 7 lucky recipient's doors all by herself and with a smile. As she walked to the doors I was silently praying in my heart that someone will really take her up on her offer someday, because it would mean so much to her. Right before bed was her/my payoff. A call came in while we were saying family prayer. Stephen played the message out loud after the prayer.  A very sweet and kind man (Uncle Trevin's dad) left her the perfect message saying how kind and thoughtful Lily was and that he was sure he would need help later and he would give her a call. As I noticed Lily's satisfied face, my heart felt joy for Lily.  She loves to serve as much as her dad. She has also uncovered the secret of service at a young age- that when you willingly serve you are rewarded with as good a feeling as the person you serve.

She really is one of a kind. I learn a lot from Lily's thoughtfulness and caring nature and am humbled to be her mother.

Ride Across America


I wore my Red Rider Jersey, since I did get low on the 100 miler it was a perfect fit.

5 Months

17 Seasons

238 Episodes of The Amazing Race (from season 1 to 17)

2,510 Miles all while riding on your trainer

Stephen Parker you are the official winner of the Ride Across America on your trainer  "Parker style". I think I have been watching the amazing race too much.  What a feeling.  What a relief at the same time.  I was over 300 miles away from my goal at the start of the week, I had set a goal back in November to finish this challenge before April 1.  I was right on track until our little Moab excursion, I just lost my fire I guess after taking a couple days off in Moab.

For some wild reason I thought I could just ride morning and night to achieve this goal, 25 in the morning 50 at night.  I did just that though, I cranked it out so to speak :-), then tonight I rode 100 miles straight to finish the race.  It was not easy but I can sure tell you now it was sure a good feeling.

The only draw back is now that the real season is starting up I am out of steam.  I may have to take a few weeks off then find a new challenge.  I would like to try and get into the LatoJa this year, I have been trying the last few years but not getting the lottery draw yet.  Maybe this will be the lucky year.

Comments:

Anne said…

That is awesome Stephen! Way to conquer your goal!
Monday, April 11, 2011 8:46:42 PM

Magan said…

How are you calculating your speed? Are you measuring it off your back tire? I can’t seem to get a accurate speed when I sub track the resistance, I can never go as fast on the trainer as I can on the road.
32 MPH is Tour speed, quite a number to sustain for 100 miles. Good Job.
Sunday, April 17, 2011 3:25:03 PM

Stephen said…

I have it hooked to my back tire, I have a magnetic trainer not a fluid one so the resistance is not as accurate, I can’t maintain those speed on the road more like 25 on the road with the wind resistance.
Monday, April 18, 2011 9:04:26 AM

Jodi said…

Impressive to me either way- I can’t even imagine riding that far chained to the same place for that many miles!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011 7:53:39 AM

Tell all of your friends & mark your calendars!

Stephen has a goal to recruit 100 riders to cycle in the AMA Challenge this year – his goal is to raise at least $1000. I am helping with publicity and most of the time word of mouth works the best. So please put some of these words in your mouth when you are talking to fellow bike riders. It is a great ride for a scout working on a merit badge too….