It only took 10 years!

While Christy was away exploring uncharted territory, we did our best to keep John and Jillian company! We made our first ever trip to Six Flags and visited Hurricane Harbor. Parker and Jillian had a blast despite waiting out a thunderstorm that gave a whole new meaning to the words water park! Getting ready for bed Saturday night, Parker declared that this his been the best day of his life! Thanks John and Jillian for a great day!

Happy Father's Day!

This picture is for you, Dad! After our last blog, he pointed out that I never put pictures of myself on the blog. I replied that there was a good reason for that! Thanks to the Gills for teaching in King's Kids today, I got to hear David preach which is always a treat. He gave a great Father's Day lesson. He had three main points of how Dads should let their children hear them: 1) Say you claim them, 2) Say you love them (using 1 Cor. 13 as the basis), and 3) Say you are proud of them. I got tears in my eyes as I thought about my dad who did and does all three of those things. I have never once doubted my father's love for me even when I have been a disappointment. Dad, there are so many things I appreciate about you. You have taught me that faith is found in the imperfect part of our lives, but made perfect through Christ. You give more than second chances. You are quick to laugh. You never meet a stranger. Throughout the whole time I was growing up, you demonstrated that you come to church to serve, not to be served. Thank you for being my dad! I love you! As I was listening to David preach, I also thought of how grateful I am for Tony. He too does a great job of letting Parker hear him. I know that Parker will never doubt his father's love. Happy Father's Day, honey! Finally, I thought of Pa. I like a lot of things about him, but one of the things I like best is how he listens to my grandma. I don't know where he got it from since he didn't grow up in that generation. But he always gives her his undivided attention and takes what she says seriously. Then if doesn't agree (which doesn't happen that often), he always finds a way to compromise so she feels heard. He always puts what she wants ahead of what he has wanted. I appreciate his example of unselfish love.
I can't end this blog without saying Happy 12th Anniversary, Tony! Here are 12 things I love about you - not in any particular order:

1. You are relaxing to be with.

2. You're a great father!

3. You're patient when it takes me 30 minutes to decide what I want for dinner.

4. You cook a lot.

5. We laugh at the same things.

6. You listen to my worries.

7. You will watch a chick flick with me and not complain.

8. You shop with me.

9. You love all kids.

10. Each year when I come home from school with a student to adopt, you always say "Let's do it!"

11. When we met, you didn't like to read at all. But now you read a lot!

12. You put God first and foremost.

Finally...Summer Vacation!

I start counting down to Summer Vacation right after Spring Break. But I spend my summer vacation counting up. Parker got a head start on summer vacation. On my last day of school, he started his very first swimming lessons. His favorite part was playing Simon Says in the water.
Next, we finished Spring Soccer on my fourth day of summer vacation. It's a good thing that we didn't keep score. Tony was a super coach despite our lack of talent, I mean our lack of experience. :)
Despite the forecast for storms and rain, we headed to the zoo on my sixth day of summer vacation. Parker loves dinos so he couldn't wait to go through the exhibit. It's a real bargain for Friends of the Zoo - only a $1.50 per person. Parker wanted to take a picture with every single dinosaur.
The T Rex (aka the Sharp Tooth for Land Before Time fans) made him a little nervous so Daddy braved the Sharp Tooth to gaurantee a picture with every dinosaur.
Parker spent a lot of time digging for dino bones while his daddy and I enjoyed a seat in the shade.

Parker got to yell "All Aboard" the zoo train! We shared a snow cone which Parker loved because he had the bluest tongue!

Even though I doubted that this was the best day to go to the zoo, Tony was right. When all the weather people are calling for rain in St. Louis, you're almost gauranteed no rain! It was a perfect day for the zoo!