Huntsville Weekend

I had a successful first week on my new job. I loved it! The atmosphere was great. I got so much done, and some of my tasks are already being put into action! So after a great work week, we were excited to spend some time with my family in Huntsville.

Friday night we hung around my parents' house. We were outside playing and heard the ice cream truck. Parker got to purchase and eat his first Popsicle! Let me just say that prices have gone WAY UP! We paid $2 for a rocket popsicle! CRAZY!!! I remember when I could buy a rocket popsicle for under a $1. Oh well, he had a great time eating it and got it everywhere. We tried to get him to play in the sprinkler when he was finished, but he wasn't game for that!

Saturday morning we spent time around the house. Then we met for my dad's birthday celebration lunch at Red Robin which is located at Bridge Street. We had a great lunch with the entire family (minus Brant because he had to work at the fire station). Lunch was yummy and my dad had the opportunity to turn red as they sang happy birthday to him. I must say I love their food and the entire atmosphere. Plus if you have kids, they can be as loud as the like! Me, my mom and my sister pitched in and bought my dad a GPS for his father's day/birthday. Too bad he can't find my address on there!

Papa with his grandkids - Dakota, Gavin & Parker

After lunch we walked through Bridge Street and let the kids play in their "mini water park". I guess you could say this is Bridge Street's version of Gardendale's Splash Pad! Parker was a little unsure at first, but then he warmed up to it...with the help of Dakota and Gavin!

Parker Enjoying The Water!

Dakota Teaching Parker What To Do!

Dakota and Gavin

Saturday afternoon we had to go to Athens to pick up Briella, Braxton's sister, and take her to her parents' house. Then we rushed into Birmingham to meet friends for date night - dinner and a movie. We ate at Moe's, which I LOVE!!! And then went to see The Proposal. It was a great movie and I will be buying it when it comes out on DVD!

Sunday we went to church and then over to Brandie and Rodney's for Briella's 15th Birthday party. It is hard to believe she is 15 years old! I don't have any pictures from the day because I was actually in the pool enjoying swimming with Parker and Braxton. It was the first time Braxton had swam in the pool with Parker since last summer. He was so happy to be in that pool and he did not want to have to get out!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! And Melissa, if you are reading this....hope you are doing well and hope Erik is doing well!!

Change In Employment

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

I have quoted this scripture many times as I have grown up. For so many situations, this scripture fits to a T. God is so real and he knows exactly what we need when we need it.

As a little background....I have been working in Huntsville, AL at Huntsville Hospital for the Foundation (the fundraising arm of the hospital) for the last 4 years. I started working for HHF in April of 2005, at the time I was living in Huntsville with my parents. Then after Braxton and I married in March 2006, I began the search for a job in Birmingham. From May '06 to August '06, I worked in Birmingham, but within my 90 days of leaving HHF (89 days to be exact!) I made the big decision to return! And I NEVER regretted my decision!

So for 3 years I have been driving 80 miles ONE WAY to work. That is 160 miles a day! 800 miles a week! I did break this up some by having the opportunity to work from home on some Fridays and by staying with my parents 2 nights a week. And for the last year and 2 months, I have toted Parker all along the way. Burning up I-65!!!

In February of this year, I started a long and rewarding process of interviewing for a job. During this long process many prayers and much fasting took place. I truly wanted God's will in my life. Two weeks ago I was offered (and I accepted) a job as an administrative assistant for ChristWay Church of God (my new "home" church). I will start my job June 22, which means my last week at HHF is this week.

This is a bittersweet opportunity. I will miss my friends and "family" at HHF. I will miss the awesome opportunities of growth I have had. And I will miss the awesome events I had the chance to plan and assist with. But I can honestly say, I will not miss driving! I am going to get the opportunity to be a wife, mother, housekeeper, and best friend to my husband 7 days a week! I feel like I am getting a part of my life back that was missing. Not only am I doing this for Parker and Braxton, I am also doing this for myself.

To my fellow employees at HHF, I will miss you all greatly! I will never work with another group of people who are so talented and devoted to their work as you all have been. I wish the Foundation much success and growth!

God has his perfect plan on his perfect timing. Thank you, Lord!

Parker aka the Musician

Okay, so my dad, my sister, my mom (a little bit) and myself are all musicians. My dad plays piano/keyboard, the trombone and in high school the tuba. In addition he is an awesome singer. My sister played the cello, clarinet and piano growing up, and is an awesome singer as well. My mom, well she sings. And myself, I play alto saxophone and I sing. SO....of course Parker has to have some musical talent in his blood.

Some of his favorite songs include....

• The Alabama Fight Song
• I Feel Good
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Song
• Clean Up, Clean Up
• If you're happy and you know it
  

Here are a few pictures of my little musician.

Parker's first experience playing the drums at his Auntie E's house. Thanks Gavin for letting us use your drums and you Disney World Drum Sticks!

Now...lets just hope he keeps the Duckworth family talent and maybe his dad's singing ability won't rub off too much!

Hair Cuts & T-Town

"Don't cut those curls!!!!" I can't tell you how many people said that to me this weekend. It was time. Parker has been a year old for over a month, and sticking the old wives' tale concerning cutting a child's hair, I have waited long enough! Plus...I can only imagine this summer in the HOT Alabama weather those precious curls matted to his sweaty forehead! Not so precious.

So, Saturday Braxton and I had hair appointments scheduled. I asked Shelly if she thought she could squeeze in Parker and she said it would be fine. So....goodbye curls? Parker sat in his daddy's lap while mommy took pictures (while having foil all in her hair!). He even got to wear a cute fish drape. He cried a little bit, but after bribery with marshmallows and singing songs from Sound of Music, he made it through.

The first locks gone!

Not a happy camper!!!!

Almost done!!! How handsome...and the curls are still there!

After the hair cuts it was time to drive to Tuscaloosa. It was our annual Reno Family trip to release balloons on campus in memory of Braxton's brother Bryan who passed away in 2003. This was only Parker's 2nd trip down to T-town. His first trip was last May and he was only 2 months old!

Alabama is #1....well really he is saying "I am 1"!

So, I am not wishing my son's life away, but it does mean alot to me to see my son on the University of Alabama campus. It is where Braxton and I met and I guess you could say we fell in love there, but UA has so many memories for both of us. And one day we do hope that Parker will follow in our footsteps and carry on the family tradition of Crimson and White!

A Long Weekend

This was definitely a LONG weekend! Friday night we stayed at home and had a pretty quite evening....BLTs make an easy dinner. I even had a little bit of time to clean out Parker's closet. Thanks Braxton for watching Parker!

Saturday was an early morning...Parker woke up at 7am. I cooked breakfast and things went downhill from there! Parker would not eat and would not drink anything. He would not even get down and play. If you needed him to go into another room, you had to carry him. He would not walk! All he wanted to do was lay on you and take cat naps. We had to run an errand in Trussville so we got ready and to run errands. We stopped to have lunch at Chick-fil-A. Now...Saturday is a very busy place at Chick-fil-A especially at Noon. Parker was crying so much that we had to leave the restaurant!!!! When we got him in the truck and buckled in the car seat, he stopped crying! We were successful at Wal-mart then it was time to go home. It only got worse at home. Parker's fever was 102.7 and even after a nap and medicine it stayed at 102.7. Time to go to Children's South after hours clinic. We were there from 6:30pm until 10:30pm. After having blood drawn, an attempt to get a urine sample and a chest x-ray, the doctor couldn't find anything. But his fever decreased and was back to normal. We truly believe that God touched Parker. We had lots of praying family members. Parker did not want to sleep once we got home...he was feeling better of course. He did not go to sleep until 1:15am!

Sunday morning was an early morning in preparation for a long day. We went to church then to eat with Braxton's family after church. Tiffany and Brent offered to keep Parker for the afternoon. Braxton and I had a meeting at church from 3-5 and then we had our first session of Fireproof Your Marriage. We didn't get home until 8:30 last night. Once again Parker was not interested sleeping. Around 9:00pm he finally went to sleep.

Now I am ready for this week to be over so I can hopefully enjoy next weekend! Have a great week!!!

Parker's 1 Year Pictures

I must share and brag a little bit. Parker is pretty darn cute! These photos were taken by Adria Gooch Photography. For more information, you can check out her blog http://adriagoochphotography.blogspot.com/ or she is on my list of "Blogging Friends".

He loved this basket! I love the green pants!

We will call this is STARE!

He will stay in a chest if you bribe him with marshmallows!

One day those eyes will get him whatever he wants...at least from me!

The Reno Family

You'll Never Thirst Again

In our His Passion musical, Carolyn Perkins - who has an amazing voice, ministered with the song below.

You'll never find her story in a fairy tale
'Cause she wasn't like, the other women at the well
Her life was full of pain, hurt, rejection
Her loneliness she didn't want to show
But Jesus saw the desert in her soul

CHORUS
Drink from this water
Drink from this water
And you will never,
You'll never thirst again
Drink from this water
Drink from this water
You will never, you'll never thirst again

We all search for something
To fill us up inside
But it's only an illusion
You know a True Love's hard to find
But I'm here to tell you there's one place
Your thirst is quenched for ever more
You will never leave empty disappointed
You will find what you are looking for

CHORUS
Drink from this water
Drink from this water
And you will never,
You'll never thirst again
Drink from this water
Drink from this water
You will never, you'll never thirst again

And oh Jesus will meet you
At the place of every need
And only He can make the wounded whole
And make the blind man see

What part of the song speaks the most? "Jesus will meet you at the place of every need"! What is so awesome about God is He knows what each of us is in need of....each and every one!!! Just the same, Jesus died on the cross for EVERY sin. I don't know what sin is in your life, and you don't know what I am facing, but Jesus died on a cross so that we could be forgiven! But then to top it all...HE rose from the grave so that we could have ETERNAL LIFE with Him in Heaven! Thank you Carolyn for allowing God to use you!

Easter Weekend

WE SURVIVED!!!

Friday night was the performance of His Passion. The performance was an awesome time of worship. Christway had over 1,000 in attendance. If you missed it, sorry! Don't forget to catch us next year!

Saturday morning, Braxton went to the men's fellowship breakfast at church and Parker and I stayed in the bed and watched cartoons. Then we had breakfast together and got ready for the Easter egg hunt at church. IT WAS COLD and WINDY!!! We had practiced last week putting small items in his basket. I was impressed by how well he did!

Parker dropping in his egg - he got 12 in all!

All afternoon he held on to 2 eggs! Even during lunch!

Parker's friend Brayden - thought we might have to do some damage control!

Parker also got 3 Easter baskets. One from my parents, one from Braxton's parents and one from me and Braxton. Spoiled child! We got some practical items....beach equipment including a shovel, sand sifter and beach towel!

One last Easter egg hunt at Nana's and Big Daddy's

And to end the weekend with a bang, this morning (Monday) I woke up at 2:00am sweating. I noticed that our ceiling fan was not on. Then I looked over and Parker's video monitor was not on either. NO POWER!!! I had to drive all the way to Huntsville with wet hair. My husband is staying in a hotel while Parker and I stay with my parents. News around our subdivision is that we probably won't get power until Wednesday or Thursday. And to top it off...I went to the grocery store on Friday! Everything will be ruined! Oh well....Easter can be new beginnings! So that is what it will be, a new beginning!

AND FINALLY...The 2 most handsome men in my life!

HAPPY EASTER!!!!!

Feels Like Redemption

A MUST SEE VIDEO! Watch this amazing human video of Christway's (Gardendale, Alabama) youth drama team performing to "Feels Like Redemption" by Michael English. This is AWESOME! It makes you so proud of all their hard work!

His Passion - Friday @ 7:00pm

I would like to invite all of my blog readers to HIS PASSION tonight. If you live in the Birmingham area we would love to have you join us as we celebrate our risen Lord. Plus, there is a beautiful alto saxophone player that is not too shabby! =) If you need it, childcare will be provided. If you can't make it Friday night, join us Easter Sunday morning as we once again worship together. It will be a condensed version, but still awesome! Sunday morning, the service will be begin at 10:00am.



I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend. May we all remember why we celebrate this weekend.