Day at the Zoo

Liz is holding nectar to feed the lorikeets.
Jewell want to touch it too,
but we thought it would be best for her to not get pecked by it.

    This is my official last day of summer break.  Liz, Jewell, and I headed over to the Louisville Zoo for the day.  Jewell has recently become much more aware of all animals around her, so I thought this would be a lot of fun.  Jewell had such cute reactions to many of the animals, but had trouble seeing animals that camouflaged with their surroundings.  She also enjoyed cooling off in the small water park.  It was a warm day, but I had so much fun hanging out with my girls.  

Liz is helping Jewell pet the goat in the petting zoo.

Family pictures

Parr Family Vacation 2012

All 20 of us went to Kentucky Lake.  We had 3 cabins on the lake.  

Jewell and I are looking at a map at the Land Between the Lakes park.

Liz is empathizing with Jewell as she has a fit on the deck by the lake.

Kyle and the girls look wonderful
as the sun sets behind them on the lake.

Granny reads a story to the grandkids before bed.

Let's play on the beach while keeping a close eye on the
other kids playing in the water.
It was fun to watch Jewell feel the new texture of the sand.

Kyle had a very successful morning fishing with
Kevin, Luke, Jackson, and Eli.

The whole family went out on a pontoon on Tuesday.
There was a slide on the top and many people went tubing.
This is Liz and Elijah tubing together.

Praying for My Girls

   Praying for my children has become near and dear to my heart.  God tells us that we do not have because we do not ask.  I ask for protection, a bright future, good health, good relationships, and blessings upon my girls.  I want to share a prayer my Bible study leader shared that is based completely in God's word that is for our children.  God's Word never returns void as we speak it believing.

Praying For The Children

Acts 19:20.........I thank you Father that Your Word prevails over our children.
Isa 54:13...........That they are taught of the Lord and continue to be
Prov 13:1.......... the fruit of godly instruction and correction.
Isa 54:13...........Great is their peace and undisturbed composure.
Prov 2:6............ Father, give us counsel and wisdom in bringing up our children.
1Pet 1:14.......... I say they are obedient, not conforming to the things of the flesh,
1Pet 1:15.......... but holy, in all conduct.
1Pet 2:2........... desiring the pure milk of the Word that they may grow thereby.
Jas 1:19............That they are swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.
Heb 13:5.......... Their conduct is without covetousness,
Heb 13:5.......... and they are content with what they have.
Heb 13:16......... They do not forget to do what is right and to share.
2Pet 3:18.......... I pray that they grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord,
1Thes 4:1......... and abound more and more in how they should walk and please You.
1Pet 5:5........... That they submit to their elders, and to one another,
1Pet 5:5........... being clothed with humility.
1Pet 5:7........... That they cast their cares upon You, Father, for You care for them.
Jas 1:22............I thank You that they are doers of the Word, and not hearers only,
Ph'm 1:6...........effectively sharing their faith.
2Tim 1:7 ..........not having a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
2Tim 1:9...........Father, You have saved them and called them with a holy calling,
2Tim 1:9 ..........not according to works, but according to Your own purpose.
2Tim 4:18.........Deliver them from every evil work and preserve them.
John 10:5 ........They will by no means follow strangers, not knowing their voices.
2Tim2:22 .........They abide with others who call on the Lord out of a pure heart,
Jas 3:10 ..........and cursing comes not out of their mouth.
1Jn 5:18 ..........Because Jesus keeps them safe, the wicked one does not touch them.
Ps 91:11..........Give Your angels special charge to accompany, defend, preserve
Ps 4:8.............and provide safety for them, day and night.
1Jn 2:5 ...........Because they keep Your Word, Your love is being perfected in them.
1Jn 2:15 .........They do not love the world or the things in the world,
3Jn 1:11..........and they do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.
1Jn 1:7 ...........They walk in the light as You are in the Light,
Jas 4:8 ...........cleansing their hands and purifying their hearts,
2Tim 2:22 .......They follow after righteousness, faith, love, and peace.
Heb 13:18........They have a good conscience and desire to live honorably,
Prov 3:4 ..........having favor and high esteem with God and man.

For prayers for encouragement, our government, missionaries, pastors, relationships, needs, healing, salvation, and promises that are written based on the Word like this one, go to  prayinginvictory.com  

Liz's Graduation Party

     Lizabeth has finished her senior year at Floyd Central High School!    I am so proud of her!   Four years have flown by!  The future holds such great and exciting things for her as she heads to IUS next year as a psychology/international studies major.    This last month has been full of year end, senior events: Baccalaureate, Class Night, Choir banquet, last A Capella concert, last day of school, and last night of small groups.  It has been kind of surreal.  The graduation ceremony will be June 6, 2012 at 2PM.  

Kendall, Sydney, and Liz sit and
chat in front of the fondue fountain.

John and Liz talk about what will happen in the close future.  

Bobby and Eva playing in the baby pool,
as mom, dad, Nellie, and Bob watch and talk. 

This was the official opening of Susan and Rolf's pool for Liz's party.
All the grandkids were in it!

Jewell getting in the big pool for the first time.  This is when she very first got in.
She had fun and even kicked a little.  You can tell that Daddy is excited here. :-)

Liz helped her play in this new environment too.

1st birthday

Jewell started walking on Thursday, just  two days before her birthday!
She took 10 steps right in a row!
(This picture is on her birthday;
she was taking a couple of steps to get to the piano bench.)

We had 28 people in our little house for Jewell's birthday,
and that is immediate family only!
It was great to enjoy this momentous occasion together.

Happy birthday!!  Here's your cake!
She reached right for the strawberries.
I knew that even if she didn't love the cake,
she'd want to eat the strawberries.

All of Jewell's cousins were excited to hand her the presents,
but there was so much going on that she really didn't get
too excited about opening anything.  

   Wow!  This year has really flown by!  I can't believe that it has already been a year.  I have cherished every moment.  It has been so exciting to watch her grow, learn, and change.  I have felt so much joy and excitement.  Words truly can't express the blessings that I have experienced throughout the last year.

Baby pool

In the baby pool for the first time.  Trying to get her used to
playing in the water and splashing before we head to the big pool.

Pushing the empty Easter egg in the water and watching it pop up was a favorite game.

This is May 6th.  She loves playing in the water since
she is more used to splashing and moving around.

A Sprite bottle made a great fountain and splashing toy.

Liz also made the Sprite bottle into an instrument,
blowing into it to make a little music.
She changed the water level to change the pitch.
Jewell loved this.  She keeps trying to make her own music too.

First haircut

Jewell's first haircut.  For some reason, I didn't want to cut her hair,
 but it needed to be done.  She has some small bangs now.

Liz's Senior Pictures

   Wow!  I can't believe that Liz will be graduating in a month!  She will be saying, "Good-bye!" to Floyd Central High School!

   I am so proud of her.  She is such a beautiful child of God.  She definitely sets a great example for her friends and has made wise decisions as a teenager.  Liz is planning on going to Indiana University Southeast in the fall and majoring in psychology and international studies.  She has so much scholarship money that she will be PAID to go to school! Wow, not too many people can say that!

    The Lord has truly blessed our lives by allowing her to be our daughter and Jewell's older sister. I love you, Liz.

   These are some of the senior pictures that she let me take down at the Falls of the Ohio.  Isn't she beautiful?