My first shot at blogging begins today. Brandi suggested that blogging would be a good way to communicate with people and let them know how things are going in the Parker family. So, here goes nothing.
Brandi has made it through her first season as a GVA teacher. I have thoroughly enjoyed her working from our home.
We spent a few days around Christmas having lunch together, and discussing past, present, and future events. One of my favorite past times is talking with her. She is brilliant, compassionate, creative, and enthusuastic about life. She is awesome.
Courtney completed her first semester at VSU. She is diligently working and preparing for the coming year. Hannah is enjoying the days away from school and preparing to take the SAT exam - her personal favorite (lol). Lillie is just enjoying life. This Christmas seemed to be especially personal and meaningful for her.
Me - well - I continue to read and write. Adolescent spiritual development is my lastest area of study. Being a youth pastor, the subject is not new, but the resources to which I have been exposed in recent weeks have made the study more lively.
At Morningside, the new youth center is wonderful. It is spacious and will provide an area for recreation as well as flexibility for instruction. The first part of 2009 will bring continued modifications to the youth center and we pray will allow Morningside youth ministry to reach students who need to hear and be taught the gospel message. I also believe the Lord is leading me to begin parent conferences that will give Christian parents the opportunity to grow in their understanding of personal responsibility for the spiritual development of their own young people.
We needed some pictures of Hannah for her senior yearbook page, so we asked Kellie Hardeman to help us out. The pictures are really great, and we hope to work with Kellie again in the spring. You can check out her site at http://www.hardemanphotography.com/
Lillie is a bundle of energy, fun, and pure joy! She was adopted from Wuchuan, Guangdong, PR China, and joined our family at the age of 14 months on June 20, 2004. That was Father's Day that year, and I know that Andy could not have gotten a better gift! I can't believe we have loved her for 4 1/2 years! Lillie is funny and sweet and incredibly intelligent. We are constantly amazed by her ever increasing vocabulary and her understanding of life and the situations we face as a family. She has a great sense of humor, and loves being called "our little egg roll." :) She is a girly girl and loves dolls, dress up, tea parties, and lip gloss. We are so blessed to have her as our daughter, and I can't wait to see how God is going to use her for his glory. 
Courtney is almost 21--I can't believe it---and is set to graduate from Valdosta State University in December 09. Wow! Time flies! Courtney is a bubbly, fun girl with a great sense of humor. Her papa calls her "Sunshine." She is living at home now and getting back in the swing of things with our family after being away at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA for 2 years. We LOVE having her back with us! She is a sociology major and hopes to go to law school after she gets her undergrad degree. We'll keep you posted on that---one thing at a time. She will probably become a licensed social worker in the meantime and then take it from there. She has a HUGE heart for children and families and will be an asset anywhere she goes. She is fluent in French and plays the flute and the clarinet. While she is in school she works at the newly famous Smok'n Pig Restaurant. Ask for her to be your server the next time you go there! :)
Andy and I have been married for over 22 years and we have 3 beautiful daughters. He has been the youth pastor at Morningside Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA, for more than 10 years. He is also working on a PhD with Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. His dissertation topic involves the correlation between the spiritual development of adolescents and the involvement of fathers. He'll gladly talk with you about it if you'd like to know more. :) Andy is a busy man who is always on the go. He is constantly studying and reading and writing for his degree. But he is also always either on the next youth trip/event or planning the next one! He loves the Lord and he loves what he does. He is passionate about teens and families and bringing them to Christ. Andy is also in the process of becoming a military chaplain wth the Georgia Guard. This is a reserve position that he is excited about. He spent over 10 years in the Air Force when we were first married, and did not think he would ever return to military service once he was called to the ministry. But right now this door is opening and he plans to see where it leads. He will stay on staff at MBC and keep plugging away with the PhD. Like I said, he's a busy man. He is also a wonderful husband and a very caring, attentive father. Oh---and of course---he is a GATOR FAN! 
