Debra has left the building

Come and see my new home here.

Be sure to update your links, bloglines or google reader.

btw, i did not choose a name...so I just went with debraparker.

I already said I married up in the clever department.

Singing the Blues

I can't live if living is without you. I can't live, I can't live anymore...

(Do you remember that song?)

I am singing the blues tonight. I am deep blue about my lack of DVR. I have missed so many shows that I am used to watching when boredom hits. I found out that I missed Oprah's interview with Lisa Beamer and Mary Winkler. I love interviews. I am a stalker at heart. I caught just a moment of the view today only to find out they have two new co-hosts. Just when did that happen?

I am also singing the blues at the lack of rewind skills with a DVR. I am truly spoiled and evidently am pretty addicted to television. My brain is going through a stage of detox from the world that lives in the small box. I guess that could be a good thing.

One side note: While I was blogging Ernest was reading (what a man!). While reading he came upon a picture stuck in the book of Chibwede. Chibwede is our Compassion child. So here I was talking about my lack of DVR and how sad I am when Chibwede graces my heart. I am truly in want of nothing. It is true, I am a little spoiled.

Thank you, Chibwede, for bringing my mind into focus.


God, you are so good, with or without a DVR.

Ripped Jean Monday

It is ripped jeans Monday.

I hope I see my momma today she will be so un-proud. You just gotta love that.

My mother-in-law doesn't like the days when I wear heels or dresses/skirts without pantyhose. Do I ever wear pantyhose? I must admit sometimes I do. You wouldn't know it. I wear them cut-off sometimes to tighten that need to do sit-ups stomach.

To be fair, she doesn't care if I do it, but she would never be caught dead without hose.

And to be fair, I only know this because I was teasing her about it. One day she tried wearing dress shoes without her hose and got blisters. I felt pretty bad.

Just out of curiosity, how tall are you? Yes, very random, that's me. I am curious to find out how short I really am, you know, in comparison to all of you. Would I be the shortest in the class?

In case you are now wondering...I am 5'1.

edited to say...ummm....I mean 5'2...

iChat, uChat

Do you like coffee? What about chatting with friends?

Well grab some coffee (or something) and let's chat. I am needing some conversation. Do you ever feel that way?

................

Here is some great news. It is past due but great none the less. Last weekend we went back to Abilene to pack up our personal belongings. It was a good quick trip. Our house is being sub leased to a couple whose roof caved in. They are staying in our home for a few months or until it sells. They are even renting our furniture because all of theirs was ruined. It seems to work out for the both of us. The perfect part of this sits here...The money they are paying for the house came in perfect time for the next months mortgage. We hadn't been worried about the payment until this month. God provided. We have been without an official paycheck for a month and a half yet God has provided all our needs and more.

On other house news...

Our realtor called last week and told us to be expecting an offer on our home. That is super exciting!

.....................

This past friday we were blessed to spend the day at Tranquility Park. If you have not viewed the slideshow just look below at the chasing blog. God met us there. He is faithful and in the moment he renewed our strength. He took us back to the birth of the dream that resides in our heart. It was to travel and speak to teenagers. It seems simple enough but it is forever scary. Somewhere on the way there we decided that we needed a job to secure financing. The perfect plan is to find one that would fulfill our dream as well as money right???

That was our reasoning.

For the moment it does not seem like God is desiring that. We promised that we would pursue this vision and prompting set before us. No matter how scared we are. We still have resumes out there and if God desires for us to take a position he will show us but for now we are going out on our own. Whew. That is hard to type.

I would love to show you the direct way that He reaffirmed this to us. That post would be way too long.

Shortly after walking in the door we received a call about speaking to a men's/woman's banquet. Coincidence? If you remember tomorrow night say a word of prayer for us as we share our love with new faces.

Just for notes sake...We are nothing special, nor do we think we are...we are just Jesus lovers with a dream and a mind to pursue it. I hate the even faintest idea that you would think of us to be showy. It is not my desire. The showiness that we posses is grace, HIS grace. He has bestowed much. I mean much as in HUGE>>>>HUGER>>>if that was a word.

.............

Houston anyone? Is anyone going to biblestudy @HFB on Tuesday Night?

...................

Has anyone seen the Nanny Diaries? Any good?

...............

Reading any good books lately?


Talk Back...I would love to hear from you.

To Attain More (and more)

**Edited**(at bottom)
We have had plenty of time to do lots of thinking. Some might argue that we are doing too much thinking. O well.

God is stirring and mixing every emotion we have. I think that is good. Not really easy, but good.

When we sell our home we will have the great privilege to be completely debt free. I cannot even imagine my life without school bills. Our plan is to stay that way. Telling this was not my point of this post, I promise. We are just excited about the opportunity to be free from the bills. It makes us able to pursue any place that God desires to take us. That is what you call an adventure. We have a missions degree and are open to those possibilities. We, of course, don't want to go anywhere God is not sending us. We are just waiting. Today the wait is exciting.

Even if we do not pursue a mission field (maybe Haiti) then we have made a decision to live simply here. I don't think this will be a problem considering that we have always lived off of one salary. Most of our married time we have had one car. To think back we only had 2 the first year of marriage and then in Abilene. While in Missouri we were so close to school it really didn't matter. I am going to be flat out honest...I have always desired stuff. Nice stuff. I always say that I was born to be rich. If God did give me wealth, what would I do with it? This week I read a quote on a blog that said "live simply so others can simply live". That has been going over and over in my mind.

Our desire is to live and give. Dan, from Lift Student Ministries, always says that you have 20,000 days to live what are you going to do with them? Our answer is to give them in whatever way God leads.

**Edited to Add** I worried about this all night...I don't think it is wrong to have or desire nice things. These were thoughts coming out kind of scrambled. I do desire to live simply and the battle about it is raging in my mind. That is what I wanted to share. I hope that I didn't come off as arrogant.We all know that I am a lover of shopping. I just plan to spend wisely.**

some googleness

What is your homepage? I use igoogle and I love it. I do. Not like I love my husband but you know love in the really like kind of way. Why did I feel the need to expound on that? O well...I feel better.

You can choose from all sorts of gadgets. One of the gadgets that I have is google reader (I use this instead of bloglines). As soon as I click online I am updated on blogs that have updated. Good stuff. I also have google talk (people get on there) and my email gadget. For fun we have hang-man and post-it notes. I could live on this page. Amanda over at Oh Amanda is the one who showed me the way. I must say she is pretty smart. :). Also, if you have igoggle, make your own personal gadget (click here) and share it with me. I would share mine with you, but well, I don't know how to do that just yet.

I know this is a random post. Yea for randomness and on that note yea for all things google.

At the edge of my seat...

My man is coming home. He has been gone for 5 nights. I miss him...to say the least.

Also, be praying, someone came by to look at our house today. Who knows? Maybe this is the day!!!

Here is a look at my to-do list:
1. sell house
2. find job
3. buy house

So happy...I could sing a song.

The time machine is headed back to high school...come along.

1. Who was your best friend? For most of the years it was Brandi Jackson. We did everything together. We even felt the need to work at the same place. The last couple of years we slowed the hanging out process due to different ideas of fun.

2. Did you play any sports? I had an athletic pass. Does that count? Our school counted Dance Team as a sport. The husband and I still have feuds about this topic. I really don't care if it was a sport or not, I just wanted to get into the events for free. That's me SPORTY debra.

3. What kind of car did you drive? I had a White Nissan Sentra. I still have the car keys. I loved it. I loved it even more than you think. I would like to tell you what year it was but seriously I don't remember. After that car was wrecked (I don't want to talk about that) I got a Mitsubishi Mirage, also white, that was nicer but I didn't like it as much.

4. It’s Friday night. Where were you? Eagle Stadium. Oh the memories! The lights, the sounds, the fun are unmatched to this day. At half time we would go out and perform some goofy routine. The highlight of the night, for me, was officer strut. Yes, it is as bad as it sounds. Before the team would perform we (the officers) would do our own little dance while the announcers introduced us. As shallow as that sounds it was great fun.

5. Were you a party animal? That was not me. I was a little too scared to party. One time (okay...two times) I did go to a teen dance club in Houston. My parents didn't know until I told them...that same weekend. I just couldn't help myself...I was so scared they would find me out. About the club: I loved the dancing and music but I hated the drunk smelling guys thinking they could dance all over you.

6. Were you considered a flirt? Hmmm. I really don't think so.

7. Were you in the band, orchestra or choir? I was in performing choir. It wasn't as important as it sounds. I enjoyed it. I was also in the girls class act choir and my name made the credits as the choreographer for pop show.

8. Were you a nerd? Most likely borderline...who knows?

9. Were you ever suspended or expelled? No. I had detention often. I don't remember why. Probably tardies.

10. Can you sing the fight song? Yes. If the music were on I could belt out the words with strength. I think that is my husbands, the football player, fault.

11. Who was your favorite teacher? Mr.Johnson from Middle School. He was cool. He gave me a writing award. My least favorite was a guy from Intermediate school, Mr.Skinner, who would spray WD-40 on me because he said I was squeaky.

12. What was your school mascot? The Eagle

13. Did you go to the Prom? Of course. I wouldn't miss that party.

14. If you could go back, would you? Sometimes I think so...

15. What do you remember most about graduation? Feeling so sad that this was actually happening. And then again very excited about the future.

16. Where were you on Senior Skip Day? Did we have one?

17. Did you have a job your senior year? What wasn't my job. I worked at the movie theater for years and then my senior year I needed a change. So change I did. A lot of job change.

18. Where did you go most often for lunch? This is a tie between the steak and potato bar and the taco salad line. I know this is weird but I liked our school food.

19. Have you gained weight since then? Sadly yes. Well not sadly! I would look weird if I were still that small. I think I weighed all of 100 lbs.

20. What did you do after graduation? KW Community College for a year. Got married then went to Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO.

21. What year did you graduate? The Class of 1995

22. Who was your Senior Prom Date? The love of my life...Ernest

23. Are you going/did you go to your 10 year reunion? Missed it due to a youth function. I was able to see all the pictures and that was better. We sat and laughed for hours. It is crazy how much we all change.


If you dare go back in time with me let me know...

Thank You Mer!

I feel very honored to have received this award from sweet Meredith. She keeps a great blog so go and visit her. Thank you Mer!

Boredom turns to Pictures

Boredom struck today. Here are some shots of the humble abode. Enjoy!

My Barbie Dream House

We will be moving soon. Somewhere. That is certain. We have turned down a lot of opportunities in search of the God one. We are confident in the waiting.

We have been looking at houses in areas that we are familiar with. Just thinking... totally not saying that we are moving there. In that process I found it. My barbie dream house. It is perfect just like it was in my childhood dreams. It is completely out of my price range but it is in my heart range. I love everything about it. At least through screen images. The kitchen is all I could ask for. I am anything but a master chef but oh how I could see myself cooking away in that place. I haven't even mentioned the windows. The windows. amazing.

Take a look at the dream house that is completely clouds away. Click here.

Some Shopping Therapy

Shopping is a good form of therapy. There is just something about going out and searching for cuteness. I am the one walking along with my 9 year old personal shopper. You can pick the two of us out easily due to our overzealous joy about sales. We are savvy shoppers. Oh yes. She is super because she loves to carry the loot.

That is just what it was like on Friday afternoon as we loved on the Mall of Abilene. I was in search of a new dress. Something simple and very me. The kind that when you see it you know it is the one. It is matchable to love at first sight. Do you ever have those shopping feelings?

It happened. The first store that we came to had the dress. When I saw it the roof of heaven opened up and light beams shown down upon it. Well, okay, it was not that dramatic...but still. It was even better in the dressing room when I tried it on and it fit. The best part of this dress is the price...under $20.(When you are trying to save every penny for an unknown upcoming move this is cool.) I have a few tanks that I am going to add to complete the look.

The trip went on to include shoes for $13 and accessories for under $10. Good times if I do say so. We even found a new shirt for the most amazing man in my life. A button down American Eagle L/S for only $15. He makes the shirt look great.

Back to the reason for my post. Am I the only one out here in blogville that shops for clothes like them. Is this some added weird factor to me? Really...what makes clothes like you anyway? We say it all the time...that is so you...this is so me. I do love the dress but now I am left to wonder what makes it feel like me.

We are talking FLATSCREEN!

I am so in.

I entered...you should too.

Click here to enter for this giveaway at 5 minutes for mom.

Also...thanks to best buy for this amazing deal.

Let's have a P.A.R.T.Y.

It is Friday.

I had a great time last night with a friend. We walked and talked. Our passion over the Lord is consuming and we both love that. It was so refreshing talking with her. I rarely get the chance to talk with other women who share my passion. I think that is why I love this blogland so much. You women rock! You have an amazing desire to love and share love.

So I decided today is praise day. That's right...let's give him some praise.

He is doing a good work in me. He loves me when I am unaware. You, sweet father, are more than deserving of my praise. It may look bleak. There are no answers but at this moment all is well. Why? Because I have you on my side. I delight in you. I praise you because you know the future. That puts my soul in rest. You do that to me...you bring me rest. How amazing you are. If I follow you then you will lead me. You amaze me. AMAZE me.

What do you praise him for today? please join in the praise party.

{Sparkly} White

Here's the inside scoop...

The last 9 days I have been looking downright amazing every night for at least 2 hours. This is how I know. I am in the "night white" mode. What does that mean? This: I have been wearing silicone trays on my teeth filled with bleach.

It hurts. Tonight I was sitting on the couch and the pain was so intense that I decided to take the trays out early. I don't think it is suppose to hurt that bad. I really want whiter teeth so I willing to endure the pain.

Here is the problem now, I have whiter teeth, but as of tonight, I also have some white "hurt" spots on my gums. They are very irritated. Each time I eat my gums burn. Not good. I think it is a combination of extra flossing and bleach. I don't think my dentist is going to be very happy with me continuing this treatment.

A couple of months ago I went to the dentist because I had major tooth pain. I had to have a root canal. crazy. Now I am getting my teeth whitened due to a cavity I need filled on one of my front teeth. Too much dental work lately. Braces coming soon. I think I am too old for this but hey I want straight white teeth.

We go through some crazy stuff for beauty.

What about you? Any painful beauty treatments lately?

The {thirsty} Princess

There is a sweet princess sleeping in the next room. These days she falls asleep rather well. There were days, mind you, that it was pure torture. I am serious. I remember them without fondness. Training her to sleep in a toddler bed was crazy. She is nothing short of strong willed. When we would tuck her in she would just get up. I remember the nightly battle.

After a period of time she would stay in her bed she would just scream until she would finally sleep. Some nights we could add some wall banging to the sound of blood curling screams. Those nights I would sit on the opposite side of her bedroom door and pray. "Lord please put this child to sleep"...The Lord always provided because he knew my lack of patience.

Time moved on and the baby girl continued to grow. We stretched to the stage of requests before sleep. Oh yes, the requests. "Please read me one more story" "I am hungry" "I'm thirsty"...the list goes on and on.

One night during this fun stage she requested a drink. "I'm thirsty" "Mommy, I am thirsty". Can you hear her calling? "No, Carly, you are not thirsty..." After doing the back and forth for a while her cuteness peeked.

She looked up with her big beautiful brown eyes and said to her daddy "Daddy, Jesus lives in my heart, right?" Ernest replies tiredly "Yes, Carly" "Well Daddy...Jesus is thirsty and he wants a drink..."

Out of the mouth of babes.

Needless to say, she got a drink that night. By all means...Jesus was thirsty.

It is true, I do not miss the nights full of screaming torture. My baby girl is growing up. Some days I miss the little one that could get away with such cuteness. There are still nights when I walk out of her room and praise my sweet Jesus for a peaceful night. God made her feisty and I love him all the more for it.

Signature How-To

I have already got some e-mails requesting a signature how-to. I went here to create it. Comment and let me know if you decide to make one.

**updated**after you get your code copy it in the post template box. You get to this box by going to settings then click on formating scroll down until you reach the post template box. I don't know if this is the best way to do it but it works.

Happy Blogging.

The Inspiration

I have had a lot of fun playing around this blog. Maggie inspired me to do something about the blah look of my blog. (She did not use those words, I did.) Thank you Maggie. After talking with some friends and getting some great ideas this is what I did. I talked to Amy about texture paper and she gave me the greatest tip about photographing paper. I have a set of note cards that I love so I took a picture of them and it turned into the header. I jumped on publisher and added some pictures that will hopefully give the look and feel that we want. It is a bit girly for my man but he can handle it.

I read lots of tutorials here. It is pretty easy to get around. It will tell you how to do almost anything.

Thanks for all the inspiration and help guys.

Still Camping

We are still at camp. This week we are at Letourneou University in Longview, Texas. It is a small intimate camp this week (only 250 campers).

God is good. I love the fact that I have been in deep worship for 2 weeks. I love it. I would not trade it for the world.

I just thought I would let you know where we were. Once again no real computer access in our rooms so I will check on you guys soon.

Tune in @ 7 cst and worship with us. Click here to visit the site then click on live stream during service times. Let me know if you check it out.

Only in my (big) Dreams...& a poll

The funniest thing happened while at the Astros game.

The nice couple sitting next to me kept starring at me. It was strange. I would look at them and they would just smile a big grin. I just assumed that maybe they were looking over me to something else. hopefully.

Then the nice lady leans over and asks me a question. I could barely hear her so I ask her to say it again...

Here is what she says...

nice lady:Has anyone ever told you that you look like Kate Hudson?

me:What?

nice lady:Kate Hudson, the actress?

me:Only in my dreams...(laughter ensues)

Kate Hudson? That is a new one. I would love to look like Kate. Let's just take an inventory here....She has blonde hair, she is very skinny, I have dark hair, darker skin...

The baseball hat must work wonders. I think I may wear one for the rest of my days.

This brings me to a poll I have been wanting to take for a while. Caleb, stop laughing! No matter where I am I end up getting the question...What are you? Meaning what nationality are you. While in Europe I got this question so much that we mused over taking an on-line poll. So in an effort for me to find out the not so scientific answer I am asking you to comment your thoughts. I know what I am partially, so there you have a hint, but I don't know the other half.

I need lots of answers so please comment. Send your friends...they may be bored...they may need something to do...tell them some strange woman is taking a strange poll...that should attract a wild bunch!