Thursday, August 31, 2006

The best of times...the worst of times...

It has been far too long since my last post, but what a year it has been! The joys thus far, above all things have been the births of Maxwell David Parker and Miles Jefferson Horn, with the pending arrival of number 12, Sophie Carla Parker. Adding to it are the sweet moments shared with Andrew, Ethan, Emma, Annie, Jack, Max, Audrey, Parker, Miles, Mabel and Oliver. Of course, it has been equally great with each of our sons and daughters and their dear companions. And then, as icing to the cake, are the tender Temple moments that Lauren and I share every Saturday. Life is truly grand!

Mixed amid the good and cherished, are the things that matter least, but often take the most time, selling Moneyline and Sunchase and trying to turn Oxford around. Albeit difficult because of demands, we strive to devote ourselves to that which matters most and not get caught up in the thick of thin things (to quote Paul Dunn).


Since our last post we purchased our new home, having closed in late March.




Since March we have probably lived in the house for about 5 weeks, and Lauren even less. We closed on one day and left for Hawaii and Sundance the next day for the 4 weeks that followed.





We needed the space for the contractors to complete the landscape and addition. Then it has been off to grandkids, Indy, Mesa, Houston, and kids in Provo, and then grandkids to us. Since the end of July it has been constant. Lauren has been in Mesa, Carmel and Texas to be with our newest addition Miles and family. We will be home on the 3rd of September.

We leave on the 17th for Buckland, Copenhagen, Ireland, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland and NY, and then home again on the 10th of October.



We will be in Houston on the 1st weekend of November for Miles' blessing, Indy for Thanksgiving, Indy the 1st weekend in December for Sophie's blessing and Sundance for Christmas. We will keep our calendar henceforth on this blog. The journeys continue and life is grand. Every day is a gift and we love them all.