Memory Monday ~ Kyndal's 1st Bday

How precious is she!?

Sorry for all the slideshows, but this is absolutely the fastest, easiest, and most fun way to share several pictures. =)  Here are some pics from Missy's adorable 1st Birthday Party this weekend!!

Happy Birthday, Kyndal Faith!!

There are some heavy subjects I've been thinking and praying about, wanting to write about soon... but I'm saving all that for another day...

Because today is the 1st Birthday of my one and only niece, Kyndal Faith, also known as Missy K or Mini-Miss or Presh-Face (by me, at least)!! lol   I absolutely ADORE her.  She has big, beautiful blue eyes and wispy blond hair and a precious smile and several tiny teeth coming in (that are making her look way too grown up).  She is soft and cuddly and sweet and just endearingly happy.  Her little soul is so full of joy and laughter and delight in the life surrounding her, and she's beginning to develop a sassy, playful personality that we all love!  It's amazing how much she can communicate through just her eyes and facial expressions. :)

...They're stopping at four, so Missy K is officially the baby of the Parrish fam.  I love how every new thing with babies is exciting and cause for great celebration!  She's recently learned to clap when we say "yaaaay" and to wave and say "hi," and it's about the cutest thing I've ever seen (video below)!  She's been pulling up on the furniture lately, but hasn't mastered walking yet... there are so many great milestones and memories to be made ahead!  I so look forward to watching her grow up, but I'm really loving this age right here.  I know she will be well-loved and protected by her daddy and three big brothers (and possibly a bit spoiled by her mom, Aunt Lindsey, and Mamaw)!!  ;-)  She doesn't know it yet, but she and her brothers are a huge part of what helped get me through some really tough days over the last year.  And today, we get to celebrate the awesome milestone of her very 1st birthday, the one-year anniversary of the day the world became a little brighter and more precious! =)

So Happy Birthday, baby Kyndal Faith!  I can't wait for your party this weekend! :)   I pray that your life will continue to be surrounded by love and filled with grace, that you will be truly confident in your God-given worth and value, and that you will grow to know and love Jesus with all your heart!  We love you, Missy!! :)

Now here are a couple cute Mini-Miss videos and another Flipagram slideshow... because I just couldn't resist!! =)

Flipagram!

Always fun to discover new things... this is an app called "Flipagram" where you can choose any pics from your FB albums and/or phone and collage them together, then add any song you have in iTunes!  It's super fast and the music just makes it 1,000 times better for people like me.  LOVE IT!!  (I haven't had time to write a tribute post today, and I don't want to do those halfheartedly, so I'll get back to that next week.)

For now, here are some of my favorite summer memories:


This next one is of my three silly nephews and precious Missy K!  =)  Triston and Carter love to see (and "show Rachael") their pictures when they make silly faces, so we did that for quite a while at Cheddar's the other day. lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=813Ggv7kWpQ#action=share

"I just try to live every day as if I've deliberately come back to this one day to enjoy it, as if it was the full, final day of my extraordinary, ordinary life." ~Tim, About Time

Jenni

Jenni's funeral service today was sacred.  It was holy.  Powerful.
I'm so thankful I was able to drive down and attend.

The church was crowded - so full of people who Jenni impacted, especially through this final season of her life.  The family sang "Jesus, Name Above All Names" as they entered the auditorium (so I was crying even before the speeches began).  Her father spoke, then her brother, then her best friend, and then her husband.  (My former teacher, classmate, Pastor's daughter, and CHA's most beloved coach.)  Each of them shared personal memories and talked about how Jenni's life pointed them and those around her to Christ, particularly in her suffering.  Then they played a clip from Jenni's testimony (video below, 43:28-44:38), followed by a worship song and picture slideshow.  

I sat with my dad and Rachael, and all I could think was how I want my life to make an eternal difference.  I want my heart to reflect the heart of Christ; I want to be bold enough to share my testimony with those around me who need Him.  I want to show compassion for others and have faith that every trial and difficult season in my life has a purpose.  In short, I want to know and love God more.  And I don't leave many funerals feeling that mix of hope and inspiration and desire.  So I'm thankful for Jenni's example and for hearing her family praise her character and seeing the huge crowd of people who admired her faithfulness.  There are a million things that can distract us from it, but in the end, Jesus is all that matters...  Loving Him and loving others in a way that draws them to Him.  Jenni did that well!

"Let us rest in what we DO KNOW rather than wrestling with what we don't know."
~Pastor Melton

"But what seemed failure from man's standpoint was a tremendous triumph from God's, because God's purpose is never man's purpose... As we go on in the Christian life it gets simpler, because we are less inclined to say, 'Now why did God allow this and that?' A [mature] Christian is one who trusts the knowledge and wisdom of God, and not his own knowledge." 
~My Utmost for His Highest

"Fellowshipping with Christ in our suffering guards it from purposelessness."
~Beth Moore

"Your reactions determine your reach.  People will know you by how you face hardship!" ~Lysa Terkeurst

This is a video of Jenni sharing her testimony at a CHA chapel service a few months back.  It's about 45 minutes, but it's worth it and I would encourage you to watch it all.


"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants."
~Psalm 116:15

"I will never forget this awful time as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!”
~Lamentations 3:19-24

*Please keep her husband, Heath, and their seven children (Maddie, Connor, Kelton, Macy, Brody, Reese, and Cruz) in your prayers!!

EDIT:  Here is the full video of Jenni's service for anyone interested...

Words of Wisdom...

“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.” ~Timothy Keller

Now here's T-Swift being awesome.  And again I say, no wonder I love her! :)

Tribute Tuesday ~ Tall Kyle!!

Today's Tribute goes to Kyle Brandon, 

also known as Tall Kyle or TK! =)

(This pic = him helping clean up after JEM's bday party, but I just love how festive he looks!) lol

 1. "Tall Kyle" is set apart, a rare man of God that I highly respect and admire!  He walks with God faithfully in day to day life, and his heart is humble and yielded to Him.  I'm truly thankful to count him among my close circle of friends (the "A Team" as Chet put it!). =)

My closest three guy friends:  Kyle, Chet, and Jeff! :)  #horsebrosinvegas

 2.  TK has a strong foundation and a lot of Biblical wisdom (one of many reasons I miss the days of DDLG South!).  He is well respected and very trustworthy, and friends tend to seek out his counsel when they need Godly insight or advice!

 3.  He puts others ahead of himself without the need for praise, flattery, or recognition.  He is kind, very chivalrous, generous, and protective, particularly toward the women in his life, and it has not gone unnoticed.  Little things like walking behind the girls when we're in a group or staying back with me when I'm pushing through the sandy hike or helping Laura climb the rocks or helping Sarah hobble to the car (lol)... they matter, and they are deeply appreciated!!

 4.  He's consistent and committed in serving, a natural leader who inspires integrity in others.  He knows who he is in Christ, which produces a combination of humility, service, strength, and security!  He maintains a grateful attitude... and has encouraged me to do the same (reminding me of the Charles Swindoll quote). lol

 5.  He's one of the four horsemen, (or #horsebros as they're better known) -- he has been a good influence and friend to Michael; and Jeff and Chet refer to him as "the model citizen." lol  He is peaceful, laid-back, and even-keel emotionally.  I feel like his goodness is sometimes under-appreciated, but he really does not crave people's attention or approval (or Tribute posts). lol

 6.  He was the only guy in the "singles group" in Vegas, which meant he had the honor of escorting me and Laura to dinner and the play! lol  (He also quietly paid for several of our meals, which was thoughtful and generous and much appreciated!!)

 7.  One of the most humble people I know. (The irony there makes it easy for me to remember that he works for a company called Pride!)

 8.  One of the "Europe guys" (the three of them went to Europe in 2012, and he and JEM are going to Switzerland again this month!!)  He's always there to celebrate with his friends on big occasions in their lives.  He's also there to help paint, move, build furniture, etc. whenever it's needed!!  (*I love this about all three of these guys!)

 9.  He's funny!  His facial expressions will crack you right up sometimes when he's listening to something that surprises him. :) He has a dry sense of humor and chimes in when you least expect it with quiet-but-hilarious comments like "I really don't think you'd wanna go with the tramp stamp in prison!"  (...answering one of JEM's now infamous random questions. lol)

10.  I'm really thankful for his friendship and influence in our circle of friends.  And finally, I'm glad he doesn't mind posing for my cheesy pictures... over and over and over again! lol  #m&mworldcuteness  #worthit ;-)

So in conclusion, yay for Tall Kyle! =)
I can't say enough good things; the world needs more men like him!!

Even if He doesn't...

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. And now the prize awaits me -- the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing."  
~2 Timothy 4:7-8

"I love that your life continues to point over and over again to the Lord of your Heart, the Creator and Redeemer of all things. When you were my sister's childhood friend, I did not realize that one day I would pray that I could reflect Christ as much as you. Dearest Jenni, I hate what life in this world has put you through. But I love what you have done to the world. You are a light that points is straight to Him. Thank you."  ~Beth Cox

"Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel, You will guide me,and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth."  ~Psalm 73:23-25

After a two-year battle (not giving up or giving in even when doctors gave up) with aggressive appendiceal cancer, Jenni Kufahl died this afternoon and is finally healed and free from the unbearable pain she continually experienced here, her life and health and beauty fully restored in heaven, seeing Jesus face to face.  Please pray for her husband, Heath, and their seven children right now!!  This is such a difficult and tragic loss, but I know that God loves each of them and that He Himself will watch over and comfort and take care of them.

My friend, Tiffany, posted this verse as her status just a few minutes before I got the email about Jenni's time on earth coming to an end last night.  I'm thankful that God used that to prepare my heart for this and remind me that He is sovereign and loving and worthy of all worship and praise!!

"The God whom we serve is able to save us... but even if He doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18