Little Prayer, Big Heart

I have a precious story that I wanted to share with all of you. On Thursday, John Parker and I came back to the house after spending a few morning hours with my parents, neices, and nephews. I quickly got his lunch prepared so he could lay down for his usual two-hour nap. Being the terrible mother that day, I neglected to say a prayer with John Parker before he had his meal. So after he scarfed it down, I began cleaning his mouth, hands, and booster seat. All of a sudden I heard these precious, sincere words from my 2 year old......."God is Great; Thank you for our food! AMEN! Not only did he quote those exact words, but he had his tiny hands folded in prayer. I got this huge lump in my throat and tears filled my eyes as I hugged him for saying such a sweet prayer!!! It was so touching!!! Especially, since I was so caught up on getting him fed and ready for his nap. Boy, did I feel convicted!!! I was so proud to hear it come from his mouth all on his own without any of my "coaching". I was so excited that I immediately phoned Jeremy at work to let him know what his little man had said! Isn't it amazing how God works through our little ones?

Our Little Fish

The Hardy family always stays at The Breakers in Fort Walton for the 4th of July, but decided to try another place and location this year. After listening to Rick and Bubba advertise The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama- it became our destination.

I definitely recommend this place to anyone that might want to get away for some R & R. As you can tell from the slide show, Mr. John Parker Hardy thought everything was GRAND!!! The Oasis is where we spent every day!! This is the place that John Parker decided that he didn't need any floatation devices and that he was a bonified swimmer. We started out going down the slide with him and then he found out that he could do it all on his own. He is soooooo independent-which is good and bad. As of right now, there isn't anything that he is afraid of-including going underwater. He did this several times while we were swimming and came up smiling. He actually held his breath!!!! I, of course, was afraid for him! It didn't bother him what-so-ever!!!! I believe that we have an early swimmer on our hands.

Happy Father's Day and Birthday, Daddy!!!

A Son Needs a Dad........

to show him how to shave.

who can be playful and silly.

to teach him to be a gracious winner as well as a gracious loser.

A Son Needs a Dad........

to take him camping.

to wrestle with him in the grass.

to teach him how things work.

to teach him how to fix things himself.

A Son Needs a Dad.......

to show him how to be productive with his hands.

to take him fishing.

to teach him how to talk to girls.

to pull him back when he is headed in the wrong direction.

to tell him that he is proud of him.

to teach him to always give a good day's work.

A Son Needs a Dad........

to encourage him when he meets disappointment.

to teach him that it is wise to seek advice.

to help him learn from his mistakes.

to talk about the tough decisions he will face.

A Son Needs a Dad......

to go with him on imaginary adventures.

to make the family whole.

to help him face his challenges with confidence.

to be a doting grandfather for his children.

A Son Needs a Dad......

to take him to baseball games.

to nuture his independence.

to teach him that respect must be earned.

to prepare him for being responsible for his own family.

A Son Needs a Dad......

to teach him to treat women with kindness.

to stand with him the day he marries.

to show him how to be a good husband.

to show him unconditional love.

to tell him often that he is loved.

to show him how to tie a necktie.

to teach him that family is more important than work.

A Son Needs a Dad......

give him the gentle pushes that help him grow.

to lead him toward faith.

A Son Needs a Dad.....

to encourgage partriotism and civic responsibility.

who will help his mother.

to teach him to be respectful of women.

to teach him to be a gentleman.

to help him plan for his future.

A Son Needs a Dad......

who will show him affection without hesitation.

who is willing to make sacrifices for his family.

to be the role model for the father he will become.

A Son Needs a Dad.....

to help him build a treehouse.

to comfort him when he cries.

A Son Needs a Dad.....

because without him he will have less in his life than he deserves.

To me, Jeremy is that kind of "daddy" to John Parker. God has truly blessed

me with a loving and caring husband/father. Happy Father's Day,Jeremy-EVERYDAY!!!!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

Big Machines

Jeremy's father has his own logging company-which benefits John Parker greatly. All of the big machines are at his disposal at anytime when we visit "Paw Paw" at his house. However, this was the first time that John Parker was able to go to the woods to see his Paw Paw and the crew in action. Mr. Dave, (Paw Paw) was cutting near the Walters' home so we decided to ride down and let John Parker lend a hand to his Paw Paw. As you can imagine, he was in HEAVEN!! He was thrilled to be able to ride with his Paw Paw and Uncle Jason. As usual, it was a fight to get him off the big machines!! He is a true-blue-boy!!!

Playing "Catch Up"!!!

He was ready to go with his bulldozer and the water in front of him!! No FEAR what-so-ever!!!

Oh, the life of a little boy!!!
John Parker, Ashland Grace, Austin Luke, Hudson Samuel, Savannah Faith

Missy and John Parker
John Parker and his cousins (Back Left) Austin, Hailey, Ashland (Front Left) Jordan,

Savannah, of course- John Parker , and Hudson **This is the day that John Parker had pink eye. His eye started looking really red and matted right before the party!! You may can tell from the pictures!**

My mother, aka-Missy, made this cake for John Parker. The road is made from brown sugar!!
John Parker playing in the Bounce House at the party!! F-U-N!!!

He wasn't interested in posing for the picture. He had his eyes set on the cake my mother baked for his 2nd birthday. Thanks Missy!!!

Future Alabama football player and cheerleader-John Parker and Savannah Faith (cousin)

I am trying to catch up on things that I neglected to post back in March and April due to John Parker's flu bug/pink eye and our busy schedule. The first few pictures are from the beach trip with the Kelley family during Spring Break. Next, are the photos from John Parker's 'resceduled' birthday party with the extended family due to the flu. His party was held at Guardian Angel Indoor Gymnasium. Last but not least, our trip to the A-Day game in T-Town.

P.S. You'll notice that John Parker had his bulldozer with him on the beach. He spotted it at Wings and wouldn't leave the store with out one of his favorite toys!! He is so funny and so much fun!!! I love him to death!!!!!

My 2nd Birthday!

"Mom"

Before I was a Mom-I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom- I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom- I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him/her down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

**I received this as an email from one of my friends. I thought I would share it with you......wonderful, pretty moms!! Happy "before" Mother's Day!!