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Activity

An Ending: Goodbye 2016

By Leslie Parks - Saturday, December 31, 2016
I remember as a kid watching the ball drop at Times Square on New Year's Eve on TV.  I always envisioned parties and people, most of the time I watched alone. There have been years when I put on a mask and attended parties or other years that I stayed home alone, crying. Not wanting to face anyone.  Still other times, I went...

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Friends

An Addition: Robin (Gyeong Lee)

By Leslie Parks - Thursday, December 29, 2016
Well we have had a major change this year in more ways than one.  Robin is one of those major changes.  At the beginning of the school year, only one week into it I received an email from someone I hadn't talked to for a couple of years.  We had lost touch going to different churches and well life gets into the way...

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Sports

A Season: Indoor Soccer

By Leslie Parks - Tuesday, December 27, 2016
The doors open and close behind the three kids wearing shin guards, shorts and blue t shirts. The inside of the building is not much warmer than the outside but there isn't any wind. They gather in a circle on the cement, talking and passing the ball around.  Saying hello to the other parents, I find a place on the bench and lay...

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Holiday

Christmas morning

By Leslie Parks - Sunday, December 25, 2016
We gather round the living room.  A coffee cup in my hand, camera at the ready.  Job and Lona pass out presents, the rest gather on couches or the floor.  Once the presents are stacked, the reading begins. We open our Bibles to either Luke or Matthew and read of the Nativity. This year taking turns reading paragraphs. Some of us make voices,...

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Exploring

An Outing: Nooksack Eagles

By Leslie Parks - Friday, December 23, 2016
The bright powdery snow has coated the landscape with a magic that only appears in story books. The trees glisten with silver and the water bubbles and sparkles. The snow on the road crunches under foot. The fog starts to lift and the sun brilliantly peaks through illuminating the branches and brush. The trees standing tall, proud yet bare offer the perfect spot...

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Holiday

A Tradition: Reach Out & Red Buckets

By Leslie Parks - Thursday, December 22, 2016
We as a family have volunteered with Reach Out for years.  Last year I took a break.  I just couldn't do it but this year we were back at it.  I even took the kids out of school in the afternoon to help out.  Well, just Robin and Lona.  One year, I brought my dad.  He was amazed and it is amazing.  This...

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Holiday

A Tradition: lights

By Leslie Parks - Monday, December 19, 2016
One of the very first things we do for Christmas decorations is put up outside lights.  I have to, well actually John has to do that for me.  It is therapeutic for me. The twinkling soft white lights go on in the morning outside and then off when it gets light out, then on again as it gets dark. I love the sparkle...

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Holiday

A photoshoot: Christmas Cards

By Leslie Parks - Monday, December 19, 2016
 It's funny how life changes.  I had a photo that I was all set to use for our Christmas card this year.  I had a plan to get them printed, stamped and sent by December 1st but then life happens and that plan went out the window in a big big way.  We added to our family and that photo couldn't be used...

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