Gymnastics

I am still not able to take great photos of Eva at gymnastics since parents are not allowed in the gym when the girls are training but I tried to snap a few tonight.  Her coach let us know that Eva will be moving up to the next level when the current session is over!  I'm so proud of her.  From here on out she'll only advance with coach recommendation but I'm confident she'll continue to do well as long as we keep it fun and enjoyable.  I joke that she'll be exactly 16 years old for the 2024 summer Olympics which would be perfect :-) but I just want her to find something she enjoys that can help her build physically as well as life and social skills. 

Letting me know that she'll be going on the jumping dragon after her class is over

Blurry but she's doing a walk-walker (precursor to hand stand)

Action shot, just rolled down the ramp

Again, blurry because I'm behind glass but she's mid-air.  Pretty cool huh?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood... I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

~  August 28, 1963

Thank you Dr. King, for giving us a vision of what America should be.  While we may not be there yet, I promise to never stopping working towards true equality in my home, my workplace, my church, my neighborhood and my country.  I want Eva to grow up in a world where she is judged by the content of her character and nothing else.

Favorite Bible Passages

We're going to the Minneapolis Tattoo Convention tomorrow and I've been thinking a lot about getting a Bible passage (just the chapter and verse, not the whole thing written out)... we don't have the money for anyone to get a tattoo this weekend but my wheels are turning on what to get.  Here are some of my favs!

Be still and know that I am God. ~ Psalms 46:10

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ~ Philippians 4:13

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths. ~ Proverbs 3:5

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. ~ Deuteronomy 31:6

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ~ Galatians 5:22-23

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~ Jeremiah 29:11

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. ~ John 10:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~ Isaiah 41:10

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

Do to others as you would have them do to you. ~ Luke 6:31

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ~ 1 John 4:8

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. ~ Matthew 6:24

Pot Roast Tuesdays

The title is a bit sneaky as it might lead you to believe that Baba makes pot roast for us every Tuesday.  She doesn't, but she did this week and boy was it good :-)

Hugs from Eva

Playing so nicely

"Daddy's Princess" yes, there is a theme with her clothes ;-)

Uncle Noah avoiding the camera

Baba hard at work

Sorry for the meat close up all you vegetarians but the camera did such a nice job I had to post :-)

Green beans, pot roast, cheesy mashed cauliflower

8,000 Views

Wow we flew from 7,000 to 8,000 views faster than we have ever gone through 1,000 views before!  Thanks so much for continuing to check in with what we're doing here in exciting ol' Minn-e-sota.
All our love,
The Parks Family

MooPod

Do not ask me why but Eva calls my Kindle Fire a "MooPod".  I assume she got the "pod" part from daddy's ipod or something but the "moo".... who knows.  I don't let he use it very often but when I do, she's in heaven.  I've downloaded apps for her ranging from a coloring pad to matching memory game and even movies.  She's so tech savvy she'll probably pass us up by the time she hits 5, which is funny since they don't actually allow technology in her school until 7th grade (no computers, calculators, anything). 

"Daddy's #1"

matching game to hold us over until food arrived at Osaka

Have I mentioned she legitimately beats me in the game Memory?  No?  Well... she does.

Osaka

I ordered a coupon from crowdcut.com months and months ago to try out this new hibachi and sushi place in Coon Rapids.  I finally got around to using it today after Eva's party and salon visit and it was so much fun.  It wasn't busy at all so Eva and I actually had our own table and she was enthralled by the hibachi chef.  I'll be damned if she goes down the path of only liking pizza and bugers like daddy.

Coy pond in the entryway

Had to add this in just as proof that I did not waste money. See Jason, filet & sushi for- yes, $2.80!