Emergency Escape Plan

I had to share because I was quite impressed with my Microsoft abilities. I know my dad will be proud! This is my make shift house floor plan. Please note the proper exits in case an emergency occurs.

The home study writer will probably think I am an overachiever, but I don't like to half do anything! :)

P.S. The DCS reference letters have recently been sent out.
No date as of yet on official home and interview visit. I plan to follow up with her tomorrow. We have been playing phone tag!

Positive note: I AM DONE WITH MY ROTATION AT ST JUDE! NOW IT IS TIME TO ENJOY A MONTH OFF!
50th wedding anniversary of my grandparents this weekend followed by vacation! I cant wait!

Matt's mother returns home today from Guatemala, probably in air as we speak! Cant wait to hear all about it!
Matt's great uncle passed away this week, keep his mother's family in your prayers. Matt and his family attended the funeral today in Milan.

GOD will do GREAT things in Guatemala THIS WEEK

Please join Matt and I as we pray for Matt's mom and a group from Faith who will be traveling to Guatemala VERY EARLY tomorrow morning.

Specifics to pray for:

• Safe travel to and from
• Safe working weather (last time I was there it was dangerous do to rainy season and mud slides)
• The hearts of the Guatemalan people; receptive to both physical and spiritual needs
• The crew who will be building houses in the village
• The children who will be participating in VBS and the teachers who will be leading it.

Jane, we hope you have a great time! Wish we were going with you! Love on some Guatemalans for us!
Make sure to cover your ears and stomp your feet at take off! ha :)

We will be praying for you and the crew! Tell Ryan we said he better take care of you!
When you get back, it will be Florida time!

Home study visit #1 and #2:check

Yesterday the home study writer met with Matt for a short visit while I was @ St. Jude.

The visit went well. She went over completed paperwork and we still had some documents to sign.

We had a nice surprise and was told we would have 4 total visits before everything was official. Matt and I were under the impression it would only be 2

Our home study writer lives close so we signed paper work and placed in mail box for her to pick up as visit
#2.

So we're half way there without any problems and I don't think the other 2 will be a problem either.

We will have interview at 1 visit and house inspection at the other. Hopefully she will combine Into same day.

I am off in June and the plan is to have everything done by then. She didnt act like this would be a problem.

June will be busy month between this, grandparents party and Florida vacation!

The main paperwork we lack is our health physicals. We were hoping to have an md we know sign off on paperwork to save money but looks like we may be paying to go to walk in clinic. The sheet is so minimal and general that it is not a good representation of anyone's health. I wish dr. Lindsay Flynn Arnold was already an official Md!

House Rules Officially Posted

Because of the state's requirement, Matt and I formulated house rules to be displayed in our humble abode.
Formulating general ground rules is tough when you have no idea the age of the child. The rules may need some tweaking based on age, but I am pretty pleased with what we came up with.

What I would really like to put is #1: Love Jesus #2: Love and respect others #3 Tell others about Jesus
This pretty much sums up all the rules.

I need a reader's help:
If you have an old neutral frame laying around your house about the size of printer paper (9.5 by 11), I would love to borrow it to hang my rules.
I have it printed on pretty photo paper in color, (hence the reason for terrible scanning quality) but it would look awesome in a frame!

Thanks for your help in advance!

Prayer Warriors Needed!!!

Brianna Lynn Parrish needs your assistance in prayer!

As I have posted before, Brianna leaves July 1st for Thailand. She will be there for 6 weeks working with a long term mission team send out from Lifepoint. Brianna, as well as other college students will be joining in the work of the Lord already taking place.
Over the next few weeks, the team will start meeting weekly in preparation. 

Brianna needs prayer warriors. Lifepoint will be sending out occasional emails with prayer requests. Family and friends who would like email updates of the trip, specific prayer needs, and who want to know a little more about the work going on in Thailand, please email me at tiffparrish@bellsouth.net or Brianna at briannaparrish@bellsouth.net to get your email address on the list.

Even more cool is Brianna's blog (and facebook/twitter) she will be updating every few days while in Thailand.
Here is a link for anyone who is interested. Thailand Missions
Remember: she will not be leaving until July so not much posting will be taking place prior. I will do a reminder post closer to leaving time!

Thank you for the support from friends and family!

Parrish Reunion and Mother's Day weekend

Saturday morning Matt and I headed to MS to attend the Parrish Reunion. For several years, the Parrish side of the family meets together on Mother's day weekend to fellowship, eat an awesome lunch, get re-connected, and celebrate the lives of those who are no longer with us. My daddy's father, Bobby Ray Parrish, passed away before I was born. Bobby Ray had three sons with my Mamaw, Don, Jeff, and Lee. All of which continue to want a relationship with their father's side of the family. I am thankful to still have connection with them as well because I am told all the time I look and act like the Parrish side of the family! :)

Saturday afternoon, we went to gmother Wise's house to honor gmother and all of the mothers in the family. It was a special time enjoyed by all!  Gmother, for mothers day, wanted to have the outside of her house cleaned up. The children and grandchildren did an excellent job, rain and all.

Sunday morning was a relaxing morning before church spending time with my mom. We sat outside in the cool morning for a few hours just talking.

I cannot even begin to express how thankful I am to have a mother who has guided, loved, and sacrificed from the day I was born. I am beyond blessed for God to have chosen my mom to be Darlene Parrish. As we travel this journey of fostering/adopting, I am reminded of God's grace and mercy. God could have chosen a different life for me; I could have had a childhood consisting of foster home after foster home with no one really to love me and share Jesus with me. I am not any more important to God than any child in the state's system or living in an orphanage. But He chose for me to be born to a God-fearing mother and father and I am beyond thankful. I take no pride or boast in that; just beyond grateful.
Thank you mom for instilling truth, values, and the love of Christ. I love you! And I was honored to spend mother's day with you!
On those rainy days, enjoy doing Wii Zumba for exercise and remember how much Bri and I love you and are so proud of you!

For the special motherly examples who have invested in my life, I say thank you and hope today was special:
Brenda Carr (gran), Glynda Coker (mamaw), Gmother Wise, Jane Nason, Amanda Lemonds, Ginger Carr, Stacy Flynn, Cindy Coley, and many many more.

Sunday afternoon after church, we had a special Sunday lunch at the country club in honor of Mother's day. Enjoyed eating lunch with 3 beautiful mothers, Mom, Mamaw, Aunt Lisa.

Quick prayer request:
Tuesday afternoon Matt meets with home study writer as a preliminary meeting. She will basically set us up to pass the home inspection/paper work with flying colors. Pray everything goes well. I will not be in attendance, but I will be praying Tuesday afternoon right along with you!

Guatemala on my heart

This past week has been filled with reminders of my love for the Guatemalan people. I have been to Guatemala 3x and every time was a transforming experience. Matt and I both have a very special place in our hearts for the country, the missionaries serving, the Guat people, the orphans and so forth.

I fell in love with this little girl on my very first trip. Her name is Hannah, and she has a smile that would light up a room. She speaks English better than you and I, as well as several native dialects. She was born with brittle bone disease. I cringe at the thought of her health deteriorating. Her lungs will eventually cave due to pressure from her abnormal bones. My prayer is she does not suffer and goes to be with Jesus peacefully when the day comes.















Out of numerous patients I have been following at St. Jude with my preceptor this past week, she chose a patient without knowing anything about him to be my patient to take care of. When I started reading his history, he is from Guatemala! Coincidence? I think not!! God is Good!
His family had just been home to Guat and was back for more chemo and bone marrow transplants. I am looking forward to taking care of him this month.

This morning in service, Faith commissioned a group leaving very soon to travel to Guatemala to minister in orphanages and build homes in the villages. Oh how my soul longed to be going with them. Matt's mom will be traveling at the end of the month with a group and Matt will be going at the end of the summer. Be praying for their trip, the hearts of the people, and the ministry team.
I am excited for both of them but wishing I was going as well!

The third reminder was a purchase made in Guatemala on Matt and I's behalf by his mom and dad (with the help with Ryan J. and Matts brother Jonathan). The very first trip to Guatemala Jane had seen a wicker, hand-made bassinet set up at a store on the side of the road. She told me several years ago future grand babies would be sleeping in the beautiful bassinet! With the possibility of a little one sleeping in our home soon, she kept her word and we now have it sitting in the baby room.
We may be miles away from Guatemala, but we have a piece of handiwork to admire on a daily basis.
Jenna and Jonathan, dont worry,,,,,it will be ready for you to use whenever the time comes!! :)

Jane had a great idea of writing every child's name who uses the bassinet on the bottom of the mattress to be a reminder to Matt and I of every foster child who enters our home.


My heart is heavy and I just wanted to share a little of my connection with Guatemala.
Matt and I pray often for the country and would love for you to join with us!

Cinco de mayo baby

Happy 19th birthday to my sister Brianna. Although we are Complete opposites in a lot of regards, I am thankful for a sister who loves Jesus and willing/ready to serve Him. Reminder to be praying for her as she spends majority of her summer in Thailand ministering and sharing the gospel.

She just finished her first year of college this week. So proud of her accomplishments.
I can't wait to see what the lord has in store for her in the next few years. She will make a great teacher where ever she ends up (here or overseas)

Love you Brianna!
Wish I was celebrating with you today! Hope mom/dad and friends spoil you today!