A Day in the Life. . .

It's 9 o'clock on Wednesday night and we're expecting Parker to call in saying he's on his way home. Instead, his friend's mom calls to tell us that he's okay, but she just wants to prepare us for what we'll see when he walks in the door. By the way, she's bringing him because she doesn't think it's safe for him to drive.

Now, any parents reading this can just imagine the feeling that surges through your body when you hear those words. Anyone who knows Parker knows that we know that feeling all too well. He walks in holding a bloody towel over his eye telling us he's fine and pleading, "Please don't take me to the Emergency Room!" That's what he says now because he thinks scars are cool. But we know that five years from now he would ask us why we let HIM make that choice!

So, Parker and Darrell left for the hospital at 9:30 pm and this is what he looked like six hours and six stitches later when they returned home at 3:30 am.*


And can I say that my kids need to thank God every day for a Daddy who doesn't pass out or throw up at the slightest mention of blood, needles, broken bones, etc. If not for Darrell, Parker would've been in that little room with the nice doctor ALL BY HIMSELF!

While there is no ideal place to take a hit from a 12-foot long PVC pipe, and anywhere on the face is even less ideal than, say, your belly, we are VERY thankful that it wasn't just one inch to the left. The doctor told him he probably would have lost vision in that eye.

Just in case you're wondering how in the world a 12' PVC pipe comes in contact with someone's face, Parker and a friend were playing "catch" with the pipe. We sure love his fun, adventuresome personality and this is just what happens sometimes, I guess.

*These pictures were actually taken today at Rusty's house, but this is what his eye looked like when he got home.

Tim Hawkins - A Homeschool Family

Hidden Treasures

Welcome to our story

Join us as we share our family: Darrell, Tracy, Parker, McKenna, Logan, and (pending China Girl). We hope to share stories, pictures, and video of our life and travel. Who knows what all will be shared here.

This will also be the place we share our story of adopting a little girl from China. You'll learn the process we've been through, the coming two-year wait, and our journey to China (hopefully, the whole family).

We'll also share and log all that has brought us to today in that journey. Want to stay up with us every time we blog? If you're not using a blog reader (like Google Reader), it IS the way to go. It's easy! For more information to here.

China? Adopt from where?

I can't even remember the first time I thought about adopting from China. We were living in Vegas at the time (pre-Steven Curtis Chapman's entry into the whole adoption thing). The only way I know to describe is reflecting on Psalms 37:4, God gives you the desires He wants you to have. That began six years of dormant desires.

Why China? People often ask me. My only answer is that China is the only "picture" I've ever had. God will lead each of us; some to foster care, some to adopt locally, some to support financially those who are called to adopt (more about that later!), all of us to pray and act in some way.

How is God leading you? Which desires has He placed in your heart ~ some you may have never spoken?