- On the morning of Thursday, April 3, Amy and I headed out for a four-day camping trip to the Grand Canyon in Arizona (for those of you that were wondering). We rented a Saturn Aura from Avis for $1.07! We decided to use some of our credit card points to get $200 in gift certificates to Avis. So we crammed all our stuff into the sizable back seat and enormous trunk and started out on a 500-mile trip around 10:30am. Here are all the freeways/highways that we ended up taking: 22, 57, 60, 15, 40 and 64! We arrived at Mather Campground at the Grand Canyon just as the last light of day was disappearing. We caught a brief, darkened glimpse of the canyon as we drove to the campsight. One first for me was setting up camp by the headlights of the car. That was fun! Oh yeah, it was freezing while we were there, literally! Well, to make a long story short, we had a great time sleeping, cooking, eating, hiking, taking pictures, making and enjoying fires and having the great privilege of acknowledging our God for his creation of such a wonderful place. We're both so glad we went and Amy actually added a state to her list of states visited!
- On April 12, we drove to Studio City for the wedding of a classmate, Micah Panama. Micah and I were classmates from first grade until we graduated from Santa Clarita Christian School. The ceremony was held in a beautiful Presbyterian church and the reception was at a very nice restaurant in Hollywood, with a view of the Hollywood sign from the street (which we forgot to take a picture of!). At the reception, I was able to see several high school friends that I hadn't seen for some time, and Amy got to finally meet them.
- This past Friday we drove up to Santa Clarita right after school got out and beat most of the traffic to attend my lifelong friend Matt Dixon's wedding. Matt and Sarah had a beautiful wedding at the Hyatt in Valencia, and again, we were able to see many friends.
- After congratulating the couple, the six of us (my family and Amy and I) piled in my parents' van and drove up to Santa Maria for the 22nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma's! Amy and I stayed at Aunt Kathy's and Uncle Mel's due to the catlessness of that grand establishment. Saturday morning meant a typical big Parker breakfast and the usual Easter Egg Hunt festivities at Grandma's. I'm proud to say that I finally won an Easter Egg Hunt by finding all five of my eggs first! I don't think that's happened in a decade, at least. Unfortunately, Alex and Tyler and Chris were unable to make the trip and my cousin and THE best man, Mike, was on duty, protecting Santa Maria from various and sundry criminals. We made the best of it, had a good time talking and laughing and eating and watching the Spurs beat the Suns in double overtime. The ladies went shopping and soon after returning, we again piled in the van and headed to Santa Clarita. After a quick pizza dinner, Amy and I headed for home.
- Amy continues to enjoy her job as Accounting Assistant at Pan-Pacific Plumbing and is learning more and more about the different projects and duties it requires. She has also enjoyed having a fellow member of Village Bible Church and good friend, Emily, join the ranks at Pan-Pacific.
- We are in the process of looking for another car, so that Amy will have her first car and so transportation to and from Talbot will be easier on us this summer and in the fall. Lord-willing, we'd like to buy a used Toyota Camry in the next two months or so.
It's been busy and will continue that way, as we have several more weddings this summer. It's exciting to see God-honoring couples commit to each other for life.
Soli deo Gloria
