A Sunday to Remember

It started off well. My brother Norman and his wife LeAnne were on a trip so my sisters and I were watching the nephews. Sunday morning was my turn so I took them to church with me. We had a great time except for the end when I was leaving.

My Dad and I had switched cars, it was easier for me to transport the boys in the van, and he was driving up north to preach at a church so I let him take my car. I bundled the boys up and we exited out the back of the church. I started the van and then climbed in the back to buckle them into their seats. They were in. I grabbed my phone and a carton of peanuts to bring in the front seat with me and then I pulled the door shut. After I shut the door I watched in horror as the van automatically locked itself. My heart fell as I watched the little lock buttons fall on both the front and back door-- I had just locked my nephews into the car and we don't have a spare key.

I stood there starring at the side of the car in disbelief. Vehicles are not supposed to lock themselves until you are driving away! Apparently my dad's van didn't know that little piece of information. After trying all the doors I went around the car and started talking to Holt through the window. I told him what had happened and tried to tell him to push the red button between his legs to get out of his seat, but he was not getting it.

I don't think I have felt such a panic feeling before. Obviously they were okay, the car was running and warm, and they were buckled in. But I couldn't get to them, and that felt horrible! It was a weird feeling when I walked into church. I felt embarrassed, worried, and useless. I wanted to tell someone but I realized that no one could really help me, and I felt like crying. I went outside once again. My friend Mike came by, but couldn't really help and he needed to get going. Mike was trying not to laugh even though he felt sorry for me. It was then that I realized this really was a humorous situation. He left and I called Mom and she got a hold of roadside assistance through our insurance company, but it was going to take a while for them to get there.

In the mean time, Blake started to cry. There is no way to calm a one and a half year old through a window. But thankfully soon afterwards he fell asleep. Holt started to get scared after being in his seat for about 20 minutes, and started to cry. I tried to tell him to lay his head back and get a little rest too, but the music was playing in the car so I don't think he could hear me very well.

I got a automated call telling me the estimated arrival of the rescue guy. 30 minutes! And Holt was crying. I was so frustrated, I am a nanny for goodness sake! I take car of children for a living! But my 3 year old nephew was crying and I couldn't help him.

Soon other people were leaving church and came by to try and help. One of the men suggested calling the police because they weren't too far away and could be there in 5 minutes. So I called 911 and told them the situation. My brother Colin and his wife Kristi showed up, they had been at my mother's house and had heard the story.

They tried to talk to Holt and calm him down as well, but to no avail. Finally a truck pulled up and a man jumped out, I was so happy to see him! He had a lot of contraptions and after I signed papers started to go to work. Not even a minute later the police showed up as well. We were starting to look like we were having a party outside in the back of the church. The officer went in his trunk and got out his tool and asked the truck man if he wanted to race to get the van open. The police officer won.

We got it open and Colin got Holt out of his seat and gave him a hug to calm him down. It didn't take too long. I think Holt was more excited to see the "police officer" and the "truck man" rather than actually getting out of his seat. But I was happy that he was okay. Blake was sleeping still so he was just fine! I thanked the officer and the other man. After getting information from me they left.

Oh what an afternoon. I already know I probably won't live this whole experience down for quite a long time. I am more than willing to be the cause of so much laughter and hilarity. Carrie hugged me when I got home and said "out of all of us it would happen to you!" Yes, I do tend to have random things happen to me. So even though I had to wait outside in the cold for 45 minutes, it really turned out okay. I am thankful that they really weren't in danger, that Blake fell asleep (a 1.5 year old in a car seat for that long could be ugly,) and especially that Holt didn't have to use the bathroom during that time.

I don't think Holt will be scarred for life or anything, despite the tears, he was having too much fun later recounting the story to everyone. I had made sure on the drive home that he knew what REALLY happened. Later I smiled as he told his dad, "the car accidentally locked us in, and the police officer and the truck man got me out!"

Walker Wedding

The Walker Vacation is over and what a trip it was!

My Mom gave my food away...

Yes it was a sad affair. I brought some extra alfredo pasta home after the Young Adult Ministry night. It was our fellowship night and there was some food left over so Jamie let me bring it home.

I ate some of it and while working on the computer my mom put the rest away- or so I thought. The next day I looked into the fridge and couldn't find it. I asked her where it is and she said "oh I gave that to Carrie for her lunch. I suppose you wanted that to eat for lunch." She wasn't very appologetic, thought it was funny more than anything. It is a pretty strict unsaid rule in our family that if anyone has leftovers from a restaurant you don't eat it. That was why it was so different. Although I guess it technically wasn't the same thing. We had a nice time of cleverness going back and forth.

Later Carrie said that she realized that it was my food and felt almost wrong eating it, and thought "My sister is going to be mad when she finds out her food isn't there for her to eat." I wasn't really mad. It was funny because it was so unexpected. Oh well.

Christmas Eve at the Walker's

The Walker Kids are together again!


Me and little Holt.



















Little Holt in his new outfit.

More to the Story

More to the story to make it more funny. The reason we had to cook both turkeys is that the little one was already thawed out and the big one was too big to fit in either of our freezers! Crazy!

35 lbs of turkey + 6 people= a lot of leftovers

The Turkey's too BIG!

This morning I took a deep breath as I approached the grocery store. (Okay so I didn't really take a deep breath, but it sounds better that way.) The day before Thanksgiving is a mad house at the grocery store. People are running around like chickens with their heads cut off- grabbing at the frozen fruit, searching through the spices for the cloves or pumpkin pie spice, and making sure they get that turkey that is on sale for 38 cents a pound.

I had exactly twenty minutes before I had to leave to go to my work (less than a minute away), and I had a nice long list with coupons from my mom. I was slightly frightened at what the store might present to me. Would I find everything? Would I be searching frantically for the Cool Whip? I had no idea.

Thankfully that early in the morning everything was well supplied. The employees had all of their boxes pallets out restocking the food in preparation for the day time rush. I approached the frozen meat section in search of a turkey. I just then realized the possibility of their not being one. I breathed a sigh of relief to see about seven lovely birds still chillin' together in the cooler. I checked the list to see if my mom mentioned what size turkey she wanted. It didn't say so I decided since I like turkey just to pick the biggest one- which happened to be a 22 lb bird.

So I was slightly late to my job, and I missed getting the turkey gravy, but I pretty much was satisfied with my shopping experience. Tonight I got home with the goods and my mom helped bring the groceries inside. She thought that the turkey seemed rather heavy.

She opened up the bag and was surprised to see such a big bird! (BIG BIRD HA!) She realized she forgot to tell me that she already had a turkey- a smaller one, one that is already thawed. She had wanted another small one. We both laughed. It wouldn't have mattered really if she had told me because there were only big turkeys at the store anyways. It was just hilarious that I picked the biggest one. I guess we will have a lot of leftovers- which of course is what I wanted.


I must continue on a second more- we discussed what to thaw the turkey in and and found a solution in a garbage can (we cleaned it with soap.) Hope you enjoy.

Holt Lee Walker

He's Here

Yes he's here now. He arrived at 11:06pm September 23, 2006. He was 8 lbs and 14 oz. LeAnne did an amazing job the nurse's said. I am so proud of her. She is amazing. He was 21 and a half inches long. His name is yet to be determined, but we didn't give them much time alone. So perhaps tomorrow when we go again, this time with the grandparents and greatgrandparents we will hear what my little nephew is going to be called.

I am so happy now. Goodnight.

Baby on the way!

I have to say it about Junior he has impeccable timing. Tonight right after midnight my brother and his wife drove to the hospital because a little before 12:00am LeAnne's water broke. Today was my brother's last day of work for a month, and a Friday night to boot. None of us have to work tomorrow.

I am writing at this time simply as a means to calm down a little so I can sleep. Nothing has happened yet, she isn't having contractions that she can feel yet. So we are all going to wait until morning. Norm will call us if anything has happened. It is terribly exciting. I think we were all at a point where it didn't seem like it was really going to happen. Yet we knew it would come sometime.

So if you get this before the dawn of September 23, 2006 please keep my brother and his wife and the new little one in your prayers. I will just check if the batteries are charging and then go to sleep.


Goodnight.

6-person Conference Call

Tonight I had a crazy time with my family on a six person conference call. I was talking to my sister Emily and she got a call from my brother Norman- who added us all into one phone call, than Carrie called one of them and was added and than Carrie called LeAnne and than after a little while talking we added Mother. It was so much fun. I miss my family being together. I am so blessed to love and be loved by my family.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve with my sisters. That night was beauitful. We went to church where Beckah States and I danced to a song together. And Carrie sang with the choir.

My favorite service of the year. Where it celebrates our God coming to earth as a man, the Creator of the Universe a man- uncomprehensable.

Walker Girls

My sister is home and the Walker Girls are together again.

Happy Birthday to my brother

Yes it is my brother's birthday so I thought I would write a blog dedicated to him. Colin is now six and twenty. I can hardly believe it. I am extremely glad that he is my brother, and am proud of the way he loves God and loves our family. It is hard because he will be leaving us for nine months to study abroad but I am excited for him at the same time. I will miss him. I love you Colin!

Old letter from my dad

When my sisters and I were young and we lived out in a farm house in the country and our favorite thing to do was build forts with our friends Stasha and Carissa. At the time I thought that everyone builds forts and plays in them. But I guess that is not the case now a days. My brothers also built forts and now I realize where we got this love for the mysterious art of fort making. Here is a letter my dad wrote to his uncle and aunt when he was 8 years old. We recently received it from his cousin.

Here is the map of the fort.

So really us walkers got our love of forts from our dad. Maybe on a later blog I will describe one of the many Walker Girl forts.

Uncle Ernie

Life is so strang sometimes. Today my Uncle Ernie passed away at the exact time I was arriving at my Tuesday night prayer meeting. I did not know him very much but I wish I did. A month ago at my cousin's wedding I saw him and talked to him. I was walking by taking pictures and he said hi and asked for a rememborance of who I was, so we talked some. He was a nice man, he had also came and stayed with us for a week a couple years ago and we enjoyed him.

What I remember most about him is the pictures and stories my dad has told and shown us of him climbing massive redwood trees. He was a lumberjack and would climb to the tops of the trees and cut the branches off as well as cutting the trees. He seemed very heroic to me to do such a job, and I admired him for that.

Thank you all for your prayers. I am believing that God is faithul to answer them. Please pray for Ernie's siblings my Granny, Aunt Nola and Uncle Carl. He was their oldest brother. I can't say how sad I am right now for them, and also for Uncle Ernie's wife, daughter and grandkids. We met all of them at the wedding in August.

Thank you for your prayers.



Here are two pictures of him. The left is him climbing a tree and the right is him and another man laying in the opening they had cut.

To all of those I sent and email to my uncle is still alive today. My dad is going to fly to Seattle and drive down to California with my Aunt Nola and my Granny. If you could continue to pray for Uncle Ernie's salvation I would appriciate it. I love you all.


For those who did not know my uncle has cancer and last night he became in a coma state and they were unsure if he would live through the night. We do not think he has ever gave his life to Jesus so we would appriciate it if you could pray that he would. Thank you.

It's my birthday, I can cry if I want to

I am not a person that like to tell everyone that it's my birthday, because it seems that I am asking for special treatment. But I do like people to know anyways. Today I am 20 years old. Actually as of 1:22pm I am exactly 20 years. I received an amazing present yesterday from my parents, they gave me some funds for the laptop I am planning on purchasing. I was so thankful! Otherwise I would have to save for probably half a dozen weeks. I also received a wonderful gift from my sister Emily. Who is leaving today! That is why I called this blog, it is my birthday and if I end up crying when she leaves it is okay!

For those who do have my number I would welcome a call! Especially if I haven't heard from you in a while.

Hill

Emily

Another post dedicated to one of my wonderful sisters. My sister Emily who is 18 is leaving on the 10th for Redding California. She is going to go to a bible school there called Bethal School of the Supernatural Ministries. My parents will be flying there with her. I am so excited for her but I also know I will miss her so much. Emily, Carrie and I have always been best friends and it will be hard for us to have one of the "Walker girls" (as people call us) missing. But I am so glad that she is going to give this time to God I hope and pray that He will continue to draw her closer and reveal more and more of Himself to her as she is there. Also she is in great need of finances so if all of you could pray for that for her I would appriciate it.

Happy Birthday

I am dedicating my post today to my little sister Carrie, who is not really littler than me, but is younger. It is her 15th birthday today. I am very thankful that she is in our family and I enjoy being her sister.

Today we are headed to the State Fair with our youth group. It should be a lot of fun. I already spent three days at the fair but today I am going as a spectator and not a worker. It is much more enjoyable that way.

I still can hardly believe that my little sister is 15. Sometimes I think she should just stay young but I know that is not possible. So I hope this is a wonderful day for her.