Previous Lives and The End of Summer

Hello there, everyone! 

I realize that I haven't been very present on the blog. Blogging has taken a back seat to just enjoying summer vacation. However!! I'm going to fill you in, in one fell swoop of all the exciting things that have been going on in casa de Parrish. We don't actually call it that, sorry for that moment.

Anyways, this summer has been nothing short of awesome. Really! Here's the very fast recap:

We released our very first recorded project!! When I say project, I mean it. Being married and writing original music... not always easy! In fact that leads me to my next fun announcement, Nate and I have been invited to become regular contributors to an online worship resource called The Church Collective! Our first article is the practicals of writing music with a spouse. You think what all those cute married worship power couples is easy? It is not! Either way, that article is on it's way, and you will hear about that when it comes.

You can find our self-titled EP, PARRISH, on iTunes or NoiseTrade!!

Nate and I have done a few radio interviews for the EP, which has been really fun. We even did an interview for a station in Ireland! The DJ's accent was so think I really had to concentrate! Also... it was at 7am. Thanks a lot, time zones! 

Nate has been a part of this alternate music dimension before (more about that later), and so I really just let him take the lead. The key is to be short and sweet and right to the point, while also throwing in a bit of your sense of humor.  

We took a little road trip to the Alameda county faire! It was hotter than the surface of the sun, (remember I live in a constant of 68-75 degrees, I'm a total weather wimp), but it was so fun! This picture kind of looks like an endorsement for BudLight...but trust me, it's not. In fact it's the opposite! I'd like to take this time and tell you how gross I think it is :) Either way the fair was really fun, and there were animals everywhere, and music, and crafts... I felt just like Leslie Knope, my dream girl.

Also, this happened! I got my hair did! I live within walking distance from LeMelange in Napa... the beauty college, and my dear friend, Amy, is a whiz at the salon chair. She really is... I decided, oh a whim, to go full white/platinum 20 minutes before my appointment. I've wanted to for years, but it was always too expensive. Finally! My Elsa dreams have come true! I feel like this is how I was supposed to look. I don't know how you feel about it, but to be honest, I don't care. I love it.

And now, for my final and probably the most life altering announcement. I'm not having a baby. Let's get that out of the way right away. If that were the case, it would be it's own announcement, and it would be me screaming. 

Years ago, before Napa, Roseville, or Citrus Heights, There was Stockton/Modesto. Before there was Parrish or Kingdom, there was Worth Dying For. While Nate was in WDF he had the great opportunity of meeting tons of people in the industry and make actual, real, relationships. Well, the season of our lives, and lifestyle, with WDF has been over for a long time now. The Lord, for lack of better terms had kind of taken that away and forced us to really seek Him (read our story here). It was, and has been an incredible Journey, but Nate has never lost the desire to be a full-time musician. Well, about six weeks ago Nate got a phone call from his friend James, asking if he still did music, and if he did, if he'd like to go on the road with his band, Kutless. 

Long story short, starting in August, Nate will be playing guitar for Kutless and joining them on the road. We have really prayed about it, and the Lord confirmed in our hearts that this is a good thing. For those of you who know about Kutless, or Christian music, or even Nate, it seems like a no-brainer that he would go. The Lord has given full-time, traveling music back to Nate. This is a big deal for us, and a huge answer to prayer. We see it as a blessing for being faithful to the Lord, and giving 100% wherever we are, and being thankful for it. Sometimes that means giving 100% leading worship at your small church. Sometimes that means giving 100% to being a music teacher. Well now for Nate it means touring with Kutless. We are so very thankful for the opportunity, and would appreciate your prayers as we walk into this next chapter.

Spring Break Bucket List - Revisited

Welp... Turns out, the weather is going to be very "springy". In fact it's raining! What about my bible-reading-by-the-river plan? Darn! My New Girl DVDs are calling my name so loudly, but no! I refuse to just sit and do nothing! Well, anyways, so I've been forced to take a new look at my bucket list... They're a little less ambitious, but oh well!! Also, with spring break, we've decided to save gas and only use one car...so I can only travel to places that are within walking distance.

1) Clean my house.
2) Go to Berkeley (much more rain friendly than the beach)
3) Participate in one C2C Challenge (if you dont know what that is, look up the Coast 2 Coast Challenge Blog! The girls love Jesus and clothes and artsy stuff in general... what could be more fun!)
4) Paint something everyday
5) Read my Bible Everyday
6) Write one song
7) Drink a ton of coffee.
8) Post three blog posts

So, Thus far I'm on my second blog post for spring break, which means I'm on a roll! I'm really thinking about how to word my next blog post about obedience and peace of mind. It's about this time of year when "worst majors in college in all of American History" lists come out, and guess what, all of my degrees are on that list! It's gonna be a fun post! See you soon! Try to stay dry you crazy california weather wimps.

Friday Night

Hello Everyone! I may have shared with you before that Nate and I serve as the heads of our college/young adult ministry at our church in Napa. Nate and I have been at our church for about 9 months. When we first got to Hillside, there was a college ministry, but no Pastor. There was fellowship, but no leader. We were burdened for this group that wanted to grow and come together, and also serve the young adult community, but really didn't have anyone to steer the ship. Nate had a meeting with our lead pastor, and in October of 2014, We began to the lead the group/

Since then we've seen serious growth! Not only number wise, but in worship, in enthusiasm, in responsibility and vision, its been so very excitign! We're seeing people excited about their walk in Christ, and excited to see other people come to know Him, and start growing themselves!  

It's been a wonderful and challenging season for us. Running a ministry is such a fun and hard thing to do. God has been taking care of us this whole way! He has blessed us with new friends, who also have a passion and desire to see the young adults come to Christ! He has blessed us with His Word. He has blessed us with confirmation after confirmation that we were really hearing from the Lord and moved out of comfort and safety into unknown territory.

These are a few pictures of the Friday afternoon routine: 

Coffee (recipe coming soon), Worship practice, Prayer, Message. 

 I actually ended up being exact twins last week with my friend Marissa. I only have a polaroid of it to document it, but we were really feeling the denim on denim.

If you do find yourself as a young adult, having nothing to do, and you live near or in the Napa Valley, you should come out! We would love to meet you and be your friend!  See you soon!

I'm a 'bound book' kind of girl

Hi Everyone! I got a new toy that I'm absolutely smitten with! The Polaroid 300 camera. It's virtually the same as the fujifilm instax camera except different colors. They also use the same film. I take it with me everywhere!

Nate and I went on a little walking date to Small World Cafe in Downtown Napa, Look at Nate's face! He's such a doll!

Aren't these so fun! I love the ones of my students. My chapel leadership kids were playing Mafia as a bonding game. Let's just make perfectly clear, I'm awful at being the mafia!They love each other so much, it does my heart so much good to be such sweet people to one another. Being a teacher is the best!

I count these last few weeks (only ten left) as fleeting blessing. This senior class means so much to me, I always say that is this is the class that taught me how to teach. I'm not emotionally prepared to see them move on. Oh no! I'm getting all proud and mushy, I have to stop. Have a fantastic weekend! I'm going wedding dress shopping with my brother's new fiance! I love adding girls to our family! Yay!

Before you go though... I am all about this song right now! This is Mount Zion by Cageless Birds. The end... Jesus is so awesome! See you soon!