It's been a while!

2011
The beginning of this year has been an amazing adventure for the Barker family! In one of my previous blogs I had written that Kevin had gotten strep throat. For about two days he was in misery. We finally made a trip to see our family physician and he got shots and antibiotics. We all sighed in relief when the next day approached and he was feeling better... THEN SUDDENLY (said like they do in a movie when the narrator is way over dramatic about the upcoming event) I get the familiar tickle in the back of my throat and chills that can only be explained as the dreaded FEEEVER! I decided that in my best intrest I should go to the doctor just to make sure I wasnt getting strep too.
By the time I arrived at the doctors office I utterly could not function. Walking inside to see the doctor was a miracle, but somehow I made it in, my throat was swabbed and sure enough! STREP! Whoopie.. I walked out and made a B-line the the pharmacy. Just my luck everyone in Big Spring and their kids and their kids kids were there.. Somehow my brain kept repeating the song I sang in bible class when I was young " On a day like this (clap clap) on a day like this (clap clap) on a day like this.. I NEED THE LORD TO HELP ME!! I finally made it out of the pharmacy with my meds in hand! I was pumped and ready to get home and lay down.. Then suddenly I remembered that I had set an appointment with my Optomologist because I had a pretty bad infection in my eye the day before. I would have cancelled, but this doctor is really hard to schedule with and my eye was threatening to pop itself out of the socket.. I got in the Traverse, buckled up, hunched into my seat and cried. Im sure the elderly man beside me thought I was having a mental breakdown. At this moment he was probably not far off..  I finally sucked it up, wiped my tears and started towards the eye doctor. I got inside and checked in... Just to make a long story short I waited for and hour and half to see him.. Im still praising the Father that He got me through this amazingly hard day.
About three days went by and it was Kevin's day to go back to work. He was still not back to normal so he decided to take a few more days off.  Not only to take care of himself, but me too! Bless his heart! We finally recoperated and decided to make the trip to Texarkana with him! 

WEDDIN' TIME!
My brother in law and his sweet fiance' Ashley had been planning to tie the knot for quite sometime and they asked me to be the photographer! Quickly the day approached! I woke up early and Ali Jo and I made our way to Midland to help the bride get ready and take more pictures! The wedding was beautiful and I wish them botht the best and most wonderful days to come!! As for pictures at weddings? I dont think they are my thing.. I think I am going to just stick to families and engagment pictures!! It was such a fun experience however!

DUN DUN DUN! 
Another week passes and Kevin goes back to work. The day he leaves the babies and I start running fevers. These are not just low graders these are 103's and below. The pediatricians diagnosis was RSV all around. Even me! Abbigail had RSV and a touch of pneumonia so we quarentined ourselves in the house and spent an agonizing week sick as little puppies can get! Nebulizer treatments, Tylenol, Motrin, antibiotics, fluids, cough syrup.. repeat. I was exhausted to say the least.  Thank goodness for my inlaws and parents! They were both so much help with soup, juice, disefectants and love we finally got back on our feet! 

America's Got Talent
This has got to be the most exciting news of the year by far. Six O' Clock news let me Lauren Barker know that they would be holding a talent contest at the Music City Mall in Odessa. The winner would get a trip (all expense paid) to Houston to try out for Americas Got Talent. The top 5 runners up would get the same just not the free part.. They also get to perform at the halftime show during the Odessa Roughnecks football game! eek! Not quite the Superbowl, but I'm not quite Beyonce.. My Father in law and I got up early on Saturday morning and were the first to arrive at the competition. I was VERY FIRST TO SING! I wasn't too thrilled that I was first. I always want to be last to impress if ya know what I mean. I sang my heart out in front of 150 plus people and three judges.  The judges were news anchors from the local stations including Telemundo and a representative from the Roughnecks football team. I was so nervous the judges were practically celebrities to me! Afterall I have never met anyone famous in my life! 52 other hopefuls followed my lead and almost three hours later it was over and the votes were tallied! Nervously I sat on the edge of my chair as the announcer named all the winners! No. I didnt get first. but I DID GET FOURTH! I didnt care what place I got! First place or not I was going to Houston!! I get to try out in front of the producers of America's Got Talent! HOLLA! So.. On February 12th and 13th I go to Houston (where Kevin happens to be working) and try out! I have to nail this!! My whole life I have played this over and over in my head and now it has finally became a reality! 
 I have prayed continuously that the Lord only open doors that he sees fit for me and my sweet family.  I have also prayed that if I dont make it that I am happy with the descision He has made for me! He says in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future! So I am putting it all in my awesome Heavenly Fathers hands!