I am also on Instagram if you'd like to see more pictures. My username is jmpalmer.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Our Memorial Day


We had such a great time this weekend. Mark was off of work Friday, Saturday and Monday. It was so nice to be able to spend so much time together as a family.

Friday night Mark performed a wedding for a former highschooler. It was a nice ceremony. Mark did a great job.

Saturday night we went to some friends house for dinner and had a great time catching up.

Sunday we spent catching up from our week. Our children were beginning to think that bedtime was 10 o'clock instead of 8 so they were really out of whack.

And Monday we went to town and went to a park and played on the swings. Be sure and watch Mark's amazing talent of swinging on his stomach. Did not know he could do that..... After the park we went and got lunch and took it to a park and listened to a band play some swing music and big band music. It was wonderful. It almost felt like we were living in a big city! The kids wanted to dance so they convinced their awesome dad to go down in front of the crowd and shake his booty. He did, because he's an awesome dad. They had a great time. We all got a little sunburned but loved being outside.

Today I'm hopefully getting a new fridge delivered. I have a feeling I'll be here all day waiting. Our old fridge is dying quickly and we're living out of a tiny college fridge and have been for the last 2 weeks. I'm ready for a nice reliable fridge. Of course we replaced our other appliances that we thought were doing much worse....Murphy's Law in action.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Our photoshoot with Ashlee

So last week a highschool girl from our church, and awesome babysitter, came over and took some pictures of the kids. They came out really good so I wanted to share some. Thank you Ashlee!











Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Mark's video

This is a video that Mark filmed and put together for Mother's Day at church. He recently put it on YouTube. It's pretty cute. And of course our kids are in it :)

Sunday, May 18, 2008

water boy!


So it was almost 80 down here today and it was beautiful. Kale decided on the way home from church that it would be the perfect day to put on his swimsuit and run through the sprinkler. When we got home mom and dad spoiled the fun and said that he needed to have a little quiet time (actually it was probably mom and dad who needed the quiet time). When he woke up he was still determined to go run through the sprinkler. I thought it was a little too chilly. While he was resting, the clouds came and the breeze started blowing. Of course he thought it was still perfect weather. So I said sure. I mean he wouldn't take just my word for it right? So we went out and I turned on the sprinkler. Then turned on my phone to capture the unfolding drama....hence the video. Now, I don't know if you can understand what he's saying but he runs from the water and says "I'm getting wet!" That's the point I say. Then he informs me that he's done. Remember, this is the one and only time he ran through today. Lesson learned? Yeah right :)

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Shalom

Ya know I've been reading on the internet and listening to the news and hearing so much about peace in our world, or lack there of. There's a war here, and unrest there and tragedy here etc... It makes me sad. Sad to see so many hurting and dying people. And sometimes I feel hopeless. Like there's not much I can do for all those people. It's overwhelming. But then I think about my God and how big He is.

You see, the world sees peace as the absence of war or trouble or conflict but that's not it. It's not the absence of these things but the presence of Christ that brings true peace. My Jehovah Shalom - the God of Peace. Godly peace is so much different. It's a kind of peace you can have in the midst of a storm. When the world around you is crazy and seems overwhelming and hopeless, you can know Peace. A calm deep inside of you that assures you that you're okay. Not that life will be without strife and pain, but that you are okay because you have the God of the Universe on your side, in your corner.

Every person on this earth can know Peace. It's a gift for each of us. There are no promises of a perfect and conflict free life or world (as long as there is evil there will never be peace the way the world would like to see it). But there are promises of eternal life, of hope and meaning and peace.

I think this is why my favorite color is blue. It is a peaceful color for me. It represents peace.

Thank you Jehovah Shalom.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

The Man Cold

So I came across this video last week and laughed so I thought I'd share it with anyone who was interested. Enjoy!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz6DktXFvg4

Monday, May 12, 2008

A couple funny mother's day forwards...

25 REASONS I OWE MY MOTHER

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.'

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
'You better pray that will come out of the carpet.'

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL .
'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!'

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
' Because I said so, that's why. '

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me.'

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.'

7. My mother taught me IRONY
'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM .
'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!'

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.'
<>11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.'

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
'If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!'

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE .
'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
'Stop acting like your father!'

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do.'

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
'Just wait until we get h ome.'

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
'You are going to get it when you get home!'

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way.'

19. My mother taught me ESP.
'Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?'

20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
'When that lawn mower cuts off your f oot, don't come running to me.'

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
'You're just like your father.'

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?'

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE
'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.'




So, we had this great 10 year old cat named Jack who just recently died.
Jack was a great cat and the kids would carry him around and sit on him
and nothing ever bothered him. He used to hang out and nap all day long on this mat in our bathroom.

Well, we have 3 kids and at the time of this story they were 4 years
old, 3 years old and 1 year old. The middle one is Eli. Eli really loves
chapstick. LOVES IT. He kept asking to use my chapstick and then
losing it. So finally one day I showed him where in the bathroom I keep
my chapstick and how he could use it whenever he wanted to but he needed
to put it right back in the drawer when he was done.

Last year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush around and
try to get ready for Church with everyone crying and carrying on. My
two boys are fighting over the toy in the cereal box. I am trying to
nurse my little one at the same time I am putting on my make-up.
Everything is a mess and everyone has long forgotten that this is a
wonderful day to honor me and the amazing job that is motherhood.

We finally have the older one and the baby loaded in the car and I am
looking for Eli. I have searched everywhere and I finally round the
corner to go into the bathroom. And there was Eli. He was applying my
chapstick very carefully to Jack's . . rear end. Eli looked right into
my eyes and said "chapped". Now, if you have a cat, you know that he is
right - their little butts do look pretty chapped. And, frankly, Jack
didn't seem to mind.

And the only question to really ask at that point was whether it was the
FIRST time Eli had done that to the cat's behind or the hundredth. And
then I decided I really didn't want to know...

And THAT is my favorite Mother's Day moment ever because it reminds us
that no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little
creatures, there will always be that day when you realize they've been
using your chapstick on the cat's butt.

The scary thing is that Kate loves lip chap (chapstick) and we have a cat named Obi. This could really happen to me!!!!!

a Tribute to my Mom!


So after yesterday, my 4th mother's day, I was thinking about how great my own mom is and how I'm amazed at what she has accomplished so far.

I really admire her and it was neat for me to really think about it and see why. First of all she's independent yet at the same time an absolute partner with my dad. In their almost 36 years of marriage they have modeled what it means to be a team. I don't see either one of them as the dominant person. They always help, encourage and support one another. My mom is a strong woman with opinions that goes along with a love for my dad. They have been, and will continue to be, wonderful models for my own marriage. 36 years is awesome especially in a world that doesn't value marriage the way I think it should. I very much know how special and amazing it is to have two parents married this long and still very much in love with each other. That is one of the greatest gifts they have given me.

She worked as a teacher for several years before she decided to become a stay at home mom after I was born. She valued the time with each of us and while I'm sure it wasn't easy and fun all the time, she made her decision based on what was best for us kids and I couldn't be more thankful that she was with us. I know that it was a sacrifice for her but I also know that it was a sacrifice she was willing to make. Like I said, she's a great mom. When I think of staying home with 5 kids I'm overwhelmed. I can barely manage the two I have at home! When my brother was old enough she went back to work to save money for all five of us to go to
college. Another amazing feat. All five of us went to college and graduated and thanks to my mom and dad's hard work, none of us graduated with any student loans. A huge blessing!

She also went back to school herself a few years ago to get her master's degree. Another example of her independence and willingness to work hard. What a great example for all four of her daughters. She's an incredible and loving mom who
works hard to have great relationships with each of her kids. She does what is right and has great integrity. It's not about what people think but about what is right. It isn't always easy to do that but it's not about what is easy. She will always stand up for what is right.

Thank you mom for being the greatest mom. Thank you for your unconditional love for us, your unending encouragement and devotion to us, your awesome marriage and example of commitment, and your determination and independence. Thank you for showing me such a sweet example of parental love. I only hope I can
model all that for my children as well. Thank you for praying for us and for making God a part of our lives growing up. It made the decision to follow Him all the more easier because of your great example to us. You and dad have been such wonderful representations of Christ's love for me here on earth. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love you!

Now I need to go get a kleenex and wipe my tears and explain to my kids why mama is bawling at the computer.....


Friday, May 2, 2008

My guitar heroes!

So we went over to some friends house last night to play games and wound up playing Guitar Hero. Of course the kids wanted to be part of the action. Here's a little taste of the fun evening.
God is the God of our yesterdays. He allows us the memory of them so we can turn the past into the ministry for the future.

"I don't think you can explain how Christian faith works. It is a mystery. And I love this about Christian spirituality. It cannot be explained, and yet it is beautiful and true. It is something you feel, and it comes from the soul."