Durango Palmers: March 2014

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Marching through March!

I need to do a catch up post for you all before I post about our 12 months of Christmas in March. So much happening!

I don't think I've updated you on our house. It's under contract and we are supposed to close on it on May 2nd. We are also under contract for a house to move in to up in Durango West 2 (west of town) Also set to close May 2nd. At this point we are working on inspections, appraisals, inspection objections and financing. Let's just say there's a reason Mark and I haven't moved in 12 1/2 years! And we haven't really even packed yet! Lots to do.

This past week we had a septic guy come and pump our septic tank, a HVAC guy came and clean our furnace (both on the same day at pretty much the same time--see pictures below).

We also had an appliance repair man come to fix the stove and a plumber come and inspect our hot water heater. We will be tearing down a shed and packing up the house in the next 4 weeks. All while Mark finishes what has been his toughest class so far. And Easter AND Mark's 40th birthday! Whew! One day at a time.

We had to take our van in this week as well to have the door fixed so while it was at the shop the kids and I headed to Durango Joes for drinks then to the library to kill some time.

My sister, Kelly, her husband, Carson, and their 11 month old, Gavin, stopped by on the way down to Phoenix and the way back. It was Gavin's first time at our house and the kids went nuts (as they usually do with cousins). I think Gavin loved the attention.

Here he is tackling Jack.

All to get the iPad and the kitty.

Speaking of the kitty, we found a nasty tick on his neck! Ew ew!! We got it out and he's fine but boy was that our Friday morning entertainment!

Friday after lunch at Serious Texas we took our guests up to see our new house. It was great to have other eyes walk through with us. We can't wait to live there!

Kate fed Gavin...

2 people wrestled him to get boots on his feet...

We took the little stud for a walk...

And introduced him to a trampoline.

He was so fun and giggling! And close to walking but isn't yet. Instead he crawled on my carpet and collected dog hair for me :)

We are celebrating God's grace in our lives whether things are tough or good. He's given us new revelation of all He's done and we are so thankful! I will do another post soon so I can share about our March dates with the kids. We are loving time spent with them!

Sunday, March 9, 2014

A lesson in grace

This morning was a tough morning. Isn't daylight savings time always a bit rough?! And that it happens on a Sunday is really no picnic either.

My kids were no exception. I was dragging them out of bed this morning. Doing my best to cheerfully and lovingly motivate them to eat and get shoes and socks on...like now. They drug themselves around and whined about the food (or what they perceived as lack there of) and cried that it was so early. I knew how they felt but we had to get going. Kale was serving and we needed to get to church.

We got in the car and waited as one of my children threw a fit in the house. I decided I didn't need to be around to watch. It was difficult to leave and wait but they needed their space.

The fit followed them into the car and for over half of our drive to town, every single nerve of every person in the van was exposed, raw and fried. I began to pray out loud quietly to myself. This upset them more but I continued. I needed God's patience and grace poured out on me at that moment.

Eventually they stopped and it was like night and day. They flipped the switch and all was right in the world.

Except that I wasn't alright. I felt like a bomb had gone off behind me and I was still reeling from the shrapnel that flew out from it. The bomb was done but the after effects were still happening.

We got to church and I was a bit dazed and struggling to get myself together to see people. At this point one of my kids (the bomb) came up to me and asked for hot chocolate from our coffee cart. This is actually an unusual request. They've learned not to ask me for that because I almost always say no. I don't usually have money nor do I want them to be full of sugar and sent off to kid's church. But of course today they asked.

And I stared at them and thought to myself "you've got to be kidding me?! After what just happened this morning you want me to reward you with a treat?!" I'm a firm believer in not rewarding unwanted behavior (to the best of my ability).

So I asked them 'Do you think you deserve hot chocolate?'

Their lip quivered and they said 'but I said I was sorry.'

And in that moment I realized that I was basing my grace and gifts on their behavior. God spoke clearly to me and said 'That's not how I operate with you Jill. I don't base my gifts on your behavior. I give you good gifts and you don't always deserve them. I love you so much that I enjoy giving you good things just because.'

I started to cry. Right there in the middle of the sanctuary. It was true. He doesn't give me what I deserve...and I'm so thankful for that! I can never earn His love because it can't be bought. It's been freely given to me. By grace through faith.

So I looked at my child, the bomb :), and said 'The truth is you don't deserve hot chocolate. Your behavior this morning wasn't good and you hurt me and your siblings. But I want to extend to you the kind of grace God gives to me and to you. He loves to give us good gifts even when we don't deserve them. You may have hot chocolate and I want you to buy some for your siblings. I love you and so does God.'

And I just "happened" to have $5 in my pocket...

I'm not saying that this will always be the case. I still don't want to reward bad behavior but God showed me today the power of His grace for me and for them.

I then cried off and on all through first service (very humbling especially because it was borderline ugly cry) as God took the "shrapnel" out and restored me to Him. It always amazes me how He will use any situation to reveal more of Himself to me if I allow it.

And because I love testimony I wanted to share two more quick things. Today during second service one of my kids (who had had a tummy ache this morning) was prayed over by some of their amazing teachers. They said it was gone right afer they were done praying. This same kid also received their prayer language during that prayer time. I am seriously loving how, when we bring our children to the Lord's presence, God speaks clearly to them and blesses them.

Awesome day at church!

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Kate is 8 and it's great

We've had a little too much fun with the rhyming of this birthday! But the truth is Kate is 8 and she thinks it's great!

The very first thing she did Monday morning (her birthday) was head to the car and take out her car seat. She's been counting down the days. Frankly so have we! The car seat has been an issue for her since she was 3!

Her birthday was the small one this year. She didn't get a big party but she did get to pick one friend that she could celebrate with. Surprisingly she chose Madi (not really...I actually typed that with much sarcasm ;) ). She's been begging to have Madi spend the night for weeks. They love to draw, play with their American girl dolls and do gymnastics. All of which they did!

We went to dinner. Kate's choice was Applebee's.

The rest of us enjoying our dinner out. Ya know, like the crazy people we are.

After dinner we went home and had root beer floats and watched Frozen (again!). The girls stayed up late and got up early. Madi's an earlier riser than Kate ;)

They put on their leotards and went and jumped on the trampoline (brr!). Kate caught me as I pulled out my phone and was getting ready to blaze out of the picture. I still caught her!

They played and drew pictures then asked if they could make cupcakes for their friends they were going to see at lunch. The only ingredients I had were for banana bread muffins. They were happy to do that.

This is always an interesting experience for me. God uses these times to refine me in my need for order and control! The girls were super enthusiastic and excited to bake. This pictures cracks me up because of how they wanted to get a teaspoon of baking soda. Can you see what can happen here? A pile of baking soda in the bowl? Thankfully I caught them once I realized what was about to happen and showed them the right way to measure.

In the end the muffins were good and the girls had a good time.

It's blowing my mind a little bit that she is 8. We're planning on getting her into gymnastics soon. The girl is naturally talented and coordinated. She's taught herself many things already and she's constantly doing cartwheels in the house. Next Mary Lou Retton?

On a random side note, our house is going under contract as soon as we can get the papers signed. As we learned last year, it doesn't mean for sure that we're moving but it's definitely a step in that direction. If all goes well we will be out of our house at the end of April (a week before Mark graduates from school!). If any family reads this and you'd like to road trip down here around this time, we're more than happy to see you! ;)

Now to work on an offer for the house we'd like to move to...

Saturday, March 1, 2014

12 months of Christmas -- Kale

Two days ago Kale and I got to go on our fancy dinner date. He picked Ken and Sue's.

I didn't think I needed to make a reservation for a Thursday but alas I was wrong. We decided not to wait and sat at the bar instead. A first for me!

Kale was quite impressed with the amount of wine bottles on the wall.

We talked and talked about everything. I explained to him the bar and the dark lighting and 2 forks, ordering a hamburger medium...he was so much fun. Near the end of the night one of the waiters came behind the bar and told Kale that his mom was so cool. He thought it was neat that we went out together. He said he'd wished he'd have done it more with his mom. It made me so happy to hear. Kale smiled. :)

He ordered the hamburger and it was huge! It was even off the kids meal. He could only finish half because he was saving room for dessert. :) He was picturing a huge piece of ice cream pie like Jack had but no such luck here.

So we had fro-yo instead.

On the way home from dinner we were talking about God and church and I asked him how Legos and church were the same (just for fun). He went on to explain that people in a church are like the Lego pieces. Each one had a special place and when put there it makes up a neat bigger picture. Something unique. And God is the Master Builder. How awesome was that?!

I'm looking forward to future conversations with him.

When we got home he opened a box from my parents for his birthday. His first Rockies gear. Doesn't he look grown up and handsome?

Last night Kale and Kate had a pre-summer camp sleepover at the church. They for to go and hang out with friends and hear about summer camp.

Mark, Jack and I got a pizza and watched Frozen (Mark bought it on iTunes). It was different having just one kid. It was a nice change.

This morning the 3 of us got up early and finished getting the house ready for a showing today. We headed to bountiful baskets to get our food (the food co-op we do every other week) and then went to town to pick up the big kids.

While we were in town our realtor called and said another realtor wanted to show our house today too. Couldn't say no. The house was already clean! Show away!

We decided to kill time and have brunch at CJs diner. We've had a really wet, sleety snow today so there were huge puddles in the parking lot.

After we were done the big kids wanted to watch Frozen so we went back to the church and watched it in Mark's office. Kinda nice have another "home" to go to!

Hopefully all these showings turn into something more. We shall see!

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