Well, it has come and vanished like a wisp of wind with the freshness of Springtime. It was a week ago today, December 20th, 2008, that family and friends of my parents, Gene & Pat Palmer gathered in a community center in Tulsa, OK and celebrated 50 years of matrimony. An amazing item of particular noteworthiness was that their literal anniversary was the previous day, Friday December 19th, which was the day exactly 50 years ago they ran off and got married in Oklahoma City.
I could say so many things about my parents and the life they gave us. It could easily be the size of "War and Peace" but I will do my best to be as brief as possible.
It seems like just a few months ago, but it was after their 45th anniversay that I began contemplating their 50th anniversary. To this day, I am in wonder and awe of the legacy my parents are leaving their progeny of what it means to make a "covenant relationship" and live it out, day by day, until the very end. They have siblings that have been married 50 plus years, and Aunts & Uncles that have been married 60 plus years too. Therein lies a bedrock from which to draw; a stellar example of what it means to make a lifetime commitment.
My brothers are building upon the same bedrock as well. I have been watching from afar as they have celebrated 27 years and the other 7 years of matrimony. I am fully confident that they will reach their pinnacle of leaving a legacy of matrimonial commitment just as they step from their pinnacle into their eternal reward.
Although it was eleven months ago, it seems like just a few days ago that I sent out an email to my entire family to "save the date" for Mom & Dad's 50th anniversary celebration. As the time grew closer I would call my parents and ask them questions of what they wanted to do, where they wanted to have it, etc. As the date grew closer, I called them more frequently to check on how everything was progressing along.
Several months ago, I began wrestling with .... should I "say anything" at their party to those in attendance? As much as I would have loved to stand up in front of the crowd and "wax eloquent" proclaiming my love and admiration for my parents, trust me my dear friend, that would NOT have happened! You see, I am one who is related to Benn G. Palmer (my paternal grandfather). What he passed on to me was an ability for my voice to falter and break, and eyes that become moist when it comes to matters of "family". I could barely keep my composure when each of my parents were making remarks to those in attendance and they began saying things about me and what I mean to them. They mentioned the next day that they wished I would have said something; but they understood when I remarked "that's just it, I wouldn't have been able to say much of anything". So I must rely on stroke of pen and prose.
My older brother, Mike, stepped up to the plate and was our Master of Ceremonies and in spite of having challenges with his voice due to a cold did an outstaning job; just like I knew he would. Then our youngest brother Jay had put together an incredible montage of pictures set to music in a beautiful PowerPoint presentation honoring my parents and their 50 years.
To say it was a special day, would be an understatement. Truthfully, my words are inadequate to describe what that day meant and will continue to mean. It has been quite a journey, these last 50 years. Jobs, houses, babies, trips to G'ma & G'pa's house, vacations, graduations, funerals, weddings, the arrival of grandchildren and now....great grandchildren.
MOM and DAD-
Life is rich, pearls of wisdom come with experience. Leaving a legacy is no simple task. As I watch from a distant place, the life you live is making an eternal difference in the lives you touch. As I watch from a distant place I hear the words descending from the heavens "Well done, good and faithful servant, well done!"
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Taking a moment to catch up
Wow! What has happened to the last seven days? Tamala & I left town last Wednesday night to travel to her Dad's home to spend Thanksgiving and we have had something going every night since then. We were supposed to attend an event tonight but I said we needed to get caught up on other things tonight. Tomorrow night we have a benefit dinner for a local "maternity home" for unmarried women that we enjoy contributing to because of the wonderful things they are doing in the lives of these young women. Saturday, my brother & his son will be arriving in town to go to the big football game! BOOMER SOONER!!!!
I am going to keep this one short.
Be blessed....very, very blessed!
I am going to keep this one short.
Be blessed....very, very blessed!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thanksgiving Thoughts
Well, here we are gathered together as a family, some watching tv and some working in the kitchen. The drone of the tv in the background, the hum of the dishwasher washing the breakfast dishes, conversations meandering from one topic to the next - all familiar sights, sounds and smells that always mean its a holiday. One sister teaching the other how to make pie crust (might I say "World Class" pie crust); I'll be making my usual Sweet Potato Souffle a little later; okay...okay its not really a souffle but that is what we've always call it. Then I'll make Chocolate Dream Pie that is my Mom's recipe.
Of course one my my favorite things is giving my nieces and nephews a "hard time". I think if I didn't tease them if just wouldn't be the same. My reward? Giggles, laughs and smiles that only kids can make. I've been at this "Uncle thing" for over 25 years and I have to admit its really an enjoyable role.
I hope that your Thanksgiving holiday season proves all you hoped it will be.
Of course one my my favorite things is giving my nieces and nephews a "hard time". I think if I didn't tease them if just wouldn't be the same. My reward? Giggles, laughs and smiles that only kids can make. I've been at this "Uncle thing" for over 25 years and I have to admit its really an enjoyable role.
I hope that your Thanksgiving holiday season proves all you hoped it will be.
Monday, November 24, 2008
"Curve ball"
"There is the wind up, here's the pitch....and it's a curve ball"!
I checked my email today to see if we had received word back from our adoption worker and sure enough, we did. I mentioned in the last post that we told her that we wanted to be considered in a Best Interest staffing for the three boys. Well, this afternoon, she threw us a "curve ball". Yep, she said before she turned our request over to the boys' case manager we might want to take look at these two or three sibling groups that came in to her office late Friday night from another agency and see if we would possibly be interested in any of them.
Wouldn't you know it, she sent us a profile and pictures of two little sisters 5 and 3 years old absolutely cuter than a "bug's ear". When Mama T saw them she just cooed at how cute they are. I told Tamala that families from five counties would want to be considered for these two cuties!
Then there were pictues of two sisters and a brother but not too much of an informative profile on them. So we're emailing her back to get a profile on this little sibling group.
Stay tuned for the next few "pitches"....I'm sure we'll see a "change-up" any moment!
I checked my email today to see if we had received word back from our adoption worker and sure enough, we did. I mentioned in the last post that we told her that we wanted to be considered in a Best Interest staffing for the three boys. Well, this afternoon, she threw us a "curve ball". Yep, she said before she turned our request over to the boys' case manager we might want to take look at these two or three sibling groups that came in to her office late Friday night from another agency and see if we would possibly be interested in any of them.
Wouldn't you know it, she sent us a profile and pictures of two little sisters 5 and 3 years old absolutely cuter than a "bug's ear". When Mama T saw them she just cooed at how cute they are. I told Tamala that families from five counties would want to be considered for these two cuties!
Then there were pictues of two sisters and a brother but not too much of an informative profile on them. So we're emailing her back to get a profile on this little sibling group.
Stay tuned for the next few "pitches"....I'm sure we'll see a "change-up" any moment!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Update on the 3 little brothers
Yesterday afternoon while at the office I would periodically check my personal email hoping to hear from our adoption worker. Well, we did. They sent back answers to the many questions we had asked about the three little brothers. After reading the responses, I simply couldn't wait until the end of the day to tell Mama T; so I called her work and asked that they page her & have her to call me.
She called, we talked about the answers they provided and decided that, Yes we did want to ask to be considered in a Best Interest staffing. So I emailed our adoption worker back and also left her a voice mail regarding the BIS.
I would post pics of the boys but since its not anywhere near being official, and privacy issues, we will reserve that for another post! You'll just have to take our word for it....they are all cuter than a bug's ear! Too adorable!
Update on Tamala's (dog-bitten) nose -
Tam's nose is healing very, very nicely. A vast majority of the redness around the wound has gone away and she's commented today that it is really itching. I told her that is a good thing because it means it is healing. She is due to get her stitches out tomorrow before Church at the ER.
Quote for today:
"You are the only person on earth who can use your ability" Zig Ziglar
She called, we talked about the answers they provided and decided that, Yes we did want to ask to be considered in a Best Interest staffing. So I emailed our adoption worker back and also left her a voice mail regarding the BIS.
I would post pics of the boys but since its not anywhere near being official, and privacy issues, we will reserve that for another post! You'll just have to take our word for it....they are all cuter than a bug's ear! Too adorable!
Update on Tamala's (dog-bitten) nose -
Tam's nose is healing very, very nicely. A vast majority of the redness around the wound has gone away and she's commented today that it is really itching. I told her that is a good thing because it means it is healing. She is due to get her stitches out tomorrow before Church at the ER.
Quote for today:
"You are the only person on earth who can use your ability" Zig Ziglar
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Delay is NOT Denial!
Mama T and I have been on a journey when it comes to children. We began over two years ago the beginning stages of adoption. We went to 10 weeks of classes. Things just didn't work out.
January of 2008 - we started the processes all over again. We attended the 10 weeks of classes all over AGAIN. After we finished the classes we had a complete Homestudy conducted. That took a few more weeks. Since that time, we've been finding children and asking questions of our adoption worker regarding the children. We've even been considered in two different "Best Interest" staffings on two different sets of sibling groups. A Best Interest staffing is usually conducted by a group of professionals who are involved in the children's lives, i.e. their case worker, court appointed attorney, counselor/therapist, etc. This group will look at a "pool" of qualified families who have expressed an interest in adopting this child or sibling group and believe it is in the "best interest" of these children to allow a family to move to the next level and begin the process of adoption. You see, we believe that our mission is to preserve a family by adopting a sibling group.
We just found out today that we've not been selected a second time. While there is a twinge of dissapointment, we are fully trusting and believing that God IS going to bring us the children HE wants us to parent. We know that Delay.....is NOT Denial!
Black, White, Native American, Asian, Hispanic, Eskimo, whatever the race, color, creed, we don't care. They are all created in the image of God. We are about the Father's business of touching and mending lives. Make no mistake about it - this is KINGDOM BUSINESS! We are living in day and hour, in which time as we know it, is drawing to an end and we want to bring a family into the Kingdom before the return of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Be watching, because one of these days, you will see us post a message that the subject line might read: WE'RE PREGNANT - on paper!
Tomorrow, we are anticipating hearing from our adoption worker on three little boys ages, 8, 5 1/2, and 2 years old. We sent a lengthy list of questions to our adoption worker earlier this week and she had to send it to their case manager. So based on the answers we get on our questions, we could let them know that we would like to be considered in a Best Interest staffing on these boys. If we get to that phase and are not selected, that will be okay because we know the Delay is NOT Denial!
Blessings.
January of 2008 - we started the processes all over again. We attended the 10 weeks of classes all over AGAIN. After we finished the classes we had a complete Homestudy conducted. That took a few more weeks. Since that time, we've been finding children and asking questions of our adoption worker regarding the children. We've even been considered in two different "Best Interest" staffings on two different sets of sibling groups. A Best Interest staffing is usually conducted by a group of professionals who are involved in the children's lives, i.e. their case worker, court appointed attorney, counselor/therapist, etc. This group will look at a "pool" of qualified families who have expressed an interest in adopting this child or sibling group and believe it is in the "best interest" of these children to allow a family to move to the next level and begin the process of adoption. You see, we believe that our mission is to preserve a family by adopting a sibling group.
We just found out today that we've not been selected a second time. While there is a twinge of dissapointment, we are fully trusting and believing that God IS going to bring us the children HE wants us to parent. We know that Delay.....is NOT Denial!
Black, White, Native American, Asian, Hispanic, Eskimo, whatever the race, color, creed, we don't care. They are all created in the image of God. We are about the Father's business of touching and mending lives. Make no mistake about it - this is KINGDOM BUSINESS! We are living in day and hour, in which time as we know it, is drawing to an end and we want to bring a family into the Kingdom before the return of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Be watching, because one of these days, you will see us post a message that the subject line might read: WE'RE PREGNANT - on paper!
Tomorrow, we are anticipating hearing from our adoption worker on three little boys ages, 8, 5 1/2, and 2 years old. We sent a lengthy list of questions to our adoption worker earlier this week and she had to send it to their case manager. So based on the answers we get on our questions, we could let them know that we would like to be considered in a Best Interest staffing on these boys. If we get to that phase and are not selected, that will be okay because we know the Delay is NOT Denial!
Blessings.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Still Grateful
Well I am at work today and get a call from Tamala about 11:30am thinking it is her usual call during her lunch break. Well, not today!
She calls me and says she's been bitten by a dog that is owned by one of the residents she cleans for on a bi-weekly basis. She has been cleaning for this couple for two years and they've had this dog for about one year. The dog has seen her plenty of times to get used to her, or one would think.
Anyway, the dog was sitting on its owners lap when Tamala came over and bent down & reached out to pet the dog when it sprang up and bit her on the right side of the nose.
I met her at an Occupational Medical Clinic in Lenexa and the Doctor said she would rather send Tamala to the ER so a Plastic Surgeon could take a look at it. So, off to the ER we go. She was seen by an ER doctor and was treated and received a few stitches. She was given a prescription for Augmenten (anti-biotic) and sent home. Anyway, we're still Grateful because it could have been much, much worse.
So, that has been our day - how has yours been?
She calls me and says she's been bitten by a dog that is owned by one of the residents she cleans for on a bi-weekly basis. She has been cleaning for this couple for two years and they've had this dog for about one year. The dog has seen her plenty of times to get used to her, or one would think.
Anyway, the dog was sitting on its owners lap when Tamala came over and bent down & reached out to pet the dog when it sprang up and bit her on the right side of the nose.
I met her at an Occupational Medical Clinic in Lenexa and the Doctor said she would rather send Tamala to the ER so a Plastic Surgeon could take a look at it. So, off to the ER we go. She was seen by an ER doctor and was treated and received a few stitches. She was given a prescription for Augmenten (anti-biotic) and sent home. Anyway, we're still Grateful because it could have been much, much worse.
So, that has been our day - how has yours been?
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Grateful
We have sung this song in our worship services at church and it ALWAYS ministers to my spirit. It serves as a reminder of how very grateful I am for what God has done in my life and in the lives of those I love.
For the home you live in, for the clothes on your back, for your job, transportation, for the this great country we live in - are you.....GRATEFUL?
I've provided a link for you to hear this song; although there isn't any video feed, if you listen to the words, it is a very simplistic message; much like the Gospel. It's simple message is- I'm Grateful.
For the home you live in, for the clothes on your back, for your job, transportation, for the this great country we live in - are you.....GRATEFUL?
I've provided a link for you to hear this song; although there isn't any video feed, if you listen to the words, it is a very simplistic message; much like the Gospel. It's simple message is- I'm Grateful.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
3,2,1....Ignition....Launch - we have launched into cyberspace
The first post. After creating the name and framework of this blogspot approximately 18 months ago, I have, finally, decided to post something.
I have no idea where this blog will go, the journey should be interesting. No telling what forks in the road will be encountered from here forward.
I can say one thing, I've really received my inspiration to finally begin blogging because my younger brother has an absolutely incredible blogspot. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading his blogs over the last couple of years. I have been able to keep up on his ever-expanding family. I have experienced pure joy by reading about his children and their antics, shenanigans, and whatever else their little minds can come up with to surprise and entertain us. It has helped me immeasurably because we live a few hundred miles away and I cannot see them and hug them as much as I would like. It's how I've stayed "plugged in".
ADOPTION -
My wife and I are in the processes of adopting. It has been a long and enduring time. We have completed all the required parenting courses several months ago. We've completed the required Homestudy with the adoption agency we're going through which happens to be the State of Kansas.
We believe our "mission" is to help preserve a family while creating one of our own. We have made it known to our adoption agency that we would like to adopt a sibling group. We are trusting God to bring us the children He intends for us to parent and to be their "forever family".
So, bear with me, over time this post may become a sounding board to vent frustrations with "the system". I am always asking myself what can I learn in situation. I believe the one thing I am definitely learning during this adoption process is PATIENCE!
TOPICS-
We may post our thoughts ranging from spirituality, family, food, finances, politics and prayer to whatever may drop into the mental realm at the moment. Please know this, that at my core, I am an "exhorter". I will exhort those whom I love and care about to become everything God is destined you to be!
Let's keep this a little short. It is not my intent to tell my entire life's story at this point. Everyone's time is valuable; including mine.
Be abundantly blessed! May God's annointing be so poured out upon your life that His presence will pour out from you into the lives of all those you come in contact with and they will able to experience the love of God by and through you.
I have no idea where this blog will go, the journey should be interesting. No telling what forks in the road will be encountered from here forward.
I can say one thing, I've really received my inspiration to finally begin blogging because my younger brother has an absolutely incredible blogspot. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading his blogs over the last couple of years. I have been able to keep up on his ever-expanding family. I have experienced pure joy by reading about his children and their antics, shenanigans, and whatever else their little minds can come up with to surprise and entertain us. It has helped me immeasurably because we live a few hundred miles away and I cannot see them and hug them as much as I would like. It's how I've stayed "plugged in".
ADOPTION -
My wife and I are in the processes of adopting. It has been a long and enduring time. We have completed all the required parenting courses several months ago. We've completed the required Homestudy with the adoption agency we're going through which happens to be the State of Kansas.
We believe our "mission" is to help preserve a family while creating one of our own. We have made it known to our adoption agency that we would like to adopt a sibling group. We are trusting God to bring us the children He intends for us to parent and to be their "forever family".
So, bear with me, over time this post may become a sounding board to vent frustrations with "the system". I am always asking myself what can I learn in situation. I believe the one thing I am definitely learning during this adoption process is PATIENCE!
TOPICS-
We may post our thoughts ranging from spirituality, family, food, finances, politics and prayer to whatever may drop into the mental realm at the moment. Please know this, that at my core, I am an "exhorter". I will exhort those whom I love and care about to become everything God is destined you to be!
Let's keep this a little short. It is not my intent to tell my entire life's story at this point. Everyone's time is valuable; including mine.
Be abundantly blessed! May God's annointing be so poured out upon your life that His presence will pour out from you into the lives of all those you come in contact with and they will able to experience the love of God by and through you.
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