Unbelievable.....no.....unfreakinbelievable! It has been 30 years this month since I walked across the stage at my high school graduation! Seriously...that really cannot be true....30 years ago...COME ON!
My class reunion committee has posted a website and many of my classmate have signed on and posted stories and pics. Some look virtually unchanged, even after 30 years; while others I would have walked right past them on the street without a clue as to who they are. It is amazing how some people "age" and some don't seem to.
I've told my wife I really don't know what I want to do yet. I haven't kept in contact with anyone from my graduating class. I really don't see the benefit of going to a 30 year class reunion. It doesn't seem likely that I would continue to have a friendship with any of them after leaving the reunion. So, what is the real reason for going? Just to see how much everyone has "aged"? What kind of a reason is that? I have no desire to compare notes with other people to see how I "measure up" to them in the realm of attaining whatever success might have been reached in the last 30 years - that is just prideful and I don't want any part of that. Yeah, don't get me wrong, it would be nice to visit with a few of them and get caught up.
"to go.... or not to go.....that is the question"
Friday, May 22, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
"We wrestle not with...."
Dear Readers, Tamala and I want to take a moment to let you know how much we appreciate the outpouring of support and words of encouragement. You ARE a blessing!
That Wednesday when we concluded that we were being discriminated against as potential adoptive parents, we went to Bible Study that evening which is our usual commitment. As I was listening to what was being presented, I received a "quickening" in my spirit from the Lord that what we are dealing with is a spiritual battle and nothing more. The Adversary, or Satan his self, is not wanting us to have a child or children placed in our home; especially those children who have already been victims of his insidious attack on their biological family(ies).
The Word of God tells me in Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places"KJV. the footnotes and annotations in my Bible tell me that these principalities and powers are "spirit rebels". I am convinced that we have stirred them up because we have taken a stand... we are committed to Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way that he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it." These 'spirit rebels' know that we will teach our children about the infinite love of our Heavenly Father and supreme sacrifice our Lord and Saviour, Jesus of Nazareth made when he gave himself willingly as the eternal atonement for our sins, restoring us to right relationship with God the Father!
We stand on the Word and the Promises it has for us. My earthly father bestowed a blessing upon Tamala and myself during our wedding ceremony invoking the rights, privileges and blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant upon our household. Take a glimpse of a part of that blessing: "...you will have complete victory over all your enemies. You will be blessed in all that you undertake. The Lord God will open to you all His good treasure. The heavens will rain on all your lands in due season and He will bless the work of your hands. This day I decree it. I prophesy it! Be blessed, BE BLESSED!"
I John 5:4 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith". I am convinced that we have the victory over the world's system.
Besides, Grammie Palmer wants more grandchildren upon whom she will bestow a legacy of love. When Grammie prays, you'd better watch out! She has that calling, that anointing, a tenacity and persistence that gets the attention of God. She will "press in" and will NOT be denied when it comes to her children and grand babies. Trust me, I KNOW!
Principalities, powers and rulers of darkness in this world, you've been put on notice: If it is fight you want, then our battle cry has been sounded. We call upon the intercessors, the hosts of angels to go forth to do battle, the armies of Lord God Jehovah to break forth with the light of God and accomplish the mission of creating a Forever Family in the name of Jesus Christ!
That Wednesday when we concluded that we were being discriminated against as potential adoptive parents, we went to Bible Study that evening which is our usual commitment. As I was listening to what was being presented, I received a "quickening" in my spirit from the Lord that what we are dealing with is a spiritual battle and nothing more. The Adversary, or Satan his self, is not wanting us to have a child or children placed in our home; especially those children who have already been victims of his insidious attack on their biological family(ies).
The Word of God tells me in Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places"KJV. the footnotes and annotations in my Bible tell me that these principalities and powers are "spirit rebels". I am convinced that we have stirred them up because we have taken a stand... we are committed to Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way that he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it." These 'spirit rebels' know that we will teach our children about the infinite love of our Heavenly Father and supreme sacrifice our Lord and Saviour, Jesus of Nazareth made when he gave himself willingly as the eternal atonement for our sins, restoring us to right relationship with God the Father!
We stand on the Word and the Promises it has for us. My earthly father bestowed a blessing upon Tamala and myself during our wedding ceremony invoking the rights, privileges and blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant upon our household. Take a glimpse of a part of that blessing: "...you will have complete victory over all your enemies. You will be blessed in all that you undertake. The Lord God will open to you all His good treasure. The heavens will rain on all your lands in due season and He will bless the work of your hands. This day I decree it. I prophesy it! Be blessed, BE BLESSED!"
I John 5:4 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith". I am convinced that we have the victory over the world's system.
Besides, Grammie Palmer wants more grandchildren upon whom she will bestow a legacy of love. When Grammie prays, you'd better watch out! She has that calling, that anointing, a tenacity and persistence that gets the attention of God. She will "press in" and will NOT be denied when it comes to her children and grand babies. Trust me, I KNOW!
Principalities, powers and rulers of darkness in this world, you've been put on notice: If it is fight you want, then our battle cry has been sounded. We call upon the intercessors, the hosts of angels to go forth to do battle, the armies of Lord God Jehovah to break forth with the light of God and accomplish the mission of creating a Forever Family in the name of Jesus Christ!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Adoption update - Secular Humanism is alive and well!
I really didn't know how to title my post today - I wanted to let you know about the adoption update but also wanted to throw in the "spice" or maybe I should say "putrification" to really get your attention. Grab a cup of java or whatever your favorite beverage might be, this could take a few minutes. This will likely turn into more of a RANT by the time it ends.
As most of you know Tamala & I have been preparing for adoption for over two years now. I've shared on here in the recent past how many times that she and I have not been selected as an adoptive resource for many sibling groups. In case you aren't aware, it's been like five different times aleady.
About a week ago our adoption worker sent us information on a little brother and sister needing adoption and we told her that we wanted to be considered along with other families in the Best Interest Staffing for these two little ones.
Well..... yesterday..... I get an email from our adoption worker saying that the case worker and the supervisor for these two little ones wouldn't even consider us as an adoptive resource. Our adoption worker told them she had to know why. Then she emailed me asking if Tamala and I could come to her office and meet with her so we could discuss the reasons. I simple picked up the phone and called her because I knew something wasn't right and I wanted to know what the deal was and I wanted to know, NOW!
Let me take a really quick moment to explain that our adoption agency is contracted with the State of Kansas (think beauracracy here, okay, with all its "agendas").
I'm going to cut right to the chase here - Our adoption worker explained to me that because we took a stand in our homestudy process, that we do not believe that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle, and that if any of our children told us they thought they may be "gay" that we would seek out psychological and spiritual counseling in an attempt that they would "know the truth and the truth would set them free" - they wouldn't even consider us as an adoptive resource for these children.
*blink*........*blink, blink*.... "What did you just say? Surely, I did not hear you say what I think you just said, did I?"
UNBELIEVABLE!
So I ask our worker: "So you're telling me that if an 'openly' gay individual or even a 'gay couple' comes into your office and says they want to adopt a child(ren) that your office will adopt children out to them?"
Answer: "Yes, we will"
*blink*
"So even though we have made it 'crystal clear' to you, our adoption worker, that if any child of ours that we adopt should at some point in the future decide they are gay, that we would continue to love them and help them in every way we possibly could. We know that "loving people through things they encounter in life" is a {PROCESS}. We would share with them that life is a series of "choices" and sometimes we don't always make the best "choices" - that doesn't 'undo' us as a family. Families go through things... life experiences... and still survive. So, Ms. Adoption Worker, none of what we assured you of regarding this issue was believable?"
"blah, blah....blah, blah, blah...it's not quite that simple, Kevin. Let me get my Supervisor on here with us. (pause) Supervisor - " blah, blah....blah, blah, blah... and we can't help it if people in our own office might have a prejudice against you for the stance that you've taken on the homosexuality issue".
I was INCREDULOUS!
Now, I have to go home and somehow break the news to my sweet wife - that we have just wasted the last two years of our lives dealing with some beaureaucratic entity that doesn't have any official inter-office policy on how to keep your own personal biases and prejudices from entering in on your professional decision making ability when trying to find families for babies and little children who desperately need a "forever family".
Because my wife and I will not openly embrace and uphold the homosexual lifestyle and teach children that it is an acceptable lifestyle; because we choose to stand unwaveringly on our Judeo-Christian values - our adoptive agency will find it exceedingly difficult to find a child or any children for us to adopt.
COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS!
As most of you know Tamala & I have been preparing for adoption for over two years now. I've shared on here in the recent past how many times that she and I have not been selected as an adoptive resource for many sibling groups. In case you aren't aware, it's been like five different times aleady.
About a week ago our adoption worker sent us information on a little brother and sister needing adoption and we told her that we wanted to be considered along with other families in the Best Interest Staffing for these two little ones.
Well..... yesterday..... I get an email from our adoption worker saying that the case worker and the supervisor for these two little ones wouldn't even consider us as an adoptive resource. Our adoption worker told them she had to know why. Then she emailed me asking if Tamala and I could come to her office and meet with her so we could discuss the reasons. I simple picked up the phone and called her because I knew something wasn't right and I wanted to know what the deal was and I wanted to know, NOW!
Let me take a really quick moment to explain that our adoption agency is contracted with the State of Kansas (think beauracracy here, okay, with all its "agendas").
I'm going to cut right to the chase here - Our adoption worker explained to me that because we took a stand in our homestudy process, that we do not believe that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle, and that if any of our children told us they thought they may be "gay" that we would seek out psychological and spiritual counseling in an attempt that they would "know the truth and the truth would set them free" - they wouldn't even consider us as an adoptive resource for these children.
*blink*........*blink, blink*.... "What did you just say? Surely, I did not hear you say what I think you just said, did I?"
UNBELIEVABLE!
So I ask our worker: "So you're telling me that if an 'openly' gay individual or even a 'gay couple' comes into your office and says they want to adopt a child(ren) that your office will adopt children out to them?"
Answer: "Yes, we will"
*blink*
"So even though we have made it 'crystal clear' to you, our adoption worker, that if any child of ours that we adopt should at some point in the future decide they are gay, that we would continue to love them and help them in every way we possibly could. We know that "loving people through things they encounter in life" is a {PROCESS}. We would share with them that life is a series of "choices" and sometimes we don't always make the best "choices" - that doesn't 'undo' us as a family. Families go through things... life experiences... and still survive. So, Ms. Adoption Worker, none of what we assured you of regarding this issue was believable?"
"blah, blah....blah, blah, blah...it's not quite that simple, Kevin. Let me get my Supervisor on here with us. (pause) Supervisor - " blah, blah....blah, blah, blah... and we can't help it if people in our own office might have a prejudice against you for the stance that you've taken on the homosexuality issue".
I was INCREDULOUS!
Now, I have to go home and somehow break the news to my sweet wife - that we have just wasted the last two years of our lives dealing with some beaureaucratic entity that doesn't have any official inter-office policy on how to keep your own personal biases and prejudices from entering in on your professional decision making ability when trying to find families for babies and little children who desperately need a "forever family".
Because my wife and I will not openly embrace and uphold the homosexual lifestyle and teach children that it is an acceptable lifestyle; because we choose to stand unwaveringly on our Judeo-Christian values - our adoptive agency will find it exceedingly difficult to find a child or any children for us to adopt.
COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
the story of ....Rindercella and the Prandsome Hince
I used to love to hear Archie Campbell tell his stories on Hee Haw as a kid. I can't tell you elated I was when I found it on YouTube.
I would especially like to dedicate this to my youngest nieces and nephews or as Archie would say it: my neautiful bieces and nandsome hephews - Landison, Meah, Nameson and Joah!
Love you all!
K
I would especially like to dedicate this to my youngest nieces and nephews or as Archie would say it: my neautiful bieces and nandsome hephews - Landison, Meah, Nameson and Joah!
Love you all!
K
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Totally TERRIFIC time with the Tots!
Okay, sorry...but I couldn't resist the alliteration. It might sound cheesy but we really did have the best time with our nieces & nephews earlier this week. REWIND.......
Friday, March 20th the wife and I piled into the F150 after work and headed toward Duncan, OK with planned stop over in Winfield, KS. We planned on taking our Toyota Corolla but Friday morning the check engine light came on and we took it to the local mechanic's garage for repairs. We arrived at Tamala's Dad's house that evening and visited a bit and then retired for the night. We took him and his "lady friend" to breakfast Saturday morning at a little Bistro place there in Winfield. They have decent food and quaint atmosphere for Winfield and what it has to offer otherwise. Then we piled back into the truck and headed for the Palmer Kingdom in Duncan, OK, US of A to visit the "Royals".
You see the eldest lassie in their clan was having a birthday! Her Royal Highness the Drama Princess, Princess Madison, was turning six years old! She has grown so very tall over the last few years. There was a birthday party being held at the local bowling alley and many of her little friends came and had themselves quite a time. Of course her younger sister, the Prosecutor - Princess Leah, brothers Prince Jameson and baby Prince Noah were all in attendance as well. For those readers not familiar with these titles, they are borrowed from their father's blogsite - The Extended Table - who consistently writes about current events that happen within his "kingdom". Her Dad, had made her a Barbie cake to take to the bowling party along with some ice cream cones with cake baked inside. I helped him finish frosting the ice cream cone cakes with the cream cheese icing. I had never seen this done before but they were perfect for all the little ones to hold and get to enjoy birthday cake. Once the icing was on, they looked like real ice cream cones. So after the party we all go back to their house and Madison received a few gifts. Since she was the birthday girl she got to choose where we went to eat that evening. Well, wouldn't you know, she chose The Olive Garden! Duncan doesn't have an Olive Garden so we all piled in the family van and went to Lawton, OK and had a great time and delicious meal.
We enjoyed our time so much with the family! Little Noah will be turning one in mid-June just a couple of days before his older brother Jameson turns three! So I imagine we will be planning another trip down the Royals palatial estate to party down again! We enjoy them now while they're small because they grow up way too fast. Our eldest nieces have been married almost four years now and they've been having babies of their own. They grown up just too fast.
Blessings!
Friday, March 20th the wife and I piled into the F150 after work and headed toward Duncan, OK with planned stop over in Winfield, KS. We planned on taking our Toyota Corolla but Friday morning the check engine light came on and we took it to the local mechanic's garage for repairs. We arrived at Tamala's Dad's house that evening and visited a bit and then retired for the night. We took him and his "lady friend" to breakfast Saturday morning at a little Bistro place there in Winfield. They have decent food and quaint atmosphere for Winfield and what it has to offer otherwise. Then we piled back into the truck and headed for the Palmer Kingdom in Duncan, OK, US of A to visit the "Royals".
You see the eldest lassie in their clan was having a birthday! Her Royal Highness the Drama Princess, Princess Madison, was turning six years old! She has grown so very tall over the last few years. There was a birthday party being held at the local bowling alley and many of her little friends came and had themselves quite a time. Of course her younger sister, the Prosecutor - Princess Leah, brothers Prince Jameson and baby Prince Noah were all in attendance as well. For those readers not familiar with these titles, they are borrowed from their father's blogsite - The Extended Table - who consistently writes about current events that happen within his "kingdom". Her Dad, had made her a Barbie cake to take to the bowling party along with some ice cream cones with cake baked inside. I helped him finish frosting the ice cream cone cakes with the cream cheese icing. I had never seen this done before but they were perfect for all the little ones to hold and get to enjoy birthday cake. Once the icing was on, they looked like real ice cream cones. So after the party we all go back to their house and Madison received a few gifts. Since she was the birthday girl she got to choose where we went to eat that evening. Well, wouldn't you know, she chose The Olive Garden! Duncan doesn't have an Olive Garden so we all piled in the family van and went to Lawton, OK and had a great time and delicious meal.
We enjoyed our time so much with the family! Little Noah will be turning one in mid-June just a couple of days before his older brother Jameson turns three! So I imagine we will be planning another trip down the Royals palatial estate to party down again! We enjoy them now while they're small because they grow up way too fast. Our eldest nieces have been married almost four years now and they've been having babies of their own. They grown up just too fast.
Blessings!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
I'm going out on a limb here
I've been contemplating this for some time and recently when a speaker at function I was attending alluded to it, I figured I might as well go on record.
I have been probably considering this since before the last Presidential election, the tax exemption status of the "church" here in the the good ole USA. I've heard it said that Pastors, Priests, Rabbi's or whatever you call your local spiritual leader, cannot make certain kinds of statements to those that attend their services. I.e, they cannot endorse a political candidate and if they do they can have their tax exempt status revoked. I think there may be some other topics they cannot touch on either. If the gay & lesbian machine keeps pushing their agenda of being designated as a recognized minority group, and they will, I could see the day come requiring churches to employ openly GLBT people. If a church took stand against this they would have their tax exempt status pulled. Well, I say.......
GIVE IT BACK NOW! I really don't think its too far down the road anyhow. I also think that we as tax paying citizens will lose our tax credit for contributions to our places of worship. There, I've said it! It's on paper (figuratively), it's on purpose.
How do I feel about that? I will continue to pay my tithe because the Word of God tells me that He will supply all of my needs, according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. I was reading a commentary a few days ago and the author made a remark that the concept of the "tithe" was in practice even before the Law (Mosaic Law). The Old Testatment will tell you that Abraham practiced the tithe well before Moses took pen & parchment and wrote the Law. This is something on which I am still contemplating, meditating, mulling over, etc. I think I should go back even further in "time" to Adam & Eve's sons. Of course I will need to go back & read it again but if my memory serves me I think Cain & Abel fell into their diversity over their sacrificial offerings to Lord God Jehovah. Was this not their tithe? Yep, I need to go back and study up on this. I guarantee you neither Cain & Abel, Abraham, Moses or any of the rest of them got a "tax deduction" on their monies given to the Lord. The Lord took care of them and blessed them abundantly!
Blessings!
I have been probably considering this since before the last Presidential election, the tax exemption status of the "church" here in the the good ole USA. I've heard it said that Pastors, Priests, Rabbi's or whatever you call your local spiritual leader, cannot make certain kinds of statements to those that attend their services. I.e, they cannot endorse a political candidate and if they do they can have their tax exempt status revoked. I think there may be some other topics they cannot touch on either. If the gay & lesbian machine keeps pushing their agenda of being designated as a recognized minority group, and they will, I could see the day come requiring churches to employ openly GLBT people. If a church took stand against this they would have their tax exempt status pulled. Well, I say.......
GIVE IT BACK NOW! I really don't think its too far down the road anyhow. I also think that we as tax paying citizens will lose our tax credit for contributions to our places of worship. There, I've said it! It's on paper (figuratively), it's on purpose.
How do I feel about that? I will continue to pay my tithe because the Word of God tells me that He will supply all of my needs, according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. I was reading a commentary a few days ago and the author made a remark that the concept of the "tithe" was in practice even before the Law (Mosaic Law). The Old Testatment will tell you that Abraham practiced the tithe well before Moses took pen & parchment and wrote the Law. This is something on which I am still contemplating, meditating, mulling over, etc. I think I should go back even further in "time" to Adam & Eve's sons. Of course I will need to go back & read it again but if my memory serves me I think Cain & Abel fell into their diversity over their sacrificial offerings to Lord God Jehovah. Was this not their tithe? Yep, I need to go back and study up on this. I guarantee you neither Cain & Abel, Abraham, Moses or any of the rest of them got a "tax deduction" on their monies given to the Lord. The Lord took care of them and blessed them abundantly!
Blessings!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
a little update
It doesn't seem possible that a month has elapsed since my last post. Things have been moving along here at the Palmerosa of Kansas City. We have been taking a very long time to prepare a bedroom upstairs for the impending adoption. It all started maybe three years ago when Tamala and my mother began peeling off the wallpaper in this particular bedroom. There wasn't a "plan" for the room we just knew that we hated the wallpaper. When you don't have a "plan" it is really hard to "work the plan" so it hasn't been a high priority. Well, sometime last summer I think it was I went ahead and tore the drywall out. I'm glad I did because it settled a question I have had since we bought this house. It seemed the utility bills were pretty high. The reason is that there isn't any insulation in the walls! We insulated the attic last May because there wasn't any insulation in the attic either. So after we hauled out the 18 large bags of busted up drywall, I bought some insulation rolls and finished the insulation job in the bedroom.
Now we have new drywall, carpet padding with new carpet and new paint. The only thing left to do is finish the trim work. So, it's very close to being finished.
The funny thing about this whole process is that we don't even know if the child or children we end up adopting will be placed in this room. We don't know if we'll end up with an infant(s) or toddlers, or pre-teens or just exactly what or how many. We don't know if we should paint pink or blue, buy stuff for a girl or boy's room. So, we'll just wait. We have money saved up and it won't be a problem to go on a massive shopping spree!
Since Spring represents the season of new beginnings, growth and propogation; I would like to think this Spring will hold special significance for us.
If you read this before Thursday, March 5th you might find it interesting that we will once again be considered in a Best Interest Staffing for a 10 year old little girl. We just want God's perfect will in this whole ordeal and pray that little Elisabeth will get the parents that God intends for her to have.
Blessings!
Now we have new drywall, carpet padding with new carpet and new paint. The only thing left to do is finish the trim work. So, it's very close to being finished.
The funny thing about this whole process is that we don't even know if the child or children we end up adopting will be placed in this room. We don't know if we'll end up with an infant(s) or toddlers, or pre-teens or just exactly what or how many. We don't know if we should paint pink or blue, buy stuff for a girl or boy's room. So, we'll just wait. We have money saved up and it won't be a problem to go on a massive shopping spree!
Since Spring represents the season of new beginnings, growth and propogation; I would like to think this Spring will hold special significance for us.
If you read this before Thursday, March 5th you might find it interesting that we will once again be considered in a Best Interest Staffing for a 10 year old little girl. We just want God's perfect will in this whole ordeal and pray that little Elisabeth will get the parents that God intends for her to have.
Blessings!
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