To Add to the Stress!

To Add to the Stress...
We had a miscarriage on Nov 5th.
For those of you who did not know...
sorry, we did not tell you yet.
For those of you who did know...
sorry to tell you and then take it away.
The ABSOLUTE most horrible thing,
We had to tell Mackenzie.
She had been excitedly asking each night to pray for
"the baby in mommy's tummy" (as well as Aunt Kelly's and several other friends)
How do you tell a 5 year old, God took the baby to heaven!?
We all cried together for a few days.
This week she said to her dad "Dad, don't pray for the baby in mommy's tummy tonight, it is not there anymore!" In that child-like -matter- of -fact- manner we have lost as adults.
The very next day she found Luke's old diaper bag and exclaimed "MOM. When we get our next new baby, we have to remember to use this diaper bag!" In that same "GOD provides" manner of her child-like faith.
We should all remember the faith of a child... God will provide... and if He does not... well then, we did not need it right then....
Oh, but my heart is broken.
November 2007

Emotions

Emotions run high.
As we approach yet another move,
(moving from a mission house to a rental we can make our own)
Mackenzie is "crisising", tears and disobedience are a part of our day.
Change is a tough part of everyone's life.
Today, she and I got out the picture books and talked about the AWESOME times God has given us, Nicaragua, friends and family. She misses Nicaragua, our friends and living with her Granny and Grampa.
We have moved several times in her tiny little life and some of those moves were
Quite the distance!
Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Texas in her first 5 years of life!!
The word MOVE brings about scary thoughts of distance and loss.
We have all been through it. We have all learned to deal with it. We all must learn, in our own way, HOW to deal with it. Sometimes Remembering with pictures makes us cry, but it also helps us see how God has protected us and blessed us beyond measure. Crying is not bad, sometimes we need to express our emotions through tears.
Go ahead baby girl, cry. I miss things too!
November 2007

Please

Just when you are down and thinking...
this is a tough job, discipline.
Coralyn signed "please" today
WITHOUT PROMPTING.
Praise the Lord.
Sept 2007

Potty Update

Luke went to the Library in “unders” 2 hours.
Pottied while we were there, mom said go.
Luke also to a nap that afternoon in unders,
went to get his sister at school in unders, and
went to a carnival in unders. O accidents, until we got home….
Then he walked in the house, sat on the couch and peed! I was upset about the couch.
There is a first time for everything.
Sept 12th, 2007. 2 years and 5 months.
I fully expect today to be disastrous in the potty department.!

School Update

We did get the transfer to the Public school next to us!
Praise the Lord.
It was a last minute thing. One week before school started.
Mackenzie started Kinder.
Her mom (me!) cried!! No surprise there!
Mackenzie did great. She was really ready.
Luke has to say about this whole thing:
"I need her. I need her NOW!"
as we drop her off at school each day.
Momma says: "me too baby, but she needs to learn"
*****
We made it to the third week of school before we got at note home from the teacher.
Mackenzie's fine motor skills...
She is a talker not a writer.
She can carry a conversation with an adult,
but she does not want to hold a pencil correctly.
Of course, this one you can blame on her mother,
I named her Mackenzie, Amy would have been easier to spell!!!
She is working on "Mac" for now.
Her daddy draws his letters backwards, so HE CANNOT HELP.
*****
We have not adjusted yet. It may take us some time.
They grow up so fast. Then they fly away and leave us at home with the little one alone.
I am still keeping Coralyn, Luke's cousin, so they play together.
It is a little crazy to have a 1 1/2 and a 2 1/2 at the same time.
Luke is potty training so that is a mess. Pullups are a scam.
And messes are easier to clean up on tile (Nicaragua, with Mackenzie)
than on carpet and MY couch!
I still say, put them in "unders" and clean it up. They will never learn in Pullups.
(for those of you without children... a 'Pull Up' is a diaper you pull on like underwear,
it is semi absorbent so they don't make a mess but they "feel wet" ,
it is a license for 'accident' is what it is)
Well, there you go. You have been updated.
Whew, that was too much.
Sept 2007

Hurricane Felix

For updates and general information please go to

www.miskitomissions.com

Our prayers are with the Miskito People.

September 2007

Singing!

Luke and Mackenzie were playing house.

Mackenzie gave Luke the option of being the mom, dad or baby.

Luke choose dad and ordered her to be baby.

She demanded to be kid not baby.

She made the "bed" and got in it.

Luke said: "Jesus loves me, Bible tells me sooooo"

In the sing-songy voice of two year old.

He has been liking Sunday School more and more.

Maybe now he is ready for Mother's Day Out.

It starts on Tuesday and I am teaching>

NOT his class. He will have more fun without me!

I am nervous; I will have 13-two year olds.

Praise the Lord for his grace and mercy.

Sept 2007

New Stage

Luke has put the "Why?" stage on hold.

I am sure we will get back to it.

Now we got to the "Look at me!"

"Watch me!" stage.

He has so many words now.

It is crazy that just a few months ago he did not say anything.

Of course now he will never be silent!

August 2007

Oh, Dear

Our parents introduced us at 2 years of age,

several states and countries and friends ago,

we met again in college,

and again several states and countries passed,

and we enjoyed this day together,

Aaron Hood married Kat forever.

BFF,

Through tragedy and triumph.
Congratulations Aaron!

This is a day we will never forget.
July 2007

Aaron & Kat Hood

Gorgeous Bride
More Friends
8 years is a long time
Groom with sister,

(private joke witnessed and caught on camara)

We are counting!!!
July 2007

Aaron and Kat's wedding

What a great couple!

Friends!

Together at last

Summer (Me), Katie, Jenny

How long has it been?

8 years?

Visiting Friends

Ryan is 4 months younger than Luke.
Erin, Ryan (2 yrs.) and Charlie (2 mo.) (in the back, on the couch)
Missing Baby Charlie and Dad Steve.

We had a wonderful visit.

We thank God for good friends.

Even though time and distance separates us,

we have been Blessed Beyond Measure.
July 2007

Caught in Action--Reading

Coralyn, caught in action:

Reading!

Good Job parents, teaching her young.

July 2007

Mackenzie is 5!

Jewels and Princesses
All things PINK!
The Loot: princess, pink, purple,

socks, tights, tutu, jammas, jewels, backpack, etc.

The day after. And most days after that...
Wow, 5 already.

Time flies when you are having fun.

My princess will be starting Kindergarten this fall.

I am so old!! boo hoo.

The lovely princess says: "Thank you all for your gifts and cards"

July 2007

Why?

We have hit the WHY? stage.

Luke just started talking about 8 weeks ago,

and we are at the Why? stage!!

Oh, dear, what next?

How long does this stage last?

June 2007

PreK 2007

Top row- Lindsay, Zack, Bobbie Jean, Colin

Middle row-Jessica, Nate, Sarah

Bottom row-Tyler, Lillie, Ethan, Mackenzie

Columbus Avenue Baptist Church,

Pre-K Class of 2007

Second Broken Arm

Got this one at Great Grandma's house

Playin' with the boys

Great Grin

The red lips are from a popcicle.

See, this thing does not even bother me!

April 2007- May 2007

Mackenzie's PreK Grad.

My PreK graduate, Mackenzie Jane Palmer
My tiny, front row Princess
The Show (Half the class)
The Whole Class
The other half of the class

I can't believe it.

They grow up so fast.

May 2007

More Lovely Pics

Lovely Aunt Becky with her lovely Coralyn
The Bunch.

top center-David

top row-Katherine, Joel, Brenda, Granddaddy Palmer,

Becky with Coralyn, and the Graduate

middle row- George, Janet, Grandmother Palmer,

Mom (Viola), Papa Calvin, Granny Mae

bottom row-Jeremy, Summer, Luke, Mackenzie

What a great group!

Congrats Grampa Jim.

May 2007

Dr. Palmer, Yeah

James Melvin Palmer, Jr. M.Div.

Mackenzie with Katherine

Truett Graduation

Kristen Canady

Graduate!

Great Picture

May 2007

Grampa's Tree Falling

The Before picture!
Fell right where they wanted it!

Praise the Lord!

The tree was right next to the house.

May 2007

Dr. Jim Palmer's Graduation

Luke and Cousin Coralyn Happel

Texas Bluebonnets

Luke all dressed up for Grampa's graduation.

Mackenzie, Luke, and cousin Coralyn

at Grampa's Graduation

May 2007

Same!

Luke repeats most things.

Only when you don't ask him to.

But this one he did on his own.

"uck- uck- same"

Translation:

duck (in one hand)

duck (in the other hand)

same (stated in excitment)

I thought, How cute, but he may just be lucky

But then he picked up the turtle...

"dis? dis?" (what is this called?)

I said turtle.

"tur-tur-same!!!!! YEah!!!"

Translation

turtle (in one hand)

turtle (in other hand)

same Yeah (super excitement with arms in the air and everything)

Now, after twice in a row with no help... that is cool.

They grow up fast.

May 18th, 2007

Spring?!?

This is Spring (or is it?) at the World Relief Hunger Farm in Waco.

It would have been a nice day but that cold front was really cold.

Luke is cold but

Mackenzie is so cold she is distraught.

They both wanted another ride later in the morning.

It was a great experience.

It would have been better with some sun!

May 2007

Finally, Luke is 2

Cars from the dollar store
Happy, for a buck
Yeah, sorry cake, but they liked it
Party sister!
What a happy baby--I mean big boy.

They grow up so fast.

Two is like the magic moment,

He learned more words and putting them together.

He is more verbal and thus, more demanding.

He gets frustrated when he can't get his point across.

April 4, 2007

Story time

Story time with Luke Palmer

and Coralyn Happel.

They really love this time.

April 2007

Luke has more words

Luke says more words.

He repeats most things and

Loves counting in Spanish.

Luke has started using "owning" words.

More than "mine" that is common.

Like Dad's, Mom's, E-hee's (Kenzie's)

Like that is Dad's chair.

That is Mom's desk.

But he just points and says "Dad's"

Cool.

It is amazing what can happen after your second birthday.

It was a magical moment.

May 2007

We're In!

Yes,

Jeremy has been accepted into Truett Seminary

at Baylor.

We will be in Waco, TX for a few years.

I am starting to feel like I could get settled!

Roots?!

Bloom where you are planted.

Yes!

Thank you references

Thank you God

May 2007

Tales of Words

OK, check this out...

Mackenzie said: "I am making cereal soup."

"It is pretty stout. But not too stout for your liking."

Momma said: "what did you say?"

MJ: "soup, pretty stout, but not too stout for your liking."

Mom: "ok."

***

Where did that come from?!?!

"Stout" is the word Jeremy used instead of "spicy" one day last month.

But, "too stout for your liking?" Who says that??!?!

I finally figured it out...

Uncle Lester M. gave Mackenzie a book.

"Some Pig!" by E. B. White, a Charlotte's web picture book

The book says...

Fern went swimming and Wilbur (the pig) tagged along...

"When she waded into the brook, Wilbur waded in with her.

He found the water quite cold--too cold for his liking."

So he played in the mud instead.

*****

If you don't think they are listening.

YOU just listen to them...

They repeat everything!!!!!!!!!!!!

April 2007

Luke is Two!

Luke is Two.
Pictures coming soon.
April 4th, 2007

Current News

Luke in his "cool dude" clothes,

ready for church

Both my Prince and my Princess,

in fairy tale gear,

going to church

March 2007

Tornado Scare

Hey all,
We had a fun tornado scare last night.
The radio was tracking the storm (no tv remember)
We got out the map of the area from the phone book.
We gathered in the kitchen, cooked dinner while waiting for the storm.
I put a few things in the hallway in the middle of the house, just in case.
The storm missed us by about 10 minutes.
It was coming straight up the freeway towards us. Right before getting to us it turned east and kept going north.
Tornados were spotted just south and just east of us.
Jeremy said he was not too worried….we do no live near a trailer park!
But he was a little jittery and did ask what I had put in the hallway.

It was 4:40 pm and I had just arrived in the rain from our WIC appointment.
There was a sound in the air… I don’t know what a siren sounds like but…. And boy, you cannot hear it in the house.
Christy came to get her umbrella so Jeremy was standing on the front porch when we arrived.
Yes, I had to drag two kids out in this storm. They did great. Even in the thunder and lightning.

Pray for those affected.
Central Texas
March 30, 2007

School vs. Home

Mackenzie came home talking funny.

It took me 2 days to figure her out.

She was talking in baby talk.

(or northern!)

She was not pronouncing her "R".

"whe-u" was where

"the-u" was there

"wat-u" was water

I am not even sure I can spell her funny words.

We did figure out one of the girls at school talks this way.

Where they lead---someone will follow.

****

She also HATES when the boys play "power rangers"

I don't even know what that means.

Second month of Pre-K

March 2007

Buzz Words

Luke and Mackenzie have found their

"get out of jail free card"

their "buzz words".

Mackenzie thinks "I'm full"

will get her out of everything.

(She is currently too busy to eat, at home AND at school)

and if that does not work...

"I'm hungry" will do the trick!

(She is currently[also] postponing bedtime)

Luke now thinks "pot"

will get him out of everything.

But man, does it work!

They all learn to manipulate the system.

We, parents, just try to keep up.

March 2007

Mackenzie's First School Performance

My Lion
Luke was a little tired of the show
Mackenzie in her first school performance

Circus.

This is her Pre-K class at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church

Waco Texas March 2007