Dear Friends and Family,
As I look back at a year gone by I am in awe… it truly has passed so quickly, yet, moments somehow seemed to stand still, frozen in my mind. It has been a year of constant change, spiritual growth, as well as sadness and joy all rolled together.
As all of you know, we set out last July leaving our home in Michigan to live in the Pacific Northwest. We drove some 2000 miles accross 9 states and saw some of the most amazing sights. While Tim and I had driven accross the country on 3 separate occasions, we had never done something of this magnitude with 2 school aged kids and a one year old. I have to say that the invention of the double screen car dvd player saved our lives! Emma was a great help with her sister when it seemed that Maddie had just had enough… Emma would get her laughing, and it would be non-stop until we finally arrived at our destination. Taylor had all the time in the world to invent anything his mind might imagine with the Legos in the back seat. They slept, laughed, played games, colored, watched videos, ate all the food that Barb, John and Sue sent with us. They counted animals… not only cows and sheep, but bison(lots and lots of bison), birds, mountain goats, bears, reindeer, elk, wolves… etc. etc. How, you ask, did you see so many different types of animals? Well, in Rapid City, South Dakota… we went through a wildlife refuge called Bear Country USA. It is a motor park, you drive through (with your windows up and your doors locked) and each habitat has a different type of animal. It was great fun!
We saw Mt Rushmore, Wall Drug in Wall, SD. The Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons and the Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Latourell Falls, Horseshoe Falls, The falls at Sheppards Dell and much more. All in all our trip lasted 6 days and five nights. The trip is something I am sure our kids will never forget, Taylor still talks about the bison we saw crossing the road by our car. If you haven’t already read our blog online… I wish you would check it out when you have time. We go into great detail describing our trip accross the country as well as some adventures we have had since arriving. There are tons of photos as well. The web address is
http://www.adventures2oregon.blogspot.com/We didn’t have any car trouble to speak of until we were driving into Portland, about an hour and a half from Monmouth… a water hose had burst and after a short uneventful drive from Multnomah falls to Wilsonville to see Uncle Joe, the Porsche/ Lamborghini mechanic who fixed it the next day for us (its nice to have a mechanic in the family that lives in the vicinity).
We have been living with my parents for 5 months now, and while it has been difficult for all of us adjusting to living with each other… 7 of us in a small 3 bedroom home. All being said, our kids have adjusted. It seems Tim and I have had the most difficult time with all the changes. After 4 months of being unemployed, Tim finally found work as a satellite installer for DirecTV, and while it isn’t something he absolutely loves, we are thankful for the job, and it pays the bills for the time being.
The past 5 months has been challenging in ways that we have never experienced But one thing is sure… GOD has been FAITHFUL. Through all the difficulties, what seemed like such sadness and overwhelming grief has started to turn to joy, Joy for what will come next. In the couple of days it took to write this letter to you all, I received an email from my cousin Yvonne. I was so amazed that it came at such a perfect time. (God was involved for sure because it fits in perfectly with what I was wanting to convey to you all.) Read this story about the Woman with the Fork:
There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal Illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things “in order,” she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what Scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. “There’s one more thing,” she said excitedly. “What’s that?” came the Pastor’s reply. “This is very important,” the young woman continued. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.” The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say. That surprises you, doesn’t it?” the young woman asked.”Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request,” said the Pastor. The young woman explained. “My grandmother once told me this story, And from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, ‘Keep your fork.’ It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming…like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!’ So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork inMy hand and I want them to wonder “What’s with the fork?” Then I want you to tell them: “Keep your fork, the best is yet to come.” The Pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times hewould see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming. At the funeral people were walking by the young woman’s casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand.Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, “What’s with the fork?”And over and over he smiled. During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.
During the many days and nights of being unemployed and wondering how we would pay our bills, feeling so low, just asking God so many times if he would let us know what his plans were for us. Going to church on Sunday and being ministered to by the music and the Pastor Russ’ preaching is what gave us hope. I was realizing for the first time in awhile that I was depending too much on my own strength and not completely trusting in God to supply my every need. How is it that we have to go through such trying times before we realize that God is truly all we need, and all the rest is just added blessing? This is what our family has learned this year… and let me tell you, if that is only one of the things we have become wise about(there are many more)… we are so much richer and more compassionate because of it.
Not only has God been faithful to provide for us… he used you to accomplish it as well. You all have been an encouragement to us in ways that we cannot describe, with your many prayers, calls, letters, cards and monetary gifts, we have been overwhelmed by your love for us. Please know that our hearts are turned toward our Michigan home often, we think about you, pray for you and long to be with you each and every day.
We hope that this Christmas brings you a deeper understanding of what God has done… he has saved us…. saved us from so much…. and all through the smallest of gifts… a baby. I love that God works through what seem to be weak things of this world to shame to the ‘seemingly’ strong people of the world. (1 Cor. 1:27) And he does it all for one purpose… so that ALL will come to know HIM. May you and yours truly know Him this Christmas! And in the New Year may we all learn from the woman with the fork… and not settle for what’s easy….but wait for what’s better.
Love,
The Palmer Family
Tim, Marcea, Emma, Taylor and Maddie
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