Blessed Beyond Measure

It is so easy for me to write about crafts or things that I see, but it is so hard for me to really express my feelings or share intimate details about our lives. I'm sure I'm not the only person that goes through these emotions as well.

Lately, I have been feeling very inadequate. I know I have many flaws and imperfections. I've made mistakes, said things that I shouldn't have, and hurt people that I care about. I'm not always the best example of being a Christian either. However, I do try to be a good person, wife, and mother, but tend to fall short. I feel so undeserving of the blessings all around me. To top it off, I still find that the Lord knows me by name and finds ways to tell me I am worth all the pruning, that He sees this jewel inside me that He is polishing me till I'm perfect.

I really don't know how I was blessed with such a loving daughter, and an amazing man as my husband. My little girl really teaches me so much, and I feel like she is working on me to be the best mom I can be.

 6 months

 7 months

 8 months

9 months

The other day we were at the park, she seems to be a very friendly baby and always has new friends. Sometimes I think that maybe I shouldn't let my baby shouldn't play with certain kids, because they might be a little rough with her. She teaches me to be more patient and kind. She looks at every kid with loving eyes and sees their worth. She give them a genuine smile and is so excited to play. When they are a little rough with her and they push her over, she gets sad but forgives quickly and is ready to play again. She still has that same love in her eyes as the first time she sees them. I just see how angelic she is, and how sweet and kind she is.. How did I get such a sweet girl in my life? I truly hope that she will be an even better person than her mom, but I have come to the realization that these moments need to be documented or they will be forgotten. Also, I NEED to learn these lesson myself and HAVE to live by her example. Once day, she will be old enough to remember everything her mother does, and when that time comes I will need to be ready to lead her as she is leading me. 

How can I not see how blessed I am? For this very reason I can honestly say that I am blessed beyond measure. Thank goodness for Blake Shelton's song for he helped me phrase this the best.... I know that God gave me you (Cameron and Afton) for all the ups and downs. God gave me you for the days of doubt, and for when I think I've lost my way. There are no words here left to say, It's true, God gave me you.

Cowgirl up!

Our little sister, Jade, raises a steer every year for the 4H competition. She sells the steer at the county fair and her trend lately has been to ride the steer as she is showing him around the arena. Her steer this year is still in training but Afton was able to ride him for a couple seconds.
Here is a picture of our baby girl "Cowgirl'd UP"!

She will probably be like her aunt and this will not be the first time she will ride a steer. Needless to say, it is the first and at 6 months she is a rock star!

For those that don't know what a steer is it is a cow. I'm pretty sure someone saw this picture and told my mom they saw her granddaughter on a horse. 

Haha! Well now you all know, it's a cow! (:

Hope you're having a great day!

Who is raising whom?

I have looked through the pictures on my phone and I'm blown away by how fast this little girl is growing. In fact, I will show you.

                                                            Newborn

                                                            1 month

                                                          2 months

                                                          3 months

                                                           4 months                                                         

                                                               5 months

I seriously cannot believe the changes and how blessed we are.

I remember being in the hospital and feeling completely overwhelmed by this little girl. For some reason the idea of my choices altering and impacting this little girls future terrified me. I kept thinking how am I going to do it. I'm going to come back to this thought.

In our Sunday school class the instructor was talking about the blessing of children in our homes. We were discussing when you should have children and how soon after marriage you should wait. We all concluded that it is a couples decision and the Lord will tell you when. In the midst of this discussion a very profound statement was said that is ingrained in my heart. The instructor had said that "adults do not produce children, but children produce adults". I testify to all of you how true that statement is.

This beautiful eyed little girl has taught me and raised me to be a more mature, patient, and loving individual ever since she was born. I also see the impact and the visible love my husband has for her. Including the positive changes he has made in his life for her.

I am no longer afraid of not being a good enough parent. Afton is raising me to be the mom she needs me to be. I am so grateful for life lesson from a cute little stinker. I look forward to the many more she will bring to me.

The bad, the good. The good and the bad.

3 blog post in one month! I am on a roll.

This week we had the good and the bad come our way. Unfortunately Cameron's grandma, Grandma Palmer, broke her good leg and had to get surgery. Ever since I joined the family and from Cameron's recollection,  grandma had been on crutches for years. She had one good standing leg that she'd put all her weight on. With her good leg broken, we just don't know how life will change for her.

This was Grandma's 19th surgery. The good in this is that grandma wasn't alone when she broke her leg, and she had surgery in a hospital close to us. We had the pleasure going to visit her. Talk about a great woman, she had plenty to be angry about and was in pain, but she greeted Afton and I with warmth and was very optimistic. At this point, grandma's leg is more metal than bone, but she was sure happy to see us.

It broke Cam's heart to not be able to go up to visit grandma. Cameron has been been working so hard for our little family, (full-time work and school). He was able to call grandma on the phone and talk to her, grandma sure loves him. She kept talking about how much that phone call meant to her.

I repeat myself, what a great woman! You can see the love she has for every member of her family. It shows in her eyes. Which brings me to conclude that even when one is in pain, had surgery, and life is altered (even if it's for a small moment), that there is so much to be grateful for.

Afton has been going through a "I want my mommy" stage, where she cries if anyone else holds her. So, naturally when Grandma and Grandpa tried it would last at most 10 seconds before she started crying. I was able to get Afton down for a cat nap so Grandma was holding her while she slept.

Grandma kept telling me how much torture it was to hold her. (Meaning she loved every sleeping minute that Afton gave her).

Grandpa had 10 second luck! Just long enough for me to snag a picture.

Afton is part possum. She loves this position and this is the only way she'd left Grandpa hold her longer than 10 seconds.

Grandpa thought she was such a nut. He said, "I'd much rather look at your face, but I guess I'll take any end you'd give me." She is definitely our goofy girl.

The reoccurring message that was given to us this week is, good things happen to good people. Bad things happen to good people. Bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to bad people. Regardless of what choices you make in life, no one is exempt from feeling pain and hurt. Everyone will receive trials that will alter their lives, but misery is a choice. I'm so grateful for Grandma's example to teach us that in a crummy situation, being stuck in a hospital, having to rely on others to move and make you meals, there are so so so many blessing in this life. There is good in every situation.

So, bring it on. The bad, the good. The good and the bad, the Palmer's are troopers and will keep on keeping on. I pray that you all will as well.

Summing up February!

February is a fun month for me. It's my birthday month! Who does not like their birthday? It was a hard birthday to have, for some reason the whole year before I completely forgot how old I was, realizing that I was going to turn 24 was a shocker. My poor husband had to hear me rant about how I didn't even realize how fast or where time went.

Nonetheless, money was really tight this year with Afton being born not too long ago, so I didn't ask for anything. My hubby insisted that we go out to dinner and that he would take me out on a date. Of course, that was the only thing I really wanted was to spend time with my man. With all the late nights with Afton, Cam working and going to school full-time, I felt like we never really got to see each other and spend time together as a couple.

My birthday had to land on a Monday this year, so we celebrated the weekend before. My mom's gift to me was watching Afton while the two of us went out on a date. Of course, I was a paraniod mother and our date lasted a  total of 2 and a half hours, but it was much needed quality time.

The day of Cam had to work, so after school he came home to take me over to my mom's. There was a knock on the door where i received this....

Cam made sure that there was no question in my mind how much he cares for me and how special I am to him.

The night ended with cake with my parents and brother. It was such a good day with cake and flowers. Yum. (:

Well in February, Afton has become more fun and playful! Her squawks are getting louder, and she is more alert and interactive.

Valentines day we had a play date with Brittney, Kooper, and Kristen. We had a valentines dinner and got to play with Kooper! Talk about a cute boy! He is fun. He teaches Afton how to shoot the moose in his room, play with trucks and is really good at sharing his stuffed animals with her.

Here is the Valentine that Kooper made Afton and me. Talk about spoiled us!

But that's not all of February!!!!

We got to see Aunt Teal! She came up for President's Day weekend. We were able to hang out with Teal bug and have her stay with us. We also went to a hockey game at the Peaks Ice Arena. It has been years since I've watched a hockey game in there, but for Cam and Teal it was their first time.

I told you that Cam is impossible to take pictures with... At least it's a good picture of the girls.  Although BYU lost, it was still a fun night.

I guess the letter F in February also means a months of first for Afton. Here are some pictures of a "Tinker".

She took over her own room!

Fell asleep on her first trip to the mall.

Saw ducks for the first time... One got to close and she started to cry.... haha! Oh... if she only knew how much she'll enjoy seeing ducks in her future. ;)

The beginning and end of her first stroller ride.

Although it is her first time doing all these things, I feel like she has been a part of our lives for so much longer. In fact, I feel like I've known her my whole life. Cameron feels the same way and loves being with his girls.

February was a month that really brought us closer as a family. We really had to depend on one another, but most importantly our eyes were open to the Lord and all his love for us. Money was tight, but we never felt like we were going without and that we didn't have enough. As long as we had each other, life was great! I pray that you all have exactly what you need and in moments of adversity, you hold dear to your loved ones.

Afton's Baby blessing

We blessed Afton on January, 27th. Yes, it has been too long and am in need for a blog update. She was 2 months old, and cute as a button. We were able to have Cameron's parents and three sisters attend the blessing, not to mention some of the cousins that live up here and some friend. On my side, my brother drove from Texas to make it to her blessing, my parents, aunts and uncles, and cousins, were all there.

 Getting Afton ready and she was moving and squirming! We were able to wear the dress that Afton's Great Grandma Mabel Palmer made, (Cameron's grandma). Here dresses are amazing, but very special since Grandma Palmer's hand have arthritis in them, and she wont be able to crochet much longer. It truly is a very special gift from a very talented woman.

One of my greater fears when blessing a child is having them scream the entire time the blessing is taking place. Thankfully, she was nothing but calm and happy. Cam gave a great blessing, some of the things that she was blessed with are being blessed with a loving family and resources to flourish, blessed with a healthy, strong body to endure trails and adversity; blessed to have a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and faith to follow Him. The ability to learn, grow and understand the principles of the gospel. Apply all that she has learned in the temple with a man she has chosen to take her there.To captivate the beauty of that moment as a whole, you just had to of been there. I thank my cousin Karen for taking such great notes.Not to mention there was a special spirit in the room,  I strongly believe my brother Enrique was all there watching his niece being blessed.

Following the blessing, we were able to have a meal at my parents house with all those that wanted to join. We are so grateful for how special that ways, and felt extremely blessed. There were many friends and family  that were not able to make, but there presence was felt. Our hearts were touched, for it truly was a very special day.

Truth  be told, Cameron is impossible to take pictures with, so as a proud mama I was able to get one with my princess. I never thought I would fall in love with being a mom, but having Afton in my life has truly been a blessing. She makes me want to be an even better person than I was or am for her. With moments like her blessing, I realize how special of a daughter of God she is, and how important it is for her to grow up in a home that will teach her Gospel truths. We are in a married, young couple Sunday school class and our previous bishop phrased it best when he said, "Adults do not produce children, children produce adults." That is how I truly feel, she was sent to our home for Cam and I to grow to become the adults that we need to be, for her and for our own eternal progression. We are forever touch and humbled by this little girl and our world will never be the same again, it will be better!