The Palmer Tale: February 2013

The Wrights live in Utah and decided to come and visit us over the long weekend in January.The Wrights are our close friends. Shawn grew up with Justin so they have been good ol pals since they were wee ones. It was sooo fun to have them here! Their little boy Ryker and Kanyin got along so well. It was the cutest thing to watch them interact. We did the whole Philadelphia tour, which was such an adventure! Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, watched a rally, the famous "love" park, philly cheese steaks. Friday Shawn had school, and Justin volunteered to take the babies so Heather and I could have a shopping day. It felt so good to have a girls day out. Sadly Sunday night they found out that their apartment in Utah flooded! It wasn't the best ending to an awesome weekend. But things are coming together and they should be able to move back into their apartment soon. We loved having them and miss them already. We love having visitors.... hint hint. :) We live so close to so many neat historical fun things. I hope we get to it all while we live here.

Standing in line to see Independence Hall. It was really cold!

the famous love park

love park

confessing to the "bishop"

Justin the gymnast

Cutest thing ever! Ryker started pushing Kanyin in her stroller

They were good about sharing

Reading Termal market

One of the rooms in Independence Hall

The Liberty Bell

Not only are they helping with dinner, they are wearing aprons :)

I served my mission for the LDS Church in Washington D.C. I loved loved my mission because of all the people that I was able to meet. When we found out we were moving to Philadelphia, I was excited because I knew how close it was to D.C. I could bring my little family there! So to start of Shawn's Christmas break, we celebrated, by making the two and a half hour drive to D.C. Oh man did we have such a great time. We started our trip by going to the Visitors Center at the Washington D.C. temple. The Visitors Center has a Festival of Lights every year. There is a free concert every night in December and there are so many lights, nativities etc that bring the Christmas spirit. It was so neat to go back. The Visitors Center was completely redone and it looks amazing! There is such a special spirit there. If you are ever in Washington D.C. I highly recommend it. We were able to meet up with Jenny, Kristen and her family (sisters I served with) and another dear friend from the mission, Koshell.

We stayed with the Gordy family for the night. I helped to teach Ramona and Pat while I was a missionary. Ramona was baptized a short while after I started my mission. I love these two so much. They are such a strength and example to me. I am so grateful I was able to meet them. If you ever want a spiritual pick me up you will have to check out Ramona's blog here. They spoiled us so much while we were there!

Our day in the city consisted of the National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History, eating hot dogs from a street vendor, yum yum :) and we ended by going to the white house to see the national Christmas tree. That was pretty neat to see. Even though we weren't to impressed with the decorating of the tree (I feel like some malls have better decorated trees), they did have a littler tree for each state. We found Pennsylvania, Colorado, but could not find Idaho. Of course it was way in the back tucked in a corner decorated with potato ornaments.

Sadly it was around this time when we noticed all the flags were half staff. We asked someone why and he told us about the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. Our hearts were so broken. All that kept going through my mind was "an elementary school?? really??" I did my student teaching in a first grade class and I just kept thinking about when we would practice the intruder drill and get all the kids under a table, lock the door, turn the lights off and keep them quiet. They were so scared even though it was just a practice. I cannot imagine what it would be like for real. Those teachers, and others that losted their lives for the children's sake will always be heros. I just could not believe it and to think what is happening with our world is so scary. I still think about and pray for those families that were affected and hope that they find peace. I know those little ones are with our Heavenly Father and are in a good place.

Brother Brewer is outside the Visitors Center every night during the Festival welcoming people. Ice, Rain or snow he is still there! IT was so good to see him!