Instagram story viewer> @makemyburdenlight> Tagged

Kate Palmer Bowers

@makemyburdenlight

874

followers

1606

following

Intimate Partner Violence Victim Advocate
Certified in Response Based Practice

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

I ran out of time yesterday before I could make this post, but there’s one more mom I’m incredibly grateful for today. ❤️

Most of you know my dad got remarried last year. It happened fast, it felt a little crazy… but it was 100% SO right.

As heartbreaking as it was to lose my mom, and for Julie to lose her husband Kurt a few years earlier, some things just feel divinely orchestrated in a way none of us could ever plan ourselves.

I am beyond grateful for this amazing woman for loving my dad and caring for him in a way none of us kids ever could.

For those who don’t know, Julie and Kurt McFarland have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. From tons of Lake Powell trips to so many memories beyond that, they were always there. I even worked for Kurt at one point, and Julie has always been a motherly figure in my life.

So it feels like no coincidence at all that my dad and Julie found love and companionship with each other in this season of life — with both my mom and Kurt fully approving from above. ❤️

This beautiful picture created by Kurt’s daughter, Lisa, perfectly captures the love between these four people.

I am 100% certain my mom supports this marriage, and all of us kids are so grateful for the blessing of another bonus mom — not only for my dad, but for all of us and our children too.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, bonus moms, and mother figures who love so deeply. 💕

29

5

I truly feel like I was prompted to spend as much time as possible with my mom and take as many photos together as I could. At the time, people would laugh, tease, or complain about “another picture”… but now those photos are some of my greatest treasures. They hold the memories, the laughter, the love, and all the little moments I never want to forget.

I’m so grateful God blessed me with a mother like mine. She taught me how to be faithful, patient, loving, and forgiving. But most importantly, she taught me to love my Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. Her strength and example still live on in me every single day.

Miss you everyday, Mom. I wish heaven had visiting hours. I still have so many random questions I forgot to ask you!

Until we meet again… Happy Mother’s Day 🤍

34

4

365 days without you, Mom. 🤍

A year of firsts… and I won’t sugarcoat it—this year has been HARD. Life without you is hard. I miss you. We all miss you.

You left behind the biggest shoes to fill and a legacy that will live on for generations. You had a way of making everyone feel seen, special, and deeply loved. But more than anything, you loved and served God with your whole heart—and it showed in everything you did. I want to be better because of your example.

God’s grace is so good. I’m thankful you’re no longer suffering from Parkinson’s. You fought longer than most—25 years—because you were strong, stubborn (in the best way), and chose your own path- with a natural medicine Docs did not recommend. That strength gave us more time with you, and I will always be grateful for that.

And as hard as it is to say… I’m grateful for the way you left this world. I don’t have to carry the fear of “the call”—the fall, the accident, the what-ifs. You were protected in that way, and that gives me peace. God sure did love you ❤️

But oh, how I miss the little things…
The conversations.
The advice.
The constant thought of, “I need to ask Mom about this…” or “mom can you help me figure this out?….”
…only to remember you’re not here.

I love you forever. 💔. Eternity is going to be GOOD🫶❤️

59

17

1 year ago today😥. Who knew this was the beginning of the end? I just feel blessed that we were able to spend so much time with mom and dad over the last few years. I wouldn’t trade that time with her for anything! Miss you mom😥.

35

7

Our beautiful mother, wife, sister & friend, Susan Frost Palmer's funeral and celebration of her life will be held next Saturday March 29, 2025 at 10:30am at 11121 E. Ray Rd. Luncheon for beloved friends and family to follow. We would love all to be there❤️. If you have a memory you'd like to share, please post below or email maree@covetedspacesaz.com

26

0

The world lost one of the best, most kind, loving and beautiful souls imaginable yesterday. I can't imagine this life without her, and I still don't want to. My heart hurts, and I'm not sure my eyes will ever return to their normal color and size. But I have NO regrets. I got to spend amazing unforgettable time with my mom that me and my kids will never forget. Special moments, that maybe God was pushing her to make, because now that I look at them, I just feel so cherished to have. Yesterday March 19th morning at 5am, I got a call from dad saying he couldn't wake mom up. I just thought he didn't have the strength to nudge her or get her to roll over. What we didn't know at the time was that my mom had a massive brain bleed that nobody could have predicted, but allowed mom a peaceful way over the veil and into the next life. She didn't really feel there anymore as we tried to revive her, and looking back, I am positive she was already partying it up in Heaven with all her loved ones, in a body that wasn't riddled with Parkinsons and limited functions. Mom was a donor, so in an effort to continue her wishes, we kept her alive longer to assemble a team to gift her liver and kidneys to someone in need. Sadly, she didn't pass in the allotted time after taking her off the ventilator, so it wasn't what God wanted, and that's OK, because God is never late. It was a beautiful day with all my favorite people, both seen and unseen. I know mom is LOVING her heavenly body right now and so grateful to have her bouncy energetic body back! I WILL see my mom again, so for now...I'll see you later mom! You know how much I love you❤️

81

46

Kate is someone I have followed for awhile now. She is outspoken and not afraid to ruffle all the feathers- which is important in a field that is constantly changing.
https://www.makemyburdenlight.com/2022/11/how-to-find-therapist-to-vet.html?m=1

0

0

🎄 The Palmer Christmas Traps Tradition 🎄

If you want your kids to love something even MORE than opening presents on Christmas morning, this is IT! 🎁 This epic tradition started with my grandparents, who just wanted more sleep Christmas morning (can you blame them?). Back then, it was black tarps over windows and turning clocks back. By the time I was a kid, it evolved into booby-trapped fishing line, locked doors, and furniture blocking every possible entry point. It was always the most FUN night of the year!

Now, we’ve slightly elevated the OG Palmer Christmas Traps. 😉

Rules?
1️⃣ If you wake Mom and Dad, you go back to bed for an hour (ouch).
2️⃣ No waking up before 6 AM—we used to say 5, but let’s be real… that was insane.
3️⃣ EVERYONE has to make it to the presents without getting caught (no leaving teammates behind).
4️⃣ Winner gets bragging rights for the whole year!

Last year, we crushed it. Right, girls? Can’t wait to see if we can pull it off again this year! Let the games begin! 🎅💥

#ChristmasTraps #FamilyTraditions #PalmerStyle #BestMorningEver #palmerchristmastraps #seiterchristmastraps #wandawestpalmer

26

1

🎉 Happy Birthday to my amazing mom! 🎉

If you know her, you love her❤️. This woman is the definition of kind, thoughtful, intelligent, hilarious, spicy, and loving. A true follower of God who has spent her entire life dedicated to raising us kids—and let me tell you, she did it with so much grace and heart! 💕

I absolutely adore this human and feel so blessed to have her in my life. I can’t wait for her to move in with us so we get even more time together (best roommate ever, right?). Love you Mom! 🥰🎂

#HappyBirthdayMom #BestMomEver #GratefulHeart #FamilyIsEverything

15

0

Broke mom out of "jail" today and this song was on replay as we walked out of the rehabilitation center. It's been a hard last couple of weeks. Basically mom's "medicine" wasn't working anymore and she needs something stronger from now on. Mom has had Parkinson's for over 23 years. According to my mom and dad's Parkinson's doc, she has been diagnosed longer and doing better than any of her patients-especially on a natural form of medicine! But that was a few months ago and life changes quickly. So here we are! This little lady is pretty awesome and quite the fighter. We are grateful the new medicine seems to be working because we need more good years with this special woman! Love you mom and dad❤️

44

4

To say the last several days has been an adrenaline rush…is an understatement. Last week was one of the Busiest weeks of my life, which moved us straight into a 3 day Vball tournament at Legacy-which if you’ve been, you know is like noise on steroids. Plus they were playing really well, which means I screamed my head off, and pretty much looked like a monkey on the sidelines lol. Then, Saturday we got a call saying my little brother BJ and his wife Haley were in a car accident…right next to our house, and luckily right after they dropped their two kiddos off at my house!!! We all thank God the kids were NOT in the car. A teenage driver turned left right in front of them:-(. Well, Haley broke her wrist, which means she can’t work due to her high demand job of teaching Autistic kids….Then we go back to the tournament awesome, fun, loud over stimulating tournament, and that day find out my dad is in extreme pain, can hardly walk! They went to the hospital at 4am the next morning because he is in unbearable pain. So, we don’t actually have answers yet, but we suspect he had a crazy UTI that caused some pretty unreal symptoms. His white blood count has come down to 12,000 (from 20,000) which means the super crazy heavy duty antibiotics are working👍. As of yesterday his body was turning septic, today he is much better:-). Hoping to find more info soon🙏. And taking a few deep breaths…

26

7

It’s these cute kids ****50th**** wedding anniversary today!!!! Wes and I were lucky enough to head to the Mesa temple today where it all started 50 years ago! They are so cute!

36

4