Washington Strong

A couple weeks ago, Maddie and I were blessed with the opportunity to go to Washington Il to help with tornado relief. 6 months ago an EF-4 tornado came through and devasted this little town one Sunday Morning.

I have never done something like this and was looking forward to the opportunity.

One of the homeowners we talked to said that only 2 people died in the tornado. He said that there are 11 churches in the town of 15,000 people. Not one of the churches was hit. The tornado sort of meandered in its path and missed all 11 churches that were full of people worshiping God. If that doesn't give you goose bumps I don't know what will!!!

The people of the town have been working through the hard winter but still much needs to be done.

We had a group of about 40 people that went for the 2 day 1 night trip.

  We left early Thursday Morning and got back late Friday night. There were 2 groups. 1 group made up of I think 3 different teams working in the field, and the other group worked in the donation center.

Grace and Maddie waiting to start work.

My co-worker Mary Lou and I. It was fun spending time with her outside of work.



Grace and I trying to stay warm and dry.

I worked in the field. Field work consisted of doing whatever the homeowners needed. Whether it was doing much needed yard work or some home cleanup. Our team mainly did yard work. Imagine fall cleanup but with nails, glass, drywall, insulation, flooring, (really anything a house is made up of) instead of leaves.

Isn't this house amazing? This house has been "cleaned up" but is now waiting to be demolished so it can be rebuilt.

 

 




































I was amazed that this is 6 months after the tornado and so much work still needs to be done. I think that was a common statement over the time there.

I was also amazed that some houses you could tell that people were working to rebuild and some homes had not even been touched.

Most of the homes carried insurance which is a blessing, but most insurance will only cover rebuilding not the cleanup part.

It was pretty cool to see the community itself come together and help their friends and neighbors.

This is a tree stump. I can't even fathom the wind that did that.

Natalie... aka... Mary Poppins.

I think Maddie had a good time as well. I didn't spend a whole lot of time with her as she was in the donation center.

We stayed at a Baptist church Thursday night. We were for sure roughing it. We all brought sleeping bags and slept on the floor in the basement of the church.

I was thankful for coffee. Lots of coffee. And the fan that Michael and Carol brought ;)

I think one of the things I enjoyed most was spending time with and getting to know God's people more.

 

Waiting for work to start Friday Morning.

 

I was kinda amazed at the young people who came along. They worked hard and had fun while doing it.

I did things on this trip I never thought I would do..... like sitting on a dumpster lifting buckets of debris to empty.

or finding a pair of underwear buried in the grass in the front yard.

Some of our group with the owners of one of the houses we worked at. It was such a pleasure getting to spend some time with them and hear their story.

John and Glenda. Like I said before hearing their story was insane. He had been in the garage watching the storm and at the last minute headed for the basement to join his wife. He said that he barely made it to the basement and he said the next thing he knew he was standing in the door frame going into the basement and he felt like what he can only describe as a vacuume trying to pull him up. It took him a few minutes afterwards to realize that he was alive and ok. He could hear his wife asking where he was and all he could say was "I'm here."

If you ever get a chance to do something like this.... don't hesitate.

Just go.

I'm alive. I promise.

My day with Nathan

Last Sunday, Jeremy, Maddie and Emma weren't feeling the greatest.

I have been looking for an opportunity to spend some one on one quality time with Nathan.

We went to church.

Went out to lunch.

We had already planned to get our Christmas Tree last weekend, so Nathan and I decided we would go ahead and get it.

So out we went.

In the snow.

We searched all the trees until we found the perfect one.

Nathan did most of the cutting.

I only helped a little. ;)

Then we came home and decorated it.

I dare say it is the most perfect tree we have ever had.

It is the perfect size for our living room.

I actually really enjoyed it being just Nathan and I. We don't really get a lot of time with just the 2 of us. We don't get a whole lot of time together. I think I need to do that more often.

 

Isn't it funny how much better you feel once your tree is up?

 

Now if I could just start my Christmas shopping.

RaNdoMNess

It's Tuesday.

It's cold. I mean COLD!!

I am supposed to be at Bible Study but Emma has a cold. So we are home in the warm house with no where to be today.

Well....I could run to walmart for diapers and chicken broth...but like I said.

It's cold and Emma has a cold.

Emma is talking on her pretend phone to her Papa. She is telling him all about her pretty tree and the pretty lights and her babies. She can't forget about her babies.

I will be babysitting my friends little boy this afternoon.

I am sure that Emma will be excited to have a real baby in the house.

She should call Papa afterwards and tell him all about it.

I should be cleaning.

But I'm not.

Currently I am standing in the kitchen and the heat just kicked on. My toes appreciate that.

Cuz did I tell you it's cold.....

I didn't like crawling out of bed this morning to go to the gym.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you seen THIS video?!?!    Go ahead watch it.

Ok, now buy the album.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you walked into my house today you would find:

floors that were attempted to be cleaned. What in the world do you use to clean hard wood floors with out them looking like they are all smeared? I have been using a mixture of vinegar and water and they look terrible today!

You would see a trail of toys. I have picked them up 12 times today. There is no hope. I give up.

You would smell a pork roast. I am making BBQ pork for dinner.

You would hear either Christmas music by the previously mentioned Piano Guys or ITunes Radio playing the Gaithers.

If you waited long enough, you would probably catch Emma playing with the Christmas ornaments. She particularly likes Nathans ornament he made with his picture on it. She walks around kissing it.

You would see the dishes done. Until lunch time.

You would see hand print smears on the front window and on the tv and the mirrors and well.... you get the picture.

You would hear the washer and dryer humming away. ( I am still so thankful for our washer and dryer)

You would see 2 black dogs curled up actually resting on their beds.

You MIGHT see me doing some baking later. Maybe.

What would I find if I walked into your house??

Look who's 2!!

This post is only a couple weeks overdue.

It isn't like I haven't had the time.

I just.... I don't know....maybe don't want to think that 2 years have gone by.

 

Little Tiny 6 # Emma.

 

 Has brought so much unbelievable joy into our lives. I truly cannot imagine a life without her here.

Sure it would be quieter. I wouldn't be as tired. I could count on sleeping through the night. Or eating a meal uninterrupted. Or a hot meal for that matter. My house would be a whole lot cleaner as well.

But goodness. I have so enjoyed watching her grow. Watching her learn. Watching her love. Watching her giggle.

She is always watching. Always learning. Always mimicking.

 

She loves her De-De. She loves to get into her stuff. To try and put on her de-dup.

 

She loves her bath.

LOVES her bath.

She loves her Daddy. She doesn't like to think that she is being left out of anything!

She loves her Bewwa.

 

She loves to help with whatever we are doing.

 

The thing she might love most is her babies. She has more babies then I can count. And she loves each and every one of them.

1 night we were with our small group and we wearing cleaning up getting ready to leave. Emma had been playing most of the night in the toy room with the babies and the little kitchen set that was there. She had been rocking this little bitty baby. She had the baby wrapped in a blanket and all. As we were getting to walk out the door, we went to put the doll down. Emma about died. She couldn't fathom that she had to leave that little doll. My friend couldn't bare to see Emma crying like that and told Emma she could take the baby home. Emma has been playing with the baby ever since.

Her cousin E-I (Eli)  is one of her favorite people. When they see each other they are inseparable. Recently Mike and Joanna came over for dinner. Eli and Emma were playing in Emma's room. Next thing we heard was a little boy screaming. Eli had gotten himself stuck in the laundry shoot. (thankfully he wasn't hurt and we were able to get him out! ) But a week or 2 after that, Emma pointed to the laundry shoot and started talking about her E-I.

She also loves her Jonas. We facetime Melanie and Jonas. I love that the kids can see each other and then they talk about each other for days after. :)

I love to watch Na-Na and Emma play together. Nathan loves his baby sister and already enjoys to torment her. It reminds me very much of an older generation....of my brother Jonathan and baby sister Joy!

 

She was the flower girl at her uncle's wedding. I snapped this picture. I am so glad I got it!!

 

 

 This might be one of my favorite pictures of Emma. I had been taking pictures of Maddie and Nathan on there 1st day of school and she had to get her picture taken as well.

 

 

1 thing I have seen in Emma is that she has a very compassionate. If someone is crying or sad she will go up to them and say....its ohtay....its ohtay...and give them a kiss. I love that about her.

Her new thing is she kinda tilts her head and says....mom....mom....mom....mom...and when you look at her....she just says...hi. And then gives you a great big smile.

Her favorite past times are: looking out the window at the big trucks, watching Elmo or Mickey Mouse, and playing babies.

Her favorite place to go: Papa's. She lights up at the mere mention of his name. She also loves to go to church and play with her friends.

 

Some of her favorite food would be: tacos, pizza, spaghetti, eggs, apples, oranges, pineapple and cinnamon rolls.

 

She loves sweet tea and ice cream.

 

Happy 2nd Birthday my little sunshine. You are a true answer to prayer.

 

My prayer for you today is that you seek after God your whole life, that you let Him use you however He wishes.

The Lord will fulfill his purpose

Ever have one of those morning where you come before the throne of Grace....empty, drained, sad, needing to be filled with life that only God can give?

That was me today. Life can sometimes just...drain me. Making it impossible to face yet another day without coming into the Presence of God  and his life giving words.

Psalm 138:7-8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life;

you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands.

 

God knows all about what I am walking through. About the tight ropes of having to deal with people. Of not knowing who or what to believe. Of having that energy being drained from you with having to watch your every word and action.

 

People can be ugly. 2 faced. They can be out to really hurt you, to lie to you.

 

I have a purpose in every place that I am in. God has a purpose for me. How can I not take joy in that?? He not only has a purpose but he will fulfill it. Not me. But God will fulfill it.

 

I don't have to worry about the outcome of anything. I just have to rest. To rest that God really does have this. That none of it took him by surprise and he will protect and DELIVER me!!

 

And in the meantime.....

 

His steadfast love.....it gives me strength.

 

He has poured out his grace to me when I least deserve it.

 

How can I not in turn pour it on others who least deserve it?

 

I can rest in the fact that He will not forsake me. He is faithful.

 

I am sanctified and redeemed.

 

These verses mean oh so much to me. What a promise that I never want to forget.

I hate titles.....

Happy Thursday.

Yesterday....

My to do list was much longer then my energy level. But I tried to muddle through and try and get some things accomplished.
 

( I don't think a whole day getting caught up on my new favorite show meet the midwives would be very wise....fun....but not wise )

So I made plans to carve pumpkins.

Which lead to roasting pumpkin seeds.

I made pizza dough for calzones. 

 

Let me rephrase that.... Attempted to make pizza dough for calzones. I accidentally left out a whole cup of water to the bread machine.... Needless to say... I still had a whole lot of flour mixed with a little bit of gobbly goo at the bottom.

Not very appetizing.
 

Thankfully Walmart carries Pillsbury pizza dough already made. ;) 

In all this chaos, I was still able to make an apple pie ( I attempted the lattice crust, it didn't work so well. ( Rabbit trail.... My crust hasn't been turning out so well lately. It's either to sticky or to dry... I try to fix it but it just gets worse)) and a pumpkin pie.
 

On a completely different subject..... Have you ever been just kinda blown away when you find out someone's true nature or when you find out how very fake and selfish they really are down to the very core? Right now I have a choice.... To by Christ like and try and respond in love and respect or......to..... To stuff the hurt down deep and pretend like I don't know or don't care.

I'm a stuffer by nature yah know. 

I pray I make the right choice. 

Bc really.... This life I live isn't about me. That's what I am learning.... It's about Christ in me.