24 hours ago

24 hours ago, we were in the basement, waiting out tornadoes. it seemed like nothing was going on....scary still....but this morning - so very evident that destruction was rampant.
we had been watching the news, and hearing about reports of this and that. i kept saying, we have nothing, nothing here. the girls had just gotten situated (almost asleep) in their beds and i told duane we should probably go ahead and get them downstairs, versus waiting until they were completely asleep and scaring them to death. well, as far as the fear i guess i couldn't escape that. the minute i went to Ella's room, all i said was "baby, come with mommy we need to go downstairs." it's as if she knew immediately something was going to happen, the tears started to come. she grabbed her blankie and baby. cleary, she was in panic. i the positive one, had to be "mommy" but i just wanted to cry with her. Lydia was literally shaking. all i could do was comfort, pull them close to me and tell them we would be ok. i gathered candles and a flashlight (of course it was a tiny one) and headed down. duane stayed out front to watch. it wasn't long before he was telling me get downstairs, and NOW. ok....so now what? thankfully we kept our power. i decided it was better at this point to turn off the news (we were already in our safe place just waiting) and put it on something the girls would enjoy to watch, so we did. it was calming - i held them close and prayed the only thing i could think was appropriate:
Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
it was very peaceful - comforting words although as i'm typing this Lydia is telling me that she didn't quite understand the words. (ha) i explained that it was from the bible - long ago. but here's the thing. while i was praying that last night - no one asked. it was just what it is. that's really cool, i think.
so once we felt cleared - we came upstairs and of course got our "family bed" going on....:)
i got kicked all night but it was ok - and this morning i was woke up way before i really wanted to be. and that's okay too. we decided to drive around and see what damage was done and if we could help.
what we saw was simply unbelievable. and all i could do was pray - and still am.
we have made food, offered it and i have offered my services. right now, things seem to be covered.
when you don't know what to do - you pray.
God hears us and He will answer.
Blessings to all affected and those surrounding - and for all of the rescue workers and volunteers.
Psalm 67

12 months

I kept thinking....I'm gonnna blog...yeah....and it's coming up on a year and well surely I'll get to it before a year comes up....well, I'm here and Tuesday will be a YEAR! Hard to believe. Its hard for me to want to blog. Not because I don't have valuable information to share, it's just because I figure what's the point, nobody reads these things, right? Well, some people's get read....and become popular even famous. That's not my intent anyhow. I guess blogging is really for me. My outlet. And if that's all it does then it's doing it's job. Also, If God gives me a specific word to share - then I guess I better share and what happens next really isn't my responisibility.
I may very well be changing over to a different blog - one that I can share my "chaplain stories" on. I figure that may spark more interest. It's just that I'm getting started in that arena so they stories aren't quite all there - but they will be, I know that....
Here's the point, I think...something comes to mind you want to do that you enjoy doing, and there's peace - then get out there and do it! The ifs, why's, how's, when, and where will come. Initially they aren't that important. It's first steps stuff (see previous blogs). This isn't new information. Not for me anyway....but something I need to be reminded of. A lot. God made us in His image! WE ARE A CREATIVE PEOPLE. Get that into your mind AND heart. For years, I told myself I wasn't creative, because I didn't know who I was. That's silly. If I am human, and God breathed - then I AM creative. AND.....SO ARE YOU! So what if my creativity looks NOTHING like yours? Or my parents? Or my husbands', childrens', friends', siblings'? Guess what? Probably not supposed to be like any other human! Why would a good, generous daddy give us all the same things? Same gifts? Same talents? That just makes no sense to me! Be encouraged, be FREE.....to be YOU. It's our father's desire. Really. And if you look deep inside, it's your desire as well. Just to be able to be YOU and do what you are CREATED to do!
Blessings & Peace