Peaceful Moments

Some of the most peaceful, enjoyable moments last week...

Flying kites with the kids, and our friends, at a surprise birthday party.

Teeter tottering with my three little boys.

When they squeeze in on one side, they can weigh me down!

Where has the time gone?

Trail riding with my daughter... there was a light breeze of honeysuckle, warm sun on our backs, birds singing, clip clop clip clop of hooves hitting rock road





This may be my favorite time of year.

Joplin, a week later

I received an email, a week ago Friday, at night, saying that they could use me in Joplin. Sounds good. So, spur of the moment (at 10-ish pm,) I called my darling little sis and asked if she would pack up and come with me early the next morning. She hadn't even unpacked from her anniversary weekend, but immediately agreed to come. :)

We joined a wonderful team of Crisis Responders for clean-up and ministry.

There just aren't words to describe the devastation. It's unreal; unimaginable. You see it, interact with it and the people affected and think, "this CAN'T have happened." Yet it did. And, as soon as it "feels real" you have to push that out of your mind to carry on.
I took photos at the request of CRI, but only of homes that did not list fatalities (the information was spray painted on the front of homes --or cars/ furniture, etc if there was no home left standing.)

Places and things that break your heart...

This was from inside the station 4 fire department. Walls and roof gone.

A block away, a roof on the ground, trees stripped of leaves and bark...walls flat over.

Across from the hospital. Just unimaginable.

This man's father, Les, was in his home, in the bathroom when the tornado hit. The roof was

ripped off, along with two walls of his brick home, but he emerged physically unscathed...

..

destruction as far as the eye could see...

And then, after seeing all of the pieces broken, lives torn apart, homes gutted... we saw this:

Hope

People lining two streets, with signs and flags and messages of love...

Love lines (to peacefully counter W"BC"- we were there on the day that the President spoke at the university.)

Children participating, being led in love, encouraging others...

People gathered to pray, remember, and be silent together...



so much love, compassion... healing is already being ushered in... many blessings all around...

Moment of Silence, at the hospital


(my little sister, with the orange backpack)

And I'll end on with this picture.

Heroes.

These guys were inside the fire department, when the tornado swept over, taking off the roof and most of the walls. And so, when it had passed, what did they do? They got in their fire truck, which was still upright, and went on calls. They are still operating out of a gutted building that has a spray painted sign at the front, which reads, "station four, still taking calls."

Joplin has hope. They still need help. Be His arms, His hands and help in any way you can.

Bingo Night

When I was a kid, one of my absolute favorite things was Family Game Night. Once a week, usually on Saturday nights, we reserved the evening for games. My favorites were Scrabble, Boggle, and Scotland Yard.
Fred grew up in a very different environment-- in fact, you could say it was an opposite environment. His parents (and their parents before them) did not play games. They did not throw birthday parties for their kids. Or take hiking/ camping trips...or vacations. They did not read to their kids, or help them with homework. they weren't really affectionate-- not many hugs and kisses. Not much building up. Now, don't get me wrong. His folks love him. They just didn't really know how to say it or show it. Like I said, this was a generational thing. How does a child learn to show love if they were never shown any? Fred's mom especially wanted to express it, but I believe she just didn't really know what to do with the kids.
Anyway, when I think about this, it astounds me that my husband turned out the way he did. He is kind. Gentle. He loves babies and kids. He loves animals. We are very different, yes, and there were definite areas that weren't quite developed (as we all have) but he's come so far... he's learned to talk through things, show and say how he feels. He spends time with his kids. A lot of time.
When he married into my family, he had his first ever birthday party. First ever. He went to the dentist for the first time (no cavities!) He went on his first vacation (WA and Canada.) And he fell in love with games.
Every day we let the kids watch a show at 6pm. I'm a stickler about tv most of the time. If Fred decides to watch Man vs Wild with the kids, fine. I don't call all the shots, and if it's even going to be semi-educational, then I go with the flow. But we don't let them just veg out all evening in front of the tube. If it's nice outside, they should be out there.
We have dinner at about 5/5:30, then show at 6pm, then a quick bath and stories. Little boys are in bed with lights out by 7:20. (Things change a bit on gymnastics nights.) Then we play games with the older kids until our 3rd grader goes to bed at 8:30.
Most of the time it's Apples to Apples, Sequence, Pounce, Boggle, or Rummikub.
About once or twice a week, my Papaw also comes to play games-- first Pounce with the kids, and then Hearts with just Fred and me.
Lately we've been playing phonics Bingo with all the kids. And they all enjoy it. :)


I'm looking for some other game ideas. We have limited money, but I'm planning to save, search, buy, and put things up for birthdays, as I'm able.
Any suggestions? I've heard that Five Crowns is great, but none of us have played it.
Did you grow up playing games? Do you do it now?
I was blessed with such a wonderful childhood, and I want to give me kids the same kind of memories!

When they eat your prop, just keep drawing

I'm trying to encourage the kids to draw from life, as well as from imagination. Do both. Just try. Never limit the possibilities.

We were busy drawing, when I decided to grab more coffee while the kids stretched. And this is what I found on my return from the coffee pot...


My prop was half-eaten. Thank you, MiddleSon.



But you know what? It's not the end of the world. We just drew a half-eaten apple next.

Joplin

My sister and I are leaving in the morning for Joplin. Please pray for the city, those who are coming to help, and God's leading.
Thank you.

Garden Progress in late May

Remember my cinder block garden, shoe rack garden etc? It's time for a progress report.

Below, cilantro and chives, from seed! I'd never tried it before and, honestly, I think I'll stick to plants next time. I had to replant seeds once because of flooding.

Blueberries

Front flower bed. My friends on facebook helped identify these as Campanula 'Pink Chimes.'

Tomatoes and cauliflower in the veggie garden. Plus a missing frisbee. See it? I planted some heirloom tomatoes from seed (and they're about 5 inches tall now) but these Better Boy tomato plants were bought at Aldi's.



Chile peppers

And an update on the shoe rack plants!

Below, my beets are thriving. :)


This is edamame.

Also planted in the shoe rack: cilantro, parsley, dill, basil, marigolds...

and some other stuff, that I've now forgotten. ;)

Surrounded by twisters, twisting inside

We are grateful for safety again today.
Last night our small town opened storm shelters, sent out warnings and alerts. We took it seriously and went to my parents' house, with fun stuff packed for the cellar, if the sirens sounded. They did indeed sound, over and over. Tornadoes hit towns to our north and south...west and east. I kid not. Our little town was safe, but there is so much loss and destruction around us.
This was our street on Sunday night, during the first round of storms and tornadoes. It's tough to take decent photos at night, in the rain, while keeping the camera dry... but you can see that the cul-de-sac was full of water.

And then, while we watched the crazy whipping of wind and pounding of rain, there was a loud crack, and our tree went down....

....on our car.

If you recall, we do not have a garage. Back in 2007 or so, we converted it to the playroom/schoolroom. It's more play/sleeproom now, and less schoolroom after I realized that they'd all congregate at the kitchen table anyway. But I digress.

At 7:15am the following day, one of our neighbors came on over with his chainsaw, and helped us cut the whole thing apart. The little boys and I dragged the pieces to the backyard for firewood. Amazingly enough, we had NO damage to the car!!

I'm teetering on how to feel. Part of me is so grateful, happy, blessed that we are safe, that there was no damage, that those I love are all okay. And then I feel almost guilty. My car is okay. But others lost their homes. Everything-- clothes, favorite toys, keepsakes, photos....
some people lost loved ones...children....
There's such a painful overshadowing of my joy.
And, when I was mulling this over, wanting to be joyful for the sunshine today, and my children running through puddles, laughter, raindrops on the flowers...
the ripping inside was painful.
How can I be so grateful, joyful while others are so torn?
I read my Bible and Ann, and that was soothing.
I know the pain calls us to action.
We can be grieving for others,
hurting for their pain,
and that propels us.
While still rejoicing for what God has done for us
in all of the big and little things each day
we pray that He can use us to help.

How have you fared through the storms?