All that matters is ok

I've been posting about this on Facebook but wanted to simplify and just post in one place because, as it has turned out, SO MANY people have wanted to help, have been checking in to see how everyone is and I just thought this would be easier.

Around 6 p.m. on Sunday evening, my 2 1/2 year old nephew was playing outside. It started to sprinkle and the wind picked up really quickly so he came inside. A few weeks ago my sister, her boyfriend and their two kids moved in with my mom. When Rykan came in from playing and mom noticed the wind, she became alarmed and insisted everyone go onto the bathroom. Mom was int he run with Rykan and his eight month old brother while my sister was checking the radar on her phone. It showed nothing... no stormy weather headed their way... no green, orange or red indicators... no warnings. She actually told mom that it was silly for them to be in the bathroom... and then she felt the trailer start to slip of the blocks.

She jumped in the tub, grabbing Rykan. In the blink of an eye the trailer was jerking them all around. Mom and baby Daxton flew across the room, slamming into the toilet. Each were praying for it to be over and then it was. Kayla opened her eyes and realized that they were sitting on the ceiling.

Somehow, mom still had a hold of her cellphone and it seemed like forever passed as they called person after person and no one answered. Then they heard men's voiced yelling, asking if anyone was there. In shouting back and forth they were able to find on another and a space big enough to hand the babies out and for mom and Kayla to crawl out. They were shocked at what they saw when they got out.





The entire rest of the trailer was splintered and in what looked like a trash pile... everything in one big heap.




The rest of the trailer was flattened. The only reason the room they were in wasn't flattened as well is that it fell right next to Kayla's SUV. If it had fallen just a few inches either way and they would not have opened their eyes in a room, able to look up at the tub and sink... I doubt that they'd have opened their eyes at all.



It actually landed in the street but neighbors, family and friends arrived within a few minutes to hug, cry, pick up what could be salvaged and move it away from the downed power line and out of the street.




Across the street an enormous tree was ripped out of the ground. I wish I'd have had one of the kids stand next to this for reference. That root base is taller than I am.

In multiple places in the bible, the Lord promises the he will never leave us or forsake us. We each have stood before the rubble that was their home... in awe they they walked away... amazed that the one room that wasn't destroyed was the one room they were in and we KNOW that God was in that room with them. He held them and protected them. He knew that June 29, 2012 was not the day that he marked as their last. The fact that they are alive makes no sense at all outside of the great protector giving them more days.

Through this small community and through the seemingly unending community of the world wide web, so many have offered help. It's overwhelming in the most wonderful way. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" and we know that is true. All of you are the good through this. Feeling the love and support of people we've known for decades and those we've never actually met is the love of Jesus being poured upon us and it is so very sweet.

To keep this from being longer, I'll share what can be done to help and how you can pray if you do.

They were able to salvage some of their clothing but not all. I know that all of their socks blew away. Their sizes are listed below:

Mom- size 3 pants size M shirt size 7 1/2 shoes
Kayla- size 1 pants size M shirt size 7 1/2 shoes
Rykan- size 3T size 9 shoes
Daxton- size 12 months size 3 diapers

Nothing else was really salvageable. Many have offered gift cards and that would be very helpful. Wal-mart and Target are both nearby. Obviously, cash is also helpful as they will both be looking for somewhere to rent. Mom had paid cash for the trailer so she is not used to a monthly payment. They will have an appointment with the Red Cross today and are hoping to get mom's ER visit covered along with a new partial dental plate that was lost covered by them at least.

The cars had full coverage insurance so please pray they they are able to replace them. Mom had paid for her Prius and didn't have a payment there either. We are praying that she can just get another without having to have a payment.

So here's a list:

healing for mom's ribs
clothing
new homes and furnishings
insurance companies to give fair value for the cars
new cars (no payment for mom)
new dental plate for mom
hospital bill to be covered


If you would like to send something to them, we are having things sent to my other sister's home:

Karen Doss & Kayla Houston
254 Mossy Oak Drive
Stoutland, MO 65567

Thank you so much for the prayers and offers of assistance. This has been such a reminder of how EVERYTHING can change in the blink of an eye... how important it is to really live each moment... and how having each other is really all that matters.







- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Had a bad day...

So, not every day around here is perfect... Actually, the number of perfect days are quite few but I try really hard not to whine just for the sake of whining or even just to get attention.  I gotta say, however, that today is a day that I really wanted to make one of those "having a bad day.,.." posts on Facebook.  However, because I'm always annoyed at the attention seeking of those posts, I refrained.  It was really hard though.  Totally had to walk away from my phone more than once.  Yet, I'm here blogging about it and seeking attention... but the attention isn't for me.

So, here's my day...

The kids and I had a fairly productive morning... delivered Bear Necessities bags, went for a walk, went to the library and finished our bible study lesson around 11 a.m.  At that time I asked them to play for a while so that I could get some editing finished and promised to fix lunch at noon.  I logged onto the computer and did not get even one image edited before I heard the familiar sound of screaming coming from upstairs.  After proper assessment of the situation, it was clear that (as usual) both were in the wrong.  So, we talked about it and then gave them the promised consequence... cleaning the baseboards.  They were told to both do the playroom and then their own rooms. 

Seriously, this would take less than ten minutes and I know that because that's how long it took Madeline.  Gavin, on the other hand, threw himself on the floor... screamed... cried... complained about it not being fair... told me it was "the worst day EVER!"... So, Gavin also got the privilege of doing the baseboards in their bathroom and finally after just an absolutely stupid amount of whining, my and Chris' room.  The majority of the crying was done in his room and by the time he got to the bathroom and my room, he was finished in less than ten minutes but as usual, we had to get all the objections out there first. 

By this time it's noon...  time for lunch, so I put a pizza in the oven for the kids and began chopping vegetables for myself.  Now, I haven't announced this yet but I've recently been put on a gluten free diet and I REALLY wanted some pizza but I was putting my best foot forward, trying to be a trooper and kept on with my veggies and my smile.  Gavin finished his lunch and asked if he could get some chips and salsa.  As he enthusiastically grabbed the jar of salsa out of the frig and whipped it around, loudly proclaiming his love for salsa, he whipped just a little too much and it crashed on the tile floor... glass and salsa from one side of the room to the other... beautiful white cabinets covered in salsa.  Nice. Somehow. I maintained my cool.  It WAS an accident after all...

I get the kids out of the kitchen without stepping on glass... get the salsa all cleaned up... FINALLY get my fish cooked... the last piece of tilapia in the house... place it on the plate next to the freshly chopped mango salsa and walk into my office to FINALLY get some work accomplished... sat down and realized that I wanted a few tortilla chips to complete my lunch... go to the kitchen to go get them... came back to find...

THE DOG ATE HALF OF MY LUNCH!!! 

So, it's three hours later... no work done.... no lunch... 

                         STARVING AND CRAZY FRUSTRATED!!!


So, I did what any mature woman would do, I sat myself down on the couch to cry!

Sitting there I remembered the words of Jesus "Man cannot live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."  I got on my knees and prayed for a while.  Now, I want you to know that none of this is the good part... I'm still not to the part I wanted to share.  The cool part came AFTER i prayed...Isn't that just so typical of God. 

I sat myself back at my desk... opened my Evolve Church app and found this message:





God knew I would not have a good day today and he knew that I would need to hear that it's not about the bad day but how I react to it.  I knew this already but I needed the reminder.  I needed to remember that no matter how bad this day is for me, Jesus gave a beautiful example of how to handle a bad day.  I'm so grateful for the bad day... I really am and I haven't even eaten yet!  I'm grateful to be reminded that God knows my frustrations... He knows my hunger... He knows every detail about me and he knows how it all feels. 

If you haven't heard of Evolve Church and/or haven't downloaded the app, be sure to do it today.  You'll be glad you did! 


Dearest Brother Rick,  Thanks for the "kick in the gut" that felt more like a funny reminder that He goes before me... ALWAYS... every day, he already knows what it holds.  Loved the message and love you and your crew!  Miss you guys and hope to catch you on your next trip to the country!