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!

Encourage

This morning was busy... just like every other morning.  

Madeline went to school early for choir and I dropped Gavin off as usual.  Wednesdays are my bible study days so I usually try to have everything together for myself when I drop him off at school.  Gavin gets dropped off at 9 a.m.  and bible study doesn't start  until 10 a.m. so I had an hour to kill.  I seriously debated on coming home and just doing nothing for a while but instead decided to run to JoAnn's Fabric and Crafts to get the rest of the fabric for a project Madeline wants to do. 


I wandered around the store, talking on the phone... remembering how much my dad hates when people try to talk to sales clerks while on their phone.  Dad would not be proud of my behavior at JoAnn's but just like a defiant teenager, I continued on...


Finally, I had everything I needed and made my way to the checkout line.  I had exactly 20 minutes to check out and get to church.  Despite there being two ladies checking people out, it seemed to be taking FOREVER but why would I expect anything different.  That's how it goes.  You're in a hurry... the clerk is NOT!  


While I was impatiently patiently awaiting my turn, out of the corner of my eye I caught a young girl walking my way.  I didn't turn around but I could clearly hear her speaking to the lady waiting behind me, 

"Excuse me, Ma'am.  I am selling bookmarks for 50 cents.  Would you like to buy one?"  

She had such a sweet voice and was so incredibly polite but despite her sweet and respectful nature, the lady did exactly what I would normally do; she told her no.  

At the moment that she said no, I could still see the little girl out of the corner of my eye.  her eyes fell to the floor... her shoulders dropped and she took a step back... defeated.  I remembered feeling that way myself.  I remember trying something and failing.  I remembered reaching out to someone and being rejected. 

I remembered all of those moments in my life that I have physically feel all of my courage pouring out of my body in an instant.  
 

I wish I could say that my instant thought was to reach out but it wasn't.  "She will have to get used to hearing no" is what I thought.  That's what I heard my voice saying.   The truth is my heart is not nearly as big as I wish it were... Nope, not on its own.  It isn't warm and caring... not on its own.  It isn't generous and patient... not on its own.  Yet, in the moment that the cold and uncaring thought was completed in my mind, I heard another voice saying "Check your wallet for 50 cents."  As I was reaching for my purse and digging in my change wallet... that is usually empty because I keep my change in the car for trips through the drive-thru, I prayed "Oh Lord, let there be 50 cents in my purse."  I was filled with sweet anticipation at the thought that I could reach out to this precious defeated discouraged little girl.  Of course, there was 50 cents in my wallet today. 



I turned around, despite the fact that my turn at the register had come.  I walked right past the lady behind me.

"Excuse me, young lady.  Did I hear you say that you are selling bookmarks?"  I asked.


Her eyes lit up and twinkled like stars in the sky.  "Yes, I am!"  she replied in almost disbelief.


"Could you tell me how much they are?" I asked as I bent down and looked into her now happy face. 


"They are 50 cents" she replied with a new confidence.

"Well, I have 50 cents and my daughter was just saying that she needed a bookmark.  Could I buy one of them?"  

As her mother and I checked out on separate registers the young girl told me of her love for books.  She especially loves the Cul-de-Sac Kids series but enjoys about any mystery.  She proudly told me that she's a big book worm and that reading was one of her favorite things to do.  She thanked me more than once.  My new friend is an amazing, smart and beautiful young lady.  I thoroughly enjoyed the short chat we had.  


Tonight I shared this story with Chris and the kids and what this very brief experience taught me.  We are so powerful.  We really are.  We have the power to rip every bit of courage out of someone.  We can cause their eyes to fall to the ground, their shoulders to slump, them to walk backwards and literally retreat and not talk to anyone else....

OR

We can literally place COURAGE inside of them.  

The word encourage means "to put courage inside" of something.  Every single day we all have this amazing power... dare I even call it a superpower!  We can lift up someone's chin, straighten their stance and FILL them WITH courage.  


I'd have missed this whole thing if it hadn't been for the Holy Spirit telling me to check my purse for 50 cents.  That's definitely not what I would normally have done... afterall, I was in a hurry...  I wonder how many opportunities I've missed because I was in a hurry.

So, let us be reminded that we have a superpower but if we don't slow down and take time to really listen to and obey the Spirit, we might totally miss the opportunities to use it!

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Pretty

Yesterday morning Gavin was searching for pictures of an Egyptian Plover.  For those of you who are now thinking, "a what?" it is a beautiful little bird that lives in Africa.  It's the sole member of its genus... but now I've digressed back into a science teacher.  Here's a photo of the cute little thing:

Photo from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Plover

Isn't it so cute!?  Anyway, Gavin was talking all about this little girl who had done her bird research on the Egyptian Plover when I realized... 


He was talking about a GIRL!  


His voice was just a little bit different than usual and he kept saying her name... over.and.over!  That may not sound all to crazy to some but my kids are not that interested in the opposite sex just yet, which suits me just fine!  


Thinking myself sly, I asked "Is she pretty?"  


In perfect Gavin style, his response made me giggle... and think.
  

"Yes, sometimes.  It depends on what she's wearing.  Sometimes she wears glasses and I think she's really pretty when she wears her glasses."



I hid my amusement over how stinkin' cute my kid is with the realization that I need to read a little Proverbs 31 with that boy!  How I wish he'd said she was pretty because she was kind to other students or giving to those in need but... alas, he is seven.  At least he said her glasses made her pretty, right?  


It's moments like these that I realize it's time to focus on a topic with my kids.  What makes someone pretty?  We've talked about what makes someone a good friend but we don't really talk about "pretty."  Yet, I know full well that if I don't help them define what is pretty they'll get the definition somewhere else!  Goodness knows that can be downright ugly!


But what do I consider pretty?  Is it my outward appearance?  Is it who I am on the inside?  Or is it some combination of both?  Here are a few descriptions given in Proverbs 31:

• She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.  She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. (v 10-12)
• She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.  When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.  She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. (v 25-27)
• Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. (v 30)

How do you define pretty?  Honestly, sometimes I get stuck in my physical appearance and think that I have to have everything in place before I leave the house.  Seriously, I love my lipstick and big hair!  Don't even get me started on the "necessity" of heels... but sometimes my hair gets all flat...  What If I had to shave it?  Would I still be pretty?  And my lips... no matter what lipstick I use they pale in comparison to Angelina's.... Am I still pretty?  And as much as I hate to admit it, some days my feet hurt in my heels and I have to wear flats...  Oh the tragedy of it all!


Every single physical thing that we think makes us pretty can be lost but trust, strength, dignity, the ability to laugh, wise words, kindness, good work ethic and a love of the Lord... these will not fade.  


I often talk to Madeline about what makes her pretty, careful to point out all her wonderful traits but I don't talk to Gavin about the topic much.  Clearly, it's something I need to do and something I WILL do!  I also need to model it too.  Do they see these things in my life?  Because what they see in me is even more important than what they hear from me.


How do you teach your children what pretty is?  Do you teach them at all?  Remember, if you don't someone else definitely will!

The "Kiss-Fist Bump"

The worst thing in the whole world has happened...


Seriously, it happened so quickly that I didn't even see it coming.


Gavin will no longer kiss me when I drop him off at school!!!


Now, I realize it could be worse... he still wants me around.  In fact, he even requested that I come up for lunch today... even though that was way more for the Happy Meal he asked me to bring than because he wanted my company, it's still something!  Right?  


As he got out of the car this morning, I received my very first "kiss-fist bump."  He kissed his fist and touched it to mine and said "Now, no one will know that we kissed."  It was sweet and sad at the same time.  I both long for him to grow into a strong independent man and yearn for the days that he would lay upon my chest and sleep.  


It made me think, however, of how we sometimes hide our love for Christ from others.  Have you ever been afraid to pray out loud or even tell someone that you prayed for them?  Maybe you shy away when you see those "Jesus Freaks" talking or the "Bible Thumpers" getting together.  You know they're really nice but you don't want others to see you with them.  What about that time you heard your friends making fun of them and you didn't join in but you didn't defend them either.  


Maybe it's just me that has found myself in those places but as I have grown in my relationship with Christ I have learned that it is not something I am willing to hide anymore.  I will not give God a "kiss-fist bump" hoping that no one will see that I love Him.  I want to be bold and unashamed just as Paul urges us to do in 2 Timothy 1:8-  


"So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News."


Now, I know that Gavin's "kiss-fist bump" is not because he's ashamed of me in the same way that Paul is speaking here.  It's a normal part of a little boy growing up.  Knowing Gavin, it probably won't even last that long... I hope anyway!  Regardless, it's a good reminder to me to not hide my love for my Lord but to be bold... to show my love for Him and His people in every way that I can! 


How are you being bold today or are you still afraid to be open about your faith?  I'm praying that you will look to God for the boldness that only He can give to share the grace that He has given you!




Here are a few nuggets that the Bible gives about boldness:

Ephesians 6:19

"And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel. "

Romans 15:15

"I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave" 

2 Corinthians 3:12

"Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold."

Dear Papa

Dear Papa,

You've been gone for four weeks.  Some days it seems like it was just yesterday that I could look into your face... Other days it feels like it's been an eternity.  Gavin believes that every bird has been sent to us by you.  He comes running, "Momma LOOK!  I bet Papa sent it!" and I smile great big each time. I do wonder about the beautiful egrets that have camped behind our house for the last month because I've never seen that kind of bird here before.  Either way, it always reminds me of you and makes me smile.

Many years ago you asked my why anyone would want to believe in God.  I know that you wanted me to make sense of all the things that were happening in your life that didn't make sense but I couldn't.  All that I could do was tell you who God was to me, how much you'd love Him and how much He already loved you.  I'm so glad you got to know Him.  I can only imagine the conversations you two are having over the fishing hole about now.  Now, I told you not to get mad if He's catching the bigger fish!

I want you to know that I'm not mad... at you or Him.  I do miss you though.  Some days it hurts so bad that I just don't want to talk to anyone.  I just can't speak or even cry. I AM so grateful that He let us know before your time came so that I could be by your side.  I'm also glad that it didn't take too long because it was killing me to see you hurt.  That last night I prayed for two things:  for Jesus to show you how much He loves you and for Him to come quickly for you.  He did both!  I just wish I could have seen your face when you opened those blue eyes and saw Jesus there!

I don't know how He does it, but I know that you know now... how Jesus is both there with you and here with me.  He is... without a doubt.  Just like I told you so many years ago, you can count on God.  You may not understand everything but He will never leave you and His right hand will hold you.  So, don't worry, He's holding me every single day.  I love you, Papa, forever.

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,  even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."  -Psalm 139:7-10

2011 Lessons... Last Installment

Things I learned... #3

You know how you hear about something the very first time and you get all excited? 

You promise yourself that you'll never forget about it...  You'll never go back to the way things were...

and then a few days go by... 
and then a few more days... 
and the next thing you know... 
you've forgotten all about that excitement and that commitment... 

or it is just me that does that?  

I confess that I have ALWAYS had issues with commitment.  From dating to my major(s) in college to my master's degree that doesn't match my bachelor's degree that doesn't match my current career choice... commitment is not easy for me but it is so totally important!  The third and final (I think) thing that I learned in 2011 is that:

"What we are committed to will be what makes us."  

Our pastor, Terry Sanderson, said those words a few weeks ago and I've referred to it several times in the last week.  I'm that nerdy girl that takes notes during the sermon and I'm sooo glad I do because five minutes after I walk out, I can usually only remember bits and pieces of the wisdom that is shared and that little nugget, that I probably wouldn't have remembered if I hadn't written it down, has given me new resolve.  The third thing I learned in 2011 is to be intentional about the kinds of things I want in my life.



I will choose those things to which I commit myself very carefully and I will be fully devoted to them.  



Have you really thought about what you're committed to in life?  I encourage you to think about this.  It's so easy to go with the flow... see what happens... or as one of my beautiful sisters says "fly by the seat of your pants" but even those of us who enjoy being a little less structured need to have some boundaries or we'll find ourselves overcommitted to things that may not add anything to our life or anyone else's life.  For that matter, they might just suck the life right out of us!  We ARE committed to something in life... whether we realize it or not.  

What are you committed to?  Are you a commit-o-phobe like me?  When you think about the person you want to be, what change would you have to commit to making?