When The Big Wind Blows - Reflecting on the Joplin Tornado

I've hesitated writing about the tornado that devastated Joplin, MO last week because I have needed time to process what has happened there.  There are so many tragic stories...but stories of heroism and hope, as well.  

An emergency worker carries a girl from the remains of the Academy Sports in Joplin...

 

Joplin is practically in our backyard...3 hours away...but still...our backyard.  In Missouri, tornados happen around us fairly frequently.  I've become accustomed to the sirens going off and taking for granted that it's just another storm...We have a basement, after all, so we're safe...right?

Look around you right now...and think about how it could be gone in a matter of seconds.  Everything you've worked hard for...built...saved for...gone into debt for...and...carried for 9 months and labored 21 hours for...gone in a matter of seconds.  It makes me reconsider everything that I thought was important.  

I've been inspired by watching how the people of Joplin...and Missouri...and the Country...are responding to this tragedy.  It gives me Hope.

Hundreds of volunteers line up on May 23rd at Missouri Southern State College to wait for their work assignments...

This devastating event...along with other events in the past year remind me that things don't matter.  As long as I have a roof over head, my children are healthy and safe, food on the table and job to go to...I am Blessed.  I don't know why these things happen or why God allows this kind of thing...but I know that people can come out stronger because of tragedies.  When we witness something like this...it makes us stop and think about our own lives.  Our differences of opinion regarding religions or political affiliations or whether homeschooling or public school is better, what neighborhood we live in or what kind of car we drive, what color of curtains to hang in the living room or what kind of purse I carry...it all doesn't matter.  

Being grateful for what we do have and helping people in their time of need...showing Love for all the people God Created.  Now...that's the Good Stuff!

A church severely damaged in the tornado...the Cross still standing...

Togetherness.

Jackie

*photos courtesy of the Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee)

Book Review: Leaving by Karen Kingsbury

About Leaving: Bailey Flanigan Series, Volume 1
Bailey's determined to take advantage of her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on Broadway, but is she really ready to leave family and friends for the loneliness of New York City? And what of Cody? His disappearance has her worried about their future and praying that their love can survive. In order to be closer to his mother in jail, Cody takes a coaching job in a small community outside Indianapolis. New friends, distance, and circumstances expose cracks in his relationship with Bailey Flanigan. Love, loneliness, big opportunities, and even bigger decisions highlight the first book in the new Bailey Flanigan series that features members of the popular Baxter family and will complete the story of Bailey Flanigan and Cody Coleman.

My Thoughts
From the very first page of this book I was hooked.  Karen Kingsbury has a way of drawing her readers into the story so much that the characters seem real.  I really enjoyed that this book incorporates the Baxter family story as well and I pleased that Ashley and Landon's story (from the Redemption Series) continued in Leaving.  This book was very inspirational to me because the characters talk to God and realize that He is in control of every situation.  In the way it is written, we actually read the prayers of the characters and in turn we learn how to pray in everyday situations.  The conclusion of the book left me wanting more and I was happy to read that the next book in the series comes out June 2011. 



Final Thoughts
If you are looking for an inspirational and enjoyable book Leaving is an excellent choice.  I also recommend that if you are looking for good books to delve into this summer, check out another series by Karen Kingsbury called the Redemption Series featuring the Baxter family.

I would like to thank Zondervan for providing me with a free copy of the book for review. I was not required to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Have You Checked Out Pinterest Yet?

I got my invite for Pinterest yesterday and I have had so much fun pinning photos today.  You see, regular readers probably already know this, but I'm the girl who tears things out of magazines and glues them into my journal, pins them on my bulletin board, and sometimes just hang them on the refrigerator.  It's one of the ways I'm inspired creatively in decorating my home, gardening, fashion, etc. However, this little tearing and gluing habit of mine has gotten less attention in the last couple of years since I've been spending more and more time online. I have bookmarked and Delicioused so many websites just because of one photo and then I have a hard time finding it again once it's bookmarked.  Pinterest solves that for me because everything is grouped together so nicely and that makes the photos (+ their website) easy for me to find later.  It's a lot of fun to get inspiration from other boards as well.  

Go...Check It Out...Request Your Invite...You won't be disappointed!

Jackie

Making Your House (or apartment...or duplex) Into A Home...

Stamp your personality on your home.

Invest some love in it.

Give it something of yourself.

Your colors.

Your pictures.

Your favorite objects.

In return, it will welcome you

and your friends.

~Patrick Lindsay

I like coming home to a neat (although not necessarily very clean) and tidy home and making my home a comfortable place to be has always been a priority to me.  I have lived in apartments, duplexes, and finally a house that we bought 10 years ago.  Wherever we have lived, I always arranged the items that I had in the most pleasing way that I could.  I don't have expensive taste (thank goodness) and most of the items in our home I have collected from flea markets, garage sales and from eBay.  I remember walking into homes when I was in my early 20's and thinking that my house would never look like that.  Several times when that happened, the homeowner would say, "oh, your house will look just like you want it to someday because it takes years to collect all these items".  That is exactly what happened...because here I am 20 years later and my house, for the most part, is close to what I had envisioned.  It's never done and I'm sure I'll always be checking out the local flea markets...but that's the fun part anyway!  

Home is where the heart is.

My little office nook in the kitchen corner...

My new gallery wall in the foyer...some photos I have taken and Wal-Mart frames.

Another view of the kitchen...

A little primitive and a little industrial...my favorite decorating combination...

My Grandma's old chair in the corner of the living room.  2 handmade and lumpy toile pillows and one dollar store pillow.

Thanks for Stopping By,

Jackie

The Reason For Dandelions...

 

Why spend my time ridding my yard of dandelions when the backyard provides a virtual field of flowers for a sweet 5 year old boy to give to his Mom as he softly says, "Here is a beautiful flower for you, Mom."  "I Love You".

O DANDELION 

O Dandelion, yellow as gold, what do you do all day?
“I just wait here in the tall, green grass, ’till the children come to play.”

O Dandelion, yellow as gold, what do you do all night?
“I wait and wait, while the cool dew falls, and my hair grows long and white.”

And what do you do when your hair grows white, and the children come to play?
“They take me in their dimpled hands, and blow my hair away!”

- by Marlys Swinger 

When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear A Flower On My Hat...

When I am an Old Woman I shall wear a flower on my hat.

I'll lunch with the ladies and have a lovely chat,

about peonies, daisies and others such as that.

I'll drink Pepsi from a glass bottle with a straw,

and not worry about enjoying a delicious bear claw.

When I'm an Old Woman with a flower on my hat,

I'll spend my days in a dress and garden boots,

sauntering through my garden and admiring the new shoots.

I shan't care about the latest style in women's wear,

because I'd also be happy wearing a flower in my hair.

I'll whisper sweet words to my little struggling lilac shrub,

the one that seems to appear a little smug. 

I'll say, "You know you want to...Be Proud,

and I'm sure you'll gain an admiring crowd".

When I'm an Old Woman, the one with the flower on my hat,

I'll spend my evenings having a chat,

with my sweet little neighbor who is almost 95,

she's the one I've lived next door to for the last 25 (years that is).

She and I,

We'll trade seeds and also laugh about all those pesky weeds.

When I'm an Old Woman with a flower on my hat,

I hope to snuggle with a grand baby on my lap,

I'll tell her about peonies, daisies and others such as that.

I'll tell that same grand baby that a garden is no good unless it is shared,

and also that kindnesses aren't meant to be spared.

I'll whisper to her that blessings and love,

can be sprinkled on others like rain from up above.

When I'm an Old Woman with a flower on my hat,

I'll ponder that my children were like my garden.

I planted, I watered and sometimes pulled weeds, 

then I stood back and watched what they were to turn out to be.

The most important thing that I hope to know,

is that I took the time to enjoy watching them grow.

Jackie

This Town...My Life...again...

I originally posted this in May of 2010.  Since graduation weekend has already rolled around again...I thought this was worthy of re-posting.  

This town I live in is a college town. Approximately 30,000 students roll in here every August and out again in May. In August of this year I will have been here for 21 years. I've seen a lot of changes in that time. The clothing styles I was wearing when I rolled into town in 1989 are almost exactly the same as what I see the students wearing on campus today. It doesn't seem like that long ago but it's been long enough that those clothing styles have come back in fashion 21 years later. A lot of changes but much is the same.

I don't know if I ever really planned to stay here. I planned to go to school and I didn't really have any plans other than that. School didn't work out right away and I ended up working for this company that was unbelievable, to say the least. 1989 was right smack in the upswing of the tech bubble and I got to be part of it by working for a very successful software development company right here in this town. We got to experience much of what the software companies were offering their employees on the coasts. Amazing. A great experience for a young, small town girl. I learned a lot that would serve me well in my future and in those years I also grew to love this town.

Today, as I walked across campus and saw some students in their graduation robes I was thinking how lucky we are to live in this College Town. My town isn't huge by some standards...approximately 100,000 people plus those extra 30,000 or so students. This town is huge compared to the rural area where I'm from. It seemed practically city-like when I moved here 21 years ago. It doesn't feel that way to me now. We have most of the amenities of bigger cities including a traffic problem on most of the major streets. I count myself lucky to live in such a diverse town with different cultures and religions. I love that my children have friends who speak another language at home and were born in different countries. It opens up their world and teaches them to be accepting of people who are different than they are. And what I find is that this town isn't really big at all. For the most part, people are friendly, helpful and it's not uncommon to run into people you know almost everywhere you go.

So, in the past few months I've been evaluating my life. My work, my education, my goals and dreams. I'm 21 years into my work life and, God willing, I have approximately 21 more years before I retire. 21 years is a long time in some respects and a very short amount of time in others. The fact that 21 years here in this town have already passed by tells me how fast time is moving for me.

So how do I want to spend the next 21 years? I'm not sure if I will ever completely know what my career path should be. As a woman in my 40's I know where my strengths are and where they are not. I know I don't want to waste time on selfish endeavors. I don't want to climb career ladders. It's not about me. I want to make a difference in someone else's life. I want to help other women know their value in this world and no matter what their circumstances are they can have a life they have dreamed about. I have some ideas about how to do that and maybe I'll see them become reality sometime in the next 21 years

There are possibly 1000's of students graduating this weekend here in this town. They are starting their new lives right now. Isn't that exciting? They are moving on to new endeavors and probably even new towns. So, what about this town? This town will get 1000's of new students in the fall who are excited to start their own new journey. And...this town is my home. I can't imagine living anywhere else. Most of my new journeys have taken place right here. Although I have dreams of things I want to do... my most important journey is with my children. I look forward to seeing where their lives take off right here... from this town.

**photo--senior sendoff is a tradition held before graduation every year. Seniors run through the columns away from campus symbolizing their new journeys as alumni instead of students. Also, every August the new freshmen run through the columns toward campus symbolizing their new journey as college students.

And...It's a New Day...

Today, I woke up with a new feeling of hope.  Things will be beautiful again.  My garden helps me, as it always does, to see the promises of the future.

Isaiah 41:10 (New Living Translation)

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
      Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
   I will strengthen you and help you.
      I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

A Peony bud...promising to bloom soon...

A struggling Azalea in my front yard that decided this was the year it was going to overflow with beautiful blooms...

Ladybug friends on the Lemon Balm...

Lilacs just about to bloom...

My neighbors Dogwood Tree that graces us with it's beauty every single year...I have a perfect view of it from my deck...

Blessings,

Jackie

No...Things Aren't Okay...

One of my favorite pics of Blake and Kobe

My goal for this blog has always been to record my blessings in hopes that someone else will also be blessed by what I've experienced or what I write about.

Sometimes...things just aren't okay though.

One of Kobe's best friends passed away last Thursday morning.  Blake was 10 years old.  He had survived the Cancer that invaded his body when he was a baby.  But...last week his body developed an infection that he couldn't fight off. He was at school on Wednesday until he went home sick in the afternoon.  And...Thursday morning...He was gone. 

We are overwhelmed with emotions.  Sadness, Shock, Disbelief.  And...my new emotion today...Anger!

Helping my son work through his grief and supporting Blake's family are my main focus right now.  Working through my own emotions is exhausting.

The following lyrics keep playing in my head when I allow myself to sit still and think about it all.  I've shared the video below.  

Blake's family and everyone close to them could use your prayers!

"Praise You In This Storm"

by Casting Crowns

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

[Chorus:]
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

[Chorus]

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Barn Charm...and... Photoshoot On The Farm...

Barns have always interested me.  I guess it's my rural upbringing and barns have always been part of that.  Today, I'm linking up with Bluff Area Daily and joining Barn Charm.  The barn I'm bringing you today is on my Aunt's farm in Northeast Missouri.  I have always loved this old barn.  We lived in a house directly across from it when I was in high school.  I have a lot of great memories on their farm and I still feel so at home anytime I'm there.  When we were there a couple of weeks ago I also did a little informal photo shoot of all the boy cousins in the tree line behind their house.  We all have some cute boys so it turned out pretty nice. 

The Black And White That I'm Framing For My Gallery Wall At Home...

Posing On A Fallen Tree...

Boys...Always Have To Have A "Shoot Em Up" Photo...

Thanks For Stopping By...

Jackie

State Capitol With The 4th Graders...

Hello Friends,

I have lost my blogging mojo for the last few months.  I'm trying to get it back.  In March I had the opportunity to go on a field trip with Kobe's class to the Jefferson City, MO and tour the State Capitol and the Governor's Mansion.  We had a great day and I learned a lot.  Even though I have been in the capitol several times for work related events, I had never had an actual tour.  It was a lot of fun...especially hearing the kids comments and seeing what they were most interested in. 

The most interesting part of the tour, for me, was sitting in on a legislative session and hearing the legislators debate and vote on bills.  It was really great for the kids to see how the voting process works instead of reading about it in their textbooks.

It was a fun day and we'll be going back soon to take photos of the flowers around the capitol grounds.

Kobe and I on the Capitol Steps...

Governor's Mansion...

One Of The Many Murals Inside The Capitol.  This Is Kobe's Favorite - Jesse James!

Missouri State Capitol...

Neat View Of The Capitol From The Parking Garage...

Mr. Cool On The Capitol Steps!

Lewis & Clark Memorial...

Thanks For Stopping By...

Jackie