Life from the iPhone...

I have been HORRIBLE about taking pictures lately with my good camera...mostly because we have been ON.THE.GO and busy busy busy as the school year comes to a close, baseball games, and continuing with tornado relief efforts. 

I figured I better post some pics from my phone though or y'all are going to stop visiting the ole blog:).  I am also working on another tornado post (I know y'all might be tired of me talking about it but it's just how it's going to be) where I just go through the details of the day for us.  I don't want to forget the basics of what we felt and what April 27 was like for us. 

Anyway....here is some of what we have been up to lately...

just being cute:)

Mcdonalds dinner at the baseball park on a very cool May evening

Still not used to seeing this destruction as I drive around town

 picnic lunch at the park on the Black Warrior River wearing cute tornado relief tees

building a road in our backyard wooded area 

Our preschool art show was precious! 

I think it's safe to say neither of my girls are very artistic (which makes me laugh and want to cry at the same time. ha ha) 

impressive huh?

been helping this precious baby (tornado victim) and his mama get back on their feet after the storm

you can tell my girls are a tad bit obsessed! 

how amazing are these hydrangeas from my mom's house???

And today, we had the first playoff game for baseball.  Samuel's team won 10-3!!!!  YAY!  It was a hot day and hard to believe that just 4 days ago we were at the same ball park wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts.  Crazy weather! 

 My parents are in town and so we drove around a little to look at some of the damage from the tornado.  It's still so hard to take in.  We drove into Holt today...a little town right outside of Tuscaloosa (like 5 minutes away) that was hit really hard.  There has already been a lot of work done there in large part because of this little church that was miraculously still standing among the rubble.  Seriously amazing that they only had a few windows blown out while houses just yards away are rubble.

this is what you see to the right of the church...

Alright, that's a wrap!  I will start using my good camera again because while I love the convenience of my iphone it's just not the same as my beloved Nikon of course!

A Few Links

I read a parenting blog post the other day and it is one of the best parenting posts/articles I've read in a  while! Makes me not feel so bad about how we are doing in our household since Jeff and I could relate to pretty much everything he said.  My favorite quote is "My kids are probably not as crazy as they seem to me (at least that’s what I keep telling myself anyway), but if I ever write a book on parenting I’m going to call it The Inmates Are Running the Asylum."  Click on the following link to read the entire post. http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/05/10/parenting-001/

Our church service this past Sunday was one of the best we have had since Jeff and I have been at Trinity.  We had a guest preacher/teacher Richard Pratt come and speak to us.  He is one of our favorites because Jeff and I had the privilege of taking an Old Testament class under him one summer so we were so excited he was going to be at our church!  He did not disappoint as he spoke to us about taking risks and trusting God as we begin this road to recovery after the tornado.  I highly encourage you to listen...it is well worth the 30 minutes!!!! Click below to be directed to where you can listen.
http://trinitytuscaloosa.wordpress.com/2011/05/15/a-helpful-sermon-by-richard-pratt/

Both of these subjects are areas where I deeply need the wisdom of the Lord and His peace.  Being a parent is so hard, and trusting God as I follow His call on my life when it means taking risks is really hard!  I feel the Holy Spirit nudging me towards some risks and I want to trust Him even when it feels scary!  I hope these two resources are a blessing to you just as they have been to me!

Life Going On

So many of us here in Tuscaloosa are having a hard time with life going on after our devastating tornado.  And yet it does.  I will point out that it is a new way of going on.  The last few weeks of our lives have been abnormal and full of things we don't normally do.  I have been a horrible housekeeper and cook...yet I have been able to spend countless hours loving on precious children displaced because of our tragedy.  It has been a privilege to give of myself in this way.  Our church preschool program has welcomed over 30 kids into our building and even extended the hours until 4 pm so that these parents can try to put some pieces of their lives together.  Most of these children look very different than us, but I am just so thankful that we have been able to get into their lives and show them the love of Christ.  It's been messy...but it's been overwhelming to see how the Lord has provided for us to then be able to give food, diapers, clothes, shoes, transportation, toys, and more to the families we have met through reaching out to them.

This week, I have had a few normal hours where I was able to catch up on some laundry, vacuum, and even fix a meal (first one since the tornado over 2 weeks ago).  Otherwise, I have been up at our church helping where and when I could!

In other news, we got new cell phone service and phones.  We had been with sprint for years and had had enough of the bad service and dropped calls so we made the switch to verizon and of course had to get iphones.  I'm mostly excited about the camera feature so that I can snap pictures without having to lug my big DSLR around!  I was thinking about buying a small point and shoot anyway, but this way I was able to just get it with my phone!  I have had too much fun with it for sure...

love these little blessings...

sweetest little wooden bracelet Ellie Kate made for me at preschool for Mother's Day...

one of the precious babies I've gotten to love on and take care of...

And just because...a few more mother's day gifts...

tulips {my favorite} from Jeff

and a cute little ceramic teapot/planter from Samuel that he made at school

Dinner Under the Stars

Last weekend, my partner in entertaining crime Carlley, and I, hosted a little dinner party.  We debated on whether or not to do it after the tornadoes, but decided to stick with it and I'm so glad we did!  It provided a much needed wonderful night with friends underneath the starts.

We copied the idea from Darby's blog when one of her friends did something similar.  It was such a fun dinner to put on!  Carlley's family owns a plantation home in Eutaw, AL (about 40 minutes away from Tuscaloosa) so we decided to have our dinner party there on the lawn overlooking the valley.  It was a breaktaking view of sunset and the weather was perfect!!!  The plantation is called Myrtle Hill (click on that to read more about it on Wikipedia) and her mother in law has it decorated full of southern charm and antiques....most of what we were able to use for decorations.  The only thing we spent money on was the food itself.  Myrtle Hill had blooming roses and magnolias we used for floral arrangements and we brought our own assortment of china to eat on.

On the menu was shrimp and grits, roasted asparagus, strawberry salad, and rolls.  An assortment of yummy appetizers and wine were also brought by our guests!

Enjoy a glimpse of our magical evening...

 

Mama

It was a concrete cold and sterile hallway.  Here was when my eyes first saw the 3 year old son who we chose after years of longing.  I didn't become a mother the conventional way.  It didn't matter.  He was mine.  And I was his and he called me mama.

Fourteen months later a wrinkled 7 pound 7 ounce baby girl was laid on my chest as tears streamed hot down my swollen cheeks.  She opened her eyes and knew me as mama.

Seven months afterwards I said goodbye with my heart breaking to the one who only lived in my womb 10 weeks. 

A mere thirteen months after that, another wrinkled baby girl was laid on my chest and her eyes looked into mine knowing exactly who I was...mama. 

They are miracles.  All of them bringing beauty from ashes in my life.  Bringing me amazing love and fulfilling so many dreams.  They also have brought lots of frustration, anger, tears, exhaustion, and messes.  Being mama is hard but I am learning to fight for joy and slow down...enjoying these miracles and all that comes along with them.  I know it's a vapor and I can't even think about the day they will be gone from this house.  I am so so so thankful for my babies and for the privilege it is to be called mama. 

One of my favorite verses for a long time (even before kids) has been Isaiah 40:11...

He tends his flock like a shepherd: 

He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart;

he gently leads those that have young.

I love that Jesus tends us like a shepherd and carries us close to His heart...and I love even more now that he gently leads those that have young.  I need his gentle leading since most days I feel wildly inadequate in this calling of motherhood.  I'm so thankful for my Savior...that I don't walk this road alone!  

I wouldn't be here today and who I am today without my own mother.  She's a special woman!  I will forever be grateful for the Godly example she set for me as she raised my brother and I.  I am so thankful for the relationship we have today and can't imagine my life without her!!! 

Also know that my heart always aches a bit today especially for those waiting on their own miracles.  Know that you are not forgotten and that prayers are being lifted for you as you wait.  

Happy Mother's Day! 

Some Updates

TORNADO...

I continue to stand amazed at our community and our state.  I have never been more proud to call Tuscaloosa and Alabama home...and that's saying a lot for this Georgia born girl!  God is truly bringing beauty from the ashes.  We have kept busy with relief efforts this week.  Our church's preschool program decided to open it's doors to some of the tornado victims children from 8am - 4pm.  Some days, we had as many as 30 kids take advantage of it!  We had volunteers bring snacks, diapers, lunches, drinks, clothes, toys, nap mats, and more.  We also had volunteers each day picking up and returning kids to shelters or devastated areas as well as just staying to help watch kids during the day at the church.  I wasn't up there all day every day, but I have been up there a lot and it has been so fun to love on these kids.  Thursday, I was overcome with emotion as I was returning 4 kids (5 and under) to the shelter where they were staying with their single mom.  The oldest 3 were crying because they didn't want to go back and I started crying because I just can't imagine the stress that they and their momma have been through.  I just was reminded anew...what do I seriously have to complain about?  I prayed through my tears and just gave those kids and their mom a big hug as I dropped them off.  By the end of the week, I was thoroughly emotionally worn out...and at the same time just so grateful for God continuing to use us and work miracles again and again in this disaster ravaged town. 

POTTY TRAINING...

Abigail had a rough 3-4 days of potty training when we first started.  I almost gave up...but thankfully I stuck with it and the day of the tornado it just sort of finally stuck.  Thank goodness...because the days since then have been so stressful and I am glad I didn't have to worry about her having accidents all the time. She has done great and is even mostly potty trained at night.  I still put her in a pull up but am thinking I won't have to for much longer.  She has been dry most every morning since we started this.  WOOHOO!  I guess this means I am officially out of the baby stage of parenting. 

SCHOOL...

I think we have finally decided to send Samuel to 2nd grade at his current school.  We feel like, at this point, that is the wisest decision so that we can truly get a feel for where he is academically, socially, emotionally, etc since this year was a year of retention.  I am fairly confident that after next year, I will homeschool him and I will use a lot of next year to look into curriculum's and also decide if I will homeschool the girls at the same time.

TODAY...

has been a nice quiet normal day and I almost feel guilty for it...but it was much needed.  We cleaned house (desperately needed it after over a week of neglect), played outside, and just enjoyed a relaxing beautiful day that the Lord gave us!

Perspective and Hope

Beauty.  Hope.  Courage.  Inspiration.  Grace.  Thanks. 

All of this I have already seen springing forth from the ashes of the Tuscaloosa Tornado.  The devastation remains.  The ruins are just as real today as they were 4 days ago.  Yet, here I am again seeing that sometimes, as hard as it is to understand, God can do some of His best work in the darkness.  The dark gives way to miracles.  We see this in the Cross.  Ann Voskamp says "The fullest life itself dawns from nothing but Calvary darkness and tomb-cave black into the radiance of Easter morning.  Out of the darkness of the cross, the world transfigures into new life."  And so, just as Jesus gave thanks and broke the bread before he went into the ultimate darkness for us, we give thanks here and now.   I see it from the rubble of the now decimated housing projects of Rosedale Courts to the streets of middle class Glendale Gardens and Forest Lake all the way across the railroad tracks into Alberta City.  People giving thanks.  Amidst the breathtaking horror, beauty is rising and miracles are happening right here.  We've seen the likes of President Obama, Charlie Sheen, Franklin Graham,  & Michael W. Smith all here in my city just within the first few days of aftermath.  Our Mayor quoting scripture on national television and leading us well.  Churches rallying.  University of Alabmaa students staying in town even though they are free to go home just so they can help and provide relief to those suffering. 

And I have my very own little miracles right here.  As I swing in my backyard in the early evening hours tonight, I am overwhelmed as I look at my home perfectly intact.  Flowers blooming.  Children playing.  The magnitude of what I have is overwhelming at a time like this.  Every day is grace overflowing.  Why do I get to walk away from the horror instead of living it?  I grab my camera and begin snapping.  I need to see beauty.  I need to create beauty.  I need to remember beauty even in the pain. 

My perspective has changed.  Suddenly, those white jeans I had been wanting don't seem so important.  I only hope it's permanent...but I know all too well how easily I will be moved to forget.   Ann Voskamp asks in her book 1000 Gifts, "Can it be, that which seems to oppose the will of God actually is used of Him to accomplish the will of God?  That which seems evil only seems so because of perspective, the way the eyes see the shadows."

Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has planned it?  

Amos 3:6  

Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand. 

Isaiah 14:24

In my finite mind, a tornado ripping apart my city would not be good.  And yet, here I stand...watching good.  Watching God bring redemption.  A city coming together.  I can only pray and hope it continues as the road we have to travel is long and hard. 

All I want to do is offer thanks and fall on my knees in worship as I watch my God at work in the city I love and call home...

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
   How unsearchable his judgments,
   and his paths beyond tracing out!
 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
   Or who has been his counselor?”
 “Who has ever given to God,
   that God should repay them?”
 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
   To him be the glory forever! 

Romans 11:33-36