I miss normal. Normal, boring, everything in its place life. All talk in tiny town(s) revolves around the devastation left by the tornado...which is okay, because we're all in it together. It binds us together. It's almost therapeutic. It will continue to consume much of my life here in tiny town...but in bloggy land, I need my normal back. I need to write and share other stuff.
So, from now on...I need to blog about other stuff. I'll update you now and then, and feel free to email me and ask how it's going...SO just because I'm back to blogging about....hmmm, whatever it was I blogged about before...just remember that in real life...the tornado talk lives on :)
OK, so for some completely useless information, you should know that I have not put make-up on or done my hair since Sunday morning. I have turned into a grungy slob. BECAUSE, red-patent shoes are not tornado-clean-up friendly...and if I can't wear cute shoes...who cares about the rest of the outfit. Seriously. I really could use some cute gloves or something! A HA! NOW I remember what I blogged about!!! So glad to have normal back :)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
It's Official...
I'm officially a red-neck...
I know, I know, it takes a special kind of stupid to work outside all day with no sunblock. Oh, I brought it...but actually put it on...not so much. My pasty white skin is paying the price, bloggy friends...paying the price. *smiles*
The clean-up and recovery from tornado stuff is going to take, what seems like, FOREVER :) I'll keep ya updated now and then though. Thank you for your prayers for everyone involved...keep 'em coming.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Update On Tiny-Town
We have electricity again! We spent the day at Shanon's house, salvaging what we could...which was not much. It's physically and emotionally exhausting for everyone, but especially those who have lost so much. People here are amazing. EVERYONE coming alongside their neighbors and working together. It truly is inspiring.
Also, for as much devastation as there is, the stories of God's mercy in so, so many lives brings me to my knees.
Thank you for your words of encouragement and especially for your prayers! Here are a few pictures...
This is all that is left of the front of Shanon's (very large) house...the entire roof is nowhere to be found.
This is part of the back...but what the whole thing looks like.
There were lots of pine trees lining the cemetery as you enter tiny-town...this is what is left.
The clean up has just begun. It's the first time I've ever experienced something like this...praying it is the last.
Tiny Town Will Never be the Same...
We had a tornado hit our tiny-town, last night around 5PM. The boys and I were in another town for a graduation, but Ben was home, and in the basement. I was able to get back into town around 8 last night, and just sobbed driving through town to get to our house...trees are down everywhere. Our home and everything is fine.
A few minutes after I got home, my friend Shanon, pulled into our drive, still in her Dr. Scrubs...she wanted to make sure we were alright....her big, beautiful house that sits on the edge of tiny-town is completely gone. We are so thankful that she was at work, and her husband and 3 little ones were in WI visiting family...no one was home. I will never forget that moment when she said, "It's gone."
Another small town, 8 miles west of tiny-town was completely devastated. We have 2 families from our church who live there...they are all physically fine, but one is missing their roof, windows, and their dog was killed. 2 people are confirmed dead from our tiny town and 5 people from the other small town. It is devastating.
We were evacuated last night because there is no power, and stayed the night at my parents. We're hoping to be able to get back into town to help clean up. Please pray, bloggy friends.
Here a picture of my good friend, Shanon. She's the one in the front, with the red sweater. Please keep her and her family lifted up in prayer as they face the coming days. Praise God they are all safe!
I will try to update once everything is up and running again...I have no idea how long that will be...I knew I had to post, because I have such amazing prayer warriors out there, who've come to love tiny-town without even knowing it's real name :)
A few minutes after I got home, my friend Shanon, pulled into our drive, still in her Dr. Scrubs...she wanted to make sure we were alright....her big, beautiful house that sits on the edge of tiny-town is completely gone. We are so thankful that she was at work, and her husband and 3 little ones were in WI visiting family...no one was home. I will never forget that moment when she said, "It's gone."
Another small town, 8 miles west of tiny-town was completely devastated. We have 2 families from our church who live there...they are all physically fine, but one is missing their roof, windows, and their dog was killed. 2 people are confirmed dead from our tiny town and 5 people from the other small town. It is devastating.
We were evacuated last night because there is no power, and stayed the night at my parents. We're hoping to be able to get back into town to help clean up. Please pray, bloggy friends.
Here a picture of my good friend, Shanon. She's the one in the front, with the red sweater. Please keep her and her family lifted up in prayer as they face the coming days. Praise God they are all safe!
I will try to update once everything is up and running again...I have no idea how long that will be...I knew I had to post, because I have such amazing prayer warriors out there, who've come to love tiny-town without even knowing it's real name :)
Friday, May 23, 2008
Not My Friend...
By now, you're probably getting sick of me talking about my computer idiotness...but it is never ending. It's part of what kept me from starting a blog for several months...I was sure I wouldn't be able to figure it out. Luckily, blogger is fairly user-friendly, and I had the help of several friends who kept (keep) sending detailed instructions that a 5 year old could follow. I love them.
There is still one thing though...one teeny-tiny SUPER annoying thing that I CANNOT figure out. Feedburner. Just typing it makes me want to shove the computer monitor off the desk...ok, not really. If you happen to have no idea what feedburner is, count your blessings. For some reason, it says I only have 29 subscribers. It also says, everyday, that I have had no visitors, and no page views to my blog. Apparently, Sitemeter, and my little counter thingy and all of those comments ya'll leave are figments of my imagination. Feedburner is giving me a complex...someone fix it...pretty please.
On a completely different subject, I bought this CD yesterday. I CANNOT stop listening to this song. So, I've mentioned before I have OCD issues with music...this is no surprise...but I love this song. I'm sure the rest of the CD is great...I wouldn't know yet, I can't get past #4.
There is still one thing though...one teeny-tiny SUPER annoying thing that I CANNOT figure out. Feedburner. Just typing it makes me want to shove the computer monitor off the desk...ok, not really. If you happen to have no idea what feedburner is, count your blessings. For some reason, it says I only have 29 subscribers. It also says, everyday, that I have had no visitors, and no page views to my blog. Apparently, Sitemeter, and my little counter thingy and all of those comments ya'll leave are figments of my imagination. Feedburner is giving me a complex...someone fix it...pretty please.
On a completely different subject, I bought this CD yesterday. I CANNOT stop listening to this song. So, I've mentioned before I have OCD issues with music...this is no surprise...but I love this song. I'm sure the rest of the CD is great...I wouldn't know yet, I can't get past #4.
Happy Friday, imaginary friends who do not really exist according to Feedburner!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
You're Gonna Wanna Come...
God sometimes gives me great revelations or breakthoughs...in the bathtub. It may have something to do with the fact that it's one of the only rooms that I can LOCK everyone else OUT. Here's what happened last night...
I've mentioned before that I happen to love my tiny town...and the tiny-towns folks. I was thinking about all the different faces I'd seen today...wondering what was really going on in their lives...wondering how many of them need hope, or a friend to talk to. Praying for God to bring them across my path, and for the courage and discernment to know what to say and how to say it.
Ben and I spend lot's of time wondering how to get people through the doors of our tiny church. We know, ultimately, it's God who brings them...what I mean, is figuring out what it is God wants us to do in His plan for bringing them. Much of our first two years here has been spent just getting to know people...and trying to show them we're not as weird as they may think we are (ok, we are weird...but ya know what I mean.) The more I get to know people...the more I love this tiny town...and the more I want them to come to our church...not for the mere fact of attending church...but because I know they'll encounter Jesus...and I know how He changed my life...and how He can change theirs. That's all.
All of this, led me to the "Top 10 Reasons" people in my tiny town should come to our church...be prepared, these are highly spiritual reasons.
10 - We have orange pews. Who else has orange pews?!? They're quite comfy, and I'm pretty sure, eventually, that particular shade of orange is going to be a rockin color again.
Seriously, I should have made it a top 20 list, because there's so much more! HA! Love this little church...love the people in it, and love this tiny-town!
I've mentioned before that I happen to love my tiny town...and the tiny-towns folks. I was thinking about all the different faces I'd seen today...wondering what was really going on in their lives...wondering how many of them need hope, or a friend to talk to. Praying for God to bring them across my path, and for the courage and discernment to know what to say and how to say it.
Ben and I spend lot's of time wondering how to get people through the doors of our tiny church. We know, ultimately, it's God who brings them...what I mean, is figuring out what it is God wants us to do in His plan for bringing them. Much of our first two years here has been spent just getting to know people...and trying to show them we're not as weird as they may think we are (ok, we are weird...but ya know what I mean.) The more I get to know people...the more I love this tiny town...and the more I want them to come to our church...not for the mere fact of attending church...but because I know they'll encounter Jesus...and I know how He changed my life...and how He can change theirs. That's all.
All of this, led me to the "Top 10 Reasons" people in my tiny town should come to our church...be prepared, these are highly spiritual reasons.
10 - We have orange pews. Who else has orange pews?!? They're quite comfy, and I'm pretty sure, eventually, that particular shade of orange is going to be a rockin color again.
9 - We have "First" in the name of our church...which means we were first, and obviously, First implies best. *wink, wink*
8 - If you live in tiny-town....we are totally within walking distance from every.single. house.
7 - We are the only church in town with a parking lot.
6 - You are free to drink coffee or pop or whatever (non-alcoholic) drink you would like to during Sunday School.
5 - If you even have a smidgen of musical talent, you will be the super-star of our worship team...ok, so we don't really have a "worship team" yet because we need some more people who can sing...but still...
4 - You can sit in the same pew & same spot every Sunday. Consistency people, consistency.
3 - The Pastor is very attractive. Ok, scratch that one...that one's just for me ;)
2 - There are so many kids, that your children being naughty in church will not even be noticed!
1 - Those of us already there, consider ourselves to be "the chief of sinners," saved by His grace...I promise you'll fit.
Seriously, I should have made it a top 20 list, because there's so much more! HA! Love this little church...love the people in it, and love this tiny-town!
It seems that my mind is totally preoccupied with the terrible loss that Steven Curtis Chapman and his family are experiencing. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around. It does remind me that life is so full of great joy and terrible pain...and time is no guarantee...I need to love those around me today, because I don't know what tomorrow holds.
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