We will leave early Saturday morning and hopefully be able to make it into my mom and dad’s in Moore, Oklahoma.  Today I received phone calls from numerous individuals and groups asking what they could do to help them.  A group from JOPLIN, MISSOURI will be at their house Saturday morning to help with the clean up for them and for their neighbors as well.  I don’t know if they need me there, but I need to be there.

I will check in with you guys later.  Please keep the many families of Oklahoma in your thoughts and prayers.  (AND the volunteers!)  Thanks to each of you for your sweet words of encouragement.  ♥

Here are a few pics we took last weekend on a foggy morning drive…..Have a safe weekend and  be. nice. to. people. ♥

Before

After

Before

Soon to be After Hospital

Before

Current “Mall” School

It warmed my heart to hear that some of the first people to respond to Moore’s tragedy?  Joplin folks.  Who knows better what they are going through?

My prayer is that Moore, Oklahoma, will also find and keep hope. Even in the little things. My parents were able to call ME last night! Why? Because a generous neighbor whose home cannot be lived in, brought them his generator to use until power is restored. They made coffee first thing!  Folks brought them dinner! There is so much loss and devastation….but the little things make such a huge difference. We are so grateful♥ Continued prayers~

Keep rebuilding Joplin! Hang on to hope, Moore, Shawnee, Newcastle. You can do this. And you are not alone.

Some of you may have read my post yesterday about the storms headed our way.  Little did I know that just a couple of hours after that, I would be watching live television footage of a one to two-mile wide tornado, destroying everything in its path. The path where I used to live.  The path where we have many friends and family.  It is hard to describe the feeling in your gut while observing the tornado and knowing that it is nearing your parent’s home.  I had just talked to them a couple of hours before.  They were very weather aware.  They had a plan. I resisted calling them knowing what was happening.  But finally I couldn’t stand the waiting and I called.  Dad answered…..what a relief.  His next words were, “We’ve been hit”.  So yes, their house was hit, but not flattened.  I talked to both of them and they are good.  They have damage, no power and now, no phone, but they are so fortunate.  Will let you know more as I learn more.  Thanks to so many of you who have contacted me. Moore, Oklahoma is destroyed and devastated.  Other areas were hit as well. There have been many fatalities.  Oklahoma is strong.  Oklahoma is tough.  Oklahoma is thankful for the many friends who jump in immediately to help. (So much so….my own kids were turned away last night from getting through to my parents.)  Please keep these folks, the rescuers and the many recovery workers in your thoughts and prayers.

Life is Short ~ Peace is Sweet. Be Kind to others ♥

Yesterday was one of those days.  If you’ve lived here very long, you know the “look” and the “feel” of a tornado day.  You also know the precautions to take. (Read previous post for more info Eye on the Sky.)

Our kids were  visiting from Missouri over the weekend.  We went about business/fun as usual, but also kept an eye on the weather radar.  They headed home in plenty of time to beat the storm and we proceeded with our pre-tornado agenda.  First things first.  We headed over for our first snow-cone of the season! Oh. So. Good.  AND….the sweet owner ”treated”!  (which shows you they know us too well)  Next ~ closet prep and charging phones. (There are no community shelters in our area) Last, but not least?  An unplanned block party.  It really is what you do around here.  You head to the front porch and you watch and you wait.  You compare previous tornado stories with your neighbors. because everyone here has one  You talk and text with family and friends.  Call it a tornado support group ~ but it works ~ and it brings you together, and for a little while, everything is okay.

The storm split last night and we were fine.  Others were not so fortunate.  Two fatalities have been reported so far.  We are soon to do this again. In a few hours….so be safe friends…..and as we say around here, “Maybe it’ll lift”. ♥

If you’ve never experienced a tornado….watch this video from last night.  It is the real deal. May 19 tornadoes in Oklahoma

Peace to you and yours ~

My goal was to stay home this week and tackle some projects, inside and outside. I find I am easily sidetracked, though. Just walking to the mailbox or calling the dogs back in…. I can’t help myself.  The camera ends up in my hands. Oh well. That list is partially completed.  The rest can wait.

Life is short.  Peace is Sweet.  Thanks for the reminder, Eldon. ♥

Have a great weekend, friends. Be nice to people. Even on icky days. ♥

I am hesitant to recommend an item for your skin without first testing it for a length of time. Well….Time’s up on this test and the results are amazing. The topic is not one that’s pretty, but it is a battle that many people deal with. Dry, cracking, splitting feet and hands. My hubby has battled this his entire life, but working and standing the many hours that he does tends to aggravate it even more. He has taken many prescriptions over the years. Injections. They all work for a while, and then they don’t. A couple of months ago while I was at the grocery store, a product caption caught my eye, “For Healthy Feet”. It was around eight dollars, so I threw it in the cart. About four days later my hubby said, “I think this stuff is working.” And now…..three months later, his feet are the healthiest they have been in ages. He simply applies it every morning. (even though it is suggested you apply before bedtime….always a rebel!)  It is now also sold at our hardware store.

Last week I was visiting with my neighbor.  She is going through chemo and was telling me about a cream she had purchased as she is dealing with Hand-foot syndrome, a side effect of her treatment. I told her about hubby’s results from the O’Keeffe’s and she headed to the store. She sent me a text the next day. She had used it on her hands and feet and couldn’t believe the relief she was feeling overnight.  Sweet.

This morning I decided to call O’Keeffe’s and ask them a few questions before writing this blog.  Brittany answered the phone.  I was impressed immediately at talking to a real person.  She explained that about fifteen years ago, a chemist, who had a father struggling with cracking feet because of diabetes, created this ointment for him in her own kitchen.  About three years ago, Gorilla Glue purchased it from her.  She said they hear many positives from diabetics to eczema, psoriasis and chemo patients.  She also reminded me that it is guaranteed relief.  So there ya go, friends.  It works well for us.  If you or a friend has this need, you might check out their website:  O’Keeffe’s Skin Creams.

Here’s to Healthy Feet and Hands! Have a great day and be nice to people! ♥

Mom’s flowers

Shopping!

Instructions

More instructions

Dodging cameras

Tired from shopping

Harvest

I had the pleasure of spending a few days at my parent’s house this past week. Several aunts and two awesome cousins came to “play” while I was there. What a fun time we had together!  And we sure missed those that were not there with us.  Why must time fly?

An extra special HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to my mama. You have always been a Proverbs 31 kinda woman.   Thank you for always blessing our lives. ♥

 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.פ

 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.צ

27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idlenessק

28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.ר

29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.ש

30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.ת

31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Much love ♥    Happy Mother’s Day to All ♥

Just remember in the winter

Far beneath the bitter snow

Lies the seed

That with the sun’s love, in the spring

Becomes the rose.

Lyrics and Song Music by Amanda McBroom, Made popular by Bette Midler~

I was quickly distracted by the beauty of a line of trees.  “Stop the car if you can”, I said.  Hubby pulled over.  I had to study what was before me.  There were beautiful flowering blooms mixed with tender new green leaves.  How could I have missed seeing this combo for all these years?!?!  These were mature trees, and they were changing seasons right before our eyes!

Then came to mind a question someone had asked me recently. “So what do you do?”  An innocent enough question, right?  But it caught me off guard and I’m not even certain what response fell out of my mouth.  “What do I do” was like asking “Who are you?”  or “What do you wanna be when you grow up?”  “Have you done anything with purpose?” “Are you important?”

So back to this tree.  It was like looking at myself from the outside.  Coming and going at the same time, but it was on a path. No explanation necessary.  Smile.

Resolve