Praise Him in This Storm

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

During the tornado that hit our area last Wednesday morning so many people lost so much. Lives were forever changed in an instant. One family lost their precious mother during this storm. Yet they praise Him. They want the countless passerby to not only stop and look at this sight and be reminded of their mother's death. But to be reminded also of her life. To know the Jesus that she knew, and now rests with.

Yesterday afternoon we went to this sight in search of my sister, who is friends with the daughter of Mrs. Tinker. Crystal (my sister) had been asked by Leslie (the daughter) to make a sign to place at the sight of the home where Mrs Tinker was killed.

As we stood there while the sign was put into place I was amazed, and also quite appalled at the number of people who stopped casually to ask if this was the place where the woman was killed! There were some who stopped to console the family or hug them or bring food and drink, but many just wanted to see.

When I offered my services to Leslie in sending these nosey, rude, too many question asking people on their way she said she didn't care what they asked, as long as they read the sign, and maybe it would touch someone's heart on behalf of her mother.

We didn't make it home in time for church last night, but Leslie and this verse preached to me right there in her mother's front yard. She told me that this verse had come to her in so many ways, so many times over the past few days. Overlooking utter and complete damage and destruction stands a message of peace, hope, and love sent straight to us,...to me....from a so often underestimated God.

These pictures were taken with permission from Leslie.

Praise the Lord... and pass the cookies!

UPDATE: I spent some of my day today at the Rosalie Community Center. For obvious reasons I can't be out picking up debris or operating a chain saw, but I can offer my help in other ways. The ladies of the Rosalie/Pisgah and surrounding communities are providing food for clean up workers. I was amazed at how many people came through that place today. AMAZED!! This area is not only a neighboring community, but it is in our Sand Mountain Baptist Association, and it is where I grew up. The people you are watching on TV are people who I have known my entire life. To see the devastation first hand is unbelieveable,...almost unbearable. I went down the road behind my Mom's house today, one that had been closed until today and I literally drove with my mouth open. Even after everything else I'd already seen and heard, this was utter and complete devastation. I mean a road, several miles long, with maybe 3 houses untouched. The rest were gone, ...demolished. It is a miracle no one was killed on that road. A miracle.

I want to challenge the ladies in our community, our church and surrounding churches to take some desserts, drinks, or other food to the community center next week. It is right beside Rosalie Elementary School. The people who are working there are gettting tired, and are going to need reinforcements and help as this is bound to be a very long drawn out process.

It's also a huge ministering opportunity. As I drove down that road today I stopped at one point because I couldn't figure out where I was exactly. There were NO landmarks. A road I've traveled thousands of times and I was disoriented due to the devastation! I saw a familiar face running towards my vehicle. It was an old softball coach of mine. I was looking for his house and couldn't figure out where it should be. It was under a pile of massive oak trees. I asked him if they were okay and he said yes. I said to him, "God was watching over you." He said, "Something was." I told him, "It had to be God, nothing else could bring you through that!" Please pray for these families!


And on a MUCH MUCH lighter note:


My new bestest friend in the whole world, Kelly, from Dr H's office called me earlier today with some fantabulous news! I had the test done on Monday to see if I have gestational diabetes. When I was pregnant with Carter, I failed the first test and had to endure 6 hours of peeing in a cup and being stabbed by multiple nurses every single hour on the hour for a second test. That one came back negative, but I will forever be scarred by the experience. Yuck!

All that to say, I PASSED THE FIRST TEST!!! Yay! No 6 hours of needle poking this time!


.......I think I'm craving some cherry ice cream just now. The reeeally sugary kind! Or maybe a big chocolate milkshake,....or maybe,...the Sonic dessert menu!!..lol


(I just had to post this 'cause I know ya'll were all hangin on the edge of your seats for my results...lol)

Deadly Tornado

Thankful can not begin to express my feelings today. A very large tornado (early estimations are an F3 or F4) came through our area this morning. We were up and prepared and I had called my family to wake them when I realized this tornado was heading our way. I knew everyone had been reached except for my mom. She lives alone and wasn't answering her phone. As we sat in our closet and waited it out among crib mattresses and pillows I prayed. After it was over I knew from the damage reports I'd gotten that it was close to her house and my aunts thought she was okay but no one had talked to her so until I made sure of that, I couldn't relax.


It took me an hour to make a 10 minute drive due to roadblocks and detours. But thanks to one local policeman (Thank you S.H.!!) who I knew that was over there helping out, and a slight hormonal breakdown, I finally made it through to check on her. She is fine! Thank goodness! Several homes within 100 yards from her house were completely destroyed and several injured, including a 4 month old baby and it's mother.


A mile or so away from her house a woman was killed when her house was completely demolished. There is nothing left of the house except blocks from the foundation. I have heard several reports of another death but that hasn't been confirmed yet. So many are injured, so many without a home, please remember this very small community when you pray....


Also, please remember the family of Mrs Tinker, the woman who was killed. Her daughter spoke to her right before the storm hit and she told her that she was fine, she was in the bathroom reading her Bible. Her Bible was beside her body in the field where she was found. My sister is very good friends with her daughter and went with her to the hospital to identify her mother's body. She said that Leslie, (the daughter) has found great peace in a message she heard only a few days ago. The message was from Rick Burgess after the drowning death of his young son. Please remember this family and all the others affected by todays storms in our area as well as across the other states that were hit.

In the picture below, the foundation is to the far left. The house was picked up, spun around and sat down again. A family with 2 small children were in the bathroom when this happened. Praise God, they are all okay! If you are from this area and wondering, this is Chad Gorham's house. It's on the same road as Pisgah High School.