Devastation...again

Here in Alabama we are dealing with mother nature's wrath...again.  For the second time in less than a year, we have been struck by tornadoes.  This time was much less severe than the April storms; however, the destruction left behind is just as real.

In April I went to the Shoal Creek area and volunteered.  Today, I went with a group of ladies from my church to the Georgebrook Subdivision.  The neighborhood is an amazing place.  The people were all helping each other, and stories being told of neighbors helping others out of their homes (thereby saving lives) were just heartbreaking.  We were able to help a lady find her engagement ring that she thought she would never see again.  What a moment for the people who found it and were able to return it to her.

The one emotion I think that was the most overwhelming was shock.  People were saying, we just can't believe this is real.  People don't even know where to begin to pick up the pieces that are left of their lives.  For some people, pieces are all that they have.  Homes have been destroyed, memories lost forever, and live lost.  However, there was one message I saw today that really stuck with me.

                 "A blessed mess...Press on"

This was spray painted on the side of a house.  That is truly what it is out there.  The fact that these storms hit so early in the morning hours, and only 3 lives have been taken is a miracle in itself.  The only explanation is that God himself was protecting the people in those houses.  The weather forecasters in this area did an awesome job of preparing the people for possible storms.  The weather radios that people had in their homes worked the way they are supposed to, as did the weather sirens.

Thank you God for protecting the people of Alabama during this time.  Please be with the families as they prepare to bury their loved one who were taken.  Help those who are trying to put their lives back together after this devastating tragedy.  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the recover efforts.

Manic Monday

I am going to try every Monday to post a question here.  I look forward to seeing your responses to my question.

 Today I want to know your opinion on men and cleaning.  It seems like the men in my house have trouble with this concept.  I see my house and think many that really needs to be cleaned up.  They see it and just walk around it.  I clean up almost every morning.  I unload the dishwasher, and then I reload the dishwasher.  Repeat this cycle every day. 

I just wonder what it would take to get my husband to help me in the endless endeavor.  With five people living in my house, cleaning is a never ending process.  I hate to nag him all the time, but that seems to be the only way I can get him to help.

Please offer me your suggestions on how to get my husband and son to help me with the cleaning at home.  Help make my home a calmer place to live!

Thanks in advance!  I look forward to reading your solutions.

Bring on the Weekend

Well, not a Friday night wrestling tournament but an early day tomorrow...RJP has to be at his school at 5:00 to leave for the long bus trip for the ALL DAY Saturday tournament.  Which means me and MJP will be leaving home around 7:00 am because dear dad has to go with the Junior High team to a tournament.

That being said, I think I will be in charge of alot tomorrow.  I will be the primary scorer for the second team, and I will have my little one to take care of.  Plus I want to be home in time to watch the Miss America pageant. 

Luckily, KJP is gone to the beach with the grands.  Now, I need to get off of here and start working on some chicken I have in the fridge and get ready for bed.

Night night.  I will try to update you from the tournament tomorrow!

Bible Study,,,James by Beth Moore

So our church does a Bible study for women on Tuesday mornings.  I LOVE going to this group.  It is a wide range of women with all levels of life experience.  I learn so much from the Bible and from them.

This semester we are doing James by Beth Moore.  I think it is going to be a good one because after day 1 I have already gotten a message.  One of the things Beth said during the video was that no matter what God is still working.  With things in my life the way they are right now I think I need to hear that on a daily basis.  I am in such a state of indecision.  I am thinking I might want to go back to school, but that just seems like so much work.

However, I did have a revelation while I was at the wrestling tournament this past weekend.  I know, I know.  A wrestling tournament of all places.  I was sitting there talking with the kids on the team and I realized that I was having fun.  I love working with teenagers.  I like being around them and trying to make a difference.  So maybe teaching is what I need to be doing.  I have felt that calling before, but fear kept me from making that jump.  Now that I am sittng here with nothing to do, that idea seems to keep coming back again and again.

Decisions decisions.  I think I need to make an appointment to meet with someone at the local university to see what my options are.

Funny moment of the day:  I put a sweater on my  4 year old daughter to wear to school because she wanted to wear pink.  Well, she wanted to wear a pink dress.  So after a major meltdown that resulted in timeout, we went to school.  The funny part is she told her daddy all about it when he got home last night.  To hear her tell the story was so funny because she kept asking here daddy, did you not hear me calling for help when I was in timeout.

BAMA VS LSU...National Championship Game

Well, college football is a big deal at our house.  Really any kind of football is a big deal.  The hubby is a HUGE Roll Tide fan.  I am a MSU grad and fan, and our children are a pretty even split.  I also like big games because it gives me a chance to cook something good.

Tonight it was Buffalo Chicken stuffed wontons, sliders and roasted potatoes. The food was good..now let's see how the game turns out.


Wontons and sliders

2012...Welcome to another year of chaos!

Well, 2012 is starting off with a bang here.  I am currently unemployed and looking to change professions.  The career I chose (and spent 6 years going to college for) is not conducive to having a teenage son participating in sports.....So, I am looking for a new job.

The girls are going strong with dentist appointments for cavities.  What can I say, genetics was not kind to my children when it comes to their teeth.

My dear son is going strong with his wrestling career.  Looking forward to getting to see him as much as possible. 

I am trying to make my new and MUCH smaller budget work.  I love all my blogs that I follow through facebook.  You are are helping me alot where that is concerned.  I also had to give up my cleaning lady (ahh..that is me sighing).  I am not sure how this cleaning thing is supposed to work, but I guess I will learn. 

Tune in often to keep up with the chaos that is my life as a newly initiated stay at home mom of 3.....Things could get interesting.