Moore Tornado May 20th Disaster

This was a hospital. This was the exact hospital where I had my sweet baby boy at. This hospital was right down the street from this place.

This is the Warren Theater. John and I had a date night there a couple of weeks ago. If you can see the top of the entrance is gone.

There is a void here where my friend Kristi owned her hair cutting business. It was her livelihood and now it is gone. Joslyn and I both get our hair cuts there. Well we did anyways.

Today was the first time we were able to see the damage. I spent days away trying not see the destruction of my home town. We live in South OKC, but Moore is 10 minutes away. My church is in Moore. Some of my family is in Moore. We rent books from the library in Moore. We go to Moore to eat and watch movies. I grew up in Moore and went to Moore High school. It is shocking and disheartening to see it in shambles. I remember being in college at SWOSU which is about 45 minutes from Moore and hearing the news of the May 3, 1999 tornado that was headed straight for Moore. I called my younger brother and sister every 5 minutes until I got them. 30 minutes before it was to hit, my brother finally answered and said he was going to drive out of Moore. I convinced him to stay and hide in the closet. Luckily, that tornado was about 7 to 8 blocks away. So they were fine. But, coming home to see the destroyed area was so shocking. It brings back horrible memories and makes me cry to see the landmarks that we used to go to destroyed. But God is so good. The lives lost and the damage is not beyond God's power to heal and restore. God is using His people to do that. When we drove around today on every corner, at every business was help for the victims and support. Signs of free water and food here. Cleaning Supplies. Boots and work gloves. Insurance help. Baby items. Even those who didn't lose their house, but can't get into their neighborhoods can get help. God is using His people to rebuild what the Devil tears down. And there is just something about Oklahoma. We are strong and we are a family. We take care of each other. Nothing that stands in the way can't be moved by our God and our friends.
If you want to see a video please go to my Facebook page. Blogger isn't letting me upload any videos.
Keep those prayers a coming please!

We are safe

For those of you wondering! We live in South Oklahoma city and have many, many friends and family in Moore. We are safe and my family is safe but 4 of our friends have lost their homes, so far that we know and many more that can't even get into their neighborhoods to check on their homes. Please pray for Moore, Oklahoma. We are devastated at the lives lost so far and the children and families from the schools that were destroyed. I truly believe that God will bring glory from this tragedy. Please love on your children and family tonight and tell them about Jesus, you may not have tomorrow.

Help name my Home business!

So I have been looking for a long time on what I can do to make money and still stay a home with my kiddos. I have considered many of the normal things women do to make money from home.
LIKE:

HOME DAYCARE

But my life is crazy enough already.

                              

PHONE SALES

Nah, I can get cancer from being on the phone too much.

PYRAMID BUSINESSES

Somethings are just plain wrong. 

But then I found my calling. In high school I made a few sequin mosaics and love it. I loved it so much that I kept the supplies around for over 16 years.

 I also used to paint and have kept up with that too. So when I decided to build a business of something I make, I just brought my two loves together. Now granted I am very green in this still and I am still figuring out processes and ideas. This is my first new canvas.

Now this one needs a lot of improvement, because the lettering isn't straight. So I have been working on that. This next one I did is for the kids Dr. Seuss room. Jaxon will be getting one too. I am going to hang each on their individual closets. 

I have many ideas on what to make next. After Jaxon's name, but my difficultly right now is coming up with a name for the business. I wanted to call it Creative Canvas but that is already taken. So if you have an idea for a name please let me know. But keep looking forward to the posts of the new canvas I come up with. I am looking forward to your name ideas!

We think you should know...

Just a note to say I love you!

And that I think you are so cool

And to take sometime to dance with a cow

And eat well

And Some change is good

And be yourself!

picture taken by Abby Austin of 1000 Miles on my own two feet

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ReJOYcing!

A month ago I took a blue chip in Celebrate Recovery for lack of joy/ being too serious. I heard on the radio earlier that day a speaker talking about being to serious and how it can be sinful. Being too serious usually has to do with too much worry or needing too much control. If we are in control of something, then that means God isn't in control. And we all know that worrying too much means that we are not trusting God to handle that situation.


I have always had a problem with this. Because I had to take control of my family life at a young age, the need for control stuck around. I like to control my situations, my heart, my family, my life. I have always been so serious. Laughter is hard for me. Yes I don't even like to let myself laugh. Not sure why, but it takes a lot to make me laugh these days. I tend to look at the negative sides of things now instead of the fun sides. That is one reason I made my adventure list. I have to schedule myself fun days. Days where I don't worry about the messes that I will have to clean or the things I will have to replace. Days where the clean up is worth the mess. A lot of my seriousness is directed towards my children and it breaks my heart to hear them be concerned about unimportant stuff like Mom is. Messes, broken things. I want to teach her to clean up after herself and take care of herself, but not at a cost of them losing their joy.

My mom is a lady that has had joy in her heart for as long as I can remember. Even when my dad broke her heart over and over, she always found the way to show her joy. I long to be a joyful person. And not just when things are good. But when things are bad too! Joy is something that can't be diminished easily. Happy flies in and out the door while joy is tethered to the soul. Jesus can give me joy, so I have prayed for it and surrendered my control and given it to Jesus.

This morning I saw a change. I got a super surprise call from my Bestie this morning! I was thrilled when she told me that she got her dream job! I would normally be happy for her. But this morning, that news made my morning. I felt high on her elation! And certain things that went wrong this morning, didn't bother me so. I also have recalled some actual laughter moments with my daughter this last month. Moments that I normally would be mad at or be upset, I have enjoyed instead.

I still have a far way to go, but I am so glad for this progress! It is a definite victory I can share in my share group at CR. And I will be elated to get my 30 day chip on Thursday.

Here's to a life with joy. May we all strive for it and let it show!