I'll Praise You In This Storm

I wrote this blog a few weeks ago, right after all the storms but wasn't ready to post it until today so anywho -

I realize the title of this post could win in "most un-original" especially in the last few weeks. A few weeks ago, I watched our state suffer something terrible. Sadly, this isn't the first time I've seen this happen and even more sad it is far from the last time I'll see it. What I saw was a tornado rip through people's homes. Living in Oklahoma my entire life, this is no stranger to me. Fortunately enough I have never been personally involved with one of these monsters, but over the years I've seen their devastation.


The only difference was that this time my heart ached. It ached because I saw families lose their earthly possessions. I don't meant televisions and computers but I mean valuables - pictures and stuffed animals. I understand that these are just things but as you see them scattered in trees and ponds - it's heart breaking.

I couldn't sit idle, continuing my life when people just a few miles from me lost everything. I had a hard time picturing my Memorial Day weekend lounging by a pool and enjoying good barbecue when it could have just easily been my house and my life belongings could have been thrown all across my yard. So, Saturday morning I put on my work clothes and headed to Cashion, OK. {I love that Facebook can connect you with people you haven't really been around in years - which is how I re-connected with my former Super Summer mom to help at her church!}

When I first arrived I was sent to get a tetanus shot. I hate that I had to wait in line for that when I work at a pharmacy and could have easily taken care of that Friday. {For those that know me, I like to plan ahead!} I then went into meet the rest of my group to find out exactly what we'd be doing. We were informed we would go to a lower income neighborhood, that once used to be home to my trailer houses. Many of the occupants had little to no insurance. We were supposed to inform them of several updates in information. {Phone lines were down, transportation was hit and miss -most were in borrowed vehicles- and they had little access to reliable information. There was a lot of "hear-say" and many things were misconstrued.} We also were able to  offer help in any way they needed it. With the first family it was help with gathering valuables. This lady had lost not only her home but also the family business that sit on the same property, but yet she had outstanding hope. She talked of rebuilding and her husband was already back to work because the family couldn't just stop working. I found that same hope in many of the tornado victims. Some how, many of them stood with smiles on their faces, cherishing the few items they found, and most of all their loved ones. 


Other families just needed water,  Gatorade, or food. So I spent the rest of the day helping keeping people from getting dehydrated and running errands for them. Overall, it was a very interesting day. I hate to say fun, but I did have fun - not in the funny, laugh, good time, but I loved getting to talk to people and hear there stories and try my best to help them! 

This is my favorite picture from that day- it is poor quality because I took it on my phone. You can see all the items they have found in the foreground and they also found that American flag in all the mess. What a great way to say Happy Memorial Day!

An enormous "way to go" goes out to Cashion Baptist Church and my sweet "mom" Michelle. You are living what God called us to be. You are being His hands and feet in your community. I heard so many times on Saturday - that the church had helped tremendously{in ways that you probably don't even realize!} I applaud your call to serve and your quick action in helping your community. I will continue to pray for the hurt and the broken that are left with much confusion and questions. I pray that you will have renewed strength to help with the long road to recovery. I pray that the needs to both victims and volunteers be met, because the task of clean-up is far from over. 


Disclaimer: I did no write this post to be "self-praising" or "criticizing" I am just merely sharing and reflecting on what the Lord has placed on my heart.

March Madness

I have to admit I am guilty of plagiarism right now. I stole this great idea from my dad. I just think its too great not to share! 


During the month of March - Make A Difference in the life of another person by showing them the love of Christ through a  tangible act of kindness.


Here are some ideas: 

• Replace burned out light bulbs for neighbors or senior adults.
• Take your pet to a nursing home.
• Make sandwiches for people
• Offer babysitting services
• Prepare welcome baskets for new neighbors (or just do something nice for your neighbors -- if you are like me take the chance to MEET THEM!) 
• Rake or blow leaves for a neighbor
• Mow lawns for the elderly or single mothers
• Take someone to an appointment that cannot drive
• Cook a meal for someone in need
• Have a special meal delivered to someone that had a hard day
• Adopt a senior adult
• Offer after-school tutoring for at-risk kids
• Help someone move
• Make homemade cookies and take to your neighbors
• Beautify someone's flower bed or do a front yard makeover
• Read to someone who can no longer see to read
• Find ways to serve teachers in your child's school
• Find a way to serve a school in your neighborhood
• Serve public servants like firefighters or police officers
• Do regular maintenance on a single mother's car
• Serve a military family that has a family member deployed
• Serve an international student at the local college
• Help an elderly or handicapped person go shopping
• Have a garage sale and donate the money to a local charity
• Clean and repair a local park
• Serve in an established and ongoing ministry
• Mentor a person in a skill that you are good at
• Replace batteries on some alarms for people in your neighborhoods
• Have a snow shovel ready for a late season snow storm (See: Shovels of Gratitude)
• Just be creative and let Jesus show you how to bless another person!

I think one of my favorite things to do is to purchase the person's food in line behind you. Another great idea that can really surprise people is to go to Sonic Happy Hour and give your car hop a generous tip!

My dad made up cards for him and his church - they say "I paid for your meal to demonstrate the Love of Jesus!" To discover more about the amazing Love of Jesus. Be my guest this Sunday at Martha Road Baptist church. I think that is so clever! {my dad is a smart guy!} 

So go ahead--- Get MAD! ;)  I'd love to hear about your madness - so please share with me!

Volunteering

I LOVE spending time volunteering. I wish I could find someone who would pay my bills so that I could just spend my time helping other people! 


I spent yesterday at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma helping package up items for backpacks that will then be given to children in Pottawatomie County that are chronically hungry. {a program called Food for Kids} I wish I took more pictures. I feel like if I am going to be a successful bloggers I need to take more pictures. I mean, I had good intentions to take pictures - but I got to OKC and realized my camera was on my desk. {oops!} Yesterday I volunteered at the food bank as a part of my Leadership Shawnee class. We are "officially" finished but we were wrapping up our project with this week of volunteering. I really expected mundane assembly line work at the food bank. I was so wrong! I arrived and found out I was the ONLY person from Shawnee. I'm glad walking into a room full of strangers isn't really a problem for me! I ended up working with another young girl and we hit it off instantly. She is in school to be a doctor. She was such a fun girl and we had a lot in common. The whole experience was just great. Who doesn't love spending a few hours doing something for someone else. The volunteer leader during our shift was great. He works as a karaoke DJ on the weekends and was a great entertainer. We listened to fun music and he told corny jokes that the older volunteers LOVED! It was obvious that he loved what he did for a living! 


My other volunteer adventure right now is a project in the works. I cannot really go into detail but it's a project that has been placed on my heart and a dear friend's heart and I cannot wait to see how God will use our desires to reach the city of Shawnee. 


I really do wish that I could just wake up each morning and help at places like the Shawnee Rescue Mission or the food bank. Too bad money pays the bills.


I am sure this was a completely boring post. Especially since there are NO pictures whatsoever! I apologize but this is just a little sliver of what is going through my brain right now {that and a bizillion things about the pharmacy, but you definitely don't want to get me started there!} 

P.S. The spacing on here is really weird. I cannot figure it out. When I post it spaces everything out but it doesn't look like that in the edit screen?