11 months 21 days

Yep, 11 months, 21 days, since we welcomed our sweet, baby girl into the world, at 1:13 a.m., surrounded by friends. It was a sweet, sweet time in mine and Jimmy's life. Of course, welcoming each of our children into the world was special. We have had four "best day of our lives". How richly blessed we have been. I mean, how on earth did *I* get chosen to be mom to the four most special, smart, beautiful, funny, sweet, awesome kids? :) But Lucy's birthday, of course, is the most vivid. The past 11 months, 21 days have literally flown by. I can't believe she will be wearing her 1 year crown in nine, short days. Just.not.possible.

We have to have a birthday picture in honor of 11 months, 21 days, right? Heart her more than anyone will ever know...

Three weeks ago, everything changed...

It's been three weeks since the devastating tornado hit Joplin, Mo. I feel kind of weird saying it changed my life forever. I wasn't there. I wasn't injured. I didn't have any family members involved. I read about a local tie in our newspaper (a local couple has a son there who lost his house). Even though I didn't lose "anything", it did change me...

My family, and I, were on our way out to eat when we first heard about the storm. My mind immediately went to one of my very best friends, who lives in Webb City, which is less than 5 miles north of the hardest hit area. I called her...she sounded shocked. When we got into the restaurant, the kids needed my attention, so I told her I would call her back.

I tried to call her back and she didn't answer. I tried again...no answer. I don't remember how many times I tried, but I began to feel panicky. I finally did get in touch with her. I remember she told me large parts of Rangeline were gone (the main north/south thoroughfare than runs through Joplin). She would tell me many stories of loss...and hope...in the days and weeks ahead.

What to do next...turn on the Weather Channel and get on FaceBook. Both were buzzing with conversation and images. Conversation of disbelief. The sights were even more unbelievable. A town that I had been to dozens of times...complete devastation for miles. My heart felt heavy.

I talked to my friend, and coworker, Elizabeth on the phone...she mentioned they needed nurses, medical professionals. Elizabeth wanted to go help. My heart felt heavy again. I wanted to go, but I have four littles and my husband to think about. Jimmy and I talked about it for quite awhile, and decided I would go.

We got several people together and decided we would go as far as Pittsburg, then go on to Jopin in the morning. Which is what we did. We got to the Missouri Southern campus along with hundreds of other volunteers. My heart suddenly felt hopeful...proud of mankind. We signed in as volunteers and then decided to head to Memorial Hall, which was the central triage center for tornado victims who needed medical attention. As we were driving there, it looked like we were driving into an awful...storm. The wind was picking up. The skies were turning black. The lightening in the distance was fierce. Had we made a mistake coming here? DOES a tornado hit the same place twice?

When we got to Memorial Hall, they were herding everybody into the basement...their storm shelter. My heart felt heavy again...dreadful. I suddenly wanted to be home with my family, more than anything. The basement was filled with volunteers, and some tornado victims. The atmosphere was calm, but my heart felt anxious, panicky, which I think I hid fairly well. Cell phone service was weak, so outside communication was limited. I was trying desperately to find out what the weather was doing. I talked to Jimmy. I talked to my friend Robyn...trying to get a feel for what was coming and how long it would last. I looked above my head at what had to have been tons of concrete and lots of heavy pipe and duct work. The building was old. I'm certain it had weathered many-a-storm, so it would weather this one too, right? Or would this be the storm that would finally do it in? With me, and my friends, and dozens of nurses and others, underneath it?

I prayed. I prayed for calm. I prayed for peace. I prayed for protection. I prayed that I would see my kids, and husband, again. I prayed the same for my friends.

They finally gave us the all clear to go back upstairs. My heart - actually everything about my being - took a big sigh of relief. We went upstairs and signed in as nurses, hopeful that we could do what nurses are born to do...help. But there were so many of us...what a great "problem" to have. Announcements were made over the intercom, asking those who had been up all night to go home to get some rest...they would be needed later. It seemed like nobody moved. Adrenaline was at an obvious high. We sat on the sidelines, watching...just taking it all in. Amazing.sight.

We decided to go see if we could be used somewhere else. We ended up driving through the devastation, handing out some bottles of water. To say the destruction was breathtaking seems like a gross understatement. It was, what I imagine, a warzone looking like. We took a few pictures, but they don't even begin to illustrate the in person devastation. Cars in piles. Trees without bark, much less leaves. Heavy metal, bent and wound up like it was lightweight wire. Debris littering every inch of the streets and land as far as your eye could take you. Piles upon piles upon piles of rubble. I had never seen anything like it.

We made our way to their public works department, making ourselves available to help with whatever was needed. Too many volunteers. Wow. My heart grew hopeful again.

As we drove around and tried to make contacts to help, I prayed that God would use us somehow in some way to make some kind of difference. That opportunity came in the form of a text from our worship minister, at my church, saying a friend of a friend lived in Joplin and his wife needed dialysis and could I help. I made a few phone calls, sent a few texts, and got her in touch with the correct folks who could help her. Could I have done that from my living room couch? Yep. But would our worship minister have thought to text me had I not been in Joplin. I believe not. I believe we made a difference.

Living in the midwest, my entire life, I have seen many severe storms, and even had two close friends, and two cousins, lose homes to tornados...all of them on the same night, but lived miles apart. But I have never seen a storm, or destruction, of this magnitude. Severe weather gets my attention in such a different way since the Joplin tornado. I've always taken severe weather very seriously, but this has taken it to a whole new level. When I send my kids ANYWHERE - with Grandma, with friends, with Daddy - I think, is bad weather coming? Is there a storm shelter where they're going? I think of a bad weather plan ahead of time, most anywhere I - or they - go. Work, ballgames, church, school, swimming pool, a friend's house...I try to concoct a plan ahead of time.

A lot of bad things came out of this storm...150+ people have died as a result of injuries, some even after the actual tornado. I read that one police officer died as a result of injuries sustained from a lightening strike. So many people lost EVERYTHING...everything material that they had accumulated in this world, is either gone, or laying in a pile where their home used to stand. I can only imagine the emotional stress so many people who survived must be feeling.

But, a lot of GOOD things came out of the aftermath. Many people survived...they were able to walk out of what used to be their homes. Their stories sound like something that cannot be real, but they were able to walk away and tell their stories. The heart of the midwest is ALIVE AND STRONG...it's evident by all the volunteers and donations that have arrived in Joplin. It will take years and years and years to rebuild Joplin - and they will need a lot of help - but, my heart remains hopeful. God bless the survivors, the volunteers, the medical professionals, the rescue workers, EVERYBODY in Joplin.

Multipurpose blog?

A friend of mine had a similar post, and it got me to thinking...I should maybe start blogging about more than just my kids. As cute and sweet and dear to me as they are, they don't COMPLETELY define ME. I mean, a huge piece, and some days are ALL about them, yes...but there are some other things that make up me. Shocking, I know, since I have a whole gaggle of them...

So, let's just start with what I am doing right now...VBS. A girl at work called it Vacation Bible Study one time, which made me laugh, but it's really Vacation Bible SCHOOL. You might say "Christi, that's STILL all about your kids!!!", but it's not. I started leading the music before I earned the title of Mom. It's something I LOVE to do. I love music. I love kids. I love teaching. I love dancing the VBS way. I love serving. So, I love *IT*.

It's been a great week of watching the kidlets learn that God is wild about us!!!! woo hoo!!!!!! And it's been more than just music. They spent yesterday inside the belly of a whale. It was squishy and smelly and wet. Really, it really really was. Today, they hid out from Roman soldiers. One little girl was concerned if any other kids had been found, and wanted a full report, tomorrow, about if anyone got found out after her. Today, the kids tie dyed backpacks that will be paired with Bibles and sent to another country to kids. It's all about making it real for the kids, and that, I believe, we have done. THANK YOU GOD!

Lucy - 10.months.old

I'll just go ahead and come clean...she's 11 months, one week, in this picture, taken today. Some might say "Fourth kid should be glad there are any pictures taken at all!" but I'm not going to use that excuse. Mommy dropped the 10 month ball, and I'm sorry Lulu.

I thought it was only appropriate to commemorate Lucy's 10th month at the place where we plan to spend much of the summer - the POOL! Stickers don't work that well on swimsuits...even a dry one. But, you get the 10 month picture well enough, yes?


She's really coming around to like the water. I mean, if Mommy's holding her, anywhere will really work out fine, right? Love you Lulu girl.

Smitten

I was trying to decide how to describe how we feel about little Lucy. I think I've got it...smitten. It's defined as "very much in love". Yep, I'd say that pretty much sums it up...our entire family is smitten.

And of course, we have been overjoyed to welcome each one of our children into our lives. We have been "smitten" with each of them. But Lucy...she is the first baby we have had that the other kids have really participated in loving on her, and recognize just how darned precious she is to have around. When Lily was born, Landen was 22 months...yeah, he didn't care so much that she came home to live with us. Then when Lawson was born, Lily was 2 years 10 months, and Landen was 4.5 years. They were excited about him, and gave him kisses and all, but still didn't really "get it". When Lucy was born, Landen was almost 8, Lily was 6, and Lawson had just turned 3 (but acted like he was 6!). And from day 1, they have all been smitten with her. I mean, really, how could you not be? When we went to Colorado, recently, and Lucy stayed with my parents, we couldn't get the vehicle in park and our seat belts off, fast enough, to all run inside and see her. Yep, smitten. :)

So, today is Lucy's last day of her 9th month. WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE??? Golly, I can't believe she will be 10 months old tomorrow. We picked a beautiful, sunny, but windy, day to take her 9 month pictures.

This is Lucy's new pat-a-cake trick. I don't care how many kids you have, when you see your baby do this for the first time, your heart melts all over again, just like it was your first.

Smitten.

Cheerios...Lucy likes

Lucy officially has enough teeth in her mouth that she can grind them together, so why not try some Cheerios on for size? First, her current face of satisfaction...the piggy snort. She doesn't so much have the pincer grasp down...it's more of a handful, but it gets the job done.

She approved with a chew of the sippy cup...of course, sucking on the sippy cup would be too normal.

More cheerios.

Some more...yep, I do believe she likes them.

An approving smile.

Just a couple more.

One more approving smile.

Another milestone achieved...mom says, sniffle.

Our 6 month old Lucy

Well, actually 7 months and 8 days...these pictures were a long time coming! We cancelled once because I was sick, once because Lucy was sick, at least twice for bad weather, and once because my friend was having a baby, and I was there with her. But, that's the beauty of doing business with a friend...she's forgiving and accommodating, and will fly to the moon and back for a plate of peanut butter cookies as a tip. :) Okay, the moon may be a bit of an exaggeration, but she was so kind to reschedule us many, many times.

And wow, I'm tickled pink with the outcome. As always, Willow Brandt Photography did an amazing job, capturing our beautiful Lucy. Our Lucy...growing up so big and so fast.