I miss you Paul!

It's been a year today that I lost my friend, Paul.

He and his wife, DeeAnne, have been so kind to me and welcomed me into their lives. This photo was taken May 1, 2008 at their home.
A year ago today was the tornado that went through our area and killed twelve people. I wrote about it here Paul and DeeAnne lived just up the road a mile or so. They built their beautiful home themselves and it was demolished. Paul was sitting upstairs watching TV and maybe didn't hear DeeAnne yelling for him to come down and get into the closet with her. DeeAnne says he never heard her because Paul was already in Heaven when she yelled. Paul's granddaughter lost 5 family members, her husband's aunt, uncle, cousin and grandmother... and Paul!
Their gorgeous home, and shop (behind us in this photo) where I made dozens of baskets are totally razed now, the land bought by another family and who is getting ready to build a new home and start new memories on that hill.
DeeAnne has bought another home and moved up to town, her daughter and granddaughters moved in with her. We have all pretty much moved on. The dead trees and almost barren landscape are still reminders of that horrible day a year ago. Oh yes, I know it's Mother's Day. I lost my mother since the last one.

But today I will remember my friend Paul. I miss you Paul!

Be Thankful!

Am I thankful? I think not enough.

The funeral of myfriend who recently passed away was a reflection and celebration of his life, his goodness and love of people. And what struck me most: his thankfulness. As mentioned at the funeral, he ALWAYS thanked God for his salvation, for Jesus, whether he said the blessing over a meal or was asked to pray for someone or an event. I have often noticed that certain people have key things in their prayers and it is a window into their hearts. Can others see into my heart when I pray aloud? What about how God sees my heart when I pray in my quiet time? Another dear friend ALWAYS ends his prayers "forgive us when we fail You." I think about that often as well.

So I have begun to focus upon thankfulness in my prayers, specifically to thank God for that ultimate Sacrifice of His Son to pay for my sins and to be more thankful in general, to God and to others. I am trying to be more thankful to and for those people, things and events in my life, even those that were not what I had hoped for. Thank you for visiting today. And thank YOU Heavenly Father for my Salvation. Your Goodness and love are undeserved.

Prayer Hand from navigators.org:



What about you? What are YOU thankful for? Do you express your appreciation to the person or to God?

Sad Day (edited)

a news video was added at the bottom 5-12-2008
I loved this man. (click on the photo to see up close)



He was so much like my father, always joking, a big cuddly teddy bear of a man. This photo was taken just 2 weeks ago tomorrow, in front of his basket shoppe. I have probably made 50+ baskets here since I moved to middle America. We were planning a progressive dinner on the 31st to end at their house for a s'mores bonfire.


This is his wife. Isn't she beautiful?

I snapped this photo because her top matched her phlox so perfectly. She is the reason I went on to become a teacher, she encouraged me.
Yesterday his life was taken by a tornado. He was upstairs watching the weather on the tv, insisting everything was fine and she went into a closet downstairs with the Bichon. When the winds calmed down she came out and there was no upstairs. She found him outside.

We have over 13 families in our little country church with from some damage to total loss of their homes. My Sweet Hubby spent the day helping to clear debris and cut limbs so that what valuables and memorabilia that could be found could be retrieved. When I came to help this afternoon, I found the swing that we were sitting on in that photo:



Here is a pic of the shoppe:


















That's all I can say. I will miss him dearly. There so little salvageable. They built this home with their own hands about 25 years ago. Now, 50 years of memories and earthly belongings are strewn about the treetops or broken and twisted into useless debris.

Their "beautiful" home:

You are looking at the fireplace in their dining room and kitchen area. There was a gorgeous plateglass window that looked over the valley, always 25-50 hummingbirds during the summer. The sunroom, 2 car attached garage and total upstairs completely gone. This home was over 2000 sf. Somehow, the bedroom was intact including all clothes in the closet and the bed still made. She was in the bedroom closet with her head under the bottom shelf.

I was rather irritated by the tv news crews that were traipsing from home to home. They seemed to hover and then flit on to the next suffering family, offering no help, just noseyness. (the one at the bottom of this post was sensitive and kind)

Instead, my Sweet Husband said one had commented earlier in the day that we all seemed too upbeat. Sweet Hubby replied that we serve an Awesome God who is All Powerful, we are not destroyed by tragedy, we are bound tighter together with Joy that our dear friend is in a better place. It is we who are sad, but we have Hope. The reporter walked away shaking his head, not understanding the peace. Why do people see bad things in God's power? Instead, I would think there would be reverance and if not that, fear!

I don't know if I will publish the rest of the photos I have, more of these dear friends' home and of across the road, some more dear friends. I think for now this is all I can handle. Please pray for hurting friends and family. There are over 12 lost lives just in our area. Pray for me. Pray for my beautiful friend above and her 2 daughters and granddaughters, one of whose husband lost 4 more family members in a car that was caught in the sudden storm. Or pray to know God's peace.