Dealing with tornadoes, Osama and the end of school

I know! I know..sounds like a crazy title. Just some thoughts on this weekend.

This past weekend, our guys had some friends come over and hang out. During the day, we had all of them help work in the yard(great results!) and they worked very hard. Steven went to an event with a friend for the rest of the day and Jason and the twins(their friends)hung out and watched movies and ate pizza while Russ and I got to go out to dinner at a great restaurant in our town, Mr. G's. It is an Italian/Mediteranean place and it reminded us of some of the restaurants we ate at in NYC(particularly Little Italy)so it brought back fond memories. We got back and the house was intact. I went on to bed and the guys stayed up and well...did their "guy things" (including the hubby).

Church was good. The afternoon brought going to Starbucks to see a friend from NYC who had come to town for a few days and then going by the office and strategizing with my boss about Disaster Relief for tornado victims.

OSAMA-As Russ and I were settling down to watch the news on Sunday night, there was the breaking news about Osama Bin Ladens death. We were in shock that after 10 years, this man had finally been caught. I went to Facebook to see what was going on because I knew the statements would be flying..and they were. I was physically sick at some of the horrific comments that were made. Yes, this man did awful damage, Yes, he should be punished, Yes, it was horrible. But I sat there watching the cheering and jeering in DC and NYC and remembered back to right after 9-11-01 when we watched the same thing in Pakistan, Iran and other places and we were appalled that people could cheer over death. And here we were doing the same thing?  What ended up happening for me was that not only was I sickened but it brought up those old feelings from right after 9-11. It was a mourning day.....not a rejoicing day for us. Got lots of thoughts on this...still processing.

SCHOOL-So, the end of school is near. Boys are having a harder and harder time concentrating. They need to go out with a GOOD bang this 9 weeks and it is hard. I dont blame them..this has been an extremely hard year for them, adjusting to high school and all that comes with that now a days. Pray for all of us as we get through these next 3 weeks.

TORNADOES- YES...38 counties have been declared a disaster area in AL after the fateful tornadoes last week. That is 38 out of 66. Alabama Baptists and other denominations are working around the clock in recovery, relief and restoration. This was a big one and the work will be going on for months. We were not affected where we live but all around us was.  Pray for the people of Alabama. Much help is needed. Many people are stepping up but there is always room for more. If you want to help, email me at lrose@mgmbaptist.org and I can make sure you get something to do even from afar!!

All of this has taken a toll. I sit here at my desk at work every day now sending out emails and posting needs and hearing story after story about devastation and other things that are not pretty.

Lord have mercy.........