Thursday, April 28, 2011

trivial

Our new patio furniture is ready to be picked up. I've checked my email 5 times a day while on Spring Break, waiting for that little notification. I've been prepping the patio, cleaning out and getting ready for our new outdoor sectional. But considering what happened yesterday, it seems a bit trivial.

Early Tuesday morning, we were suddenly awakened by a frightening storm. The lightning was a strobe light around us as the thunder clapped down in a terrible rage. Rain and hail poured down from the skies. Kelly and I were up, thankful that the kids were still sleeping. We watched and listened as the tornado sirens rang throughout the city. I was worried about the old trees in our yard, afraid a limb would come crashing down. After just a while, it subsided and we went back to bed. 

I couldn't sleep in, even though I was exhausted. I went to check out the damage. Other than a sad, lonely shingle on the front porch, Magnolia leaves in the pool and lots of dirt washed up on the patio, you would almost never know the strength of the storm just several hours earlier. We were thankful and ready to enjoy another day of vacation. No big plans, but we were all free - all day!

Then Kelly got a call from one of his fellow football coaches. They lived a ways out, and suffered some damage, Kelly said. A tree fell on their house and another on their car. He & Nolan headed out to help. Claire and I went into hostess mode, cleaning and preparing for them to stay, if they needed to do so. Not knowing, but wanting to be ready.

Kelly called and asked us to come out. They needed another truck. I asked if it was bad. He said yes. I asked if it was livable. He said no. We grabbed water, ice and granola bars and made our way out. As we made our way out of town, trees and limbs scattered the roads. As we got closer to our destination, the damage became more evident. Power lines down, giant oaks blocking the road. As we came to their house, I began to cry. A giant oak tree was resting on their small, while home. It was worse than I had imagined. The house leaned forward. As we came around, another tree had pinned a silver car to the ground. Fallen trees blocked the entrance. I went inside. Soaked ceiling tiles were scattered in every room. The roof timbers were splintered in the kitchen.  You could see the oak leaves as you looked up through the ceiling. Everything was soaking wet.

We spent the next six hours, sorting, salvaging, and hauling their life out of the dangerous structure they once called home. Their life was sorted in to bins and boxes, ready for storage.

They are weary, worn and uninsured. Theirs was a rental home. The insurance adjusters came through for the homeowner. They took a few photos, looked at each other and said "total loss, let's move on". If only it was so easy.

They are with us for now. We have the room. Our hearts are broken for them.

I checked my email this morning. My patio furniture is ready to be picked up. It seems silly now. Tragedy happens everyday and the rest of the world goes on with life. Not so easy when you see the collateral damage. We're headed to pick up the furniture now. Not quite a giddy as I would have been 24 hours ago. Please pray.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

He is Risen!

Jesus has overcome
the grave is overwhelmed
the victory is won
He is risen from the dead

Monday, April 18, 2011

c is for cookie

So, there was one little thing this past winter that I didn't share with you. I was Claire's Girl Scout Troop's Cookie Mom. To the average Girl Scout cookie consumer, this probably doesn't mean much to you. But here a little glimpse into my life during cookie season:






I know, right?! It was pure crazy! At one point I had over 3000 boxes of cookies in my dining room. It is safe to assume that the Spann Fam consumed more cookies than is probably legal. {sigh} But they were darn good. And I will never be cookie mom again. That's because I am going to be co-troop leader next year. I promise, I do say 'no'. All the time. Just not lately... 

i know, i know...

it's been far too long!

If you check back to this time (Spring!) for the last few years, I'll betcha one hundred smacks that my posts were scarce. I can't help it, it's just busybusybusy! You know, the usual. School, work, baseball, softball.

We've also been visiting the orthodontist (braces are in our future), running in 5Ks and attending AWANA, but the bulk of our time has been spent at the ball park. I'll post pics soon, its just that I've been busy coaching Claire's team and keeping the scorebook for Nolan's team... so I don't actually HAVE any photos. {Ahem,} I'll try to get on that.

The Chiefs' season is winding down. It's been an emotional one. Summer baseball will pick up right after school lets out, but hopefully it will prove to be easy, breezy, just as summer ball should be.

Claire is taking a break from her travel softball team. We've loved being a part of the Crushers, we were just on the verge of burn-out, and 9 years old is waaay to early to burn out from anything. We're enjoying having our weekends back and look forward to playing on a travel team again in the future.

Claire also served as the official bat girl for the Lady Cheifs softball team, which she L.O.V.E.D. She even attended an away game with the girls. I think she's got the job for life. Or, until she's actually ON the high school softball team.

Nolan's baseball team is doing great! Especially when you consider the fact the college fraternity that was sponsoring and coaching the team quit just before games started. Fortuntely, we have some great dads who were willing to step up. Proud of my Natchitoches Lion.

Claire's team (aka MY team)... well, we're struggling, to say the least. It was expected, but still not a bowl of cherries. It's okay, I'll get over it. In June.

Nolan ran and took 5th place in our Spring Fever Fun Run. He is a champ! Claire took first place in the girls division of the 5K. Oh yeah, baby.

Yeah... that's it. We are DYING for Spring Break, which starts Friday. Hallelujah! I'm looking forward to working in the backyard, and adding something that looks a little like this:
Okay, it looks EXACTLY like that, but whatev. Isn't it fun? Makes me want to take a nap outside... Or inside. Whatev.