Last night was a horrible night for those of us who live in Alabama.  We had ‘storms of epic proportions’ which caused numerous tornadoes throughout the state.   This massive storm started in Mississippi, the went through AL, GA, SC, and NC.    Most of the worst of it was in the northern part of the state.  We live in the SE corner.  All we got here was strong thunderstorms.

I knew bad weather was coming, but not just how bad.  I happened to have the TV on the 5:00 news, and the reporters got all excited and started telling us that this massive black blob covering most of the screen was actually a massive tornado over 1/2 mile wide as it was destroying a big part of the city of Tuscaloosa.  Many students live here to attend The University of Alabama.  The weather cameras they have stationed over the state happened to catch it as it was happening.  My heart was pounding as I watched on TV, and I found myself thinking of all the kids I knew who went to school there. 

“Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified.  Do not be discouraged.
 For the Lord your God goes with you.” Joshua 1:9

There was also another tornado hitting in Birmingham, where my youngest lives.  And, terrible damage had already been done there from an earlier tornado.   And, we know quite a few friends and family who live there, so there was great concern there also.

“Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.”  Psalm 36:5

At present, there are over 200 deaths, and in Tuscaloosa, they believe there are more to still be rescued under rubble or worse.

Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens,  with all their host,
the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein,
and thou preservest them all;
and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.”      Nehemiah 9:6

What is there to say in time like these?  “I’m sorry” just isn’t enough.  “Let me know if there is anything I can do to help” is even worse.  I think it isn’t what you SAY at all, but what you DO.  So many have lost it all….houses, clothes, pictures, books, special mementos, cars, even jobs.  There is plenty to DO…but really, it is so hard to say any words that covers this tragedy.  There are times when a hug says all that is needed.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion
and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can
comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God”
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

But, not really.  I read a comment on a website today under some pics of the tornado damage.  It was like a slap in the face to me.  It said, “Where is your god now?  If he is so ‘good’,why does he send tornadoes to do such damage?  They were innocent people.”  I would like to have answered this person.  What would you have said to them?  I would have to take a minute to control my temper because when people say things like that, it really pushes my buttons.

“I will tell you where He was.  He was in the wind, and He was in the tornado.  He was in the swirling clouds that were so very powerful.  He made the winds.  They are His.  He was in the bathroom where a gas station worker took cover.  He is thanking God today.  He was in the huge refrigerator in an empty grocery store where a wife found refuge.  Her husband didn’t make it, he dove under a table.   God was with him there.   Their  trailer and everything in it is nowhere to be found.  God knows where it is.  And, He will be with this husband and wife as they search for a new place to live. 

“God is with you in everything you do.”  Genesis 21:22

He was with  the students who panicked when they knew the tornado was imminent.  He followed them to their bathtub where they waited it out by praying.  They lived to pray again.  He was with the grandfather who gathered his 5 small grandchildren into the small frame house and covered them with his body.  Even as the house and all its contents were blown away, the family was untouched.  And, He was buried under rubble of bricks with a tiny baby, still in his crib.  He stayed with the child until he was rescued.

He was in all 5 states as the tornadoes wreaked havoc.  Over 300 died in total, with 3/4 in AL.  I hear on the news this morning that this storm is the worst of its kind in recorded history. 

And, He will be with those who mourn the dead.  He will be with those who look at all they have accomplished in life reduced to a pile of sticks.  Perhaps they will realize that the accomplishments that can’t be seen are still there and available.  He will guide. 

Psalm 33:18
The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his UNFAILING LOVE
, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in HOPE for the Lord;
HE IS HELP AND OUR SHEILD. In him our hearts rejoice, for we TRUST in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,
even as WE PUT OUR HOPE IN YOU!

We serve an awesome God!

Our Easter recap and pictures…

Our church had a sunrise service, breakfast, and worship service today.  It was a different way of doing things at our church, and I liked it.  Our service was Spirit filled.  The music was stirring and our new pastor challenged us all!     God is blessing our church.  We all had plenty of time to spend with family, sit and talk and eat at the table, and hunt and re-hunt those eggs.  We all went to Pop’s for lunch…with Joy handling the cooking duties.  She does such a great job.  We visited, watched JT hunt eggs and snapped a few pics.  Sadly, sweet Alex could not get out today, so he missed the fun and fellowship.  It’s just never completely right when he is not with us. 

Then, Ian, Don and I went over to Adam and Suzanne’s to see them and sweet little Levi.  They are having to keep him in for 2 months so his lungs can get fully healed and ready to take on this big, beautiful world.  Of course, we made more pics there.  And, I got in a good rocking  with Levi in the same rocker I rocked all my babies in!  Oh, it is just as sweet as everyone says it is!  Such a wonderful blessing!

And, I am now in my pajamas, feet elevated, diet dr.pepper next to me.  And, here I intend to stay till morning.  Except when I have to take ‘ole Finn out.  Here are some of the pics of today…I think they speak for themselves….

 A wonderful day, full of worship and blessings and love.  Hope yours was as well.

“I am the Good Shepherd…”   John 10:10

“I am the Living One.  I was dead.  But look!  I am alive for ever and ever.”  Revelations 1:18

“…Behold, I make all things new…'”  Revelations 21:5

HAPPY EASTER!

If you are not a regular reader, you may be thinking there’s some foul play afoot, due to this title.   But, no, just one more post before I get back to what I was blogging about before a certain little butterbean made his appearance…4 weeks too early, I might add.  Not that I am complaining, mind you…just explaining. 

I have been to the hospital today, where the other Owens’ family is camping out.  They got some good news last night.  There had been some concern as to infection in the blood, but the tests FINALLY came back negative.  That’s a very good thing…cause that would have been an additional problem.  Also, this fellow likes to eat!  The Dr. says that children with the RSV virus usually refuse to eat….but not our boy…his appetite has actually increased!    He lost some weight after he came home, but today he is weighing in at a whopping 7 pounds 13 ounces!Isn’t that just wonderful?  Isn’t God good!  He must be speaking into that sweet bitty ear saying, “Come on, Levi, you can do it!  Try another 1/2 ounce!”  He’s still sleeping alot. but no more antibiotics, or IV fluids.  Today they are trying him with no oxygen.  He seemed to be fine while I was there, but we’ll know more when the Dr. visits.

As I entered the hospital room this morning,  this is what I saw…

So, I went in for a close up…or two..

…and just to prove he does open his mouth for more than just a bottle…

He stirred and woke and we changed a diaper or two…and then he decided to take another bottle.  Which he did.  Then, snuggling up close to Mom,   his little eyes got very sleepy again.   I snapped this on my way out…and tiptoed to the door.   (Mom was snoozing by now, too).

And, the sad, sad ending of this tale……I did not get my hands on him…not even once!  Oh, well…there’s always tomorrow!

ADDENDUM:  I just heard from Suzanne, and Levi is not getting the oxygen he needs.  They tried him without it some today, but the Dr. said the levels were too low for him to even consider letting him go home.  His levels have got to get higher and stay higher for a while.  So, looks like it will probably be on into another week.  But, that is nooooooo problem.  He is right where he needs to be.  Whatever we need to do, we will.  How fortunate they are that they have family and friends here to help if need be.

So, we covet your continued prayers as Little Levi continues to rest and grow and get his lungs all strong and healthy.  Cause, he’s gonna need good lung power when I teach him to sing all the songs I know!   😮

Well, I told you the grandson may break in on our Hawaiian Tour.  And, he is.  Bless his sweet little heart…and lungs…he is in the hospital with the RSV virus.  On Monday night, Adam noticed the baby was becoming quite grey in color.  But, he perked up, and they all went to bed.  In a couple of hours, they both got up to change him and give him another bottle (he’s still not able to take but an ounce or 2 at a time).  They noticed his coloring and this time Adam had to work at getting him to breathe again.  They called the Dr. and were told to go right to the ER.  They admitted him, and we found out that he has the RSV Virus.  He stopped breathing another 2 times before they got his meds and oxygen going.

Now, I was not really aware of what the RSV virus is, but most younger mothers know about it.  So, Let me educate you, a little.  Especially since many of you have grandchildren or children or children to come!  Following is some info from the CDC Atlanta, GA.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Overview

Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a respiratory virus that infects the lungs and breathing passages. Most otherwise healthy people recover from RSV infection in 1 to 2 weeks. However, infection can be severe in some people, such as certain infants, young children, and older adults. In fact, RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children under 1 year of age in the United States. In addition, RSV is more often being recognized as an important cause of respiratory illness in older adults.

Symptoms and Care

Illness usually begins 4 to 6 days after exposure (range: 2 to 8 days) with a runny nose and decrease in appetite. Coughing, sneezing, and fever typically develop 1 to 3 days later. Wheezing may also occur. In very young infants, irritability, decreased activity, and breathing difficulties may be the only symptoms of infection. Most otherwise healthy infants infected with RSV do not require hospitalization. In most cases, including among those who need to be hospitalized, full recovery from illness occurs in about 1 to 2 weeks.

The doctor told Suzanne that they were so fortunate that they saw him when this happened, or the outcome could have been, sadly, very different.  He told her…”It was a God thing.”  And, we so agree.  They re usually not even up at that time,and for some reason, they both got up.  God wanted them to find Little Levi, and get him help…or they would have slept right through. 

I wonder just how many times God does that for us?  Probably many times during a week.  Oh how good He is to us! How could anyone not trust Him with their heart and souls?  When we belong to Him, He is watching and caring for us ALL the time.  Don’t know about you, but that makes me feel so safe.  Thank you, God.

THURSDAY

Well, this did not get posted yesterday, as I planned.  Little Levi is continuing to do well.  The doctor is surprised that he is doing so well taking his bottle.  Many times when an infant gets this virus, they lose their appetite.  Which is not good since they are usually small anyway.  Well, this has not been a problem for our bpy.  He is eating well! 

I’ll update when we know more.  But, for now, he’s hanging in and doing what he is supposed to!