Joplin Tornado

Tornado. The word alone has always terrified me. I’m from Kansas, so although I have never been in a tornado, I have had my fair share of “close calls.” Ever since I was a kid I would get sick to my stomach if we were under a tornado warning. Oddly enough, I will get so worried, that my body starts to shut down, and I start falling asleep wherever I am. Haha is that normal?? (Joe says it’s not!)

Sunday evening, I was at Joe’s house in Neosho, when I received a call from my Dad warning me that there was a really bad storm headed towards Joplin. We turned on the tv just in time to hear warnings that a tornado was probably producing, but that it would not be visible because it would be so rain wrapped. (I only threw up a couple times!) As they said this, we were watching a tornado on their tower cam! Joe and I just stared as we watched this massive black cloud hit power lines and shoot blue sparks everywhere….

Before we knew it, it was over, and 35% of Joplin was wiped out. The death toll is at 117 and counting. Many many people are still missing as well, some of which I know myself. I was overwhelmed by the number of my Wichita friends and family who called to check on me! Thank you guys so much for your support and prayers! I was very lucky to have my family and friends safe! Our home was spared, and my Uncle Audie’s business was missed as well!

I couldn’t get to work yesterday because of all the closed roads, so Joe and I went and volunteered at the main shelter. We sorted and folded clothes and did whatever we could to help. I was so glad that he was there with me. I really don’t think that I would be able to handle everything by myself. He has been so supportive and comforting the past few days! I did good when I picked him : ) We finally left when we were approached by a lady and her husband asking for directions. Their faces were cut up, but they appeared to be okay. She said that they didn’t want to leave because they were waiting to identify their children at the morgue.

My heart sank.

I looked at the husband who made eye contact with me, and then he immediately looked down at the ground. How does this happen?? My heart was broken, and I felt sick. I turned my head, angry and confused. She had said it so matter of factly. She didn’t sound sad (I’m sure it was very unreal to her still). She sounded mad. Why did this happen? Why could she keep her kids safe from strangers, and illness, and everything else that life throws out you, but in 3 mins flat, she loses her children to a storm. I was mad with her.

I’ve heard many stories very similar. One nurse was on the 6^th floor of St. Johns hospital when they got the warning. They got everyone in the hallway and watched helplessly as the windows starting blowing out. Suddenly she say a 300 lb man get sucked out the window. Can you imagine??

A friend of mine works at Home Depot, which is no longer there btw. He got everyone in the back of the store, and then was sucked out of the back door. It threw him about 50 ft and dropped him into a ditch. From what I hear, he is bruised up, but okay!

The worst of what I’ve heard actually happened to a friend of mine. He is the nicest man you have ever met. I worked with him at Keller Williams and ran into him a month or 2 ago. We talked for almost 2 hours and most of that time was spent with him bragging about his son. I believe his sons name is Will. He was about to graduate HS and Mark was very proud of him for getting into a very prestigious film school in California. Sunday was his graduation, and afterwards, they were headed to meet the rest of their family for dinner. They were in Matt’s hummer, and when Mark watched Will get sucked out of the sunroof. Mark is in critical but stable condition, but is completely distraught. Will has yet to be found.

Please continue to pray for everyone hear in the area!

Here are a few pictures. The first one is the church I have been going to. Luckly it is just church with a little "c"!

Facebook Official

Well, I suppose you can all tell my new relationship status on Fbook, that my date went very well! We really ended up hitting it off. He shares my sense of humor (Which is a great one, if I do say so myself), and he is a good kisser (Which we all know is a must.)

**Disclaimer- For all of you who are worried, I didn’t kiss him until our 4thish date.

More pluses- He’s tall- 13 inches taller to be exact. He goes to Church on his own, and I don’t have to beg him to go with me! AND he is a 5^th degree black belt. Aka- Ninja.

On another note, I told you all that Daphne was spayed a couple weeks ago. It was a horrible experience! More so for me, than for her. I even freaked out at one point because she pulled out some of the stitches. I drove her to the vet, 45 mins away, with no make up on. To those of you who know me, this is a big deal. Not the driving part- but the no make up part. I’m surprised my face didn’t scare the stitches out of her. Anyway, after the 45 minute drive, the vet took .35 seconds to tell me that she was fine and send me on my long journey back home. Daphne looked more irritated than anything. Her little puppy eyes were saying “You woke me up for this??” At least I think that is what they were saying- I’m still learning to read “dog eye.”

Today is one of those cloudy/rainy/I would rather be in sweats days. My favorite! Except I am here at work. I’m pretty sure I would rather be at Joe’s house. By the way- Pray for me! I am making him dinner on Saturday night. This could be a make or break moment people. What if I suck, and he throws me and my food to the curb?? On the Menu- Enchilada Casserole. Trust me- It’s good!

I need your help though! After dinner, we need a fun creative idea of something to do. Cheap, and preferably something we can do at home. It will be rainy outside, so please don’t send me out there! Ideas?

Alyssa

Friday Night Date Night :)

So here I am. Yet again wasting company time on my blog. Unfortunately this job doesn’t allow for near the “free” time that I was able to sneak in at my old job. The job’s gone well so far. Started out kind of negatively, but the more I get to know everyone, the better it gets. It still doesn’t beat NB though! I have to admit that I was hoping to lose weight when I switched jobs, due to lack of eating Meleah’s baked goods every day, but it turns out that isn’t going to be the case. These people keep ordering out! Darn them….

Wow, so a lot has happened the past week! Last weekend I was blessed enough to help out a Church in Cameron, MO. Their youth group was doing a D- Now conference, and I got the opportunity to get to know 4 amazing girls! We all stayed in a host home by someone in their family. Let me just say that they were so great, and their home was amazing! They had 50 acres full of ponds, creeks, rabbits, goats, sheep, cows, donkeys, cats, and dogs! And hidden in the garage were baby chicks! They aren’t cuddly chicks though. I tried.

We spent the weekend growing closer to Christ, and got an awesome chance to eat and fellowship with some people in a homeless shelter. It was such a great experience, but I’m not going to lie- I didn’t eat. I really just shoveled my food around until someone came to pick it up. For one, it really wasn’t that good. Of course, this just shows how spoiled I am. But I had a really hard time stomaching that it was on a tray that everyone else used. In all fairness, it wasn’t necessarily because it was a homeless shelter. This would have grossed me out at home. But after we “ate”, we helped clean all the chairs and tables, all the while trying to avoid Taylor, who was spraying everyone with a water hose. Later that night I was able to wash the feet of some of the girls in our group. What a humbling and sacrificial thing to experience! That was defiantly the best part of my weekend : )

On another note, Daphne had to get spayed a couple of nights ago. Now if you don’t know me, let me explain why this is a huge deal. Daphne is my little precious, amazing, sweet, angelic, almost-potty trained puppy. She has separation anxiety like you wouldn’t believe!  If I leave the room, she starts shrieking like a pig about to be slaughtered. But I do have to admit that I love coming home to a puppy who is so excited to see me she starts convulsing and crying.  It was so sad making her stay in a strange place over night. I’m sure she was terrified! The good news is that she is now at home! The bad news is that I barely slept last night because I kept trying to make sure she wasn’t licking her incision.

So, tonight is Friday Night Date Night. That’s right folks, I got me a date : ) I really hope he isn’t reading this. Remember when I told you about Shane and Leah from my last job? Well this guy is good friends with Shane. The 4 of us will be going to Downstream Casino tonight, and I’m pretty pumped about it. Stats: 31, No Kiddos, Never Married, Non Smoker, Occasional Social Drinker, and Impeccable Wit. We should have a great night! I will let all you folks know how it goes!

You guys have any advice for me??

Alyssa