More Tornado Pics

For Mom

Tornado Pics

My dad and I were returning from a family gathering in Texas. When we were in northern OK and southern MO, we were staying just ahead of the storm. We stopped in Neosho for gas, and the pump attendant said there was a tornado on the ground and we should go to WalMart for shelter. We waited out the storm for about 30 minutes, then headed on home. I took these pictures as we were going home. For more information, go to http://www.joplinglobe.com or http://ozarkstorms.blogspot.com

Tornado in Granby

We just had a tornado this evening in Granby. I just wanted to let everyone know that my family and I are fine. The devastation through this area is unbelievable, though. More to come later.

Family Ties

This week, I took my dad down to Texas to see some of his family, many of whom I haven't seen since I was in 7th grade. While we were there, I had a very dejavu-esque feeling. The strange feeling came from not knowing those people, yet somehow knowing them. It was so funny to hear people I don't know well using the same expressions I grew up using, wording things the same way I do, and knowing the same corny jokes. Our senses of humor are similar, and we all talk loud and laugh loud, and show our love with biting sarcasm. (Several of them seem to have the ability at quick, one-liners that I don't have.) Being with them felt like putting odd pieces of a puzzle together, and finding that everything fit. We are all cut from the same genetic cloth. We all believe that chocolate is a major food group, and raw cookie dough does wonders for your health. The oddest thing was that often, I would be thinking of a witticism, or response, and before I could say it, someone else would say the same thing. It is quite disconcerting to think that there are others in the world who think like I do.

And this isn't even all of us!


My dad and Uncle Mac, 2 old rascals whose stories are the stuff of legend. One might wonder how they survived to adulthood. Imagine, if you will, 2 little scamps who would suit up with trash can lids and broomsticks to do battle with a fighting rooster. Once they set a trap with some corn in a loop of rope, caught the rooster and hung him by his feet until dad got home. Later, armored up for a fight, they spent 1/2 a day sitting on top of an old car, with the rooster effectively on sentry duty, his payback for the hanging. Of course, no one can spin a yarn like Uncle Mac, so his version is much more colorful!

Myanmar

The tragedy in Myanmar tends to put our little daily ups and downs in proper perspective. Formerly Burma, Adoniram Judson began mission work there in 1813 and missionaries are still there. How many of the dead came in contact with Jesus? This sad event shows just how important it is for Christians to carry the gospel of Jesus around the world. We never know when our testimony may be the last that someone hears. Please pray for the people of Myanmar.

YANGON, Myanmar - Myanmar's isolationist regime Thursday gave clearance for the first major international airlift carrying aid to survivors of a cyclone that may have killed more than 100,000 people, officials said.

But it was not allowing U.S. military planes to fly in critical relief goods and stalling on visas for U.N. teams urgently seeking entry to ensure aid is delivered to the victims.

A U.N. official said one airplane from Italy arrived in Yangon while three more would land later Thursday. The official did not wish to be named because she was not authorized to speak to the media.

Four planes loaded with high-energy biscuits, medicine, and other supplies had waited for the last two days while frustrated U.N. officials negotiated with the military regime to allow the material into the Southeast Asian nation.

Clothes stolen from dead
Entire villages in the delta were still submerged from the storm, and bloated corpses could be seen stuck in the mangroves. Some survivors stripped clothes off the dead. People wailed as they described the horror of the torrent swept ashore by the cyclone.

"I don't know what happened to my wife and young children," said Phan Maung, 55, who held onto a coconut tree until the water level dropped. By then his family was gone.

The U.N. World Health Organization has received reports of malaria outbreaks in the worst-affected area, and fears of waterborne illnesses surfacing due to dirty water and poor sanitation also remained a concern, said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, deputy director of WHO's Southeast Asia office in New Delhi.

"Safe water, sanitation, safe food. These are things that we feel are priorities at the moment," she said.
Taken from: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24514879/

A Fish Story

Yesterday I had to drop some things off at Bro. Poe's house. When I arrived, I found he and Sis. Poe cleaning a couple of fish he caught that morning. I was pretty impressed with his 12 pound carp!

Tonight I am in Texas again. My dad and I are spending a few days with family. All of his nieces and nephews are here, as well as some greats. Before it's over, there will be 17 or so of us. This evening we all sat around with a myriad of "Remember when..." stories. It was great! John, the husband of one of my cousins, can paint a word picture like none other. This will be a weekend to remember!