Mothers Day Fishing Trip

E's very first fish!

Turkey Vultures

Hmmm..... wonder if we're related!

Lake was pretty full, Thank goodness the camera wasn't out for my little spill trying to jump it! Always pays to pack extra clothes!

Throwing Rocks

My favorite! She's havin' fun with Clark

Fascination with the Minnows

The Boat ride.

Baiting the hook

Lovin' watching the bobbers

The SUN is finally shining!

A little cold!

The first fish of the day!

Fun of the boat ride!

First Catch

So you don't think that this was my idea of Mother's Day? (On Saturday)Think again!!! At my request (every Mother's Day) and the invitation of friends we headed out early to "MOLENE" Lake in Molene, Kansas. Beautiful drive, overcast windy day. Until we were ready to come home and for the last hour we had SUNSHINE. Enough for us all to get a sunburn. FUN TIMES! Especially because we had little ones surrounding us!

A "STRAIGHT LINE" STORM???? --AKA- INLAND HURRICANE!

Leaves stuck to the house!

Our neighbors fence

Ford Dealership Sign (this is also behind our house.)

A car in our town that was smashed by a tree.

My favorite part of the day! The neighbors gathering to see if anyone can use help!

Our Table knocked over (thats minor)

An oil tank in the trees just two house's behind us.

A tree uprooted just 4 houses up from us

Our neighbors flag pole.

This is BEFORE, I'm sad that I didn't get the TOWANDA TOWER in this pic. it was in front of the biggest barn.

This is AFTER

Ever heard of it. Not me, Until this Friday when SIRENS blew throughout the town. We didn't hear the sirens either to the force of the winds carrying the sound??? I thought I slept through anything but at 5:00 am I awoke, Clark and I were throwing on our clothes and shoes to evacuate to the basement when Sister Albaugh knocked on our door and said, " I think we need to head to the basement"

We heard what we could have distinguished as a train sound, knocking debrey against the house. Water seeping in through the front door, and for the next 30 minutes we wondered what the out come would be.

WOW, they called this a "straight line storm" also known as an "Inland Hurricane"with wind gust from 80mph to 115mph. The devastation met others fiercely. One story came in from Rosalia, just out of our city limits. A young family, a mom and dad a two year old a a baby inside the trailer rolled three times. Leaving the mother with broken ribs, the father with a gash to the head and two little ones unharmed. Everything in the trailer broken except the babies crib, it went without a scratch. ANGELS carried those little ones.

In another town next to us "TOWANDA" looked like a war zone. Metal wrapped around trees. Roofs gone from houses. An awning at a gas station collapsed and several horse trailers laying on their sides or blown across the highway and wrapped around poles. Main Street had windows blown out and the street was covered in glass. Sadly a famous landmark was destroyed. I didn't have a picture of the "TOWANDA TOWER" but in the barn scene was a tower with the letters T-O-W-A-N-D-A down it. The W was crooked in memorial of the man who was painting it. He fell to his death at the W. It is now rubble. The pictures I have only say that we were blessed in our neighborhood to escape some shingles off the roof and a few fences down. In comparison to the rest of the town. My friend coming in from Emporia was surprised when driving into town and went around to each member of our Church's homes to find no damage. We were fortunate to have our generator going. The second time since January. In the 13 hours of no power we didn't go without any conveniences.

What a STORM!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

To all those who HAVE MOTHERS, who are GREAT AUNTS, Who are Great SUPPORT of FAMILY MEMBERS and to those WOMEN who NURTURE others. To those who CARE and RAISE, TEACH, PROTECT, and are ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN. All GREAT WOMEN should be honored today! LOVE TO ALL!

Our weekend with our Daughter

This is a RED BARN SCENE in TOWANDA, but along the 35 interstate going towards TOPEKA was so many BARNS I about went crazy! In Louisianna I love taking pictures of the OLD CHURCH'S and in KANSAS I LOVE, LOVE. LOVE the BARNS and WINDMILLS!

Love this one its all sculptured with the flat metal. Can't tell from far away but it was so awesome!

Lunch with Our Daughters Old Roomie from Orem,UT that just moved to Kansas City, Fun at the Kansas Fun Mall, and the crayola store! Then off to the Prairie Rose Fest, (not so fun, we were looking forward to seeing a concert but there was too many 'OLD' people!) and a day of Shopping... Lots of Fun and lots of tears and laughs!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHOUT! to my MOM

A friend of mine on face book sent me a note today about my mom and her place in the adoption process of their little girl. Ah she didn't even know that it was my Mom's B-day. It brought back a flood of memories. I have honored my mother in all of her talents on my blog and so today on her B-day I will share with you one more of my mothers greatest talents. She worked for L.D.S . Social Services for several years. In this time, her blessing in life was to be of service to others. Whether it be a listening ear to the birth mother or coaching adoptive parents, homing new born babies until they were adopted, she had the job of her dreams. I cannot share any experiences... maybe one. It was when Mom was dying of cancer and one of the adoptive parents had a little girl that was born with no brain stem. The mother knew her baby wouldn't live long and brought the baby for my Mom to hold so that maybe Mom could be there to meet this baby in heaven. Mom was overwhelmed, she couldn't say that she could be responsible for such a task. Although she would have loved to , she knew God was in charge. This mother just wanted comfort. No words can describe the love and prayers my Mom had for these adoptive parents. She was GODSEND for a lot of families. Her talent was a caring heart and a life of service. At her funeral several adoptive families gave us three children a weeping willow tree along with a poem in Mom's honor for her service to them. To Joanna's Kids: As Joanna's mortal life draws to a close, we are reminded of the many attributes thse 'Snow Fountain ' trees represent for us: WEEPING BRANCHES: Her ability to reach down and pick us up as we waited for our little ones. GREENERY: He constant smile and stability amidst the questions and paperwork. BLOSSOMS: Symbolize each "new birth" welcomed into our homes. COLOR and EGGS:Recognizing her steady "planting" of Gospel Concepts. From: several families of adoptive families. THAT WAS OUR MOM! WHAT A LEGACY TO LEAVE HER CHILDREN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM, I LOVE YOU, I MISS YOU, I'M GLAD THAT YOU WERE SUCH A INFLUENCE OF GOOD TO ME, TO MY FAMILY AND TO SO MANY OTHERS LIFE'S YOU TOUCHED.