20 days!!!

Only 20 days until little Jedi makes his appearance!!! That's really amazing. Time has flown by.

Photos

Here are a few photos that mom has taken that I thought were just so pretty. One of puffy clouds in Columbus, and the other, the sunset at the beach when she went with Jeannie and Brenda, Tom etc.

I also played around with a photography program that I have to make them look like an oil painting. It's a mighty big paintbrush that the "Big Guy" upstairs has. :)

You can double click the photos for a larger version.

Beautiful Sky

What a cool looking sky. It almost looks like the ocean with waves. Thanks Mom for this photo:

Trust

In thinking about tornado damage, upcoming babies, upcoming wedding, upcoming surgeries, illness, ongoing self doubt or fear, occasional depression or sadness, lonliness, and all the other emotions and worries that everyone has from time to time (not specifically talking about me or even our family), I did a little research to find a bible verse to refocus my mind on.

Instead of worry, fear and all the other terrible things that might happen, or could happen, or will happen, one thing gets us all through those times... and that's Jesus. We all know that, but sometimes forget to put those worries and emotions out of your mind and heart, and focus on Him. Like that old song that we all know so well, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His Glory and Grace". That is so true and it's easy to get disctracted and start focusing on all these worldly things. It's easy to get caught up in the "woe is me" attutude. When there are other people out there that are so much worse off and maybe even don't have a strong faith to rely on like we do. What a weight can be lifted if you just refocus your mind on the positive and leave it up to God.

I'm putting a great little song in this post that you can listen to- just click the play button (pink one with the arrow) and turn your speakers up. This will be my theme song going through this little surgey thing.

So, as for you all , chin up, say your thanks, and be happy.

Tornado Damage Slideshow

From Birmingham's ABC 33/40 news, James Spann blog: This guy flew from Bham to the Tornado destruction in Lamar County, AL, then on to Caledonia. Pretty cool, you can see Jan's house in one of the photos - but, it's small. You can control the speed if you move your mouse over the top part of the slideshow.




Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

From the Biloxi Sun Herald

The Sound Off
"Early Thursday afternoon a tornado went through Caledonia, Miss., and some surrounding areas, devastating everything in sight. As a native from Caledonia and having had through Katrina, I am asking the residents of the Gulf Coast to reach out and help them make it through this rough time... . So much has been wiped away and so much rubble is left behind. From some of the pictures I have seen, it reminds me of some of the damage I saw down here just two years ago. I know many of the families in Caledonia, Columbus and surrounding areas helped us here on the Coast when the hurricane hit. I am asking that you help my hometown recover from this loss. It is a quaint little town that is completely friendly to all."
If you want to help
Sue Burleson of Gulfport is coordinating help for the tornado-stricken area of Caledonia in Lowndes County. To help:
Call 865-1375 or 324-5709 or e-mail: JandSBurleson@aol.com

Neighbors Help

Neighbors help town look to future after devastation

By Neal Wagnernwagner@cdispatch.com

CALEDONIA- Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote “Troubles will come and they will pass,” in his 1973 song “Simple Man.”
Although music is probably the last thing on minds of the many Caledonia residents who had everything they owned destroyed by a tornado Thursday afternoon, they all seem to share Skynyrd's thoughts.
“Our building is gone, but our church is still here,” said Caledonia Church of Christ member Jennie Diermann as she looked at the pile of wood and bricks that was the church's sanctuary just days ago.
“The church is wounded, but we are certainly not dead,” she added.
She and everyone else in Caledonia Saturday seemed to have one goal - rebuild and move on.
Until the church building is rebuilt in what Diermann predicts will be about a year, the congregation will meet in the old Presbyterian church building on Main Street.
Across the street from the Church of Christ, the Caledonia United Methodist Church sustained some roof damage.
As a result, CUMC is holding its 11 a.m. worship service on its front steps today.
The congregation is inviting the entire community to the morning service, in hopes of helping people move past the disaster, which lasted a matted of minutes but will leave lasting marks on the town.
Civil Service
Hundreds of volunteers from many walks of life have descended on Caledonia since Thursday to help the goal of moving forward become a reality.
Power company employees were rushing to replace power lines, tow trucks were dragging crumpled cars out of town and hundreds of service-minded volunteers were helping families sift through the remains of their homes.
“You just wouldn't believe how many calls we have gotten,” said Diermann. “Not only have we had a very supportive congregation, but strangers we don't even know are here today helping us clean up.”
Among those volunteering time was Barry English from Center Hill Baptist Church in Hamilton. He and about 15 volunteers from other area churches were working Saturday to clear fallen trees and remove the Church of Christ's roof from its pulpit.
“Right now we are just taking things one day at a time,” said English. “I can't tell you how long it will take, but I can guarantee you we will have people out here every day until this mess is cleaned up.”
A few Columbus area waste management companies are also helping to clean up the mess.
Companies like Mississippi Industrial Waste Disposal, Go Box and Triangle Maintenance have been volunteering to haul large dumpsters to and from various cleanup sites throughout Caledonia.
MIWD President Hayden Crume brought four 22-foot industrial-size dumpsters to the Caledonia school campus Friday and returned Saturday to deliver one more to the schools and another to the Church of Christ.
“Ya'll just give me a call when this thing is full and I'll empty this one and bring you another one,” Crume told volunteers at the Church of Christ.
Like many other volunteers, Crume came to Caledonia without being asked and used what he had to help people he had never met.
“I just figured I would bring these boxes out here to help out as much as I could,” said Crume.
School Cleanup
At the Caledonia school campus, where much of the tornado's fury was unleashed, volunteers and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency employees worked beside tow trucks to clear a path through the wreckage.
“Right now the wreckers are towing smashed cars out of the parking lot so we can start clearing out some of the destroyed buildings,” said volunteer worker Jamie Mouchett.
Mouchett said crews had cleared many mangled cars from around the campus Friday but still had many more to go.
“Our main goal right now is getting the kids back in the classroom as soon as possible,” Mouchett added.
Brad Alexander, another volunteer worker, stood next to a mangled pickup truck as he gazed at the twisted steel beams that used to hold up the school's vo-tech building.
“I'm just glad all the kids were fine,” said Alexander. “It's amazing.”
Electricity and natural gas service was restored to the undamaged parts of the schools Saturday morning and will be tested all weekend to ensure safe operation, said Lowndes County School District Superintendent of Education Mike Halford.
There hasn't yet been a date set for classes to resume.
The storm has officially been declared a tornado by The National Weather Service.
The NWS is expected to release the tornado's Enhanced Fujuta Scale damage rating Monday; the storm has been rumored to be classified as an F-3.

Caledonia Tornado Photos!

A smile in the storm! - Jan created a Yard Sale sign - what a great time to have a yard sale - with all your belongings thrown across your yard the the empty lot next door.

Looks as though Jan's house actually survived - better than some. Roof damage, windows broken, water damage, porch is missing, but, all in all, can be repaired.

Caledonia Tornado!!

THE SALVATION ARMY RESPONDS TO CALEDONIA, MISSISSIPPI TORNADO
Columbus, Miss. - In the afternoon hours of January 10, 2008, a strong line of storms moved across Mississippi, spawning tornadoes and damaging winds. The Salvation Army of Columbus has dispatched a mobile feeding unit to Caledonia, Mississippi, to provide assistance and warm meals to those affected by a tornado that damaged homes and the High School, as well as support to First responders in the area.
Captain Bert Lind of The Salvation Army, said "We are prepared to offer hydration, snacks, and warm meals, as well as emotional and spiritual care to victims and families affected by today's storms for as long as the need exists."
"Our heart goes out to those affected by today's tornadoes. The Salvation Army has responded to the area and will provide whatever relief we can to those who have been touched by this disaster," said Captain Bert Lind of The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army stands ready to serve. Our practical response will also be under girded by our prayer support for the victims of these tornados."Mobile feeding units from Jackson, Mississippi and Tuscaloosa, Alabama have been placed on alert for possible support of Salvation Army operations in Caledonia.
"We are in communication with Emergency operations centers across Mississippi, offering our assistance to areas affected by the storms," said Bill Feist, Emergency Disaster Services Director for The Salvation Army.

More photos

Becky's Suprise!!

If you click on this photo, you'll find someone sticking their finger up their nose.

2008!

Wow, can you believe it's actually 2008. That seems so far in the future!!! THe holidays were so great. I'm glad we were able to all get together and celebrate. Christmas in Vicksburg was so much fun. Especially the bon fire. We shoudl do that more often for sure and just talk. It was also great spending the holiday with Jay and Laura, Becky and Jim, little jedi and (hmmm.. I'll have to think of a name for Becky's Boy -- or GIRL??? anyways, we all had fun. January is back to the routine though right? Weight Loss, Winter Weather (well, not this week), cold, blue depressing day sof January. But, think of it like this - we get to rest and relax, spend time sleeping, naping, and getting ready for an awesome Springtime!!! Here are a few photos - I'll try and send more later on. Have a great week!