EO TRAVEL BASEBALL UPDATE

DUE TO FAMILIES GOING ON SUMMER VACATION, OUR GAMES HAVE BEEN CANCELLED FOR THIS WEEKEND. TRAVEL BASEBALL IS A HUGE COMMITMENT ON EACH MEMBER OF THE TEAM, AND IT SOMETIMES REQUIRES FOR OTHER COMMITMENTS TO BE SET ASIDE. WE TRY OUR BEST TO MAINTAIN A "HEALTHY" BALANCE FOR OUR FAMILIES SAKES. BUT AS ANYTHING IN LIFE, WE MUST CHOOSE AND PICK OUR BATTLES. PLAYING SPORTS IN A FUN AND HEALTHY THING TO DO! WE ARE SCHEDULED TO PLAY NEXT WEEK IN VICKSBURG. WILL LET YOU KNOW AS THE NEXT WEEKEND APPROACHES!

PROTECTING MY CHILDREN: CAIDEN'S DOG ATTACK

CAIDEN WAS PLAYING WITH HIS FRIENDS SATURDAY. AS ALWAYS, THEY KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, AND ASKED IF CAIDEN COULD PLAY. I ALWAYS SCOPE OUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE I LET HIM WALK DOWN THE STREET. I DID THIS SATURDAY, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY. I SAW SO IMMEDIATE DANGER, AND TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS OK. I MADE SURE HE HAD HIS CELLPHONE WITH HIM, JUST IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. AS A MOTHER,I WORRY ABOUT MY CHILDREN WHEN THEY "LEAVE" ME. THIS COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM A TRIP ACROSS TOWN DOWN TO JUST BEING RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. AS SOON AS I SEE THEM WALK OUT THE DOOR, MY SENSE OF "WORRYING" KICKS IN. THIS IS JUST "MOTHERLY" INSTINCT. MY MOTHER TELLS ME OFTEN THAT IT NEVER LEAVES YOU, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE GROWN AND ON THERE OWN JOURNEY OF LIFE. SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, AS SHE OFTEN IS( I AM SEEING THIS MORE NOW AS I GET OLDER) CELLPHONES ARE A MUST IN OUR FAMILY, FOR WE FEEL THAT WE MUST ALWAYS HAVE A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES. I KNOW THAT THIS IS OF EACH FAMILIES DECISION. DEPENDING ON A CHILD'S AGE, ETC. BUT JERRY AND I FEEL THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF "KEEPING" UP WITH THEM. HE ALWAYS CALLS ME TO UPDATE ME ON THE WHERE ABOUTS OF HIM AND HIS FRIENDS. HE CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT HE WAS ON HIS WAY HOME. I HEARD HIM THE DOOR, TAKING OF HIS SHOES. CAIDEN HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERATE IN THAT WAY. HE KNOWS THAT I HAVE ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF AND HE FEELS THAT TAKING HIS SHOES OFF BY THE DOOR SHOWS A SIGN OF RESPECT FOR ME!! WHEN I WENT TO THE DOOR TO GREET HIM, I NOTICED HEAVY SWEATING AND BREATHING. HE WAS FIGHTING FOR BREATH. I PANICKED. I RUSHED TO GET HIS INHALER AND PROCEEDED TO ASK HIM WHAT HAPPENED. HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS ATTACKED MY A WHITE DOG. I STARTED TO LOSE IT, BUT I KNEW THAT I HAD TO BE STRONG FOR HIM, HE NEEDED ME TO BE HIS MOTHER. AFTER I GAVE HIM A PUFF OF HIS INHALER, I MADE SURE THAT HE WAS NOT HURT BEYOND MY EFFORTS. I NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID NOT NEED EMERGENCY HELP. I CHECKED HIS WOUNDS AND CAME THE REALIZATION THAT I COULD PRETTY MUCH TAKE CARE OF IT MYSELF. THE NEXT STEP WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DOG THAT BIT HIM WAS VACCINATED. I DROVE OVER TO THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE AND WAS PRETTY MUCH IN "MOMMY" MODE FROM THERE,I PROCESSED TO DRIVE OVER THERE AND BLOW MY HORN FROM THE DRIVEWAY, I WAS NOT ABOUT TO GET OUT AND BE "ATTACKED" MYSELF. I TOLD THE WOMAN THAT HER VICIOUS DOG HAD ATTACKED MY CHILD FOR NO REASON. HE WAS JUST WALKING HOME FROM HIS FRIENDS HOUSE AND THE DOG CAME OUT OF NO WHERE. I DEMANDED AN EXPLANATION FOR THERE CARELESSNESS. SHE PROCESSED TO TELL ME THAT HER HUSBAND LET THEM A LOOSE FROM THEIR LEASH TO USE THE RESTROOM. BUT I THEN TOLD HER WHERE WAS HE AT WHEN HE LET THEM LOOSE, APPARENTLY HE WAS NOT HERE SUPERVISING BECAUSE THEY RAN WILD AND BIT MY CHILD. I SHOWED HER WHERE THE DOG HAD BIT HIM, AND I WAS VERY VERY UPSET. I PROCEEDED TO TELL HER THAT I WAS CALLING THE COPS. SOON AFTER THE COPS ARRIVED, I BEGAN TO TELL THEM THE STORY. CAIDEN WAS VERY CALM(THANK GOD) AND TOLD THEM EVERYTHING THAT HAD HAPPENED. I AM SO PROUD OF HIM FOR BEING SO BRAVE, HE PROVED TO ME THAT NIGHT THAT HE WAS A HERO. THE POLICEMAN TOOK OUR STATEMENTS AND THEN WENT TO THE NEIGHBORS HOUSE FOR THE ACTIONS THAT WERE ABOUT TO BE TAKEN. I FILED A COMPLIANT, AND THESE DOS WERE TO BE OBSERVED OVER A PERIOD OF 72 HOURS, AND THE HUMANE SOCIETY WAS TO AUTHORIZED TO TAKE THESE DOGS INTO CUSTODY. AS A PARENT, I AM ALWAYS SEEKING WAYS TO PROTECT MY CHILDREN, I I KNEW THAT FROM THIS POINT ON, I WOULD DO WHATEVER IT TOOK TO PROTECT MY CHILDREN'S WELL BEING. I HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES AND EXPLAINING THE DETAILS OF THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY. CAIDEN HAS MANY SCARS FROM THIS EXPERIENCE. YES , A LOT OF THEM ARE PHYSICAL, BUT THEY ARE EMOTIONAL SCARS AS WELL. HE IS VERY SCARED TO WALK DOWN OUR STREET DUE TO THE UNLEASHING OF ANIMALS. THIS IS A LAW MANDATED BY STATE THAT ALL ANIMALS SHOULD BE ON A LEASH. I HAVE NOW REALIZED THAT MANY DOG OWNERS ARE NOT IN AGREEMENT AND DO WHAT EVER THEY FEEL. I FEEL THAT THIS EXPERIENCE HAS OPENED THE DOOR FOR ME TO REALLY FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHT AS INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS WE WISH, AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING ATTACKED. MY CHILDREN SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPLORE ALL AVENUES OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT BEING ATTACKED FOR NO REASON. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING OUR CURRENT REPRESENTATIVES ON THESE LAWS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE BEING ENFORCED. I AM GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN, BECAUSE A CHILD SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BE SACRED LIKE CAIDEN IS. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING OUT WAYS TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM UNNECESSARY ATTACKS. BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO IT, I AM HERE TO PROTECT MY CHILDREN, AND WILL DO THIS TILL THE DAY I DIE. PLEASE HELP ME DO THIS BY CONTACTING STATE OFFICIALS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES. I WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW THE STATE LEGISLATORS DO ABOUT THIS.

BELATED 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, SEEMS TO BE IN MY VOCABULARY A LOT THESE DAYS!THE FACT THEY WE WERE DOING TRAVELING BASEBALL THIS 4TH OF JULY, THE KIDS REALLY DIDN'T GET THE "FIREWORKS" EXPERIENCE THAT THEY ALWAYS GET. I TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD MAKE IT UP TO THEM, AND WHEN WE DID POP FIREWORKS, IT WOULD BE ONE TO REMEMBER! SO, AS LONG AS YOU EXPERIENCE IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN YOU DO IT!

THE "MAIN" ATTRACTION!

A TABLE OF FOUR

As a mother, i am always looking for new and exciting things to have for my children to do. Summer is a great time to discover and "conquer" all avenues of playtime. Sometimes, it

is good to stimulate their minds, maybe to broaden their learning ability's, and then maybe they won't be so out-of-sink when school starts back! I love looking through magazines and finding fun ideas like this one. Caiden friends came over to play baseball, but i "talked" them into trying this out! They had some trouble at first, but once they got the hang of it, it was truly a fun thing for them! The idea of this experiment was to see how well they could use muscles when stretched to the limits. But it as mainly about trust. How well do you trust one another. This was a team effort, they had to put all trust in everyone, well, because if one fell, they all fell!! So, in a way, this was kinda like baseball, you work as a team, there is no "I" in it. You have to be as "one"

You can find more fun activities like this at:

http://www.familyfun.com/

SWIMMING AT KAY KAY'S HOUSE

AFTER WE LEFT THE POND, I TOOK CAIDEN AND BAILEE'S FRIENDS TO THIER KAY KAY'S POOL.THEY ALWAYS HAVE SO MUCH FUN THERE. IT'S KIND OF LIKE TOYS-R-US, IT'S WHERE A KID CAN BE A KID!!

the girls! havin fun!

taken it easy

s

Shower time girls!

GOTTA LOVE THANKFUL KIDS! THESE KIDS ARE THE GREATEST!

SUMMER SWIMMING IN THE POND

CAIDEN AND HIS FRIENDS HAVE FOUND A NEW PLACE TO "HANG OUT" THIS SUMMER: THE POND. THEY DISCOVERED THIS POND ON ONE OF THERE MANY ADVENTUROUS JOURNEYS THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY ALWAYS LOVE TO RIDE BIKES LOOKING FOR UNDISCOVERED TERRITORY, AND WHEN THEY DO FIND IT, THEY CLAIM IT AS THEIR OWN. THIS IS THEIR SECRET PLACE. WHERE THEY CAN REALLY BE THEIR SELF, AND KNOW ONE CAN TELL THEM OTHERWISE. THIS POND WILL HOLD CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN FRIENDS, AND THESE CONVERSATIONS WILL BE KEPT THERE, FOR THIS PLACE IS OF THEIR OWN. I AM AMAZED AT THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT BOYS HAVE. THEY LOVE TO HAVE FUN, DISCUSS THEIR INTERESTS AND THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS. THESE BOYS "ACT" TOUGH WHEN THEY ARE TOGETHER, BUT WHEN THEY LEAVE THIS POND, AND GO HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES, THEY BRING WITH THEM A SENSE OF SELF-INDIVIDUALISM. THEY WERE WHO THEY WANTED TO ME WITH THEIR FRIENDS, BUT A NEW PERCEPTIVE OF LIFE COMES WITH ME. THEY ARE WHO THEY WANT TO BE AT THAT TIME, THEIR PERCEPTION SOMEWHAT ALTERS, BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THAT LIFE'S SITUATIONS AND EXPERIENCES MAKES THEM AWARE OF NEW AND EVERLASTING RELATIONSHIPS. THESE ARE THE EXPERIENCES THAT WILL MAKE THEM WHO THEY WILL BE. CAIDEN IS REALIZING NOW THE IMPORTANCE OF FRIENDS, THE INTERACTION OF PEOPLE WHO SOMEWHAT SHARE THE SAME INTERESTS AS HIM, BUT IN THE SAME RETROSPECT, ARE DIFFERENT. THIS IS WHAT MAKES LIFE SO INTERESTING. OPPOSITES ATTRACT, THEREFORE, IF SOMEONE WAS EXACTLY LIKE HIM, THEN WAS THE POINT OF TAKING THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW SOMEONE! FRIENDSHIPS ARE FOREVER REMEMBERED AND CHERISHED!

BOYS WILL BE BOYS:

WHERE MEMORIES ARE MADE

FREINDS WILL ALWAYS BE THERE TO ENLIGHTEN LIFE!

EO STORM: RANKED 25TH IN STATE

OUR TRAVEL BASEBALL TEAM HAS BEEN RANKED AS 25TH IN STATE!! NOT BAD FOR OUR VERY 1ST TOURNAMENT!! WE WILL PLAY THIS WEEKEND AT ULM. COME OUT AND WATCH US, WE COULD REALLY USE YOUR SUPPORT!

THESE HANDS...

"THE KING'S HEART IS IN THE HAND OF THE LORD, LIKE THE RIVER'S OF WATER; HE TURNS IT WHEREVER HE WISHES." PROVERBS 21:1

CHOOSE YOUR WORDS CAREFULLY

FOR THERE ARE ALL"EARS" IN THE CORNFIELD! CHILDREN ARE LIKE SPONGES; THEY SOAK UP EVERY LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION THAT LEAKS OUT OF OUR MOUTH. I HAVE REALIZED THAT MY THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ON DIFFERENT ISSUES NEED TO BE KEPT AT A MINIMUM. THAT WHAT COMES OUT OF MY MOUTH, AFFECTS MY CHILDREN'S PROSPECTIVES ON CERTAIN ISSUES. THEY "LOOK" UP TO ME, AND THEREFORE TAKE ME AT MY WORD. THEIR TRUST LIES IN ME, AND WHAT I SAY HAS A SOUL AFFECT ON THEM. I AM NOT PERFECT, THEREFORE CERTAIN ISSUES THAT ARE LAID BEFORE ME ARE DISCUSSED AND ARE OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY MY 2 CENTS WORTH. THIS COULD BE ANYTHING FROM A SITUATION MY CHILDREN WERE INVOLVED IN, TO JUST A GENERAL "FAMILY" ISSUE. WE ARE EXAMPLES TO OUR CHILDREN , THEREFORE, THEY LIVE WHAT THEY SEE. IN TURN, WE , AS PARENTS MUST REALIZE THAT WHAT COMES DIRECTLY OUT OF OUR MOUTH WILL HAVE PROFOUND AFFECT ON OUR CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILY. AND ISN'T IT JUST LIKE A CHILD TO LISTEN TO OUR CONVERSATION'S WITH OTHERS, AND SAY" BUT MOMMA, YOU SAID THIS." THEN WE FIND OURSELVES IN A STATE OF SHOCK AND EMBARRASSMENT BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THAT NO ONE WAS LISTENING, BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS "EARS" AROUND. WE ARE NOT ALONE, CHILDREN ARE EVERYWHERE WE GO, AND THEY ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO US AS EXAMPLES TO HOW WE SHOULD BEHAVE!

MOMMY, HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE ME?

IS A QUESTION MY CHILDREN ASK ME DAILY. AS CHILDREN, THEY OFTEN NEED REASSURANCE THAT THEY ARE LOVED AND WANTED. I TRY MY HARDEST TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE WANTED, THAT THEY WERE ALWAYS WANTED FROM THEIR MOM AND DAD. I SHOW THE EVERYDAY HOW MUCH I LOVE THEM. IT CAN BE ANYTHING FROM A "PRIZE" THEY WANTED, AND IT WAS WELL DESERVED. IF THEY SHOWED AN ACT OF KINDNESS TO SOMEONE, LIKE CAIDEN HOLDING THE DOOR FOR AN OLD LADY, I WOULD REWARD HIM. BAILEE SOMETIMES LETS CAIDEN WATCH HIS FAVORITE TV SHOW, AND HER ACT OF KINDNESS WOULD NOT GO UNNOTICED. BUT, AS A MOTHER, I TRY TO GET TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER. IT IS THE EXAMPLE I SET THAT LETS THEN KNOW HOW TRULY THEY LOVED. I TELL THEM ABOUT A HUNDRED TIMES A DAY THAT I LOVE THEM. BUT SAYING IT SOMETIMES IS NOT ENOUGH. SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH THEM IS WHAT IS ALL ABOUT. IT IS ABOUT LETTING THEM BE THEIR TRUE SELF, AND KNOWING THAT MOMMY WILL ALWAYS BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY.IT IS ABOUT OUR CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE, WHEN THEY HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT ANY SITUATION THAT LIES HEAVY ON THEIR HEART. I LET THEM KNOW THAT I AM THERE FOR THEM, THAT THEY CAN TALK TO ME ABOUT ANYTHING, AND MY LOVE FOR THEM WOULD NEVER DIMINISH, BUT WOULD EVER GROW SO STRONGLY. BAILEE ASKED ME A QUESTION SOME TIME AGO AND I WILL NEVER FORGET IT. IT CHANGED HER OUTLOOK ON A PARENTS LOVE FOR THEIR CHILD. SHE ASKED ME THIS: "MOMMY, WOULD YOU STILL LOVE ME IF A REALLY HURT SOMEONE BAD?" THE LOOK IN HER EYES WAS THAT OF A CHILD WHO NEEDED REASSURANCE. I TOLD HER THIS:" BAILEE, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, MY LOVE FOR YOU IS UNCONDITIONAL." SHE ASKED ME WHAT THAT MEANT AND I TOLD HER THAT NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES, I WOULD LOVE HER ALWAYS. THE LOOK ON HER FACE WAS ONE OF CONTENTMENT, AND SHE KNEW IN THAT MOMENT THAT MOMMY'S LOVE FOR HER WAS FOR ETERNITY. MY AUNT GAVE CAIDEN A BOOK FOR HIM ON HIS 1ST CHRISTMAS. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE READ THIS BOOK TO THEM. SOMETIMES A GOOD BOOK IS A GREAT WAY TO REALLY TELL THEM AND SHOW THEM THE WAY YOU REALLY FEEL. THEY CAN SEE "HANDS ON" AND THEY CAN LET THEIR HEART AND IMAGINATION TAKE THEM ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO GO! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO READ AT BEDTIME. FOR THE LOOK ON THEIR FACE IS PRICELESS , AND THEY CAN REST ASSURE THEY AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE WANTED AND TRULY LOVED!! THE NAME OF THE BOOK IS "LOVE YOU FOREVER" THE AUTHOR IS ROBERT MUNSCH. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!

DID ANYONE SAY HOMEMADE LEMONADE?

WHAT IS SUMMER WITHOUT ICE COLD LEMONADE! THEY GO TOGETHER LIKE PEAS AND CARROTS. I REALIZED TODAY THAT I HAVE NEVER INTRODUCED "HOMEMADE" LEMONADE TO MY CHILDREN. THIS WAS A FUN WAY FOR US TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER, AND THEY SOON LEARNED OF MY CHILDHOOD , WHEN THEIR "KAY KAY" MADE IT FOR ME. I TOLD THEM TODAY OF MY MEMORIES OF SUMMERTIME, OF SWIMMING IN MY POOL, AND KAY KAY MAKING US TUNA FISH SANDWICHES AND MAKING HOMEMADE LEMONADE. THOSE TIMES WERE REALLY SPECIAL TO ME. IT MADE ME SO HAPPY THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT IT. I AM SO BLESSED TO HAVE CHILDREN WHO APPRECIATE FAMILY TIME. I HAVE INTRODUCED THEM TO ONE OF MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES, AND IN TURN, I HOPE THEY WILL CARRY IT ON TO THEIR CHILDREN. THEY HAD THE ABSOLUTE BEST TIME DOING THIS. CAIDEN, WHO THINKS THAT COOKING IS FOR GIRLS, ENJOYED DOING THIS, AND WOULD DIE IF ANY OF HIS FRIENDS SAW HIM DOING THIS! HE GETS IT HONEST, FROM HIS DADDY!!

WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM

THE NEXT BEST COOKS, FOLLOWING IN MOM'S FOOTSTEPS!

MOM'S LITTLE HELPER

THEY GOT TIRED OF "SQUEEZING"

SO REFRESHING! THEY LOVED THE LEMONADE, AND HAVE REQUESTED THAT WE DO THIS MORE OFTEN!

A BOYS DAY OUT: CAIDEN AND HIS PAPPAW LARRY

Pappaw Larry is the best Pappaw in the world!
He loves spending time with grand kids. Caiden has always had a special bond with him. He was the 1st boy grandchild born into the Elleman family. Caiden was also named after his pappaw. Pappaw took Caiden and his boy cousins to the Civic Center to The Public Safety Expo. There were many things there pertaining to safety issues. Caiden said that there was police trailers, K-9 dogs, guns. Policing runs in the Ellerman family. Pappaw is a cop, Jerry was a cop for 10 years, and Jerry's brother is a cop. Caiden thinks he would like to be a cop to carry on the Ellerman legacy, but i told him he still has plenty of time to decide on a career! They had a really good time! Caiden was happy to get to spend some time with his pappaw Larry and his cousins! Caiden has been so busy with his baseball friends and rarley has time to spend with his favorite cousin. He was so excited about all the "free" stuff he got!

Christmas time with Pappaw Larry!



Thanksgiving

Caiden and his bag of goodies!!!
Goodies Goodies, and more Goodies

MY MOTHER'S TRIUMPH: SURIVIOR OF OUR HOMETOWN EXPLOSION

"AND THE PEACE OF GOD,WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING,WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS" PHIL. 4:7

MY FAMILY WILL NEVER FORGET THAT DARK DAY.IT WAS MAY, 1, 1991, AND THAT DAY HAS FOREVER CHANGED MY FAMILIES LIVES. MY MOM WORKED IN A CHEMICAL PLANT,IMC, AND THIS PLANT WAS ACTUALLY THE "PLACE" THAT KEPT MY HOMETOWN IN BUSINESS. THE TOWN OF STERLINGTION DEPENDED ON THIS PLANT TO KEEP THINGS RUNNING AND GOING SMOOTH IN THIS SMALL TOWN.YOU CAN ALWAYS REST ASSURE THAT YOU KNEW YOU WERE IN STERLINGTON CITY LIMITS BECAUSE OF THE POTENT SMELL FROM THE PLANT. IT ALWAYS HAS A STRONG ODOR,AND WHEN I SMELL IT PASSING THROUGH, I GET A SICK FEELING IN MY STOMACH BECAUSE IT BRINGS TO MIND THAT AWFUL DAY WHEN TRAGEDY STRUCK A SMALL TOWN AND MANY MANY LIVES WERE TAKEN. MY MOM DID NOT HAVE TO BE AT WORK THAT DAY TILL 2PM, BUT SHE WENT IN EARLY THAT DAY TO TURN IN A DRAWING MY SISTER HAD DONE FOR A CONTEST THEY WERE HAVING AT THE PLANT. MY MOM ARRIVED AT THE PLANT AT 1:30 PM AND STARTED HER SHIFT LIKE ANY OTHER DAY. I WAS A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AT THAT TIME AND I WAS IN MY USUAL BORING AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS. JERRY AND I HAD ONLY BEEN DATING A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO MY TEACHER, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE NEXT TIME I WAS GOING TO SEE HIM ! IT WAS USUALLY RATHER HOT THAT DAY AND SINCE IT WAS RIGHT AFTER LUNCH, WE DECIDED TO OPEN THE WINDOWS SO WE COULD WAKE-UP A LITTLE AND MAYBE PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS. CLASS RESUMED AS USUAL BUT I HAD A "WEIRD" FEELING THAT I COULDN'T SHAKE. IT WAS LIKE SOME DARK FORCE WAS COMING OUT AND I WAS RATHER SCARED THAN CONCERNED. ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH CLASS, ONE OF MY CLASSMATES GLANCED OUT THE WINDOW AND SAID, " I WONDER WHERE ALL THAT SMOKE IS COMING FROM." WE ALL TURNED AND LOOKED AND THEN WHEN IT HAPPENED.LIFE AS WE KNEW IT WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE FOREVER AND WE WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME. IT WAS EXACTLY 1:45 PM AND THE SKY GOT REALLY DARK AND THEN IT HIT.THE SOUND WAS INDESCRIBABLE. AT FIRST, IT SOUNDED THAT THUNDER, THEN THE BIG ONE HIT, IT WAS LIKE A BOMB HAD BEEN DROPPED FROM THE SKY. IT WAS AN EXPLOSION. ONE OF MY FRIENDS WAS SITTING IN THE BACK OF THE CLASSROOM WAS EJECTED FROM HIS SEAT AND HE FLEW IN THE AIR AND HIT THE CHALKBOARD. EVERYTHING FROM THERE WAS IN SLOW MOTION.I COULD NOT GET A GRASP ON REALITY. WAS THIS REALLY HAPPENING? WHAT DID HAPPENED? THOUGHTS, RAMPANT THOUGHTS WERE RUNNING THROUGH MY MIND.THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS I HAD NO CONTROL OVER, AND I WAS PETRIFIED. MY LEGS WOULD NOT MOVE, I COULDN'T SPEAK. EVERYONE WAS RUNNING AROUND SCREAMING, WE WERE RUNNING INTO EACH OTHER, NOT KNOWING WHERE TO GO OR WHAT TO DO NEXT.THEN IT HIT ME ALL AT ONCE, SOMETHING HAPPENED AT THE PLANT. AND MY MOM, WHERE IS MY MOM? PEOPLE WERE SCREAMING "THE PLANT BLEW UP." ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS MY MOTHER, MY FRIEND, MY SUPPORTER, AND PROVIDER.THERE WAS A LADY THERE THAT I HAVE KNOWN FOR YEARS AND SHE SAID" DON'T WORRY, YOUR MOM DID NOT HAVE TO BE AT WORK TILL 2." I TOLD HER THAT SHE HAD WENT IN EARLY, AND I KNEW SHE WAS THERE. I WAS SICK, MY HEAD WAS SPINNING, AND MY HEART WAS IN MY THROAT. THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT MY BROTHER AND SISTER. HOW WOULD WE MANAGE WITHOUT OUR MOTHER? MY FATHER HAD DIED WHEN I WAS FOUR, MY MOTHER WAS A WIDOWER AT 21, WITH 3 KIDS. ALL WE HAD WAS OUR MOTHER, GOD PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY MOTHER. THEN THE MOST AMAZING THING HAPPENED. I WAS PRAYING TO GOD, PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY MOTHER, PLEASE LET HER BE OK, AND THEN I GOT THE MOST AMAZING UNEXPLAINABLE FEELING. GOD SPOKE TO ME WITH A PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING. HE TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS OK, HURT, BUT SHE WOULD LIVE. THAT FEELING WAS LIKE NO OTHER FEELING I HAVE EVER EVER HAD. WHEN I LOOK BACK, THE FEELING I HAD WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE BORN WAS UNREAL. I WAS SO ELATED AND HAPPY, BUT TO THIS DAY, I HAVE NEVER HAD A FEELING LIKE WHEN GOD SPOKE TO ME. I STILL GET CHILLS AND SHIVERS DOWN MY SPINE WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, I BELIEVE THERE WILL NEVER BE A FEELING LIKE THAT EVER, THERE IS NO WAY TO EXPLAIN IT, IT WAS SUPERNATURAL, IT WAS OF GOD. I JUST CAN IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT GOD, HOW COULD SOMEONE NOT BELIEVE IN HIM, HE IS REAL, HE SPEAKS TO ME DAILY. HE SPOKE TO ME THAT TRAGIC DAY, HIS PRESENCE WAS FELT AND WANTED. TIME WAS STANDING STILL AND I WAS NOT COMING TO TERMS WITH WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. EVERYONE WAS ORDERED TO EVACUATE TOWN AND TO GET AWAY FROM TOWN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.THERE WERE MAJOR THREATS, INHALATION OF DEADLY CHEMICALS, DEBRIS WAS FLYING AROUND EVERYWHERE, AND THERE WAS JUST MERE DANGER. I HAD FINALLY FOUND MY BROTHER AND SISTER. WE HAD TO STICK TOGETHER, WE NEEDED EACH OTHER NOW MORE THAN EVER. WE WERE TAKEN TO ONE OF MY BEST FRIEND'S HOUSE. THEIR DAD WAS ALWAYS LIKE MY DAD, BUT NOW HE WAS REALLY A DAD TO ME. WE FINALLY GOT WORD THAT MY MOM WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL IN A PICK-UP TRUCK WITH ALL FOUR TIRES RIPPED TO SHREDS AND HOW THEY MADE IT THERE WAS ONLY AN ACT OF GOD. GOD SHOWED AND PREFORMED A MIRACLE THAT DAY. I BELIEVED IN MIRACLES BACK THEN AND I BELIEVE IN THEM STILL. MY MOM SHARED WITH ME SOME MONTHS LATER WHAT SHE EXPERIENCED. I NEVER BROUGHT IT UP. I KNEW WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT, SHE WOULD OPEN UP AND TELL US ABOUT IT. SOME DETAILS ARE TOO GRAPHIC, AND DUE TO HER PRIVACY, I WILL NOT SHARE EVERYTHING. SHE REALLY THOUGHT SHE WAS DYING.SHE WAS IN AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND IN AWE AND DISBELIEF OF WHAT HAS HAPPENING. SHE SHARED WITH ME THAT SHE REMEMBERS WHEN IT FIRST HIT HER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. SHE WAS STANDING AROUND OUTSIDE TALKING TO SOME CO-WORKERS WHEN THEY HEARD THE FIRST LITTLE EXPLOSION. SHE SAID THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE A FIRECRACKER. ONE OF HER BOSSES TURNED TO HER, THE LOOK ON HIS FACE WAS OF A LOOK OF DISASTER. THEN THE "MAIN" EXPLOSION HAPPENED. SHE REMEMBERS BEING DRAGGED INTO MID AIR AND HITTING A TRUCK :THEN DEBRIS, METAL, AND GLASS WERE FLYING AT HER EVERYWHERE. SHE SAID THAT PEOPLE WERE SCREAMING AND RUNNING AND TRYING TO ESCAPE. EVERYTHING WAS IN SLOW MOTION. SHE WAS SCREAMING FOR HELP AND NO ONE COULD HEAR HER. SHE TRIED TO MOVE HER ARM, BUT COULDN'T, FOR IT WAS BROKE.SHE TRIED TO MOVE HER LEG, BUT NO SUCCESS, IT WAS BROKE TOO. HER BACK FELT MUSHY. SHE WAS THINKING THAT SHE WAS NEVER GOING TO GET OUT OF THERE ALIVE. FINALLY, SOMEONE HEARD HER, GOD BLESS YOU, AND HE STARTED TO PULL DEBRIS, METAL, GLASS, AND STUFF THAT YOU CAN'T IMAGINE OFF OF HER. SHE FINALLY ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL. REPORTERS WERE THERE WAITING AND THEY NEVER RESPECT PRIVACY. THEY TOOK HER PICTURE AND IT WAS IN THE NEWSPAPER THE NEXT DAY. I REMEMBER WHEN I FINALLY GOT TO SEE HER FOR THE 1ST TIME SINCE THAT MORNING. I STILL CAN REMEMBER THE CLOTHES THAT SHE WAS WEARING, FOR THE IMAGES THAT I WAS ABOUT TO SEE WHERE DIFFERENT , FOR THE NEXT YEAR WOULD BE ONE OF UNKNOWN TERRITORY , MY MOM WOULD NOT BE THE SAME. WHEN I SAW HER I WAS SHOCKED AND SCARED FOR HER. I HAD TO PREPARE MYSELF FOR WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO SEE. I WAS WARNED BUT YOU ARE NEVER PREPARED. I WENT IN AND SAW HER. THIS WAS NOT MY MOM, I KEPT THINKING. MY LIFE WITH MY MOM FLASHED BEFORE MY EYES. THESE IMAGES WERE OF MY CHILDHOOD. MY MOM COOKING FOR ME, MOM PICKING ME UP FROM A FALL OF MY BIKE, HER LAUGHING AT OUR JOKES. MY MOM WHO SO LOVINGLY CONSOLED ME WHEN MY 1ST LOVE HAS BROKEN MY HEART. MY MOM WAS MY LIFE, MY PROVIDER, MY COMFORTER, MY FRIEND, MY MOM. THE ROLES WERE SOON REVERSED, I WAS THE MOTHER NOW. I WOULD SOON BE ON A JOURNEY OF SELF-MATURITY, AND OF LEARNING THAT LIFE WAS A JOURNEY OF UNPREDICTABILITY'S AND UNCERTAINTIES. I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO CONQUER IT WITH THE SUPPORT OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY, BUT MOST OF ALL WITH THE LORD GUIDING MY THOUGHTS AND GIVING ME THE GRACE TO HANDLE THE SITUATION THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US THAT DAY. MY MOM WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A WHILE. SHE SUFFERED MANY INJURIES, A BROKE ARM, A BROKE LEG, SHATTERED TAILBONE, AND A SMASHED BACK. SHE HAD SEVERAL PIECES OF METAL EMBEDDED IN HER. MY MOM HAS MANY SCARS, SOME ARE PHYSICAL, BUT THE MAIN SCARS ARE OF THOSE FRIENDS SHE LOST, AND OF THE SCARS OF HAVING HER LIFE CHANGED FOREVER AND OF WHAT HER FAMILY HAD TO ENDURE. SHE LOOKS AT THIS TRAGEDY AS A LESSON IN APPRECIATING LIFE. FOR SHE KNOWS NOW THAT LIFE IS A PRECIOUS THING THAT CAN BE TAKEN WAY IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. YOU CAN BE HERE TODAY, AND GONE TOMORROW. MY MOM'S EMOTIONS WERE OF THE HIGHEST AND SHE WANTED TO PRESENT HERSELF AS THE STRONG WOMAN SHE HAD ALWAYS BEEN FOR US. I LET HER KNOW THAT I WAS THERE TO BE HER ROCK, THAT SHE COULD LAY ALL HER CONCERNS AND FEARS ON ME, GOD WAS GIVING ME THE GRACE AND HE WAS ALLOWING ME TO BE HER STRENGTH, LIKE SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN FOR ME. IT WAS MY TURN TO TAKE CARE OF HER, TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND TO BE ALL SHE NEEDED AT THIS POINT IN HER LIFE. SHE WOULD SOON RETURN HOME, AFTER EXTENSIVE THERAPY. IT WAS THEN THAT I STARTED MY JOURNEY OF BEING THE "MAIN" CAREGIVER. MY MOTHER HAS TAUGHT US WELL. SHE BELIEVED IN SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND BEING INDEPENDENT, THAT WE SHOULD REILLY ON NO ONE TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. FOR IF YOU WANT IT TO HAPPEN, MAKE IT HAPPEN YOURSELF; SHE USED TO SAY TO US. I WAS AGGRAVATED AT THAT, BUT NOW THAT I AM AN ADULT, WITH MY OWN FAMILY, I HAVE COME TO APPRECIATE HER ROUGHNESS BECAUSE IT HAS ONLY HELPED ME WITH MY OWN ENDEAVORS I HAVE PURSUED. SHE TAUGHT US THAT WITH HARD WORK AND DEDICATION WE COULD BE ALL THAT WE WANTED TO BE. I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH MY LIFE SO FAR BECAUSE OF MY MOM'S CHILD REARING EFFORTS. MY MOM HAD TO HAVE A SPECIAL BED TO LIE IN, BECAUSE OF HER BACK, IT WAS A NIKE AIR BED, AND WAS FAIRLY NEW, THEY JUST CAME OUT WITH IT, SO WE DECIDED TO HAVE IT DELIVERED TO MY GRANDMA'S HOUSE. THERE WAS SO MUCH TO CONSIDER, SO WE DECIDED IT WAS BEST TO GO TO HER MOTHER'S HOUSE. LIKE EVERY MOTHER, WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN. GOD BLESS MY MAMMAW. HER CHILD WAS IN NEED, AND SHE WANTED TO BE THERE FOR HER. WE TRIED TO RESUME OUR NORMAL LIFE, WE ACCEPTED THE OBSTACLES BEFORE US, AND WE WERE DETERMINED TO MAKE A RAINBOW OUT OF THIS DARKNESS THAT WAS UPON US. WE HAD SCHOOL TO CONSIDER,COOKING HAD TO BE DONE( I WAS IN CHARGE OF THIS ASPECT) CLOTHES WASHED AND MOST OF ALL, TAKING CARE OF MY MOTHER. SHE HAD LOST MOST CONTROL OVER HER LIFE, SHE HAD ALWAYS BEEN THE ONE IN CONTROL, BUT HER CHILDREN WERE THE ONE IN CONTROL NOW, BUT WE DID TRY TO HELP HER GAIN SOME OF IT BACK,WE GAVE HER THE UTMOST RESPECT, AND TRIED TO GIVE HER SOME SELF-DIGNITY. WE RESPECTED HER AS A PERSON, EVEN MORE AS OUR MOTHER. IT WOULD BE MONTHS, A YEAR TO BE EXACT BEFORE SHE COULD WALK AGAIN. SHE ATTENDED MY HOMECOMING CEREMONY IN A WHEELCHAIR, BUT SHE WANTED TO BE THERE TO SEE HER DAUGHTER CROWNED "HOMECOMING QUEEN". SHE WANTED TO BE MY SUPPORT, BUT IN RETURN, I WAS HER SUPPORT TOO. IT IS AMAZING WHEN YOU PUT YOURSELF IN OTHER'S SHOES. YOU COME TO RESPECT OTHER'S JOURNEYS, THE PATHS OF LIFE THAT WAS CHOSEN FOR THEM. I SOON APPRECIATED THE ROLES OF A MOTHER, MY MOTHER, AND I WAS TILL GLAD THAT I WAS STILL VERY MUCH A KID. SHE STRUGGLED WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO DO FOR HERSELF, BUT HER HEART OPENED HER TO NEW INSIGHTS ON LIFE, AND SHE REALIZED THAT IS WAS OK TO ACCEPT HELP WHEN IT WAS NEEDED. I HAVE THAT TRAIT TOO. I DO NOT LIKE RELYING ON OTHERS TO DO ANYTHING. I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD ALWAYS TAKE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MY OWN ACTIONS. THIS WAS LIKE MY MOM, I WAS MY MOM. MY MOM HAS RETURNED TO US,SHE HAS SOMEWHAT CHANGED,BECAUSE CHANGE IS INEVITABLE, WE ALL CHANGE LIKE EVERY NEW SEASON THAT IS PRESENTED TO US. SHE IS STILL A VERY OPTIMISTIC WOMAN,WHO LOOKS AT TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS AS CHALLENGES TO MAKE US BETTER AND MORE CHRIST LIKE INDIVIDUALS. I REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS LATER A QUESTION THAT I HAD ASKED HER. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ACCIDENT, AND I ASKED HER WITH THE MOST UTMOST RESPECT. "MOM, ARE YOU BITTER WITH THE SITUATIONS THAT YOU WERE DEALT WITH ?" I WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT SHE SAID TO ME.SHE SAID " NO DANIELLE, I'M NOT,GOD HAS REALLY BLESSED ME, WHY FOCUS ON THE BAD WHEN THE GOOD OUT WEIGHS IT. I WILL NEVER BLAME GOD FOR ANYTHING, NOT FOR ME GETTING HURT, NOT FOR YOUR DADDY DYING, NOT FOR ANYTHING." WOW, MY MOM IS AMAZING! MY MOM KNOWS THAT GOD'S WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS. SHE REALIZES THAT GOD'S WORKS ARE FAR BEYOND OUR COMPREHENSION. SHE KNOWS THAT YOU CANNOT CHEAT DEATH, AND THAT EVERY MOMENT YOU HAVE ON THIS EARTH SHOULD BE CHERISHED AND APPRECIATED. SHE KNOWS, BECAUSE HER LIFE WAS ALMOST TAKEN. SHE LIVED AND SAW LIVES TAKEN AND HERS SPARED, SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHY, BUT SHE IS GRATEFUL FOR HER LIFE BEING SPARED. SHE KNOWS THAT GOD STILL HAS MANY THINGS IN STORE FOR HER LIFE. WE FEEL AS A FAMILY THAT GOD WILL USE THIS TRAGEDY AS A BLESSING TO OTHERS. THAT THROUGH TRAGEDY, WHEN CAN STILL COME THOUGH IT ALL A BETTER PERSON. MY MOM HAS ENDURED HARDSHIPS THAT ONLY PEOPLE COULD DREAM OF. SHE HAS LIVED WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF THINGS LIVED AND LEARNED, THAT LIFE IS A JOURNEY OF ACCEPTANCE OF GOOD AND BAD, AND WE CAN ONLY BE THE PERSON GOD WANT US TO BE THROUGH TRAGEDY. THEN HE CAN SEE US THROUGH IT SO WHEN CAN BLOSSOM INTO TRIUMPH, GOD'S TRIUMPH. HE LIVES THROUGH US, POURING OUT BLESSINGS ONLY HE CAN GIVE. WE JUST HAVE TO BE WILLING VESSELS AND RECEIVE IT. WE OFTEN THINK OF A "WONDER WOMAN" AS I MIGHTY FIGHTER,ONE WHO HAS IT ALL TOGETHER. THE ONE WHO IS ALWAYS MULTI-TASKING, ON TOP OF COOKING AND CLEANING... PERFECT. I THINK A WONDER WOMAN IS A WOMAN WHO CAN REALLY APPRECIATE AND ACCEPT LIFE'S UNCERTAINTIES AND ACCEPT THEIR DOWNFALLS AND THEIR GIFTS WITH UTMOST DIGNITY. IT IS ALL ABOUT KNOWING YOU ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS YOUR WEAKNESS ALLOWS. IT IS UP TO YOU TO ACCEPT LIFE'S CHALLENGES AND DO SOMETHING REALLY MEANINGFUL WITH WHAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED. THEN SOMEHOW SHARE IT WITH OTHERS. A REAL SUPER WOMAN IS ONE THAT LIVES THROUGH TRAGEDY AND COMES OUT A MORE COMPASSIONATE INDIVIDUAL WHO ACCEPTS ANYTHING LIFE THROWS AT THEM, BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO IT, FAMILY IS ALWAYS THERE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU AND THAT IS THE BEST TRIUMPH OF ALL! GOD BLESS YOU MOTHER, YOU ARE MY ROCK, MY HERO, MY SUPER WOMAN!

2008-MY SISTER, ERIN, MY MOM, DANIELLE, AND BAILEE GRACE
MY MOM IS A FRIEND,A COMFORTER, A ENCOURAGER, A HERO, A SURVIVOR!

ANGUS CHEMICAL PLANT 2008

MANY BUSINESSES WOULD NEVER BE REBUILT, WE GO ON AS BEST AS WE KNOW HOW. OUR HOMETOWN WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. WE ARE ONLY HERE BY THE GRACE OF GOD.