I sit here, staring at a blank page, trying to gather my thoughts so I can work on a few blog posts yet I’m unable to gather my thoughts or concentrate on my task. Each time I try to get started, I’m distracted by all the Facebook posts about the deadly tornadoes today. From weather pages posting updates as the severe weather continues to friends posting about loved ones who lost everything or who they are still trying to make contact with… from devastating news reports of the damage to the heart breaking updates of all the deaths, especially all the children at the school who lost their lives. My heart is breaking for those families who lost loved ones, for those who lost everything. It literally makes me ill as I continue to hear more updates. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone tonight who was affected by this terrible storm as well as with those affected by yesterday’s storms.
I cried as they showed footage from the destruction, as they continue to update the death count, as they report about the children at the elementary school. I am speechless as I see the destruction this tornado left in its path. Having been through a tornado, one that is nowhere near this magnitude, I immediately want to get out and help. I want to do anything, no matter how small, to help these people.
As devastating and heartbreaking it is to hear of anyone who lost their life in the storm, it especially hits hard to hear about the children at the school. I absolutely can’t imagine what those parents are going through right now. I can’t imagine dropping my child off at school then to not being able to go pick her up. Not to have her run up and give me a huge hug at the end of her school day. That rips my heart to pieces. A simple, normal day ended in tragedy for some families today. There are no words, no way I can imagine the pain these parents and families in Oklahoma are experiencing right now.
It reminds us all that something can happen in a split second, you just never know. I always make sure to tell both Abby and Hubby that I love them before they leave the house, give them huge hugs and a big kiss. I know sometimes we get rushed and might not think we have that spare moment. You know what I mean… you over slept and now running late for work or you get a little frustrated with your child because they are taking a bit too long to get ready and you end up being rushed and perhaps don’t say that extra little “I love you” before going your separate ways for the day. Stop and think, what if you never got that moment again to remind them that you love them or to get one more little hug. You are never too busy for a quick hug, a kiss, an “I love you”.
Tonight I’m holding Abby a little tighter, giving her lots of extra hugs and kisses and I’m putting work aside to spend more time with her. My thoughts and prayers are with all of those in OK right now. Hug your loved ones tonight, be thankful for each moment you have with them. It’s not just storms that make me think like this, anything terrible reminds me of just how unexpected life can be at times and how, in a blink of an eye, everything can change. Tornados, school shootings, hurricanes, fires, etc… it shouldn’t take something so devastating to remind us. I plan to remember to be grateful for each day all the time, not just when a tragedy reminds me to.
We have severe weather moving in tonight and tomorrow so I will probably be offline quite a bit. To those in any of the storms paths, stay safe! Don’t second guess anything, keep your eye on the weather and if they are predicting severe weather make sure you take all the precautions necessary to protect your family. Have a storm emergency kit ready if possible or at least have the must have items in a bag ready to grab, know where your shelters are if you don’t have a safe place in your home or your own shelter (today, they said closets and bathroom wouldn’t keep you safe, you needed to be below ground to survive). Make sure you have a way to keep up with the weather, weather radios are wonderful plus there are several great aps available. I follow several amazing pages on Facebook that keep me up to date even when I’m unable to be near a TV. Most of all, stay safe!
*I apologize if my thoughts seem a little jumbled, watching the news is quite devastating and keeping my thoughts on track a little difficult as I continue to follow the news. Plus, I’m fighting a major migraine and with storms moving in, I need to be able to stay awake and alert throughout the night so I’m unable to take anything for the pain.
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