remembering...

Dearest Dani~

I can not believe a year has passed.  A year since you were so suddenly taken away from your family and friends. I think about you everyday, you are always on my heart Dani.  I can still remember everything about this day last year.  The feelings still fresh, the wounds still deep, my heart still hurts the same.  I just wish the last time we spoke, I would have had a lot more to say than the things we actually did. 

Dani, your family is so strong , and I am so proud of the way they are able to celebrate your life. Your mom is truly one of the most amazing people I know, and those babies of yours are just beautiful.    Your friends, always remembering the happy little Dani, that we all know and love.  Your life is truly something to celebrate and so many people love you dearly.  You touched so many hearts!!

I don't always understand God's plan, but must trust that he needed you to be in heaven with him.  That doesn't make it hurt any less, it doesn't make it sting less to know that you were stolen out of this world, it doesn't seem fair, but I have to know that someday, we will meet again in heaven, and we will get to talk again and laugh and hug.  I miss you Dani.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Revelation 21: 2-4

What's on your heart ?

a heavy heart for Joplin, Missouri

last night, after hearing of the "absolute distruction" that had occurred in Joplin, Missouri, I immediately got on my phone and texted one of my best friends from nursing school who was employed at St. John's hospital, the hospital that took the tornado's direct hit.  my husband too, was immediately on his phone, calling his friend, also employed at st. johns.  thankfully, our friends were safe, and neither of them were at work when the tornado hit, but both were on their way to help out. 

my heart was heavy, I was feeling conflicted.  St. John's, not only an amazing hospital, filled with employees I happened to know, was also a place where I spent a lot of time in nursing school.  I felt a calling to help, so off we went, a team of 4 nurses and my brave husband.

I am just shocked by this devastation.  I can't believe, a place I once frequented, was now no longer.  Joplin proved its sense of community, as evidenced by the amazing volunteers and medical staff that were available to help. 

the very next morning, again, Joplin was hit with another storm with possible "rotation" and we found ourselves in the basement of the make-shift triage center.  and the storms continue, making search and rescue difficult.

please keep Joplin in your prayers.. please pray that those who are lost or missing, are soon found and reunited with their loved ones, that those who are wounded or injured will have a speedy recovery, that those who lost their homes and belongings will have the strength to rebuild, that those who lost their loved ones will be reunited someday at the gates of heaven, that those firemen and police officers are safe and are successful in their search and rescue efforts, that those doctors, nurses and medical personnel can have level heads and steady hands and provide the best care possible to their patients, and for those who lost their lives due to this tragedy, may they rest in peace.

tree completely uprooted

direct path of the tornado

rangeline

ihop

what was left of home depot, {rangeline}

apartment complexes, gone

all that was left of a burger king

after coming home, I feel blessed to have those things that may be taken for granted. my home. my possessions, my family and friends accounted for, even my hospital intact and functional, and most of all, my baby and being able to kiss her good night tonight.

please continue to pray for all those affected by the destructive tornado's over the weekend, and please keep Reading, Kansas in your prayers as they too were devastated with severe weather.

god bless!