Update

Well, I am grateful that all we had to do last night was hunker down in a bathroom.  I am just sick at all of the devastation in a town that was also hit three years ago.  Children, teens, young moms and dads, and grandmas and grandpas all lost their lives.   It has been a very sad day for all of us.  We were so blessed it passed by the north end of Searcy.

A member of our congregation lost his life.

(from the Arkansas Democrat)

"Daniel Wassom was huddled in a hallway of a Vilonia home during the storm with his wife, Suzanne, and daughters Lorelei, 5, and Sydney, 7, neighbors and a relative said. Suzanne Wassom even posted on Facebook about it. At the height of the tornado, a large piece of lumber crashed toward the family. Dan Wassom, 31, who served in the Air Force, shielded Lorelei, taking the brunt of the blow to his neck, said Carol Arnett, Dan Wassom's grandmother.

It was a fatal blow. Lorelei suffered a shoulder injury and was hospitalized. Suzanne Wassom was hit by something in the head.

"Dan always put his family first," Arnett said, wiping away tears. "They're just good people. They love God and their children.""

For those that are able, a fund has been set up to help pay for funeral expenses.

As with any tragedy, any little bit can help.

How do you spend your Sunday night??

We are hunkered down at the church because of multiple tornadoes headed our way!

Even Axle!

On Your Mark......

Ethan right before the start of the race. He was on cloud nine.

Random Pictures

Yes, lame blog, it is time for a random picture dump.  Meager as it is.

Ethan and his bud, Axle.  He has been with us one whole year (Axle, not Ethan).  He is a great dog, but we really  need to stay on top of the discipline.  It is hard when he is home alone all day.  Poor fella.

Ethan's latest appointment at Children's Hospital.  Eye appointment.  We were gone for six hours that day.  Those appointments are exhausting.

Jordan and his choir teacher, Mrs. N, at Senior cry fest.  Yep, it was a long night.

The 5th Annual 65 Roses Tour was today.  Great success!!  Nearly 200 riders, great weather, no injuries, and Ethan got to start the race!  Honestly, bike rider outfits are awesome.

Imagine riding 65 miles with a good portion uphill.  Now imagine one of those hills is very, very steep....and long....and did I mention steep?  These riders didn't even slow down - they passed every hydration station with a wave.

I hope I get to visit this summer - I think I am really missing three little ones :-(  (And two big ones ;-)

Old Friends and New

Where is the school year going?  I had to take a couple of weeks off from seeing my own group of students at school in order to help with state testing (quick, pull me off my soapbox!!).

This week is a fairly "normal" week and it seems like they have grown!  I think we may have needed a break from each other.  They were all happy to see me and I was happy to see them.  We had SEVEN new children enroll within three days last week.  It was crazy.  And one of them was quickly taken into custody by DHS.  She has been to four schools so far this year (she is a five year old).  She just hugs you and says "I love to come here, I don't ever want to leave."   It is enough to break your heart.

Jordan only has two more weeks of school.  He is planning on going to school in Arizona at the college where his grandparents and parents went.  His grandpa was also president of the college.  He is excited.  His good friend received his mission papers this week and will be going to Chile.  We are all very excited for him!

I travel now on Sundays to different units around our stake.  This week one of the ladies I travel with brought her son.  His name is also Ethan.  Her Ethan and my Ethan are now friends!  They are six years apart, but that didn't stop them from becoming buddies.  It was so cute to watch them become friends.

Spring teased us for a couple of days but tonight we have a freeze warning.  Woowhee, Arkansas!