Our views of the flood!

Here are some pictures that Jonathan took yesterday afternoon and early today of our view of the flood. I tried to label the pictures so you could tell what you were looking at in each one. We still have company as Montie and Jonathan are over helping Darin and Amy clean out their basement. Elaine and I are stuck here with 5 children but are cool and safe and that's all that matters. I will post an update of my experience of evacuating the hospital when I can sit quietly and gather my thoughts.
In the meantime...enjoy the photos. Click on the photo below to view our collection!

Columbus, Indiana Flood

Family night...

Once again, our wonderful neighbors down the street gave us tickets to a baseball game! Parker was thrilled! We decided to take the twins along this time as well! This was their first experience at a ballgame like that and without a stroller! They walked right along with us all the way from the parking garage into the stadium and up to our seats! We had 4 seats for the 5 of us and were thankful we didn't have to hold both of them on our laps the entire night! They did fairly well, considering it was about a 2 1/2 hr game. Jonathan declares he missed half of the game due to taking kids to the bathroom and getting food, souviners, etc! HA! Serves him right. He usually makes me go out for everything! I did my fair share of going out as well! Our "free" night ended up costing us about $80.00 by the time the evening was over! Between ballpark food and hats/T-shirts, it was a costly family night! We had a good time and made some memories though! (Jonathan says Peyton can't ever go back! :)

Ready for "Family Night" So excited...
Ready for the big game...My 3 little Indians...
So proud of his new shirt...
She picked out the pink hat with sparkles...
Peyton had to be just like Parker

Tornado Sirens...

Today was not a good day around here as far as weather! I woke up at 5:45am to a nice, quiet, steady rain shower! It was really muggy as I was walking into work just before 7am. As the morning went on, it began to look a little "green" outside. We had some very heavy rain and wind. The babysitter was at our house with our 3 kids. Around 2pm, the tornado sirens went off all over town and I called home to make sure the sitter knew to take the kids to the basement! They were already down there and Paige was hysterical. I got her calmed down and all was well...

Tonight around 8:30pm, Jonathan was gone to get us a bite to eat. (Terrible eating habits, we know, but he had just finished mowing!) Yes...he did actually mow because we live on sand it is is as dry as a bone! Anyway...the sirens started sounding once more. Parker piped up and said, "Oh no...not again!" I didn't say a word as I didn't want to scare them. Too late, the twins came running out of the room wanting to know, "What's that?" I told them we needed to go to the basement because a tornado was coming. They were crying and Parker was about to hyperventilate. I was trying to call Jonathan!!! I begin to clear out the garage, which was full of totes of leftovers from our sale on Saturday. Jonathan thought we better pull the vehicle in tonight! At this time, the phone rings and it is Jonathan's mom wanting to know if we were okay and making sure that we knew the storm was headed our way! I told her we were in the process of going downstairs!
On the way down, we grabbed a phone, flashlight and of course...my wireless laptop! :) After all...this was blog material!!! We took our supper with us and Parker and Paige were too scared to eat! Not Peyton...nothing was going to stop him from his food!!! He scarfed down almost the entire meal that he and Paige were to split!! Paige had to go potty so up we came, then later Parker had to potty and up he and Jonathan went. Then Paige had to go again! We need to finish installing the bathroom down there! Parker kept getting himself all worked up over the storm and started acting like he was going to get sick! Sure enough...he found an old trash can and barfed right there!

We prayed and listened to the weather on the radio full of static, and came upstairs when it seemed to have passed! It was to hit about 3-5 miles from here! We again prayed and thanked Jesus for keeping us safe and now our kids are all snoozing happily! Mommy and Daddy are going to pray that those silly sirens don't go off during the night! That could be disastrous!

Our weekend!

Saturday morning began bright and early, before 5am, with us getting ready for our big garage sale! We arrived at the school barn at 6am and began hauling big items and furniture outside. The sky did not look as if it were going to cooperate with us that day! It was breezy and dark and we were all silently praying for good weather. The weather did cooperate and it turned out to be a beautiful day!
Our first customer showed up at 6:30am and we were not officially open until 7am! We were all busy and didn't want to appear rude since we were representing the church, so we let him shop! (He bought a lot of stuff too!!!) People came and went all day, buying arm loads of "stuff!" We had two cashier tables and were busy most of the time. Randy and Tricia were "working the crowd" as they would go carry the armloads of stuff to the tables up front so the people could grab another arm load full! Randy would just go around and chat with everyone and then would spread out the tables when he saw a big open area! The guys would help the ladies to their cars when they had large amounts of purchases! The people were commenting on how organized everything was and how nice it was for us to help them with their purchases!
We only had one episode that we were aware of where someone stole from us! The man knew what he was doing too! He bought one item, specifically asked for a bag and then gave the bag to his little girl and sent her inside the barn! She put some items in the bag and they walked out! Amy saw them and knew what they were doing but didn't say anything.
There were people in and out all day and the first time that we didn't have any customers at all was at 2:50pm. We were to close at 3pm but people kept coming until 4pm!
It was a fun but exhausting day for everyone! Special thanks to Brother and Sister Grissom and Nathan and Tricia Grissom for all their hard work! We appreciated it very much! This makes the funds for Jr Church last all year long and the kids really appreciate their prizes, parties, candy, etc!

Thanks so much everyone!!!

(I have tried all morning to get the cover picture to appear but am having difficulties! Just click on the blank picture below to see pictures from our sale!)

Jr Church Garage Sale

Having trouble loving my neighbors...

It's only the 2nd day of summer vacation and already I wish it were August! Not for my kids sake, but so the kids next door would be gone all day! The 2 neighbor boys next door think they have to have numerous boys over to play an official game of baseball in their back yard and use our yard as an outfield. They have hit the siding on my house multiple times today and their babysitter is sitting on the back porch reading a book and completely oblivious to the situation! I have glared through the mini blinds already and they saw me but continue to smash the ball towards the house! They don't let Parker play with them because he is smaller than them so therefore, he can't go out and play in his own back yard!
We have talked for years of getting a fence but I think it has now become a necessity! I emailed Jonathan at work and told him to call and send them out for an estimate ASAP! I want a tall fence and want it as close to the border of our property as possible! That will completely stop their baseball games and I will be a much happier neighbor lady! I will also be able to send the twins outside with nothing to worry about!!! (With the exception that they will be eating dirt, etc!)
Last Sunday, Parker's memory verse was "Love thy neighbors..." We had a real lesson over that one because he said, "I hate my neighbors!" :) This week it is "Love your enemies!" He and I will have a lesson again I am sure!