Summer has arrived!

Finally, it seems as if summer has arrived.  I gave in and turned on the air this week as it was just to warm to sleep well and we've all been awfully busy around here, so we need our sleep. :)

Sunday we went to St. Louis to celebrate Charlotte's first birthday.  Charlotte is the first great niece on Mike's side.  We had an amazing time visiting with family and sitting out in the back yard enjoying a little sunshine.....something we hadn't seen much of for over 3 weeks!  On our way home, Mike and I were discussing going to a major cattle show in Neosho, MO the next day.  We really didn't plan on buying anything or much anyway, but wanted to go to the sale.  The boys left for youth soon after we arrived at home and then Mike decided we should head out that night and drive part of the way.  After quickly finding a hotel room in Springfield we finished up chores and headed out.  It is so nice to have such responsible young men as our sons that Mike and I can just go and not worry about getting someone to take care of everything around here.

After the sale on Monday we decided to drive through the edge of Joplin.  Words just cannot express the total destruction from their tornado.  We didn't even drive through the worst part of it and yet we still could barely comprehend it.  The other thing that struck me was the amount of help that was already on-site.  I cannot help but compare this disaster to Hurricane Katrina.  The people of New Orleans were quite upset that President Bush did not come until 4 days post Katrina.  His reasoning was that he did not want to get in the way of the search and rescue operations.  President Obama didn't make it to Joplin until one week post tornado because he was in Europe.  We didn't hear or read of any complaints of the Joplin residents.  They were simply too busy picking up the pieces of their lives and moving forward.  By Friday, one of the animal hospitals was already rebuilding.  The building was framed up already and they were ready for the siding, electrical, plumbing and insulation.  AMAZING!  Our youth pastor has headed down as a relief chaplain this week.  Today they reported that all missing were accounted for and the total count for those who lost their lives was 134.  One church sign that we saw on our way out of town displayed the sermon message title, "Where do we go from here?"  I truly believe Joplin will rebuild and become even stronger through this trial.  There is a resiliency that must only come from the Lord.

We arrived home in time for chores and supper on Monday night.  The boys had been chopping rye grass silage all day and were just a little tired.  It was good to sit and just visit with them for a while.  I do love this live God has blessed me with.