(I don't know who created this image, I found it on Facebook. But I love it, so thanks to the artist!)
Every morning before Ryan leaves to go to school, he leans over and gives a groggy version of me a kiss. This morning he gave me an extra one. I am unbelievably thankful that he could do that, because I know that there are a lot of our neighbors and friends in our state that aren't able to do the same.
After watching news coverage all day yesterday of our neighbors just 18 miles south go through such loss and destruction after the tornados yesterday, it's hard to imagine going back to life as normal. How can I continue on with my every day activities knowing so much pain and hurt is being felt so close to me?
I'm sure that most everyone in this area has seen a lot of ways to help, but here are some incase you are looking. Of course in times like this money is needed, so you can donate to Red Cross easily by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10, or online at http://redcross.org and give to the Central and Western Oklahoma Region. Also, if you are in the OKC area, Salvation Army is doing a drop off at KFOR Studios (444 E. Britton Rd., Oklahoma City, OK 73114) for items:
- Bottled water - Gatorade - Wipes - Diapers - Baby formula - Hand towels - Individually wrapped snacks - Work gloves
When I was waiting in line to donate supplies at KFOR today, there was a little girl with her mom in front of me. She couldn't have been more than 8, and she was clutching a ziplock bag of a couple of wrinkled dollars and a hodgepodge of change. I heard her mom tell a worker than her daughter emptied her piggy bank and would like to donate her savings to the children.
::Gulp::
It's that spirit of complete giving that will carry us through.
But I also know that it's not going to be just this week, or next, or next that this disaster will be over. It's going to take months and years. When I was listening to the radio today I heard people calling offering their services-- A cell phone repair place offering free water damage repairs and a place to charge your phones, an eye clinic replacing glasses and giving eye exams. I keep thinking to myself what I can do to help rebuild these people lives more than just donating time, money and supplies.
In a situation of complete destruction, the next few months are going to be a time of gathering the pieces and trying to get back to a somewhat normal existence. But at some point people are going to need to start building memories again, replacing photos lost in the wreckage, and having something to hang on the walls of their temporary houses that makes it feel like home. So over the next year Ely Fair Photography would like to donate a free session a month to families affected by the tornado. If you or anyone you know might want a session over the next few months, please contact me at ely {at} elyfairphotos {dot} com.
Our prayers are for you, Moore.