Being grateful

Today, Oklahomans watched in heart-wrenching pain as the news announced the search for the 3 year old boy is over
he has been found dead!

For those of you NOT in this area, here's a little background. On Tuesday evening, Piedmont, OK (about 2 hours from me) was hit with a tornado. A pregnant mother- Catherine Hamil- sat in the bathtub holding as tight as she could to her 5 year old, her 3 year old, and her 15 month old children. The tornado hit their home straight on- ripping her children from her arms. The 15 month old died, the 3 year old was missing (until this morning), the 5 year old is in the PICU at the hospital. The mom is also in the hospital- she's had 1 surgery & is scheduled for another (her baby inside is doing fine!). The father was out of town working at the time of the tornado. He came home to help search for Ryan (the 3 year old); and he was the one who made the announcement on live news at about 10:30 this morning!

So, as I sit here thinking- like us emotional women do- I put myself in her shoes and am completely heart broken ... what if that had been me? A friend told me, "It's OK, you're kids are safe." But I think to myself- Catherine Hamil's kids were safe Tuesday morning... but then the tornado hit and now she's lost 2 of her precious blessings. You never know when a horrendous tragedy will happen...when something or someone you hold dear will be torn from your arms.

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As the kids cry, scream, pull hair, take a toy, fight, argue, say "NO" to each other and me, and do whatever else irritates the FIRE out of me,

I know that Catherine would give ANYTHING to have her kids cry, scream, pull hair, take toys, fight, argue, and say no to each other and her!
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Thank you God for your protection through the storm. Thank you God for my children; my blessings; my precious little ones! As my kids "annoy" me, I thank you, GOD, for their annoyances. Because, honestly, I would much rather have them cry, scream, and fight than not have them at all!

I'll find it a little more difficult to be aggravated with them for a little while as I hold them a little closer.

To the Hamil family, I am so sorry for your loss- may the God of comfort wrap His arms around you with a peace that passes all understanding!