Memorial Day Musings

This Memorial Day weekend we are remembering all of our loved ones we lost to war, disaster, or natural causes.  Unfortunately for our friends, family, and neighbors in Joplin, this Memorial Day is salt in an open wound, for they have lost many loved ones to a EF-5 tornado.  Such a clinical term for something so vicious that it has ripped families apart in mere minutes and left a community stumbling through the wreckage.  The only difference between this and 9/11 is the fact that there were no terrorists to blame, only Mother Nature.  That is cold comfort to those in Joplin and all of the neighbors, family, and friends.

The silver lining in this is to see that this was not just a Joplin tragedy, or a Missouri tragedy, but a shared tragedy as volunteers and resources have been pouring in from all over the country.  For those who could not come or afford to send resources, they are sending prayers and love.  Prayers and love are much better than blame and scorn.  This will be my only reference (I hope) to that misguided entity out of Topeka, KS which believes that protesting during other people's pain and tragedy will get their message across.  It is getting a message across all right and that is another silver lining.  Believers and nonbelievers alike have been joining forces to block these offensive protest motions.  These forces have been so effective that the WBO did not get plastered all over the news during the Joplin Memorial Service and President Obama's visit.

There are many people I miss that I am going to share with you today.  My daddy, Tillman L. Smith, Jr, who served for his country in Vietnam, coming home with invisible battle scars and wounds.  He went to Heaven on March 1, 2007 after a sudden, massive heart attack.  He was an awesome dad who passed his love on of Cardinals baseball to all of his girls as well as baseball, basketball, and softball.  He was passionate about whatever he did.  When he gave his life to Christ, he was just as passionate about that too.  I miss him so much and the hardest thing is when I want to pick up the phone and call and tell him something, it all comes back to me he's gone on.

Dewayne Winchester, who is free from pain and left behind my best friend Tonica to grieve.  He was good to her and that was all I ever asked.  He shared our faith so I know I will get to see him again someday.

Debra Moseley, who befriended me my first year in Springfield at Redneck Trailer, lost her life in a head on car accident.  One day we were talking and laughing in the office.  The next day, she was gone.  I still have a small scar on my heart from this.  Her widower followed her the next year.  She left behind three grieving children as well.  I will be looking for her when it is my time to go to Heaven as well.

Burl Hawkins, David's uncle, who was such a sweetheart, always good to talk and reach out for a hug.  He had such a strong constitution and fortitude, that when the cancer took him, it didn't really show up until right before he left us.  I have no doubts he will greet me and David in Heaven either.

Scotty Vass, my friend Donna Hicks Winder's son.  I did have the pleasure of getting to know him when I got to attend Calvary Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff when I was down to see my mom and my dad.  He was a young gentleman, had such a sweet personality, big smile, and always ready to help.  His sudden death left a big void to his momma, sisters, and family; in addition to his church family and friends.  I'm sure Scotty and my daddy are hanging out together up there.

My mother in law (my second mother), Alpha Smith.  She was the complete antithesis to the cliche mother-in-law.  She was beyond good to me and helped me adjust to married life and country life.  I was blessed to have her seven years before a sudden heart attack took her away from us right in front of our eyes.  I'm so thankful that a few days before, as David and I were leaving to go to our house, I reached down to hug her and tell her I loved her.  She smiled, and gently said, "We love you, too."  I can't wait to see her in Heaven.  My biggest hurt is that she did not get to see Curtis married and see the beautiful great-grandchildren he and Raychelle provided.  The constant hurt is every day Dad (David's dad) wakes up and he misses her all over again.  He will tell me I'm sweet, or pretty, or good; but not as sweet, pretty, or good as his wife, and then he cries in my arms and I have lost Mother all over again.  In a way, he died that day as well.  However, he keeps plugging away because he has me and David and Jade and Curtis and Raychelle and the babies to take care of.

These are most of the people I have lost in the past nine years.  I lost all of my grandparents by the time I was in junior high school, and an adopted grandparent in high school.  There are pain for these people as well, but I want to remember how those people lived more than how they died.

During this Memorial Day, go ahead and cry for those you have missed....but don't forget to live for them as well.

Finally Friday!

It has been a rough week for me physically and I'm thankful that Friday has gotten here.  I have been experiencing headaches all week and to make it worse I have found out that two of the medicines I'm on cause weight gain.  I knew it wasn't normal to jump up 35 pounds in a year, but one of the two medications is my headache medicine.  Auggh!  I am thankful for Friday as it means I have the next two days to recharge my batteries.  I will be posting tomorrow as long as my headache has receded.  Good night and God Bless.

Starting out--Greenhorn Blogger!

My friend Tonica has been doing this for several months and tonight I broke down and set my profile up.  As the blog title indicates, this is my first blog!  The title of my blogger page is "Steph's Landslide".  My life is not sliding downhill, rather things are in flux, in constant motion.  I really like Fleetwood Mac's song "Landslide" and that was my inspiration for the name.  When I talk about my life, or things that are on my mind, things will change.  Some changes hurt more than others.  Some are only different.  I hope I get some positive feedback, at least constructive feedback.

So what's on my mind?  The flood of 2011 and the death of bin Laden.  For anyone not in the flood zones of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, we are discussing the constant rains that have caused levees to crumble, lakes and rivers to flood, and countless people driven from their homes to escape the water.  For anyone who has been living in a cave or in a sequestered jury, a Navy Seals team took out Osama bin Laden and for people who want to see the gory proof, there is a video from WikiLeaks going viral.

I have seen and heard countless examples of neighbors pulling together, strangers becoming friends as they help each other, and that to me is the silver lining to this dark cloud that has hovered over our area during this past week and a half.  It doesn't matter what town you're from, what state you're from, what matters is what's in your heart and soul.  I have seen plenty of heart and soul, and the prayers from those unaffected really helps too.  To know people hear and instead of saying, "Oh well, that's not me" are saying, "Thank God, it's not me and please God help those people".  God is with us all and He's been listening and is listening.

I'm not sure what God would have to say to the people who are throwing parties and shouting "Hallelujah" at the death of bin Laden.  I have to be so careful here because I was born after Hitler's regime but when I heard about the Holocaust by way of reading The Diary of Anne Frank, and found out that Hitler was already gone, my reaction was, "Good."  However, unfortunately, when bin Laden was buried at sea, all of his victims were not restored to their previous selves and lives.  The families are justified in feeling some kind of justice has been reached.  Beyond that, is life so cheap that we need to have a party when anyone dies???  Yes, I know I will probably get some strong replies and that is good.  I need to have feedback and am looking forward to it.

I did not share too much personal information tonight.  I am going to end with my personal mantra:  "Where there is life, there is hope".

Good night and God Bless, Steph Lynn