Sick to My Stomach

This is how I've been feeling since Wednesday afternoon. As all of you know a tornado came through and destroyed (there is no other word for it) Tuscaloosa. Wednesday morning the day started as any other Wednesday except the rumor of bad weather coming. City and County schools went ahead and cancelled, but because I teach at a private school we didn't cancel school as quickly. All morning whispers of the weather floated around, "It's supposed to get really bad, worse than anything we've seen." OK Josh and I have a name for the weather scene up here in t-town, it's called "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." I say this because at least twice a month we hear about how bad the weather is going to be, or there's a tornado warning get in you safe place, but nothing ever happens. So that was the attitude I had Wednesday. By 1:00 that afternoon I was getting a little scared, thankfully Josh was able to come home and be with me and the boys (Bounce & Shadow). On a side note, Bouncer is going insane! You know how they say animals have a sense when bad weather is coming, I totally believe this because he was pacing, shaking, always close by. Josh and I were glued to the TV all afternoon waiting for this "bad weather," and about 3:00 is when it all began. Josh and I were still skeptical but we got into our bedroom closet with the dogs and turned the TV up so we could hear what was going on. We sat inside there for at least 20 minutes when we heard James Spann say, "Oh my gosh this thing is huge!" I was too scared to get out because I was afraid what I might see and we also didn't know if we were still in the path. 30 seconds later he says that Northport was safe, so I sat on the bed and watched this massive tornado just swirl across the screen. I had so many feelings during that time, one you're in awe because I have never seen a tornado live and at the same time my heart is breaking because you know there are people in the path of this thing. In what seemed like hours (and it was only minutes) the tornado was gone. That is when the real heartache began. Josh and I along with everyone in the Tuscaloosa area wanted to see what the damage was. The roads were so tied up that you couldn't get anywhere near the path of the storm. Everyone had the same look on their faces: shock, worried, sadness. There was nothing we could really do because it was starting to get dark, so we went back home. Needless to say I didn't sleep to well that night. All I could think was that it could have been our home turned into rubble, were the people missing ok, were the people who lost their lives Christains...so many thoughts ran through my mind.
Thursday morning school was cancelled for me and Josh's work didn't have power so we decided to see if we could get close to where the tornado hit. We decided to ride through a neighborhood called Rosedale not even thinking that the tornado came right through there. We were in total shock! Houses were destroyed, cars thrown around, homes with no walls, but books still sitting in the bookshelves or TVs still in the their stands but everything else gone. There were tons of people walking around with chainsaws helping strangers cut trees down so they could get to their homes. We got behind a man riding around handing bottled water to police officers and people going through the rubble. It touched my heart so much to see the way people were working together. We finally made our way to Midtown Village to the corner of 15th Street and McFarland. It was so quiet and so eerie... there were tons of people walking around and looking, but no one was making a sound. To know that places like Full Moon Bar- B-Que was diminished to nothing but shards of glass and pieces of concrete and wood broke my heart.
Because of this my faith has been tested. I don't know when my last breath will be, no one does. I do know that I want my walk with Christ to be stronger than ever. Life is something that can be over in the blink of an eye, and if you aren't right with the Lord... well you need to be. I encourage everyone to look at themselves and ask, "Am I walking the path that I should be?" I know that at times I start to veer off that path, but then the Lord does something to grab my attention like "Hello! Over here!!" It gets so easy to take the "easy way out" but I am reminded that Jesus didn't get the "easy way out." My prayer is that as each day goes by my faith and walk with Christ gets stronger. I ask that you keep my accountable for my actions and if you would like I will do the same for you. I could always use a Christain hand to help me through my days. I also ask that you help the victims of this horrible storm. Either by a donation, volunteering, or even prayer. I leave you now with some pictures I took the other day. They do not do justice to what it really looks like around here.


This is the tornado siren leaning over the street.


It's crazy to know a tornado can bend steel polls like this.


This used to be Big Lots, now it's just a pile of rubble.



This is a Full Moon Bar-B-Que van. The other van was across the street inside a gas station.

God Bless Texas! Part 1

And that he did! I told you last week that Josh and I were headed to Dallas, TX to see Zac Brown and Kenny Chesney. Our flight was supposed to leave late Thursday afternoon however our flight was delayed and we didn't get to Dallas until around 10:00. The flight was quiet bumpy because of all the bad weather around. We stayed here:

It was super nice and we had a great view of the "Grassy Knoll" where JFK was shot.

Josh and I standing on the "X" where JFK was shot. Also in the background is the building where the shooter stood.
Did you notice the huge ball beside our hotel?

This is the Reunion Tower & see up there at the top? That's Wolfgang Puck's restaurant. Wolf wasn't there but we did see some very interesting people.

Enjoying a $15 drink at Wolfgang Puck's place
While in Texas we made the hour long train ride (which is my new favorite way to travel) to Ft. Worth to The Stockyards. My parents had been there before and told me all the places we needed to see and of course the "Cattle Run."

The wind was crazy! I felt like a "showdown" was going to occur!

These Longhorns were so awesome to see up close and I even got to pet one :)
I also got to have a margaria on a saddle! Yes you heard me, drinking a delicious margarita while sitting on a saddle! Here's proof:

I love Texas :)

I will be back soon with Part 2 of our trip. I leave you now with some of my favorite pictures from The Stockyards!

He's so silly

Had a Wine-o-Rita at this winery... sooo yummy!

Good Times!

Do you have silly dogs?

Because I sure do! Shadow loves to lay on his back and snooze! It makes me laugh because he's so cute!



This week is SAT testing at school, so everyone is going koo koo! However next week is a busy week for us Fryers. I have a field trip Wednesday to Desoto Caverns in Childersburg (i've never been so I'm kind of excited)! Nonnie is coming to get Shadow and Bouncer to keep while Josh and I go to DALLAS!! We leave Thursday and we are going to see these guys:



I will definitely let you all know how our trip goes, until then...Later Alligator :)

5k? Who? Me?

Yes it is true, Josh and I have signed up for our first 5k! I am not a runner, but I wanted to see if I could do this. So I got out my trusty iPhone and started searching for 5k apps and Woulah...I found one! The Couch to 5k app ($2.99) has really helped us get ready for this thing. It takes about 9 weeks; however Josh and I have half the time to prepare but we are managing. The run is April 30th here in Tuscaloosa. I will let you know how it goes. I will leave you today with my "game face" for the 5k!

I'm Back!!

That is correct! After a few people asked why I hadn't been posting on my blog I made it my mission to at least post once a week. I can do it! So if you noticed I never finished my 30 Day Blog Challenge, so I'm going to wrap it up in this post so I can move on to other things! Here it goes:

Day 14-A picture you love

This is the picture I always go back to on my wedding day! I love this man so much (and I kinda think he feels the same way Haha)

Day 15-Bible verse
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This verse has gotten me through so many things!

Day 16-Dream house

Now this isn't the exact house, but you get the idea. I would love to have a porch to sit on, a yard for our children to play in, beautiful windows, etc.

Day 17-Something you're looking forward to

I'm looking forward to Memorial Day Weekend! Good Friends, Good Food, Good Times! :)

Day 18-Something you regret
I guess I regret not paying attention more in school, being more aggressive when it comes to some things, and sticking my foot in my mouth :)

Day 19-Something you miss
I miss these 2 people more than you know!






Day 20-Nicknames
My dad called me Mea Mea. Some call me Megs, sweetie :), Mrs. Fryer, Loud Mouth...

Day 21-Picture of yourself

My nephew Colt and I

Day 22-Favorite city
I live in my favorite city... Tuscaloosa!

Day 23-Favorite vacation

Of course Disney World! It was where Josh asked me to marry him and it's the greatest place on Earth!

Day 24-Something you've learned
I've learned that you don't always get things when and how you want them. You have to work hard, be gracious, and always expect the unexpected. When life hands you lemons, make lemonade :)

Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
1. Casting Crows- Praise You In This Storm
2. Katy Perry- Teenage Dream
3. Billy Currington- Let Me Down Easy
4. Craig Morgan- Bonfire
5. Brantley Gilbert- Play Me That Song
6. Lady Ga Ga- Born This Way
7. NeedToBreathe- Something Beautiful
8. Jamey Johnson- In Color
9. Aaron Lewis- Country Boy
10. Neon Trees- Animal

Day 26-Picture of your family

This is just one part of my family. Family is so important to me, as I have gotten older I have realized just jow important families are. This was taken before Jason and Morgan got married.

Day 27-Pets

Here are my babies Shadow and Bouncer. Josh had Shadow before we met and we got Bouncer at the Shelter. I love these pups so much; they are my practice before I have real kids :)

Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Bills! Bills! Bills! It's hard to keep up with what is due when and where it needs to be sent, and did you put a stamp on that before you placed it in the mailbox? AHHHHH...

Day 29-3 Wishes
1. A happy, Christ filled marriage
2. Healthy, beautiful children
3. A Money Tree, so I wouldn't have to work anymore :)

Day 30-a picture





Whew! I'm tired, that took me like and hour and a half to finish! Well until next time....Later Gator!

Blog Challenge Day 13-Goals....Sorry I'm so far behind!

It's going to take me WAY more than 30 days to finish this. It's half laziness and the other half I just forget! Sorry

Here are a few goals I would like to achieve (in no particular order):
1. I want to have a stable job
2. I want to be a mother
3. I want to be a super awesome wife


I'm sure if I sat here and thought really hard I could come up with some other goals, but going back to the lazy thing :)

TTFN

Blog Challenge Day 12-What you believe

I believe that Jesus was sent to live and die for me and my sins. I believe that family is the second most important thing in life. And without friends this world would be a sad and lonely world.