Images From My Home Town

John woke me at 4:30 Wednesday morning. He told me to get dressed because the weather was getting bad. The wind was blowing like crazy and the trees were bending in opposite directions. We went to the basement and in just a few minutes our neighbor knocked on the door to make sure we were okay. They had been in the town storm shelter and saw the town as they came home. We were shocked.

Our town had DAMAGE but it is all fixable. The power went off as the tornado came through and we did not have power until after I had gone to bed Friday night. I feel like this tornado never actually touched down. I think it skipped over the top of Berry doing damage but nothing like what it would have been if it had touched the ground. We thought it was over. Everybody was wondering around and trying to get started on clean up. Little did we know!

12 hours later another tornado came through the outer parts of Berry. This tornado was DEVASTATING. 4 people lost their lives.

There is much that I could say but I think I am still shell shocked over what has happened in our state. Words just don't seem to be coming.......

The flag pole was bent and the flag ripped in half

I only made these two pictures from the 2nd tornado. The devastation is a wide swatch of houses and trees. It just did not feel right to make pictures as family were standing beside where their houses had been..... grieving.

A Great Easter Day

Yes, it was a great day. A day spent with family, old friends and new friends. I am never happier than when my family is making memories and traditions. I love setting a table with my china and deciding on a centerpiece. Even if my boys make fun of the Easter chick because the people on one side of the table have to look at the chick's backside. Someday when Emma, Abby Claire, John Brady, Lawson, and any other Grandchildren I may have, inherit my things I want them to have memories of eating on that china or laughing at the chick. The thought that they might all want that chick because of the memories makes me smile.

We started the day at church with the children having an Easter Parade. So sweet and cute. Emma didn't want to do the parade but did it anyway so that Lawson would feel more secure. What a great cousin!

After church we came to Berry, made pictures and then ate lunch. I ate way too much.....but that's what family holiday meals are about.....eating too much! Then the guys went outside and hid Easter eggs for the kids.

The Easter Parade at Central Church of Christ

Allie Albea

My boys

Josh and Meredith

Steve and John

Kim, Courtney and MeMe (we really were there) are in a family picture but I didn't get one with my camera. Look for that picture on Kim's blog and Meredith has one on facebook.

Lawson Family Easter Egg Hunt

The Lawson family tradition is to have an BIG family Easter egg hunt on the Saturday before Easter. My Grandchildren love this tradition. I think one of the solid rocks that make for a great family and a well rounded person is having family traditions. I think todays busy life makes it easy to give up family traditions.

This Easter we were missing several of the Great Grandchildren because of the birth of Miss Mollie Lawson. Yes, Mollie makes 17 Great Grandchildren. Congratulations, Jared and Cassie!

Granny Lawson's house is filled with a lot of food, kids and love.

We ended the day by giving Justin and Kayla their wedding gifts. The next Lawson family get together will be their wedding!

oops...we did it again

Yes we did. We liked line dancing at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville so much that we loaded up and went again last weekend.

I joked as we walked in that they said "here come those Alabama ladies......we go'na sell a lot of diet coke tonight!

Here's the group of my line dancing buddies.
Love em!

A Doggy Life Well Spent

Bama Lawson

1995 - 2011

Bama loved her family. I knew that I was safe if she was outside. Nothing to worry about. Bama considered it her life's work to protect her family. You did not come into our yard unless you were on her "list". She dearly loved my Mother, "GMama", and GMama rewarded her well for that love. If we had any leftover steak we had to hide it because GMama was giving it to Bama.

She was a loyal and faithful dog to the end.

Sunday, we gave her a bath and gave her a steak for supper. Today, I talked to her all day and got her a cheeseburger from F&G ( Bama's favorite ). I held her, as best I could, all the way to the vet's office and let her stick her nose out the window. She would lick my face and then lay her head on my arm.

What a way to go.... lived a long and full life, loved dearly and surrounded by the people who have cared and loved you.

Bama, I hope there is a "doggy heaven" so you can run high on that mountain!

Go find GMama....I am sure she is waiting on you....

I already miss her but I am at peace.