Gulfport

We left Dauphin Island on Monday and headed for the Church in Biloxi where we would be staying. The devil was all up in our business, and really tried to cause division within the team.

After some changes to our original accomodations. We headed to The Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church located in the Turkey Creek community of Gulfport. It was a very, very old church. It was also the week for their VBS which meant we couldn't use the Fellowship hall until after it was over each night, nor could we begin our meal preparations until it was over. (Did I mention my main responsibility was to be the cook?) We also couldn't use the rooms that had been set up as volunteer sleeping quarters. So we now had all of the girl's sleeping in the Sanctuary of this little old church and boy did it smell. The Jr. High boys were placed in an adjacent Sunday school class, and the Senior High boys were upstairs in a Sunday school class. Did I mention how bad it smelled???? Oh it was awful. Bathrooms & showers had been added after the Hurricane, so it was not going to be easy to get 20 folks showered each night as well as the 8 folks from the other team. Also, some church members were still having to use the showers and laundry room at the church since they were living in FEMA trailers.

To say that I was less than gracious would be an understatement. My momma was not proud of me at that particular moment. (I just know she wasn't, she "raised" me better.) I had all my teenage girls lamenting "Aunt Kim, I can't sleep here....................wah". Of course, mold & mildew are 2 of my worst allergies, so I was agreeing with them. The Pastor being a man of reason, suggested we go check out another church that might could accomodate us. So off we headed to Biloxi. We visited the church where previous teams had stayed. It wasn't any better (IMHO). As we drove through what used to be Biloxi, I realized it didn't matter where we slept. We were here to do a job. The van was so quiet as the reality of what they were seeing sunk in to these kids. Of course some of the younger ones were still talking and joking, until Renee started bawling. "Shut up, just shut up, don't you get??? Every empty lot you see used to be someone's home, their life." (I was so proud of her right then, she grew up so much on this trip. I truly saw God using her that week!) It finally took seeing the Wal-Mart that was just a hollow shell for the reality to really sink in to some of those younger ones. I have very few pictures from our time in Biloxi/Gulfport. It was just too hard, and wasn't a time for taking pictures. There was way too much work to be done!

Back to the church in Turkey creek to get out work assignments. Our first project was to tear down a house. This was a family of 6 living in a little Fema trailor. They had to get their old house torn down before they could start building.




My "team" began lunch prepartions while the other teams began the "destruction". We also had another team working 2 doors down on the home of an elderly woman that had ridden the storm out in her home. The entire front of her house had to be replaced. Another team had done much of the rebuilding. Our team would be building window seals, sanding and painting. She was so precious, she had stayed because her older sister didn't want to leave. They were 82 & 84 respectfully. The storm surge came up Turkey creek flooding areas that had never flooded before, and the area had also been hit by tornados as well. Even though it was approaching a year since the storm hit, many areas looked as if it had only been a few weeks.


We called each family that we helped our "neighbor" and always invited them to share our meal. They really seemed to enjoy our Mexican fiesta lunch.

Our kids were invited to participate in VBS, it was quite a cultural experience for them! We couldn't start dinner until after VBS was finished so they were all starving to death. LOL

After dinner that night the adults met with the local area Pastor that was coordinating the work teams. Due to the number of teams needed and the inability to really use the kitchen, I suddenly became in charge of a "work" team. Our plans for nice big lunches was now replaced with sandwiches. Oh yes, my klutzy self in charge of a group set to go install dry wall. Well, our God is big but this was gonna take a miracle!

Our night spent in the sanctuary was interesting to say the least, but somehow we all survived. I couldn't help but try to imagine if the roles were reversed. Would the elders of our church open the sanctuary as a dormitory? Would the completely welcome a group of mainly teens to come to work? HOW??? in the world was I going to be over a construction crew?

I'll try to post the rest of this adventure tomorrow....

Katrina Cleanup continued....

I'm sure many of you may wonder why am I talking about something that happened over 2 years ago. Honestly, it was because of a question asked on the DIBBS. Apparently a couple of high school students are writing a paper on Hurricane Katrina and her impact. I don't think anyone from the south, maybe even the whole nation will ever by the same after this storm. We definitely saw the worst and best in people. I was fortunate enough to witness some of the best.

We woke up to a beautiful Dauphin Island Sunday morning. As always, I got up early to watch the sunrise, and no surprise, several of my youth joined me. We walked along the edge of the water collecting "treasures" and enjoying the view and the thrill that comes with welcoming a new day. We watched the dolphins trialing the shrimp boats.


Breakfast was cold cereal, and lunch was sandwiches. Everyone was anticipating our "picnic" in Cadillac Square with Mr. Bruce and Ms. Marilyn. We had never met, but I felt like I knew them already. The kids were amazed that someone that had never met them would cook them dinner (They rather lost the prespective that they had driven for hours to go work on houses of people that they had never met...which was why Bruce was willing to cook for them). Not having access to the internet, I didn't realize that Bruce was posting pics of our meal to make others jealous (should have known since I myself have set drooling and envious at countless pictures of meals he had prepared). Anyway....now I'm hungry. These pics definitely don't do anything to help that either.

Yes, that is 2 pork tenderloins wrapped in bacon.


Again, with Marilyn's WONDERFUL bread.

We practically inhaled the first one.

Bruce kept us all thoroughly entertained, and managed to not get captured on film. You will notice that the food is located on the "adult" table. Of course 3 of us stayed standing up to swat away any kids trying to get "seconds".

We only managed to get the back of Marilyn's head. I of course was caught with a huge glob of mayo on my face. I truly didn't care. This was the best thing I had ever eaten!


The kids still talk about it! Not just how delicious it was, but also how generous of Bruce & Marilyn.

Our youth really felt the connection with them (as did we adults). When Bruce & Marilyn shared that they had lost their son in a car accident several years before, it really impacted some of my older kids. They had lost friends to car accidents. Having just graduated a few weeks before, one was really feeling "survivors guilt". Seeing Bruce & Marilyn talk so lovingly and happily about their son gave him hope that he would eventually be able to talk about David again with joy.

After our wonderful meal our mouths were a little bit on fire (did I mention that the pork was cooked perfectly and just the right amount of "spicy"?) So we decided to stop at Island Rainbow for a Shaved ice, snow cone, sno ball whatever you want to call it. Unfortunately it was about 2 minutes after their closing time. It was a sad looking bunch of Methodists heading back to the church van. When suddenly the door opened and they said they would stay open just for us. We had our last couple of youth at the window when another car drove up. Someone told the driver that they were closed. She looked so crestfallen and so sad, and almost lost. I couldn't handle it. I told her to just join us and we would pay for her's with ours. She offered to pay but we wouldn't let her. Amazingly, we learned that she was a Katrina victim that had moved from New Orleans to Mobile. She was missing the "sno-balls" from New Orleans and someone in Mobile told her about Island Rainbow. She had driven all that way to try them out and see if it would help her homesickness. She transformed almost right before our eyes, as she enjoyed her frozen treat and the company of my kids. When she left, she was like a different person. She told us that while it was such a simple gesture, she felt renewed. One of my girl's commented later, I think we really helped her. Even if it was only for that day, I think we did. It was the perfect ending to a perfect DI day. I always go back to the words in the book of Ester, I feel like we were at Island Rainbow, for just such a time as this.... Bruce & Marilyn had shared freely with us. We shared freely with someone else because Island Rainbow had re-opened just for us. How much better the world when we help others!

I must to confess to having pulled this photo off the DIBBS, I'm sorry that I can't give proper credit to the photographer, but it just fits since I started the day with shrimp boats, to end it with a shrimp boat.




Tomorrow, heading for Gulfport.

Good from Katrina???

Anyone that knows me, knows that I love Dauphin Island!!! It is where I belong, and will someday retire. (Whatever that word means.)

After Hurricane Ivan hit, the DIBBS was my lifeline to what was going on at the island. When we visited in June, 2005, I was in tears as we drove down to the west end. It was my friend Barbara's first trip to the island with her family. Her daughter, Stephanie implored me to quit crying. "Aunt Kim, this is the most beautiful place I've ever seen and your ruining it." I realized she didn't know. She saw what was there, while all I was seeing was what was missing. I wonder how often we do that with other things in life? Instead of focusing on what we have, we focus on what we don't.

Toy Island, our home that week in 2005, gone with Katrina

I loved this log (I would use it to strategically hide oil wells in Sunset pictures.) It survived Ivan, but probably ended up in Bayou LaBatre after Katrina.
Who could have dreamed that when I returned in June, 2006 the devastion would be even more horrific? Katrina was in a league of her own, and I pray I never see that type of devastion again in my lifetime! As soon as the word of the devastion spread, my youth started asking how they could help. Our pastor worked with a pastor in Gulfport and the church started sending teams to Gulfport/Biloxi to help.(I would have preferred to come to Alabama, but the need was actually great everywhere from Texas to Florida.) When the 1st team came back, the teens were insistent that we go to help. We had already scheduled a mission trip for that spring, so it would have to be in the summer.

We planned a trip with the youth for the first week after school was dismissed. Barbara & I decided that we would like to bring our kids to DI for the weekend after we worked. (A reward for them and for us.) Eventually it was decided that we would just bring everyone to DI for the weekend. Now the issue of where to stay. We could all stay at the Gulf Breeze but we were talking about 13 teens and 4 adults. We didn't have the budget to eat out that many meals on the island. What to do???? An SOS was put out on the DIBBS. Bruce was the first to respond with an offer of pork tenderloin and Marilyn's home made bread.



Amazingly through ACP we were able to find someone willing to rent a beautiful house to us for just 2 nights in June. (I think some of those wonderful ladies at ACP helped to do a little convincing.) Only problem was it was the weekend before we worked rather than after. This actually worked out better because we were able to have some time for "team building" while we were at DI. We did not tell them that we had a house, so they all thought we were staying at the Gulf Breeze. Their faces were priceless when they saw the beautiful house.


I was so nervous about taking that many teens to the island, but they were so good. The recognized the "brokeness" of the island, and how fragile it seemed. They were so appreciative to be there.


I'll try to post more tomorrow about the rest of our adventure.

Friends - what are they? who are they?

Last night I "helped" at Vacation Bible School. I watched the little children as they danced in delight. I watched my teens sitting at a table trying to look cool (while mouthing the songs the little ones were singing). Finally they couldn't take it and joined the little ones.....with abandon I might add. My heart was full! Then I looked at all the people around me. Friends, I am so rich and so blessed to have so very many friends. It really made me think about how blessed I truly am!

I went to Webster's to see how it defines the word "friend". There were several definitions, but none of them truly defines that word for me.

1 a: one attached to another by affection or esteem b: acquaintance
2 a: one that is not hostile b: one that is of the same nation, party, or group
3: one that favors or promotes something (as a charity)
4: a favored companion

I guess my definition is something like, "someone you know and enjoy spending time with, with which you share common interests."

For many years my mom was my best friend, we basically grew up together (she was only 17 when I was born). When I lost her, I never thought that hole in my heart would be full. A friend (a man that I have only actually seen one time in my life) assured me that it would heal and I would find joy again. He was right! He helps to administer a Internet website called "Arkansas Fats Dauphin Island BBS" http://di-bbs.com/ The AFDIBBS has added a whole new set of friends for me, and expanded my knowledge on soooooo many subjects.

I really don't want to start naming friends because then I would forget someone, and I might end up with one less friend. But there are some friends that I have to mention,like Karla. She's been my best friend since we were in 9th grade. She can sometimes be a heifer, but then again so can I. We understand each other. She's the one that took me to Dauphin Island for the first time (there is nothing that I can do to re-pay her for that!). I love her and I don't tell her often enough because she's really not a "touchy, feely" kind of person.

So why has our friendship withstood the test of time.....just because we belong together.

When I turned 40, my friend Mona bought me a tiara, and my friend, Pebbles made me a scepter. They (along with Karla & Lisa)decorated my office with purple feather boas, streamers and all kinds of signs. My other friends that were already 40 formed the "Fabulous Forty Princesses, of the Divine Order of the Rowdy Rahrah's". We had a great time that year as each person had their Birthday and we invaded local restaraunts, in tiara's and boas. That's been 4 years ago, and we've all moved to different things, but I still cherish those times. 40 could have been hard but instead it was a joy, because of my friends.

I'm also very blessed to have a very special woman in my life named Shirley. Some would title her as "stepmother". But I hate that word. It just brings up bad images from so many fairy tales and disney movies. Anyway, I just refer to her as my other mother. She may not have given birth to me, but she has always been there for me! We pretty much grew up together as well. She made me promise not to make her a grandmother before she was 40 so,I very graciously waited until she had been 40for 2 days before I made her a grandmother. Her love is bountiful. (And did I mention that she makes chocolate gravy and the best banana pudding ever?)

Robin Jones Gunn writes a series of novels about "Sisterchicks". These are fun, easy reads.

Her description is:
Sisterchicks n.: a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like sister, and provides a reality check when you're being a brat.

I'm beyond blessed to have dozens of "Soulfood Sisterchicks". We go on retreats together and try to meet at least once a month for Breakfast. I for sure can't name all of them, but they range in each from 20's to 80's. Some of these women have been my friend since we were kids (and that's a lot of years), and some I've only known for a few weeks. Still JOY!

When Brett was 9 and playing PeeWee Football, I was proud to be linked to another group "The Rowdy Mom's". For 10 years, I've been more than proud to call myself a "Rowdymom". I don't hang out with very many of those mom's anymore (actually only one, Lisa), but I still consider them "friends". Lisa and I have a special friendship, we can go weeks without talking and then spend 2 hours catching up. If anyone can make me laugh, it's Lisa!

For a long time on the DIBBS, I just used the moniker Rowdymom, I wasn't ready for anyone to truly "know" me. I "lurked" and sometimes commented. However, I did email a lot with Eric aka "Arkansas Fats". He was a truly great man, that I never had the pleasure to meet. Some might think it funny, but I would still call him friend. There are no words to describe how much the DIBBS and it's members mean to me. I've only met a few of them in person, but I still call them friends. After Eric died, the format for the DIBBS was changed and I went ahead and started using my real name. It was time to quit hiding as Rowdymom, and let them see Kim. I regretted so much that I never actually met him. This October I finally get to meet most of my DIBBS friends in person, but that will just be a formality. I already know them.

I'll end with my definition of a friend, "someone you know and enjoy spending time with, with which you share common interests." It's the "spending time with" part that might be tricky for some. It's not just about going to dinner, a movie, shopping etc.... I consider every day on DIBBS as "spending time with" my friends.

Almost grown

For the past 19 years my main role has been "MOM". I love being Brett's mom! He is a wonderful son. He is a joy! He is my joy. (He's also Dale's joy, but this is my Blog, so.....) I cannot imagine what it is going to be like when he is away at school. It scares me! But then I still have joy, he will be home most weekends. What about my friends whose babies are now home in Heaven. How do they go on? They're strength amazes me!

I have learned so much from my son. That's right, I'VE LEARNED (and I know his dad feels the same way). We are better people because of him. For one, without him I wouldn't be a "Rowdymom". He has such a wonderful sense of self and I am so proud of the independence that he shows. So this blog is dedicated to him.

Brett & Jeff side by side on the line (Brett at center & Jeff at guard), and on the sidelines.

As we prepare for that next big step. I want to share some of the joys from your senior year.

Sr. Football, who could believe it. From my tiny little peewee player to this man before me now. I was so proud how you lead the team in each week and down to the end zone to pray. What a difference those prayers made!

All the way to the State Semi-Finals!

January, we lost Taylor. How could this be? Completely surreal. Through it all, you were a source of strength for your friends. Taking iniative to honor him in the yearbook. So many things.............My heart breaks for Lisa & Kelly. My heart breaks for you and your friends, you've lost too many friends already.

Springbreak.......while many of your friends headed for a wild week in the sun. You chose to help lead your Youth group in a retreat/mission opportunity.

Mt. Eagle is so special to our family & our church family. You all worked so hard that week. Renee, Courtney & Alex did a great job.





April, who would have dreamed that a tornado would hit your school, and the homes of so many of your friends. But it could not destroy that Bear Pride. Prom went on....Renee was so beautiful and you were so handsome. Ya'll make an adorable couple!



I know you'll never forget your time at "daycare" for most of April.

Then came the wonderful day in April when Ms. Eva Kate decided to start prepping you for college. It was tough "pulling an all-nighter" but it was certainly worth it!






And finally that big day in May, the one you worked so hard to reach!

Looking a little nervous.


Not official yet.......


NOW IT'S OFFICIAL.

So I'll end this little blog today where it began. With you and Jeff. This time side by side heading to your next stage in life. I love you son!





Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.