Oz

**UPDATE**

The death toll has now reached 250 for AL. Over 500 are still missing. 

362 tornadoes in only 48 hours.

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I realize that it has been a long time since I've posted...I'm sorry!

My life has been pretty full in the last two months, my grandfather had a stroke in March (which makes my heart burst every time I think of them, so I won't post about it now- but you can read a sweet post my husband wrote here.), Noel and I have also been studying hard for exams that start this week (praying we still have a few brain cells that survive the next 2 weeks!), my cousin Melissa is preggers (yay for the little bean!!), and last night we had a close call with losing everything.

My heart goes out to everyone in Alabama who lost someone they loved or their homes in the tornadoes that ripped across the state. The death toll for AL alone is currently at 194 and they are still recovering bodies this morning. Numerous tornadoes swept through our area, the biggest and most deadly one devastated Tuscaloosa, Pleasant Grove, and Platt City- only 7 miles from our home.

I just wanted everyone to know that we are ok. I'm currently at work (Samford wasn't hit and still has electricity). We don't have electricity yet at home but consider ourselves extremely blessed to be spared this tragedy and only wish we could say the same for the hundreds of people who have been affected. Love you all!

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Classic Banana Bread

A Saturday morning when you can sleep in, bake banana bread and hang out with your favorite person is pretty close to perfect. This banana bread recipe comes from my mom. It comes out perfectly almost every time. Try it- you'll see.

Classic Banana Bread

1 3/4 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp of baking soda, baking powder and salt
5 Tb melted butter
2-3 bananas
2 eggs
Optional: Add a handful of walnuts or chocolate chips

Melt butter and mash in bananas, beat in eggs. Dump all dry ingredients in the bowl and mix. (You could sift all the dry ingredients together but I never bother with this recipe.) Pour into baking pan and bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Or if baking two smaller loaves, reduce bake time to about 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

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Choosing Pleasant Is Smart

“Years ago, my mother used to say to me, she’d say, ‘In this world, Elwood, you can be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant.’ Well, for years I was smart… I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.”  - Elwood P. Dowd (Jimmy Stewart), Harvey.

Awesome article...Choosing Pleasant Is Smart

I highly recommend you take a moment to read it. And then live it. :)

Have a pleasant Friday.

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Today's Little Thing...

Walk-in closets that are big enough to lay down in when you have a migraine. Yay for no windows, clothes that absorb all the sound and a kitty who sneaks in and snuggles with me.

Obviously, I'm feeling better a little better now. So while the vice around my head is continuing to loosen, here is some closet eye candy...

Via

Via

Via

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Via

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Field of Fireflies

Have you ever woken up with a memory or image in your head that instantly took you back in time? I absolutely love when I remember something from my childhood that I hadn't thought about in years. I woke up yesterday morning remembering this...

No...not (just) a spotty photo I found on Google Images...it's a field of fireflies. 

I used to sneak out at night and go for long walks. I wouldn't do anything bad...I just wouldn't be able to sleep so I would walk through the woods or up the road until I got tired. (Was I weird or what? Who does that?!) 

Our house was nestled back in the woods and we had a long curving gravel driveway so no one could see our house from the road...no street lamps. Just moonlight and when the weather was right the entire field would light up with fireflies. Like thousands of twinkling lights. I swear no camera can capture what I used to sit and watch. 

At times like that I felt closest to God. To know that he created something so absolutely beautiful was confirmation that He existed to me. The more I studied biology and the complexity of creation the more I became convinced that it was intelligent design. So thanks be to God for giving me the little things...like the memory of a field full of fireflies.  

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