I set out on a mission, far bigger than I knew.
I wanted to change the world and make all dreams come true.
Then I became acquainted with hunger, poverty and another one introduced himself as war.
I then, stepped back, reevaluated, and said this is more than I bargained for.
This would be a challenge that called for an evaluation of the situation- some intense training and lessons to learn.
A lot of nights confused wondering whether this fire was really one you could burn.
Wondering whether you are the person to make this change,
Whether your loneliness, your regret could soon be rearranged.
So you put in work, hours and hours of studying, reading and learning the course.
You channel all your strength and use all your force.
Then at the time when you need to show all you’ve learned - the opponent pulls out their strongest battle move.
It shakes you up and throws you off your grove, you never knew you would be on your knees so soon.
Hurting, pain everywhere.
No one to help, it’s not that they don’t care.
But, sometimes its your show, sometimes it’s your power and your strength that will change the world,
and make all those dreams come true of all those little boys and girls.
So you get up even though, you’ve been hit so hard, pounds so strong it rips you apart.
Until you think about your mission, and you pull the strength of your heart.
To accomplish your mission,
to combat those problems you met called hunger, poverty and even war.
Because though it is more than you bargained for.
It’s something you can get through,
because its your dream- and dreams do come true.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Dr. Guy Bailey named President of University of Alabama
According to UA Student News,
The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama System has named Dr. Guy Bailey president of The University of Alabama. The appointment will be effective in early September.
An Alabama native and a two-time UA graduate, Bailey has served as president of Texas Tech University since 2008. Under his leadership, Texas Tech has grown significantly in size and stature, including developing major new research partnerships with public and private entities. Bailey also serves on the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of the NCAA as well as the Executive Committee of the Big XII athletic conference and the Board of Trustees of Midwest Research Institute.
>
> “I am very pleased to have this opportunity to return to my alma mater,” Bailey said. “The University of Alabama has experienced tremendous growth and progress in the last decade and I look forward to building on that success.”
>
Interim UA President Judy Bonner said Bailey is “an outstanding academic leader who has earned a strong national reputation for his achievements in higher education.”
“We are proud to count him among our graduates and look forward to welcoming him back to campus this fall,” she said.
Bailey was previously chancellor of the University of Missouri-Kansas City from 2006-2008 and provost and executive vice president at the University of Texas at San Antonio from 1999-2005. He has also held administrative positions at the University of Nevada, the University of Memphis and Oklahoma State, and taught at Texas A&M and Emory University.
Bailey attended UA from 1968-1974, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English. He earned his doctorate in English linguistics at the University of Tennessee in 1979.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
NEWS BREAK: OBAMA HEALTHCARE LAW STANDS
Follow this link to find out more about the supreme court ruling for what many have called, "Obamacare." Americans will be mandated to get health insurance by 2014 or pay a penalty. The decision was split 5-4.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/28/us-usa-healthcare-court-idUSBRE85R06420120628
Let me know what you think! How does this affect YOU? Another thought is how will this affect health issues that are plaguing or communities in the long term? How does this landmark victory affect Obama in this election year?
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/28/us-usa-healthcare-court-idUSBRE85R06420120628
Let me know what you think! How does this affect YOU? Another thought is how will this affect health issues that are plaguing or communities in the long term? How does this landmark victory affect Obama in this election year?
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Birmingham Series: Final Post! A Must READ!
The Opportunity
Years passed and I entered Ramsay High School. At this school, I knew I would find quality instructors to teach me lessons, but I was set to learn life lessons as well. In my sophomore year, I joined SpeakFirst Debate team and learned more about how to articulate my point about a wide range of topics. This program was set to gear students towards college, but honestly that wasn’t something to which I was looking forward. I didn’t want to go anywhere I would have to embrace change. SpeakFirst was something that should have gotten more attention than the homicides and violence that graced the news headlines every day. This program sent my graduating class and will send future graduating classes of the program to any of the three colleges in the University of Alabama system on a full tuition scholarship. Birmingham has granted me so much opportunity. I talked to my mother about the announcement of the scholarship over the phone after the meeting. “Mom, they announced we would get full scholarships to college for SpeakFirst!” I could almost hear her smile through the phone, “I am so proud of you,” she said. At that point the tears from my heart used my eyes as a medium to come through and I cried. My heart smiled. This meant more to me than just a way to further my education. It was a way for me to do so without placing the financial obligations on my mom.
When I was freshman at UA, I was convinced after a month I just couldn’t stay. I felt like a speck of sand across the beach, because there were so many people. I wanted to go back to the place I called home, but then I would have been quitting the chance to see a more global world. I am very aware there is a world outside of my safe haven, and that is why I pursued my education. Birmingham has given me tears, photographic moments atop the mountain and beautiful people in my life. It has given me good friendships and bad breakups. It has granted me the opportunity to attend college through the SpeakFirst program, but most of all it has given me the desire to give to the city all it has given to me. I believe my grandmother’s statement encompasses the true essence of southern culture and hospitality. There is so much in a smile and a wave and that’s what you get here in Birmingham alongside some good food and even better stories. It took me going away to truly realize Birmingham is more than just a city, for me, Birmingham is home.
Tribute to my city!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
News: Chris Brown and Drake fight in NYC club
Chris Brown, Drake Fight At NYC Nightclub Over Rihanna - The Huffington Post
Can Rhianna really think this sends a good message? In this light, it makes her appear to get around a lot. I don't think this is great press for any of these celebs. What do you think?
Religious/ Inspirational: "The Course I'm Taking"
The Course I’m Taking
Although my weary eyes are cloudy and blurred by the tear drops that are trying to push their way out,
I still make every attempt to navigate down this road called life.
I know that if I wasn’t a child of God,
my life would be filled with so much more pain and strife.
So I continue with the course I’m taking.
The devil tries to gain an upper hand in the attempts of my soul’s breaking.
But, my story is not written by me.
I am merely an instrument of my heavenly father you see.
He has granted me a path and given me the navigation tools,
and when I am lost he reminds me of all of life’s rules.
Perseverance, prayer and a strong faith in the unseen
will navigate your course to a destination you won’t believe.
It happens to all of us, where we prepare to go toe to toe with life as our opponent in the battle ring,
and our adrenaline rushes as we hear the “ding! ding! ding!”
But, before we can stop life from its first swing to our cores
we must take off the boxing gloves - and realize the battle is not yours.
At times, you may make an attempt and find that discouragement is what you receive back,
you didn’t do it their way so talent you must lack.
At times, you may struggle through one of life’s situations and through numerous observations you come to the same realization that you are just tired...of life’s same results.
A wise person once said, “Insanity- is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
Well, if you just try God and let him navigate the course you are taking that seems so tough - and let him use you as his instrument to sound your trumpet of praise then maybe life wouldn’t be so rough.
Don’t do the same thing you been doing,
try God and I promise your life won’t be the same.
Everything around you will be rearranged.
Those people who tried to discourage you will be your footstool
as you navigate to your heavenly destination.
Those life’s struggles won’t be stumbling blocks,
they will be building blocks when you reap the rewards of determination.
Your situation on the course you're taking is going the way it is now,
because you are trying to navigate.
Instead, sit back...let Go of the wheel and let God drive....and watch how quickly you dry those weary eyes.
Although my weary eyes are cloudy and blurred by the tear drops that are trying to push their way out,
I still make every attempt to navigate down this road called life.
I know that if I wasn’t a child of God,
my life would be filled with so much more pain and strife.
So I continue with the course I’m taking.
The devil tries to gain an upper hand in the attempts of my soul’s breaking.
But, my story is not written by me.
I am merely an instrument of my heavenly father you see.
He has granted me a path and given me the navigation tools,
and when I am lost he reminds me of all of life’s rules.
Perseverance, prayer and a strong faith in the unseen
will navigate your course to a destination you won’t believe.
It happens to all of us, where we prepare to go toe to toe with life as our opponent in the battle ring,
and our adrenaline rushes as we hear the “ding! ding! ding!”
But, before we can stop life from its first swing to our cores
we must take off the boxing gloves - and realize the battle is not yours.
At times, you may make an attempt and find that discouragement is what you receive back,
you didn’t do it their way so talent you must lack.
At times, you may struggle through one of life’s situations and through numerous observations you come to the same realization that you are just tired...of life’s same results.
A wise person once said, “Insanity- is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
Well, if you just try God and let him navigate the course you are taking that seems so tough - and let him use you as his instrument to sound your trumpet of praise then maybe life wouldn’t be so rough.
Don’t do the same thing you been doing,
try God and I promise your life won’t be the same.
Everything around you will be rearranged.
Those people who tried to discourage you will be your footstool
as you navigate to your heavenly destination.
Those life’s struggles won’t be stumbling blocks,
they will be building blocks when you reap the rewards of determination.
Your situation on the course you're taking is going the way it is now,
because you are trying to navigate.
Instead, sit back...let Go of the wheel and let God drive....and watch how quickly you dry those weary eyes.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
NEWS UPDATE: Auburn Suspect still not found
Authorities in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday defended their hunt for Desmonte Leonard, the man charged with fatally shooting three people at a party near Auburn University, NBC station WSFA in Auburn reported.
"We have not rested, we will not rest," Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said at a news conference Tuesday. "If he's out there watching today, I implore him, this has gone on long enough."
Read more about this developing story at:
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/12/12186053-police-on-auburn-shooting-suspect-were-going-to-apprehend-him?lite
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Short story: I know him!
Prelude
“Run! Run! Move! Move!” The EMT yelled at the patients in the hallway.
The ambulance pulled into the back of the hospital and the EMT’s ran with the stretcher to the operating room to get the bullet out. It was a toddler. He couldn’t have been more than five. I stood there watching and the bullet penetrated my heart as well. My heart bleed for that kid even though I sat in the waiting room awaiting my own fate.
“Move out of the way!” Another EMT yelled.
The little boy screamed from pain and it saddened me even more and then I saw them take him into the operating room. I didn’t know him, but for some reason I just had to know if he was ok. I went and talked to the lady at the desk, who had become my friend after I had been so in and out of the hospital in the past month.
“Stacey, what happened to that kid? He looked like he was five at the most,” I said with concern.
“Girl, he was five. He was shot,” she said in her typical hospital tone. She said it so calmly and without emotion it seemed as though working in the hospital had made her unsusceptible to the fact that this happened. For her, it seemed like since she had seen this so much it was a typical reality she accepted. I couldn’t accept it.
“What happened? Does it say?” I said.
“I’m not really supposed to say, but it seems like the home issue was domestic. The father fired at the mom and the toddler got in the line of fire,” she said.
“That’s horrible, Oh my God!” I said.
“It is, but sadly enough it happens. Why are you so concerned though? Do you know him?” she said.
“No, I don’t, but I have to though. I just have to after knowing what happened.” She was definitely lying about not knowing this family.
“Run! Run! Move! Move!” The EMT yelled at the patients in the hallway.
The ambulance pulled into the back of the hospital and the EMT’s ran with the stretcher to the operating room to get the bullet out. It was a toddler. He couldn’t have been more than five. I stood there watching and the bullet penetrated my heart as well. My heart bleed for that kid even though I sat in the waiting room awaiting my own fate.
“Move out of the way!” Another EMT yelled.
The little boy screamed from pain and it saddened me even more and then I saw them take him into the operating room. I didn’t know him, but for some reason I just had to know if he was ok. I went and talked to the lady at the desk, who had become my friend after I had been so in and out of the hospital in the past month.
“Stacey, what happened to that kid? He looked like he was five at the most,” I said with concern.
“Girl, he was five. He was shot,” she said in her typical hospital tone. She said it so calmly and without emotion it seemed as though working in the hospital had made her unsusceptible to the fact that this happened. For her, it seemed like since she had seen this so much it was a typical reality she accepted. I couldn’t accept it.
“What happened? Does it say?” I said.
“I’m not really supposed to say, but it seems like the home issue was domestic. The father fired at the mom and the toddler got in the line of fire,” she said.
“That’s horrible, Oh my God!” I said.
“It is, but sadly enough it happens. Why are you so concerned though? Do you know him?” she said.
“No, I don’t, but I have to though. I just have to after knowing what happened.” She was definitely lying about not knowing this family.
The Marks...
She uses her rag to ice the bruises from last night,
it was a horrible fight.
She walked in from a good night with the girls,
just a little too late,
and upon shutting the door
she walked into her fate.
He yelled, she screamed.
and his target was her face.
She tried to fight back,
but his strength dominated that place.
She cried.
Her eyes filled with tears.
It was only the first time,
I mean they argued before, but him hitting her never crossed her mind.
After they pulled and tugged
and she screamed in agony and pain.
He laid in bed and said, " I love you."
And she said, "I can't say the same."
He hit her one last time, for that last remark
and she laid there, until it was no longer dark.
When she woke the next morn,
he began to nurse her wounds.
She couldn't understand how he could change so soon.
Until one day she tried to leave because it was what she had to do.
The make-up could only cover so much,
there was not just a bruise on one eye but two.
She dried her tears and faced her fears
and then she left town.
No looking back.
He looked for her far and near, but
she could not be found.
Now...she's happily married who put back together the pieces of her heart,
and him? he's behind bars where he should have been from the start.
No man- or woman - should harm the one they claim to love
with such domestic abuse.
So now she tells her story to others about her love's misuse.
She warns women of the signs of control,
"Why are you wearing that dress?" "You don't need that hairstyle, why you trying to look the best?"
She tells her story,
and she counts her victories when she is able to see.
The look in women's eyes when they realize... "Hey, she's talking to me."
~BK
it was a horrible fight.
She walked in from a good night with the girls,
just a little too late,
and upon shutting the door
she walked into her fate.
He yelled, she screamed.
and his target was her face.
She tried to fight back,
but his strength dominated that place.
She cried.
Her eyes filled with tears.
It was only the first time,
I mean they argued before, but him hitting her never crossed her mind.
After they pulled and tugged
and she screamed in agony and pain.
He laid in bed and said, " I love you."
And she said, "I can't say the same."
He hit her one last time, for that last remark
and she laid there, until it was no longer dark.
When she woke the next morn,
he began to nurse her wounds.
She couldn't understand how he could change so soon.
Until one day she tried to leave because it was what she had to do.
The make-up could only cover so much,
there was not just a bruise on one eye but two.
She dried her tears and faced her fears
and then she left town.
No looking back.
He looked for her far and near, but
she could not be found.
Now...she's happily married who put back together the pieces of her heart,
and him? he's behind bars where he should have been from the start.
No man- or woman - should harm the one they claim to love
with such domestic abuse.
So now she tells her story to others about her love's misuse.
She warns women of the signs of control,
"Why are you wearing that dress?" "You don't need that hairstyle, why you trying to look the best?"
She tells her story,
and she counts her victories when she is able to see.
The look in women's eyes when they realize... "Hey, she's talking to me."
~BK
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Birmingham Series: More Than Just A City ..Post 2 Culture
The Culture
The culture of Birmingham encompasses so many unique things that make it a one-of-a-kind southern city. I can envision the children outside playing and riding their bikes, while the old folks are sitting on the porch in their rockers swapping stories about “the good ol' days.” Also weaved into the culture of Birmingham is the food. Birmingham is just far enough south for the best fried chicken, and nowhere near the north so it definitely will be seasoned well. It is a place where the word “ain’t” followed by “no” is socially acceptable. In writing about Birmingham, one has to address the Southern religious association there is with being a Bible Belt city. Growing up, I didn’t know much about the Bible Belt, but I knew church. It was a culture for my family. I could remember all those Saturday nights when I would ask my grandma, “MaBetty, you going to church in the morning?” She would respond, “Yeah, I will be there if the creek don’t rise.” While none of us ever knew what that meant, we just knew we better be in church that next morning.
The culture of Birmingham encompasses so many unique things that make it a one-of-a-kind southern city. I can envision the children outside playing and riding their bikes, while the old folks are sitting on the porch in their rockers swapping stories about “the good ol' days.” Also weaved into the culture of Birmingham is the food. Birmingham is just far enough south for the best fried chicken, and nowhere near the north so it definitely will be seasoned well. It is a place where the word “ain’t” followed by “no” is socially acceptable. In writing about Birmingham, one has to address the Southern religious association there is with being a Bible Belt city. Growing up, I didn’t know much about the Bible Belt, but I knew church. It was a culture for my family. I could remember all those Saturday nights when I would ask my grandma, “MaBetty, you going to church in the morning?” She would respond, “Yeah, I will be there if the creek don’t rise.” While none of us ever knew what that meant, we just knew we better be in church that next morning.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The Birmingham Series: More Than Just A City ..Post 1
This series will detail different areas and topics about the city of Birmingham and my love for the city. I write this series in a course during my time at UA and I want to share this article with others!
Here is the introduction, keep looking for the next post which discusses the culture of Birmingham!
Monday, April 23, 2012
The Child: Part 2
If only she knew,
I understand.
But, only if she knew
I plan to be president of this great land.
The way she cringes right now,
and at the beat of her heart race.
I know one day she wants to see my face.
They call her name,
and we get up.
Mommie, I know you didn't plan ME
but I've been written into your script.
Listen here you doctor, get your hands away from me.
Don't unwrite my script, throw away this gift,
and erase all of what could be.
It's not my fault you see.
But, it seems before birth- death is my destiny.
I hope before he does this deed,
my mom hears me plead and plead.
You've been on your own,
for as long as you knew.
But, now you don't have to be.
...so please just re-think what it is you are about to do.
While abortion is a controversial topic, I wrote this poem with an ambiguous verdict of what happened to this child for a reason. You decide. It covers the controversial pros and cons of having a baby after being raped. There is the guilt and hurt versus the innocence of a child.
~Brittney
The Mother: Part 1
I sit here in this clinic,
the inside of me cringes.
I don't know if that's me,
or whatever this is inside of me.
Boy- Girl I don't know,
and I don't plan to find out.
I would have other things to think about.
I had to scrap this little money, this debate-ably murder money to do this legal killing.
It's like I have the well,
now they'll do the drilling.
You can't understand this feeling.
I know I laid there...really I fought it as I could.
But, I'm trying to at least now give a care, as I should.
It is not your fault little one.
Because you had no play in this, you are just the product of what was done.
I don't want to bring a child into this ol' world,
and not be able to provide for my little boy or little girl.
That man? No he doesn't even know.
Emotion? I honestly don't think he would show.
I can't cry - too much pride.
I've been on my own since as long as I knew,
and that man raped me...so abortion is all I know to do.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
You entered my circle.
You entered my circle.
By: Brittney Knox
I fell for your smile, good looks and beautiful eyes,
to be honest since HIM you are the only one who made me feel this way inside.
Yes there were others,
none really compared.
I honestly just wished it was my own heart I spared.
Talking to him, this new guy ….one word came to mind about all the others that came before...
just.....WHY?
We all make mistakes, lord knows this is true.
I have a couple I can think of, I just ask myself Brittney what were you trying to DO?
But, then you came along talking about your goals, your dreams and your aspirations...
I was SO in shock I’m like are you a figment of my imagination.
You are a hidden sensation and I want to put together all the pages that compose your storybook and uncover you.
I took you on as though you were the feature of my journalistic piece, and my reports would had all the women falling to their knees.
But you want to date me?
A woman scorned and bitter...are you sure?
There is a challenge in that, can you handle this?
Can you handle piecing together the rough edges of my puzzle that when it all comes together creates the most heavenly scenic composition?
I just don’t know.
The title is not so much of what interests me, boyfriend and girlfriend...husband and wife...man and woman....they are just labels of society that people no longer fulfill in the realms of my spirituality.
Adam...took the fall for the sin of Eve.
But, nowadays if some man is to date a woman and immediately upon a fall...he exits before he has given his all.
Even the best fall down...sometime.
I just hope you are ready for this relationship, or interaction I may say...let’s not call it a relationship...at least not today.
I don’t want to enter something and give it my all, because I tend to do just that.
And my heart tends to get a little more ragged when I don’t get that back.
I have decided to take better care of my heart and not place it in those positions anymore.
It’s like asking WHO IS IT...before you open the door.
You just can’t let anyone into your space.
But, with you...I decided to let you come in.
Maybe it was your wit, your smile, or that you were such a nice friend.
It seems as though you are turning out to be,
just like the others that have interacted with me.
And the killing part is....from this mouse there was no chase.
Man....you entered my space.
But...I let you.
By: Brittney Knox
I fell for your smile, good looks and beautiful eyes,
to be honest since HIM you are the only one who made me feel this way inside.
Yes there were others,
none really compared.
I honestly just wished it was my own heart I spared.
Talking to him, this new guy ….one word came to mind about all the others that came before...
just.....WHY?
We all make mistakes, lord knows this is true.
I have a couple I can think of, I just ask myself Brittney what were you trying to DO?
But, then you came along talking about your goals, your dreams and your aspirations...
I was SO in shock I’m like are you a figment of my imagination.
You are a hidden sensation and I want to put together all the pages that compose your storybook and uncover you.
I took you on as though you were the feature of my journalistic piece, and my reports would had all the women falling to their knees.
But you want to date me?
A woman scorned and bitter...are you sure?
There is a challenge in that, can you handle this?
Can you handle piecing together the rough edges of my puzzle that when it all comes together creates the most heavenly scenic composition?
I just don’t know.
The title is not so much of what interests me, boyfriend and girlfriend...husband and wife...man and woman....they are just labels of society that people no longer fulfill in the realms of my spirituality.
Adam...took the fall for the sin of Eve.
But, nowadays if some man is to date a woman and immediately upon a fall...he exits before he has given his all.
Even the best fall down...sometime.
I just hope you are ready for this relationship, or interaction I may say...let’s not call it a relationship...at least not today.
I don’t want to enter something and give it my all, because I tend to do just that.
And my heart tends to get a little more ragged when I don’t get that back.
I have decided to take better care of my heart and not place it in those positions anymore.
It’s like asking WHO IS IT...before you open the door.
You just can’t let anyone into your space.
But, with you...I decided to let you come in.
Maybe it was your wit, your smile, or that you were such a nice friend.
It seems as though you are turning out to be,
just like the others that have interacted with me.
And the killing part is....from this mouse there was no chase.
Man....you entered my space.
But...I let you.
The FIGHT.
The FIGHT.
By: Brittney Knox
When I was driving in South Carolina, just cruising along the street
I noticed my car light was moving to the Hot level it just couldn’t seem to handle the heat
I wanted to pull over but I prayed to make it to my friends house and I ran squigged and scrummed just like a little mouse.
you can’t pray and not believe in the words and have the conviction to know that everything is going to be okay.
It is not that your prayer will fall upon deaf ears, but God won’t wipe away all your fears if you don’t even believe it, he won’t be able to help you achieve if you DON’T think you can achieve it
So when I parked my car and the car began to smoke,
I looked at my friends like this just has to be a joke.
I knew I wasn’t a mechanic, but my God is just that,
he is a lawyer, a doctor and ALL of that!
I prayed, but I worried.
You see WE as a people have to stop the worryin,
it is so disrespectful to the one we call our father.
REALIZE and open your eyes to the strength and power in conviction, faith and love.
REALIZE how your problems will be solved from the master up above.
Without much sleep, without much zest,
I got up that next morning and prayed for the lord to just give me his best.
It is because I let my human side,
fall to my brain that was telling me to put aside my pride.
It’s not my battle, and it’s not yours either.
I worried about my car, ...I worry about school and really why worry about either???
Don’t let the words the devil whispers in your ear, fall upon your ear and leave you with nothing but fear...
instead leave those problems in HIS hands.
Leave that car trouble, in the mechanic that is God’s mechanism to get you back on the road....to get you back home.
As I did.
By: Brittney Knox
When I was driving in South Carolina, just cruising along the street
I noticed my car light was moving to the Hot level it just couldn’t seem to handle the heat
I wanted to pull over but I prayed to make it to my friends house and I ran squigged and scrummed just like a little mouse.
you can’t pray and not believe in the words and have the conviction to know that everything is going to be okay.
It is not that your prayer will fall upon deaf ears, but God won’t wipe away all your fears if you don’t even believe it, he won’t be able to help you achieve if you DON’T think you can achieve it
So when I parked my car and the car began to smoke,
I looked at my friends like this just has to be a joke.
I knew I wasn’t a mechanic, but my God is just that,
he is a lawyer, a doctor and ALL of that!
I prayed, but I worried.
You see WE as a people have to stop the worryin,
it is so disrespectful to the one we call our father.
REALIZE and open your eyes to the strength and power in conviction, faith and love.
REALIZE how your problems will be solved from the master up above.
Without much sleep, without much zest,
I got up that next morning and prayed for the lord to just give me his best.
It is because I let my human side,
fall to my brain that was telling me to put aside my pride.
It’s not my battle, and it’s not yours either.
I worried about my car, ...I worry about school and really why worry about either???
Don’t let the words the devil whispers in your ear, fall upon your ear and leave you with nothing but fear...
instead leave those problems in HIS hands.
Leave that car trouble, in the mechanic that is God’s mechanism to get you back on the road....to get you back home.
As I did.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
HB56: There was tears in his eyes
The results of the immigration law stretched even further than just the Hispanic population. It has effected a man from Kenya.
"My church family is here, I have made a life here. The immigration law has caused me to have to leave."
He stood before the church service holding the microphone and tears flowed down his face. He couldn't speak, I could feel his emotion in the back row.
Alabama HB 56, entitled the Hammon-Beason Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act, is an anti-illegal immigration bill, signed into law in the U.S. state of Alabama in June 2011. As a result of this law it called for this man to volunteer himself to leave the United States after he gave his plea to stay in the country and was denied on three accounts.
After filing under the reasons of his own well-being, then his work done as a musician for his church and after not being married to an American citizen he was denied permission to stay in the country.
So he volunteered to go because if he was deported he wouldn't be able to return.
His friend, who was also affected by the law, was in the congregation of the church and went to stand with him while he finished his story.
"I just want to thank the church for praying with me," he said. "I hope I get the opportunity to return."
He said he spent so much money on a lawyer that he gave a plea to the congregation to help him by raising money for his plane ticket.
HB56 is a law of that should encourage citizens to obtain full citizenship, not deny those who try to obtain it.
It shouldn't cause tears to flow down the cheeks of a man who knows this country as home.
"My church family is here, I have made a life here. The immigration law has caused me to have to leave."
He stood before the church service holding the microphone and tears flowed down his face. He couldn't speak, I could feel his emotion in the back row.
Alabama HB 56, entitled the Hammon-Beason Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act, is an anti-illegal immigration bill, signed into law in the U.S. state of Alabama in June 2011. As a result of this law it called for this man to volunteer himself to leave the United States after he gave his plea to stay in the country and was denied on three accounts.
After filing under the reasons of his own well-being, then his work done as a musician for his church and after not being married to an American citizen he was denied permission to stay in the country.
So he volunteered to go because if he was deported he wouldn't be able to return.
His friend, who was also affected by the law, was in the congregation of the church and went to stand with him while he finished his story.
"I just want to thank the church for praying with me," he said. "I hope I get the opportunity to return."
He said he spent so much money on a lawyer that he gave a plea to the congregation to help him by raising money for his plane ticket.
HB56 is a law of that should encourage citizens to obtain full citizenship, not deny those who try to obtain it.
It shouldn't cause tears to flow down the cheeks of a man who knows this country as home.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
It's More Than Just Football
From the moment you step foot on the field,
they are screaming your name.
In essence,
in life it is all the same.
You have situations of struggle
where everyone around you has nothing but doubt.
The three words focus, patience and drive is the words
you continue to shout.
To your team, or your support system,
you look for encouraging words.
But you know it is all on you,
they give you the wings but you are the bird.
It's time to spread your wings
and keep focus in your eyes.
At times it will seem as though you are going no where,
all you can let out are tears and sighs.
But, when you have the patience and believe in yourself,
the ball will cross the goal line.
And, all will celebrate your success and there will be no question of what's true
that all the time you were looking the answers was there in you.
they are screaming your name.
In essence,
in life it is all the same.
You have situations of struggle
where everyone around you has nothing but doubt.
The three words focus, patience and drive is the words
you continue to shout.
To your team, or your support system,
you look for encouraging words.
But you know it is all on you,
they give you the wings but you are the bird.
It's time to spread your wings
and keep focus in your eyes.
At times it will seem as though you are going no where,
all you can let out are tears and sighs.
But, when you have the patience and believe in yourself,
the ball will cross the goal line.
And, all will celebrate your success and there will be no question of what's true
that all the time you were looking the answers was there in you.
Chapter 1: Something like a short story....
"I have seen him"
“I don’t want the baby,” she said.
“Ms. Jackson, you must understand the decision you are making here,” Doctor Chao ensured that she was aware of the decision she was making.
Then a hysterical man came into the doctors office fighting against a security guards pull yelling, “She will not take my son! She will not kill my son!” He was the baby’s father. The doctor was about to get the patients signature and the man knocked the clipboard out of the doctor’s hand.
The man was so furious he was almost in tears.
“Lisa, why are you doing this?” Anthony said.
“You don’t love me. I am not bringing your child into this world. I refuse,” she said.
She then said to the doctor, “Doctor Chao please forgive him for his anger, I’m so sorry.”
“I am going to leave the two of you alone, so you can talk.This is surely the reverse, I have never seen this before,” Doctor Chao said.
“Do you not realize what you are doing? You would be a murder!” He said.
“That’s debatable,” she said in such a cold tone you could feel the shivers in the room.
“I will not let this happen. Lisa, baby, you know I love you. We have known each other since gosh, since MIDDLE SCHOOL! Don’t do this, please. Just carry the baby, I will take care of it.” He shed a tear and she leaned over to wipe the tear from his eye.
She said, “Get out, Anthony. I will let you know what I decide.”
“No, I am not leaving,” he said.
“And how do you know it’s a boy?! I heard you say your son, how do you know?” she said.
“I’ve seen him, Lisa, I have. I had a dream last night and he came to me. He’s so beautiful and is a combination of me and you. Regardless to the issues you and I have, he doesn’t want you to do this to him. I’m not crazy. I just want my son,” he said.
Lisa was speechless.
“Security!” Lisa yelled.
Anthony then was dragged out of the room after telling his story of his dream.
“I don’t want the baby,” she said.
“Ms. Jackson, you must understand the decision you are making here,” Doctor Chao ensured that she was aware of the decision she was making.
Then a hysterical man came into the doctors office fighting against a security guards pull yelling, “She will not take my son! She will not kill my son!” He was the baby’s father. The doctor was about to get the patients signature and the man knocked the clipboard out of the doctor’s hand.
The man was so furious he was almost in tears.
“Lisa, why are you doing this?” Anthony said.
“You don’t love me. I am not bringing your child into this world. I refuse,” she said.
She then said to the doctor, “Doctor Chao please forgive him for his anger, I’m so sorry.”
“I am going to leave the two of you alone, so you can talk.This is surely the reverse, I have never seen this before,” Doctor Chao said.
“Do you not realize what you are doing? You would be a murder!” He said.
“That’s debatable,” she said in such a cold tone you could feel the shivers in the room.
“I will not let this happen. Lisa, baby, you know I love you. We have known each other since gosh, since MIDDLE SCHOOL! Don’t do this, please. Just carry the baby, I will take care of it.” He shed a tear and she leaned over to wipe the tear from his eye.
She said, “Get out, Anthony. I will let you know what I decide.”
“No, I am not leaving,” he said.
“And how do you know it’s a boy?! I heard you say your son, how do you know?” she said.
“I’ve seen him, Lisa, I have. I had a dream last night and he came to me. He’s so beautiful and is a combination of me and you. Regardless to the issues you and I have, he doesn’t want you to do this to him. I’m not crazy. I just want my son,” he said.
Lisa was speechless.
“Security!” Lisa yelled.
Anthony then was dragged out of the room after telling his story of his dream.
Footprints on Conflicted Soil
~Three Experiences, One Purpose
Behind his eyes, you see fear and innocence, but in his hands, you see strength and potential destruction.
This particular child's worries went beyond something simple like what video game he was going to play next or tomorrow’s playground game. This image of an eight year old boy holding an AK-47 gave Caitlin Trotter, a UA sophomore in New College studying international relations and development, the motivation and desire to raise awareness about Sub-Saharan issues. The image she saw was part of the Invisible Children's campaign to stop the use of child soldiers in Joseph Kony's rebel war in Uganda. Throughout Trotter’s story, she leaves traces of more than just her footprints or her influence on the conflicted soil of foreign countries such as Uganda, Cairo, Egypt and Beirut, Lebanon. She leaves her desire to stop these global issues that are affecting these countries.
After seeing these images of this young boy in Uganda, she began to fuel her desire to impact those young children whose footprints were engraved in the dirt of the conflicted battle areas in Uganda. The Lord’s Resistance Army has taken more than 30 thousand children between the ages of 7 and 17 from their homes and uniformed them as soldiers. These child soldiers are forced to commit violent acts and are oftentimes given to their commanders as sex slaves. “When I first saw those images, I just couldn’t believe it,” Trotter said. “I just knew it was wrong.”
She began to work with a group called Resolve Uganda. With that organization, she was able to meet with state senators and lobby their support on a national effort to successfully get a bill passed that would gain U.S support to stop the Lord's Resistance Army in the Ugandan rebel war. The bill was passed in June of 2010. While these issues are global they have a local connection in Tuscaloosa through this sophomore from Huntsville. While there is a difference on sight of Trotter’s skin color and those of the child soldiers, Trotter looked deeper than that and saw no difference in race. At such a young age her motivation and passion for these world issues all started with a photograph.
Upon transferring to the University of Alabama from its sister campus in Huntsville, Trotter began working with a group called Apwonjo that raises awareness about Sub-Saharan issues. She also continued her efforts by meeting with state senators to lobby them to support the bill that would help gain U.S support to stop the war in northern Uganda.
“There are not many people that meet with their representatives about an issue,” Linn Groft, president of Apwonjo said. “You may have those that call or write a letter when they are angry, but Caitlin was able to articulate to them the problem to let them know this does matter. It was a great feeling to know someone who had gained support for the bill to pass in June of last year.”
She recalls becoming acquainted with Trotter at a mandatory meeting for New College students and spoke with her about Apwonjo. The efforts of this group involve raising funds for organizations that aid these pressing issues in Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, they are planning to host a bake sale to benefit “Freedom in Creation”, a nonprofit organization that empowers communities in the Gulu district of northern Uganda. The organization provides art therapy classes for former child soldiers.
Trotter has a connection to other locations in addition to Uganda and has worked to aid some other pressing global issues. As a student of the University’s International Honors Program, she also had the opportunity to go abroad and have her own firsthand experiences. Her footprints were once only in the states, but they have graced the soil of foreign cities such as Cairo, Egypt and, in most recent times, Beirut, Lebanon where she was one of 22 global participants in The Beirut Exchange.
While a vast majority of the American population can only associate the images of Cairo, Egypt with those that have been in the news most recently, the images that come to Trotter’s mind are those seen with her own eyes. She visited Cairo this past summer working with Sudanese refugees while visiting her sister Kristen, who has lived in Egypt for three years.
She said the kids that came to the school had not fled from the war themselves, rather their parents had relocated years ago. The schools that sought to aid these refugees struggled with the finances to provide adequate resources for the classrooms.
“There were children of all ages at the school. I taught a class of about eight fourth graders with two other instructors. All we had as resources was a classroom and a white board, but we knew we had to make do. The school didn’t have very many funds to afford supplies, or to pay many teachers. All in all, I think seeing the desire of those children to learn made more of an impact on me than I probably made on them,” Trotter said.
Just months after Trotter returned to the states, events took place that gained the city of Cairo news coverage that oftentimes her sister had a hand in reporting. Kristen Chick, a University of Alabama graduate works for “The Christian Science Monitor” as an international journalist. Most recently, she covered the protests of an outraged people in Egypt where citizens wanted their former leader Hosni Mubarak to step down after 30 years of his dictatorship. She also found herself amidst the angry protesters in the streets of Tunisia to cover the events involving the anguish against their leader as well.
Trotter described the situations that took place before Mubarak stepped down and said, “The government shut off the Internet for a week and I was unable to get in touch with my sister. After the connections resumed, I learned she had been in some really dangerous situations, and it worried me. Though the situations were very historic and it was a big opportunity for her to cover the events, it was also very dangerous as well.”
Since Trotter’s desires and passion lie in international relations, her quiet strength slowly became known on campus through Apwonjo and with her advisor in the Honors College. Dr. Fran Oneal, director of the International Honors Program, has known Trotter for about a year or so since her transfer to the University. She also knew her sister and said they both have similar interests. Because she knew Trotter’s interests and places she could possibly want to study, Oneal was able to notify her of the opportunity to go to Beirut, Lebanon.
“I believe any overseas experience for a student is important on all levels such as personal and professional,” Oneal said. “We have such a global environment that some things you can’t just read about. You have to get out and experience them for yourself.”
When Caitlin arrived in the 120 degree Beirut weather, she got into a taxi and immediately connected her driving experience to Cairo. “The driving was crazy,” she said. “No one obeys the stop signs or traffic laws.” While driving down the road, she saw buildings that had been burned down or had bullet holes, and then the one next to it would be a nearly renovated condo. After 15 years of war, the city has a mixed beauty. While there is construction going on to rebuild the city, history can’t be erased. “The city has been through so much. It had a unique feel to it because it possessed the old and the new,” she said.
In efforts to finance her trip abroad, Caitlin sought sponsors and she also held a bake sale that she said helped to pay for airfare. Dr. James Hall, director of New College, also helped her find ways to fund this endeavor to study abroad in Beirut. The Student Support Fund in the New College department was used to help with her trip.
“She definitely wears her desire of transforming the world on her sleeves and no one had to twist my arm to convince me to aid her in this wonderful opportunity. I think Caitlin’s work with international development is pretty remarkable, and it is going to aid her in making a difference,” he said.
While on the trip, Trotter said The Beirut Exchange allowed them to experience many amazing things such as meeting famous politicians, journalists and Christian politicians. Lebanon is a conflicted country and has a history of violent situations given its past wars. Caitlin said none of those types of situations occurred during her stay. “The only thing that did happen was their government collapsed during our stay which it was very interesting to see how that would play out,” she said. “The only way this affected us directly was some of the political leaders we were scheduled to meeting could not make their appointments.”
Groft, Apwonjo president, has been working with Trotter since the beginning of the fall semester and said knowing a person like her has been truly an inspiration to her and her organization. She recalls when Trotter was going to talk to the senators and said she admired how she is never intimated to talk about the things she is truly passionate about. Groft said all of Trotter’s experiences in these countries weave together her overall love and desire for helping others.
“Caitlin always goes above and beyond your expectations and is constantly evaluating herself in areas where she can do better. She is a natural leader not only because of her own qualities, but those that she looks to bring out in other people. Some leaders are visible and mainstream, but the matters that she wants to change are not. For that matter, some of the best leaders are those that may not be the most visible,” Groft said.
Behind his eyes, you see fear and innocence, but in his hands, you see strength and potential destruction.
This particular child's worries went beyond something simple like what video game he was going to play next or tomorrow’s playground game. This image of an eight year old boy holding an AK-47 gave Caitlin Trotter, a UA sophomore in New College studying international relations and development, the motivation and desire to raise awareness about Sub-Saharan issues. The image she saw was part of the Invisible Children's campaign to stop the use of child soldiers in Joseph Kony's rebel war in Uganda. Throughout Trotter’s story, she leaves traces of more than just her footprints or her influence on the conflicted soil of foreign countries such as Uganda, Cairo, Egypt and Beirut, Lebanon. She leaves her desire to stop these global issues that are affecting these countries.
After seeing these images of this young boy in Uganda, she began to fuel her desire to impact those young children whose footprints were engraved in the dirt of the conflicted battle areas in Uganda. The Lord’s Resistance Army has taken more than 30 thousand children between the ages of 7 and 17 from their homes and uniformed them as soldiers. These child soldiers are forced to commit violent acts and are oftentimes given to their commanders as sex slaves. “When I first saw those images, I just couldn’t believe it,” Trotter said. “I just knew it was wrong.”
She began to work with a group called Resolve Uganda. With that organization, she was able to meet with state senators and lobby their support on a national effort to successfully get a bill passed that would gain U.S support to stop the Lord's Resistance Army in the Ugandan rebel war. The bill was passed in June of 2010. While these issues are global they have a local connection in Tuscaloosa through this sophomore from Huntsville. While there is a difference on sight of Trotter’s skin color and those of the child soldiers, Trotter looked deeper than that and saw no difference in race. At such a young age her motivation and passion for these world issues all started with a photograph.
Upon transferring to the University of Alabama from its sister campus in Huntsville, Trotter began working with a group called Apwonjo that raises awareness about Sub-Saharan issues. She also continued her efforts by meeting with state senators to lobby them to support the bill that would help gain U.S support to stop the war in northern Uganda.
“There are not many people that meet with their representatives about an issue,” Linn Groft, president of Apwonjo said. “You may have those that call or write a letter when they are angry, but Caitlin was able to articulate to them the problem to let them know this does matter. It was a great feeling to know someone who had gained support for the bill to pass in June of last year.”
She recalls becoming acquainted with Trotter at a mandatory meeting for New College students and spoke with her about Apwonjo. The efforts of this group involve raising funds for organizations that aid these pressing issues in Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, they are planning to host a bake sale to benefit “Freedom in Creation”, a nonprofit organization that empowers communities in the Gulu district of northern Uganda. The organization provides art therapy classes for former child soldiers.
Trotter has a connection to other locations in addition to Uganda and has worked to aid some other pressing global issues. As a student of the University’s International Honors Program, she also had the opportunity to go abroad and have her own firsthand experiences. Her footprints were once only in the states, but they have graced the soil of foreign cities such as Cairo, Egypt and, in most recent times, Beirut, Lebanon where she was one of 22 global participants in The Beirut Exchange.
While a vast majority of the American population can only associate the images of Cairo, Egypt with those that have been in the news most recently, the images that come to Trotter’s mind are those seen with her own eyes. She visited Cairo this past summer working with Sudanese refugees while visiting her sister Kristen, who has lived in Egypt for three years.
She said the kids that came to the school had not fled from the war themselves, rather their parents had relocated years ago. The schools that sought to aid these refugees struggled with the finances to provide adequate resources for the classrooms.
“There were children of all ages at the school. I taught a class of about eight fourth graders with two other instructors. All we had as resources was a classroom and a white board, but we knew we had to make do. The school didn’t have very many funds to afford supplies, or to pay many teachers. All in all, I think seeing the desire of those children to learn made more of an impact on me than I probably made on them,” Trotter said.
Just months after Trotter returned to the states, events took place that gained the city of Cairo news coverage that oftentimes her sister had a hand in reporting. Kristen Chick, a University of Alabama graduate works for “The Christian Science Monitor” as an international journalist. Most recently, she covered the protests of an outraged people in Egypt where citizens wanted their former leader Hosni Mubarak to step down after 30 years of his dictatorship. She also found herself amidst the angry protesters in the streets of Tunisia to cover the events involving the anguish against their leader as well.
Trotter described the situations that took place before Mubarak stepped down and said, “The government shut off the Internet for a week and I was unable to get in touch with my sister. After the connections resumed, I learned she had been in some really dangerous situations, and it worried me. Though the situations were very historic and it was a big opportunity for her to cover the events, it was also very dangerous as well.”
Since Trotter’s desires and passion lie in international relations, her quiet strength slowly became known on campus through Apwonjo and with her advisor in the Honors College. Dr. Fran Oneal, director of the International Honors Program, has known Trotter for about a year or so since her transfer to the University. She also knew her sister and said they both have similar interests. Because she knew Trotter’s interests and places she could possibly want to study, Oneal was able to notify her of the opportunity to go to Beirut, Lebanon.
“I believe any overseas experience for a student is important on all levels such as personal and professional,” Oneal said. “We have such a global environment that some things you can’t just read about. You have to get out and experience them for yourself.”
When Caitlin arrived in the 120 degree Beirut weather, she got into a taxi and immediately connected her driving experience to Cairo. “The driving was crazy,” she said. “No one obeys the stop signs or traffic laws.” While driving down the road, she saw buildings that had been burned down or had bullet holes, and then the one next to it would be a nearly renovated condo. After 15 years of war, the city has a mixed beauty. While there is construction going on to rebuild the city, history can’t be erased. “The city has been through so much. It had a unique feel to it because it possessed the old and the new,” she said.
In efforts to finance her trip abroad, Caitlin sought sponsors and she also held a bake sale that she said helped to pay for airfare. Dr. James Hall, director of New College, also helped her find ways to fund this endeavor to study abroad in Beirut. The Student Support Fund in the New College department was used to help with her trip.
“She definitely wears her desire of transforming the world on her sleeves and no one had to twist my arm to convince me to aid her in this wonderful opportunity. I think Caitlin’s work with international development is pretty remarkable, and it is going to aid her in making a difference,” he said.
While on the trip, Trotter said The Beirut Exchange allowed them to experience many amazing things such as meeting famous politicians, journalists and Christian politicians. Lebanon is a conflicted country and has a history of violent situations given its past wars. Caitlin said none of those types of situations occurred during her stay. “The only thing that did happen was their government collapsed during our stay which it was very interesting to see how that would play out,” she said. “The only way this affected us directly was some of the political leaders we were scheduled to meeting could not make their appointments.”
Groft, Apwonjo president, has been working with Trotter since the beginning of the fall semester and said knowing a person like her has been truly an inspiration to her and her organization. She recalls when Trotter was going to talk to the senators and said she admired how she is never intimated to talk about the things she is truly passionate about. Groft said all of Trotter’s experiences in these countries weave together her overall love and desire for helping others.
“Caitlin always goes above and beyond your expectations and is constantly evaluating herself in areas where she can do better. She is a natural leader not only because of her own qualities, but those that she looks to bring out in other people. Some leaders are visible and mainstream, but the matters that she wants to change are not. For that matter, some of the best leaders are those that may not be the most visible,” Groft said.
Voices from my City
A Father
Man on that day it was regular, yeah everything was cool
I woke up that morning and took the kids to school
but I had to turn right back around and go get them.
Was I scared? You better believe I was scared
I’ve never seen clouds like the ones I’ve seen.
I just wanted to protect my kids like a man’s supposed to do.
Kinda hard when after the storm, there is a rubble, no car and screaming kids...
and all eyes are on you.
A Passerby
I’m from Oklahoma!
We have tornadoes but nothing like this.
Houses lifted from foundations and with careful observation you wonder just how did people survive.
I went to Georgia with my girl and we passed through,
she said we had to stop...we just had to.
I saw people trying to pick up their lives,
right before my eyes.
I can’t imagine what they feel inside.
All this destruction happened in just one day...leaves me speechless with nothing to say.
A Mother
I am a mother, a mother of five.
I was already struggling, but now I just feel empty on the inside.
Dang, I never thought Pratt City would be such a tourist attraction.
78 Highway never got so much bystander action.
People come and they are in awe at this sight.
Even babies come take a look and say mommie this don’t look right.
One said, “Mommie, where are these people gonna sleep at night?”
I’m a victim, but I’m not in my grave,
see it’s for times like these it’s my faith I save.
I know its not me who will make a way outta no way.
I don’t want these kids to hang their heads when they walk away.
I want them to know the people here in Pratt City have no choice but to be ok.
It’s all we know.
An Intern
I was interning.
I wouldn’t have known it was bad weather coming if I didn’t work at the news.
I can recall watching the big screens and seeing the headline “Five dead in Cullman due to tornadoes” I just knew destruction couldn’t happen to me.
I guess with things like this you pretend there is one big security cloud over every area of life that involves you.
But, in this case it just wasn’t true.
When I went to my dorm, something just didn’t feel right.
I texted my mom when I knew this was real, telling her to pray because this fear was surreal.
The storm hit and I can recall calling my mom and hearing her cries.
The only words she spoke was “It hit the house” and the network failing was the worst feeling I’ve ever had in my life.
Then an angel appeared.
Not many people can say they have stared God in the face, but he came to erase all my fears.
A random student prayed with me that my mom was ok,
he prayed God would wrap his long arm of protection around her to ensure she would still be here with me.
Then the phone rang. It was my mom.
The storm hit me from two different directions, I knew I had to minister to others my blessing.
I lost my house at home and a friend at school.
IT stole my regular life, but it gave me a story to tell.
Even months later these people are not forgotten,
that man wanted to protect his kids.
That traveler wanted to just be a friend.
That mother knew that it was not the end.
And that girl....that girl had faith you see...I know for a fact because that girl is me.
Man on that day it was regular, yeah everything was cool
I woke up that morning and took the kids to school
but I had to turn right back around and go get them.
Was I scared? You better believe I was scared
I’ve never seen clouds like the ones I’ve seen.
I just wanted to protect my kids like a man’s supposed to do.
Kinda hard when after the storm, there is a rubble, no car and screaming kids...
and all eyes are on you.
A Passerby
I’m from Oklahoma!
We have tornadoes but nothing like this.
Houses lifted from foundations and with careful observation you wonder just how did people survive.
I went to Georgia with my girl and we passed through,
she said we had to stop...we just had to.
I saw people trying to pick up their lives,
right before my eyes.
I can’t imagine what they feel inside.
All this destruction happened in just one day...leaves me speechless with nothing to say.
A Mother
I am a mother, a mother of five.
I was already struggling, but now I just feel empty on the inside.
Dang, I never thought Pratt City would be such a tourist attraction.
78 Highway never got so much bystander action.
People come and they are in awe at this sight.
Even babies come take a look and say mommie this don’t look right.
One said, “Mommie, where are these people gonna sleep at night?”
I’m a victim, but I’m not in my grave,
see it’s for times like these it’s my faith I save.
I know its not me who will make a way outta no way.
I don’t want these kids to hang their heads when they walk away.
I want them to know the people here in Pratt City have no choice but to be ok.
It’s all we know.
An Intern
I was interning.
I wouldn’t have known it was bad weather coming if I didn’t work at the news.
I can recall watching the big screens and seeing the headline “Five dead in Cullman due to tornadoes” I just knew destruction couldn’t happen to me.
I guess with things like this you pretend there is one big security cloud over every area of life that involves you.
But, in this case it just wasn’t true.
When I went to my dorm, something just didn’t feel right.
I texted my mom when I knew this was real, telling her to pray because this fear was surreal.
The storm hit and I can recall calling my mom and hearing her cries.
The only words she spoke was “It hit the house” and the network failing was the worst feeling I’ve ever had in my life.
Then an angel appeared.
Not many people can say they have stared God in the face, but he came to erase all my fears.
A random student prayed with me that my mom was ok,
he prayed God would wrap his long arm of protection around her to ensure she would still be here with me.
Then the phone rang. It was my mom.
The storm hit me from two different directions, I knew I had to minister to others my blessing.
I lost my house at home and a friend at school.
IT stole my regular life, but it gave me a story to tell.
Even months later these people are not forgotten,
that man wanted to protect his kids.
That traveler wanted to just be a friend.
That mother knew that it was not the end.
And that girl....that girl had faith you see...I know for a fact because that girl is me.
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