OHHHHHklahoma...Where the 197th Tornado Almost Came

For starters, I really could be one of those people who blog every day. I think of so many things to talk about, probably because I'm a talker, and just never have the time/take the time to do it. I am also not sure I really want to be a daily blogger. Too much pressure, too much time, too much of me yakking about nothing. I also start to do what I just did, like think, "Does yakking really have 2 ks? One k would mean a long vowel sound, so 2 is phonetically correct, but is it really correct? Maybe I should open a new tab and look it up to make sure..." You get the picture. Thus daily blogging is not in my best interest for now.

Back to Ohhhhhhhhklahoma! (Are you singing yet?)

WE GOT TO GO SEE THE STRAPS IN EDMOND! After 4 years of many tries on each of our parts, we finally found a weekend and went. For those of you who don't know, John and Wanda Strappazon were our college ministers while we were at Tech and beyond. Did I mention we pretty much live here to minister to college students because they taught us to love God, love others, live biblically, and equip others? John has been a mentor to both of us, and Wanda discipled/still disciples me continually. We learn so much just from being with them, are challenged spiritually, and always come away completely encouraged. They are just sweet heart friends. John also married us on May 31, 1997...yes, that is a 7 at the end of that. Almost 12 years! Crazy! For the record books, especially all those Baptist record keepers, John danced at our wedding, too. Ha! I love how you can love Jesus and be a dancin' fool! Ok, I am completely getting off topic. We left the kiddos with Ashley, whom we could never live without so stop trying to move and just stay here or wherever we are forever, and they had a blast. Here are some pics and highlights of our trip, for all of you who really care and just want me to shut up and get to the picture section of the entry. (Tyson, sweetheart, I know you, buddy.)

Look at how cute Wanda is! This is what we walked into her house and saw:


Here is Sophie...looks like Toto, huh? Appropriately so since she lives in Tornado Alley...or maybe on Tornado Street.


"Jesus Wept" statue entering the Oklahoma City bombing memorial area. I am not sure about the fact that he is turning his back on it all. My Jesus did weep, but I have not known him to turn his back on anything. Another post?


Entrance to the memorial site. Another wall says 9:01, the pond is when it happened at 9:02, and the final wall says 9:03.


Each chair represents a person that was killed that day. See the smaller chair? Those are for the children that were killed. They each have their name on it and the glass box underneath lights up at night.


How amazing is our God! Right when we walked in we saw B.J. and Stephanie! We had not seen them in forever. They used to live in Lubbock, were in Challenge and Life Group with us, and then moved to Dallas. They were there for B.J. to run the Oklahoma City Marathon the next morning. That is definitely not on my goal list in life. We loved seeing you guys! Did you find a hotel? :)


John, Wanda, me, and Tyson under the Tree of Life...left standing after the bombing.


Eating at Pops! They have a million different kinds of soda to choose from.



We almost got the shot! Pregnant lady crouching down trying to take this pic would have been a better pic...just kidding.


We got to visit Auntie Wanda, who is basically my Nanny's sister who also lives in Edmond. As you can see, I continually am getting puffier and puffier this trip. Humidity and Melissa pregnant with girls does not mix. She is such a sweet lady, and we are so grateful we got to see her!


Last, but oh so not least, the famous Texas Tech helmet. Which by the way weighs like 50 pounds! Ladies, try on a football helmet one day and you will be blown away. No wonder those guys have ginormous necks! I could not even get up off the couch. I am wearing this so Strap can laugh at me, and also to honor the evening of tornado warnings and watches. It is serious in Oklahoma, people! You have to wear some type of helmet and have one of those weather radios to even live here. Wanda has sat in her hall bathroom or pantry many times wearing this extremely heavy helmet through a tornado. A few that have even destroyed houses just down the street. And yes, the weather radio man announced the 197th tornado watch/warning of the year in our honor.


We love you sweet friends! I would brave a tornado anytime just to see you guys!