prayers for oklahoma.

in 1999, a tornado came through my hometown of clarksville, tennessee.  i was in college at the time at the local university, austin peay state university.

i remember going to bed the night before, sitting my alarm to wake up early to go in and take an exam.  i was a live-in nanny at the time.  

i remember tossing and turning all night because of a bad storm.

that was the methodist church where i attended.

i remember getting up and stumbling to the shower in my sleepy state and getting a knock on the bathroom door while i was in the shower.

"jessica.  you don't have school today.  we're not even sure there's a school left."

the campus was in shambles.  the city was devastated. as were the residents.

my hometown woke up looking much different than when i went to bed the previous night.

oklahoma.  you are in my prayers and thoughts.  last night was we celebrated my very best friends birthday with dinner, all i could think about was you.  your people.  your kids.  as we celebrated my best friend, her life, i couldn't help but think about birthdays that were shattered yesterday.

but oklahoma, here's what i learned from tennessee in 1999 - you are resilient.

you still shine and will shine brighter in days to come.

goodness will uprise from your roots.

but in the meantime, i will pray for you.

we will pray for you.