Mon.-John and Terry Brynan shared in CCA's chapel today and then left for Pa. shortly after 10. Michael stayed home to work on his thesis on predestination. I was wiped out. Made red velvet whoopie pies and they flopped so the dogs got a treat. So much fun to check out face book comments regarding Alli and Freeman. Aunt Linda called last night with her happiness and congratulations.
Tues.-Taught school and tried to teach kids about entering other people's spaces and how this causes a flight or fight reaction. Went to Kroger's and took a walk during break. Second day of vegetables, fruit, beans only fast. Terrible headache of yesterday has turned into a clearer mind today. (Wrote those sentences at lunch.) After lunch, when I was teaching the younger students, one of the teachers knocked at the door and motioned for me to come out. She said, 'We have a situation. There is a gunman on the loose and our school is on lock-down. At least one person is murdered." I wasn't to tell the little ones so I went back inside feeling like I was going to throw up and tried to protect the little children from the emotions of fear and the awareness of evil. Later, I went out while my helper read stories to them. I called Phil and church from the changing room and they started to pray. I will probably write more about this later. We were dismissed at regular time and the police were positioned at our doorways and road entryways. The gunman was surrounded in the woods behind the school. Alot of rumors flying around, but sometimes, the truth is worse than rumors. School is cancelled for tomorrow.
Wed.-Gunman turned himself in at 7:10 this morning without incident. Schools remain closed in Appomattox County. 8 people dead. He was acquainted with them. Today, the police are identiying bodies and notifying next of kin. Made cinnamon rolls and did 4 loads of wash and could hardly focus on anything. Went to town in eve. and spent some time alone at church sorting things out and finding some peace. Michael and Susan in Vertical Edge. Checked news on line. Victims include 3 teenagers, a four year old, and 2 couples. House was loaded with explosives and the bomb squad was detonating bombs and may continue into Thurs. One who knew the man said that he was such a good sharpshooter that he could have picked off the police one by one. Thank you God, for orchestrating events in such a way that he was compelled to turn himself in.
Thurs.-3 high school students were killed. The man killed his sister, her daughter, her husband, and their 4 year old son, along with the parents of one of the teens. It's going to be another situation where people are going to feel bad that they didn't pay attention to the warning signs.
Counselors are at the Appomattox High School today, trying to help the kids cope. Apparently. these three kids were dearly loved and all around great kids. I have always loved the peace in Appomattox. That peace is now shattered. Oh Restorer of Peace, bring Your Divine Peace.
Pray for the peace of Appomattox.
Went to Farmville and met with Katherine and Lindsay about this Sat. women's craft/cake baking event. Picked up Susan at school afterwards. We went to work when we got home. I made heart shaped sugar cookies for the women to ice and write the names of their children on with icing markers. I made black cherry koolaid playdough for the women's children to play with should they happen to come. Susan made her homemade gumdrops and peanut butter eggs and buttercream eggs. She's going to start her egg business this weekend. I think she can handle everything by herself this year. She bought the ingredients to her first batch and will donate a percentage of her earnings to missions-John and Terry, to be exact-to feed the Kenyan children. She is saving to go on a missions trip with the youth group. Michael worked late at Krogers. Someone said on face book that people were subdued in Krogers; communicating with whispers.
Terry shared with me that she and John were burdened to pray for the safety of our children on Tuesday.
Fri.-Made carrot cake, chocolate marvel cake and red velvet cupcakes. Picked up Susan and Parks at school, dropped Parks off, and came back out to Pamplin Exxon to meet Kelly and Mike Gibbs. I parked perpendicular to the parked cars at the end of the property. All of a sudden, a tractor trailer truck hit a mini van that was pulling into Exxon. It was wild. Stuff was flying everywhere. She was spun around so she was facing the other way, but she was off the road. We saw the airbags go off. The man got his truck stopped quickly. His cab was damaged. The woman jumped out of her vehicle with arms raised, "Thank you Jesus", she cried. I said, "Thank You Jesus", too. She was unharmed. I called 911 right away. People were flying out of their cars and coming over. The poor dear man that hit her felt so bad. She started shaking and asked him frantically, "What did I do wrong? What did I do wrong? " "You didn't do anything wrong, " he said, so kindly. I went over and grabbed his arm and just held it for awhile. I felt so bad for him. The first responders were there in 3 min. I would say. I was so impressed with everything. But I have been bothered, because I can't exactly say what happened, but I may have seen it better than everyone else. I don't know whether she had her blinkers on or not, but it seemed to me she took a long time to pull in. She was in front of him on 460 headed West. He had come up a hill, and come down, and then she slowed down and he couldn't get around her. I am sure he was braking and Susan said he was honking his horn. It was raining as well. We got out of there, because we were going to get parked in and I was bringing Kelly home with me. Mike and Kelly had driven behind the truck since Noah's and they said he was going 55 mph. Phil said that if I was to say anything to anybody, I would have thought about it right away, but we left before the police were there. The woman's children were in the bus that pulled right into the Exxon then. She was hugging them, and her mom was there right away, hugging her, so they must have all been meeting there. God bless that dear woman, and help them with getting another vehicle. It is hard to believe that she walked away from that accident. And God bless that dear truckdriver, who could have blamed her if he wanted to. Help him to keep his job and help his insurance not to escalate. Help the police figure out what happened and let no one be to blame.
Went out to New Life in the eve. to set up the tables, etc. for the event tomorrow.
Sat.-Women's New Life Event today. Lindsay showed people how to be creative with frames. Ramona had her creative memory card things there. Edna shared her artwork. Tabitha and Susan brought jewelry and Susan had candy as well. Catherine had her linguine and other goodies. Mable was showing her helmet liners for the soldiers that she knits. Rebecca and Cathy had their crocheting, Teresa had soup and sandwiches, and I had sugar cookies to ice and chocolate cake, etc. Jessica Fortner won the cake baking contest. We sold all the cakes-17 total, and made $290 for Kingdom Expansions. Now I have all of the stuff to put away and a house to clean. I'd better get to it. Alli, Freeman, Susan, and Kelly decorated the rest of the cookies and got down right creative and a little big gross-just some of them. We have artists in our midst.
Found out tonight that a Kansas church plans to picket the Appomattox victims funerals..saying that God is judging America because we accept homosexuality and the shootings are part of His judgment. All I can say is, they had better not mess with Appomattox.
On his way home from work, Michael noticed that road signs had been pulled out along side the road and thrown on the road on 633 Hixburg and Cutbanks Rds. He saw someone coming and felt he should move the one in particular off the road because he thought the person coming could get seriously injured from the 2x4 piece of wood and metal that took up most of the road. It turns out that the person he helped was his father. He was coming a different way home from work after a deer had run into his truck and he had delivered it to the Edmonstons.
Sunday-Phil so exhausted from working 6 days. Just went to church instead of S.S. and that was nice. Appreciated the way the church focused on Appomattox with their prayer and declarations. I think the time is coming that I will not even bother wearing make-up to church. Pastor Frank preached his heart out and God's power was made perfect in his weakness. Jamie D. shared with Phil and I how he was working on a house on Fri. and was using a generator. He was working for about 4 hours, when a friend and co-worker showed up. He said, "Jamie, will you step outside for a minute." Jamie was glazed over and about fainted when he got out. It was a close call. Carbon monoxide poisoning. His friend felt like he should come check on the house. He resisted, thinking the house was fine. He lived 20-30 miles away. When he went to turn another direction on the road, he was compelled to go in the direction of the house. Thank you, thank you God. We love Jamie and his family. What would we do without him? I am convinced we are living in a day when we need to obey the Spirit's promptings. We need to follow our intuitions. We need to watch and pray.
Kelli S. came home with us. We warmed up leftovers and did our own things. Philip was with the Harvest group. Michael worked on his thesis until 3 Mon. morning. Susan, Kelli, and I played Dutch Blitz. Phil slept and read Dave Ramsey's book. The girls straightened my hair and I looked awful. Everyone begged me to wash my hair and look somewhat normal. Philip and Christi came. Alli and Freeman were over after eating out. Phil and I went to the Financial Peace class in the eve. and Kelli and Susan came along and worked with the kids on human video.
Phil drove to Richmond from church. Wind wild all night. Fell asleep anyway, even though I don't like missing the wild wind rampages.
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