Hanging By a Thread

A Force of Nature {Tornado Alley}

Deja Vu

So many tears. So many memories, So much devastation.

Tornadoes ravage large cities, tiny towns and mid-sized suburbs across our country quite frequently and with evergrowing force and destructive powers, especially during this season between cold and hot. All those who suffer this fate receive my sympathies and my prayers; and yet, not all of them hit home, both literally and figuratively.

Yesterday, Moore, OK, a suburb between Oklahoma City and Norman was slammed by an extremely large and menacing monster of a twister. By evening, scores were counted as injured, at least 24 killed, but maybe more, hundreds of houses blown to smithereens and at least two schools demolished with kids and teachers inside. Heartbreaking.

But this is not the first time a terrible, twisting force of nature has traveled this path. Fourteen years ago, on May 3, 1999, a huge and powerful tornado tore up a swath of land in this exact location, killing 36 and destroying a community and wreaking havoc across the small state.

Fourteen years ago on May 3^rd 1999, I was living in Norman, OK. I was just finishing up my second year of law school at OU. I was hunkered down under a couch with my best friend, Jennifer, with my 2 cats in their carrier in between us, listening to KFOR on the radio, after losing the cable signal. I heard the reports of destruction; I heard the fear and excitement in the reporters' voices; and I heard the devastation of loss and confusion in the wandering, dirty and bloodied, newly homeless residents of Moore, OK, just a few miles up the road.

Later, I bought blankets and pillows and drove as far as we could North on I-35 to drop off the provisions at a makeshift shelter. I waited for the TV to come back on and cried at the reports coming in. I sat frozen in my own untouched apartment listening and waiting and scared as tornadoes popped up in the dark all night long.

Tears

Yesterday, the tears streamed down my face when I got a text from my husband saying there was a bad tornado going through Moore and a school had been hit. I cried because I remembered the devastation. I cried because I knew what monster tornadoes in OK can do. I cried because I'm a parent.

I immediately tuned in to KFOR and began reliving that awful day fourteen years ago. The same anchors were there. The same images popped up on the screen. The same scared, confused, shocked voices were heard, report after report. But, the devastation even worse; this time, the tornado was over 2 miles wide, rather than a 1 mile wide tornado of 1999.

The focus was on one of the two elementary schools decimated in the monster's path. I couldn't tear away, just as I couldn't fourteen years ago. I watched, I listened, I prayed, I cried and I missed my friend Jennifer who passed away last summer.

The similarities were eerie, but the difference for me was that this time I am a mom. I could not stop putting myself in the shoes of those kids' parents; frantically waiting or feverishly trying to get down the road to the school or desperately working to reach anyone by phone.

The tears continued to flow through the reports of the third graders unaccounted for and the later reports that the search had turned from rescue to recovery of at least two dozen students. My heart is absolutely broken as I think about and pray for those kids' families.

Perspective

You must understand that OK has some of the best weather coverage in the country. These meteorologists and reporters take the weather seriously. They go live and stay live and warn and pass along information and mourn and report and share and save lives.

The sheer force and power of these storms certainly shows us how very little we control and how very quickly life can take a very sharp turn. We are but a tiny piece of God's creation. We are not so powerful as to prevent such storms that are whipped up by nature.

The Scoop

Many people lost everything they had; family members, homes, pets, possessions, vehicles; their confidence was shaken; their faith rattled; their resolve tested.

Fourteen years ago, people lost these things too, but they rebuilt; they added safe rooms and storm shelters this time; they moved on, but they did not forget. They will do the same again, but right now life is shattered. These people are Oklahomans; Sooners; Settlers. Over and out...

Anna

Photo Op {A Standout Among the Crowd}

I took this photo just a few weeks ago in early May around 1 pm. It looks more like mid-afternoon in late November or early December by the color of the sky and the lack of leaves or buds.

Something about this tree really speaks to me. It wasn't until after I had taken the photo and looked back at it that I felt drawn in by it.

The tree itself is so imposing and commanding of respect with its giant stature and sprawling branches reaching out above the other trees surrounding it. The starkness of it gives it beauty and gives me pause.

What types of photos speak to you? Over and out...

Anna

Related articles

Photo Op {Spring Comes in Many Shades}

Photo Op {This is May?}

Photo Op {Spring Comes in Many Shades}

A few weeks ago, spring looked like this. All the snow and ice had finally melted. There were bits of green grass emerging in the lawns. And the boys were playing catch at the neighbor's house.

Today spring looks like this. It's blustery and wet and messy. This morning we woke to a beautiful white Spring wonderland. And try as I may, I can't hate it. It's simply too magnificent. Early this morning Darling 2 and Violet the Saint were out bounding through the yard enjoying the scene.

One day soon, the white will be gone for good, or at least for a good 6 months or so, and it will be filled with shades of green and pink and white and purple as our lawns and trees and flowers finally bud and bloom and grow.

Enjoy the weekend! Over and out....

Anna

5 Things You Should Know {How to Pretend Spring is Here or Trick Yourself into Believing it’s Actually a Mild January}

Here in Minnesota my calendar reads mid-April, but when I look out the window I see a cold, wet, blustery, often snowy landscape more reminiscent of early March or late November. It's been a long winter and while snow frequently makes its appearance here in April, it's also not uncommon to have a few sunny days that hit 65 degrees sprinkled through late March and April.

Not this year. No, this year the tail end of winter lingers, the sun hides behind a thick, bland curtain of clouds that often opens only to reveal more snow and sleet. And now, we have yet another winter storm taking aim at us.

Well, it's getting to me the same way that early winter gets to me. It drags me down and makes me sleepy and irritable and sluggish, but I have decided to fight back.

Here are 5 things you should know about how to pretend Spring is here or trick yourself into believing it's actually a mild January:

1. Dress for the season you want it to be, regardless of what the thermometer reads. I tried this on Tuesday, and I was a bit chilly, but I flatly refused to wear my coat or gloves. And later in the afternoon the sun came out and felt so nice!
2. On the worst of the faux spring days {perhaps today would be a good day for this one} claim a mental health day; stay in your jammies all day; drink hot chocolate and watch movies; and just get all your dreary moping done in that day. The next day move on and be cheerful knowing that spring has to be very near, if not summer.
3. Find a photo of the sun or a beach or plants budding out and tape it to the window you most frequently look out during the day. Focus on that photo instead. Maybe you can trick your mind into thinking it's real.
4. Roll your calendar back to January. When you do look outside, you will be pleasantly surprised by how little snow there is for "January."
5. Put shorts and a t-shirt on, layer on sweats and boots and a coat; stick sandals in a bag and high tail it over to Como Conservatory. Strip down to your shorts and tee, slip on the sandals and find a warm, humid spot to sit, whether among the palms or gazing at the beautiful blooms or near an exotic plant and stay there until you've convinced yourself that you're sitting outside.

Oh, and one more thing, avoid all Facebook friends who live in warm places or have traveled to warm destinations and feel the need to share photos of their sunny escapades! You are only risking severe depression if you indulge in such unhealthy temptations, especially for the next several days! Over and out....

Anna

The Killing Fields {Out of the Mouths of Babes}

Why are We so Stupid?

My six year-old loves honeybees and everything to do with them. When I mentioned to him that many were dying or getting sick and weak and explained why this was happening this was his response.

"Don't people know that we need the earth to survive? I mean, it's the only planet we have to live on. So, if we are doing things to destroy our earth, we are basically destroying ourselves. Why do people do things like that?"

Man, I love this kid. He is so witty, so smart and so perceptive on issues so far beyond his 6 years on this earth! And he's right; it's that simple....if we are doing things that destroy our earth and the living, growing, working organisms on our earth, we are destroying ourselves.

The Need for Bees

In the last few years, I have read several articles on our dwindling population of honeybees and the concern over this issue. In the last few months, I have read and seen a continual flow of articles on this topic.

The concern is growing. Some say this may be the worst year on record for honey production, but honey is not the only issue. Honeybees are needed to pollinate over 95 different fruits and vegetables crops, including almonds, berries, avocados, apples, pumpkins and pears, to name just a few.

Since 2006, honeybee numbers have been closely watched, with beekeepers losing approximately 30 % of their bees a year; however, this winter keepers are reporting a 70 to 90 percent loss. This spells trouble for all of us who eat food.

The Killing Fields

So, what is sickening our honeybees? Well, the buzz word, if you'll pardon the pun, is pesticide, and not just any pesticides, but a certain class.

Scientists have linked this Colony Collapse Disorder to neonicotinoids. Included in this class are clothiandin, thiamethoxam, imidicloprid and sulfoxaflor, which are currently under consideration by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"Neonicotinoids are applied before planting to coat seeds. The pesticide is then taken up through the vascular system of the plant and expressed through the pollen and nectar, which bees rely on for food," according to Paul Towers of the Pesticide Action Network (PAN). Apparently, these pesticides linger in the soil affecting the next crop, as well.

Consider this, "In the United States, such neonicotinoids are routinely used on more than 100 million acres of corn, wheat, soy and cotton and are in some home gardening products." Thomson Reuters

It's not just bee populations being destroyed; it's also bats, birds, butterflies, beetles and other small mammals. They too, play a large role in pollinating our plants. According, to North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, some species have seen a 90 percent decline in their numbers just in the past decade.

Taking Action

A couple of weeks ago, four professional beekeepers and five environmental and consumer groups filed a lawsuit in federal court against the EPA. In the lawsuit, the groups claim , "the U.S. environmental regulators are failing to protect honeybees and their role in pollinating important food crops, and should immediately suspend use of some toxic insecticides tied to the widespread deaths of the bees." science.ncbnews.com

"Despite our best efforts to warn the agency about the problems posed by neonicotinoids, the EPA continued to ignore the clear warning signs of an ag system in trouble," says Paul Tower of PAN. It's also worth noting that in Europe, the European Commission has proposed a ban on neonicotinoids because the European Food Safety Authority found that there is a high risk to the health of the honeybees when this class of pesticide is used.

The Scoop

We all eat food. If our crops fail here and/or abroad because there are no honeybees to pollinate them, then prices go up, food is scarce and we are all adversely affected.

There is an ever mounting pile of crap that leads to companies like Monsanto, Syngenta and Bayer and other companies manufacturing pesticides and manipulating seeds and plants. Believe it or not, it was just a few years ago that such pesticides from the neonicotinoids class began being used widespread to grow stronger, disease/pest resistant crops. Unfortunately, this was done at the expense of health of humans and animals. I believe we are only starting to see the repercussions of the use of such strong and harmful chemicals.

So, why should we care about this issue? Because it matters to all of us; that is, all of us who eat food. More to come on this and other food issues. Over and out...

Anna

Snow Storms: A Welcome Invasion

I like to creep out into my backyard in the dark long after everyone in the neighborhood has gone to bed when the snow has begun to roll in, blow in, drift in. I like to stand stalk still and listen to the silence of the late night snow. If I stand without moving, without breathing, I can hear the crystals landing on my coat, on the fence, on the pine needles above me.

The snow doesn't just fall. The individual flakes tumble and roll and dive and spiral and float, as if each one has a distinctive personality, as well as a unique appearance.

A snow storm can bring a city to its knees, but unlike other types of storms, the snow silently invades, like tiny, acrobatic ninjas tumbling in throughout the night, staking out their territory and building walls and fortresses against doors and fences and at the ends of driveways and along the roads and intersections. No one will know of the attack until the morning.

Some will fight back with shovels and plows and blowers as they defend their sidewalks and driveways; others, like me, will submit to this temporary onslaught and enjoy the slow-paced, hot chocolate sipping, pajama day.

For me, the snow is comforting, soothing and cheery. For me, the snow is insulation, keeping out the dark and the gray and dreary. For me, watching the thousands of bright snowflakes fall in the quiet, dark night is as close I can get to Peace on Earth. Over and out...

Anna

The Words of 2012: A Brief Reflection

Clarity. That's the word that came to me on Sunday night as I sat staring at my blank screen. Clarity. As I age, some aspects of life become quite distinct and other areas that had previously been clear, seem to be shrouded in fog. It is the hope that by the time the wild blue yonder opens wide, all areas of life have become crystal clear.

Isolation. At this time of year, I feel reflective. And on Monday it was the word "isolation" that came to mind. This past year has been quite isolating for me; more so than any other year that comes to mind. There is a certain loneliness that comes from carrying heavy burdens and quietly passing by in the shadows while the others dance and laugh and carry on.

Chaos. The older my kids get, the more chaos they unleash. My life is in constant chaos between juggling all my duties and my kids and pets. Chaos is almost always the word that comes to mind.

Each of these words conjures up very different images. And yet, this is where I am at this point in 2012.

As I think about the past year, I recall that on December 31, 2011, I said that my mantra would be, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13" I can say with certainty that verse has served me well and carried me through this most difficult year.

So, it is with open heart and open mind that I look for clarity in those murky areas of life; try to embrace the chaos that is my life; and work to break out from the dark and lonely isolation of watching life pass by. Over and out...

Anna

The List: 5 Steps to a More Earth Friendly Household

Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day on Sunday, I thought I'd make a list of simple, yet effective ways for families to be good to our Earth. Change begins with just 1 person {or 1 family}. People follow good examples; especially when the good deeds are simply done, not forced down one's throat.

Be a leader in your family; in your community; in your world. Do it for yourself; your kids; their kids; and all inhabitants everywhere. It may sound corny, but it's true; plus you'll feel better knowing you did your part to be a good resident of our magnificent planet.

The List    

1. Plant a garden and Eat what you grow;
   1. Kids love to get out in the dirt; give them a reason to; and
   2. Kids will love to try the veggies/berries/herbs they grow in their yard; mine do;
   3. Here are some good tips for making your very own backyard garden plot from eartheasy.
2. Create a compost pile for organic waste, recycle what you can and try to create less trash;
   1. Composting is easy to do, but just takes some forethought and preparation; this is something we need to start doing;
   2. Check out these tips at Composting 101;
   3. We have been creating less waste since we started using Norwex cleaning and personal care products in January; I've got lots of tips for how to reduce your waste in this way, including the next 2 points.
3. Start using cloth napkins and stop using paper napkins and/or paper towels;
   1. We use Norwex microfiber kitchen cloths for our napkins; each family member has one; we wash it out after each meal and let it dry for the next;
   2. We send a travel size Enviro Cloth in Darling 1's lunch box;
   3. Norwex cloths don't have to be washed often due to the self-purification qualities of the cloths.
4. Stop using harmful chemicals to clean your home and start using Norwex*;
   1. It is possible to REALLY clean your house with just water and a Norwex microfiber cloth...REALLY.
   2. Your house will be cleaner and you will feel better about it, plus it will take you {or whoever cleans your home} less time to clean, leaving more time for what you'd rather be doing.
5. Pick up trash and place in trash/recycling bin wherever you and your family happen to see it; litter is everyone's problem;
   1. Again, you'll feel good about doing this too;
   2. Wherever you go, look for litter {in parking lots, at the park, in your yard, in your neighbor's yard, etc} and place it in an appropriate receptacle.

The Scoop

I told you these were simple. Use this list or come up with your own list of easy changes to make on this 42^nd Earth Day. Or perhaps you already do these things and more; in that case, give yourself a pat on the back!

*Yes, it's true. I am also a Norwex Independent Sales Consultant, but I fully believe these products will make our family live better lives by helping us to clean better, smarter, safer and faster. And I think once you give it try, you'll love it too! For more information, go to my site annaberend.norwex.biz or contact me with questions.

For more information and history on Earth Day, see my post from April 2010. Have a lovely weekend! Over and out...

Anna

The Sign Said to Take a Chance: Well, Here Goes.... {A New Business}

A Chance

The sign said, "Take at Least One." At the bottom of the piece of paper were little tabs to rip off that usually have contact information listed. This one had little tabs with just two words... "A Chance." I don't know who pinned this sign up on the Caribou Coffee bulletin board, but I thought it was clever and it got me to thinking.

Was this a sign I should be paying attention to? Have I taken many risks lately? Am I putting myself out there enough? What's too risky? What's not risky enough? Does it mean I'm not taking risks if I have to ask these questions?

Risky Business    

Honestly, I feel like that the last two years have been one risk after another with the start of launching Motherly Law in March of 2010. I have put myself out there, utterly exposed and vulnerable, in cyberspace and in the tangible space too. I have tried this and that. I have strived to grow as a writer and thinker and doer.

Then, after Will found himself in search of a job, under circumstances not of our choosing, we decided to pursue entrepreneurship and grow a business in social media consulting. Now, recall that I'm an independent contractor for a legal publisher and a freelance writer.

This is no life for the weak. This is a life of no regular paychecks; no benefits of any kind. There is little assurance of anything.

Well, I have decided to take another "chance." I am launching a new business today {in addition to everything we are doing}. I am now......hold onto your hats....this is going to surprise you....a Norwex Independent Sales Consultant. I know, I know; I, myself, am still shocked when I step back and think about this statement. Now, wait, bear with me. I'm going to answer your questions: 1) What the Heck is Norwex? 2) Why this Product? and 3) Why Now?

What the Heck is Norwex?

Norwex's mission statement is this: To improve the quality of life by radically reducing the use of chemicals in personal care and cleaning.

Norwex cloths are an antibacterial microfiber. To use the cloths for cleaning all kinds of surfaces and spots and stains, simply add water. Nothing more is needed. How is this possible, you ask? Well, the microfiber cloth goes beyond surface clean because there is a silver-based inorganic antimicrobial agent physically and chemically bonded to the fiber of the cloth. The microfiber picks up and locks in the odor-causing/illness-causing bacteria into the fibers and the silver agent destroys the bacteria.

These cloths eliminate cross-contamination on surfaces or hands; are easy to use, launder when needed and use again; will reduce the amount of chemicals your family uses and absorbs; and cleans really well.

The cleaning products are enzyme-based and continue to work on a surface until all material to be cleaned away is gone and then the cleaner itself breaks down to Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen. These enzymes are naturally occurring and are not at all harmful to humans, pets or plants.

Additionally, there are personal care cloths for the bathroom that gently exfoliate your skin and clean makeup {including mascara} from your face without the use of soap and softer, gentler cloths for kids and babies. There are even cloths for your pets and much, much more. For additional information {and believe me there is additional information} go to the FAQ page on my website.

Why This Product?

I am passionate about these products. Norwex has already changed the way I clean; and more importantly it has changed the way I think about cleaning solutions filled with chemicals.

This sounds trite and canned, but it's the absolute truth. Since getting our Norwex products, Will and I have not wanted to stop cleaning and trying Norwex products out on various stains, spots and hard to reach grime; cleaning counters, floors, toilets, appliances and skin {there are bath towels too}; you name it. Our Norwex products have stood up to each task presented and have not let us down.

The first thing I cleaned with my Norwex Envirocloth was the dining room rug below Darling 1's chair. Bless his heart; he is the messiest eater no matter how hard he tries not to be. There are always spots and stains beneath his seating area. I have tried to get the spots up with various cleaners. I took the Envirocloth, got it wet, wrung it out and started scrubbing the spots on the rug. Every last one of them came up with ease. The rug looked brand new; and I was sold.

And that was just the start. I think it will revolutionize the way you view cleaning your home, your clothes and your body as it has done for us.

Why Now?

To be frank with you, and you know I always am, we need to increase our income so that we can focus on building Will's business and my writing portfolio; our passions. But I also look forward to the challenges of improving my communication skills and presentation style. I am excited about gaining business acumen. And I honestly believe these products will save time and money, promote health and better the environment.

The Scoop {This Part is Important}

So, here I go, starting the New Year with a Clean slate, so to speak, and taking "A Chance." If you love me or even if you just slightly tolerate me any and all support and encouragement is much appreciated. One way to support me is to Like my Anna Berend – Norwex Independent Sales Consultant Facebook Fan Page and/or Follow me on Twitter @AnnaBerend. Another way to support this endeavor is to check out my Norwex website: annaberend.norwex.biz.

If you are interested in hosting a party {there are really great gifts involved, plus it's a fun gathering of your friends} or you just want to learn more about these products and why I love them so much, please email me at acberend@gmail.com or leave a comment below. I would love to talk to you. I am hosting a launch party on Sunday, January 15^th. If you would like to attend let me know {evites will be going out soon to those whose addresses I have}.

As soon as I get my URL approved, I will launch my accompanying blog that will regale you on achieving a new State of Clean with Norwex product reviews and the philosophy and science behind these products, etc. So, stay tuned for that information in the near future.

Ready or not, here I come 2012. Oh, and Katy, stop laughing. I know; I'm eating my words. Over and out....

Anna

Making an Informed Decision: Alternative Medicine Part II

As I was thinking about yesterday's post on homeopathic remedies, I decided that perhaps I should have provided more background information and definitions regarding alternative medicine choices. To be clear, honey, as referred to yesterday in the opening paragraph, is not a homeopathic remedy. My point was simply that I, personally, use a combination of types of treatments; whatever I think is the best approach given the symptoms and issues at the time.

Here is a bit more information on a few alternative medicine approaches:

Holistic Health is looking at the body as a whole and working cooperatively with all systems and practitioners to achieve optimal health in mind, body and spirit. This means taking stock of your health on a spiritual, physical, nutritional, social, environmental, emotional and lifestyle level. For more information on holistic health, check out this page of the American Holistic Health Association site.

Homeopathy is medical science that is based on the "law of similar"; that is, the idea that like cures like. So, the theory goes that any substance that will produce certain symptoms in a healthy person can cure like symptoms in a person who is sick. For instance, take an onion: when you chop an onion, the juices will make your eyes water and nose run; now think of a person with hay fever; suffering from watery eyes and runny nose; a homeopathic remedy made from an extremely diluted onion can relieve these symptoms. There over 3,000 substances used as homeopathic remedies that treat the mundane cold, annoying allergies, painful arthritis and much more. Read more about Homeopathy here.

Herbal Medicine uses herbs to produce dietary supplements that improve a person's health. The supplements are sold over the counter in tablets, teas, extracts, powders and dried plants. However, many herbal remedies can also produce adverse effects in certain people. Herbal remedies should not be taken without consulting with a medical doctor.

There are many different approaches for each of us to choose from when trying to attain the best possible healthy, in both mind and body. Of course, there are other choices, including modern medicine, other than those listed here.

Watch for my announcement about the Motherly Law Virtual Cookie Exchange later; I would LOVE for you to participate. Over and out...

Anna