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THE TORNADOESByTempieCOPYRIGHT © 2008Less than five miles away from my family’s home near Memphis, TN and over a week later, we still marvel over God’s work. To be able to live through it is a true blessing. There are no words that can make clear what so many went through last Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 short of just being thankful now and thinking… Peace Be Still.As I stood looking at some of the aftermaths on today Wednesday Feb 13, 2008 standing with a nearby neighbor that said, “I have never seen anything like this. Look how it just picked up those large trucks and pushed them into the walls of the buildings just like they were toys. We take so much for granted.”

(A CLOSE UP OF DEBRIS FROM A BUILDING) (LARGE TRUCKS CAVED INTO BUILDINGS. WALLS AND ROOF ARE GONE) (LARGE TRUCKS WERE THROWN AND TUMBLED INSIDE OF BUILDINGS)It is hard even now just to take these pictures, knowing there were many who were not able to get out and lost their lives. It happened so very fast that many probably never knew what hit. My hands shake with the camera as these are just a few pictures of some buildings close by. Areas are still closed off over a week later. Trucks are still coming in to clean up, to fix what they can. This is not to even mention the homes that were damaged or destroyed and lives lost. We remember that on Feb 05, 2008, all of what we see here was in complete darkness as there was no power in any of these areas. We remember somehow hearing on news reports that medical triages were trying to be set up as people were trapped inside and out. Trying to get through rush hour traffic through the strong winds in the dark with no traffic lights or guidance. People we know tell off their stories even today of being in total shock.Many stories are still being told, some of people we know of. Our Hearts are with them. People still talk about seeing the different tornadoes as they moved across certain paths. Some as though they just went on a straight path down the streets. It is absolutely amazing to see there is no pattern. Some homes were damaged here and there. Some trees were uprooted here and there. These are pictures of the aftermaths and just think and imagine how it was just over a week ago. Just think about the pictures you don’t see of people trapped in their homes, at their jobs, in their cars, and some in the very paths of the tornadoes. I just know I was with my family and we will never forget. We didn’t have time to really think. We talk about it now as we are together looking at these sites we are sharing thinking how real it all was. Listening to the tornado sirens all evening, seeing the weather alerts on TV replace all the regular TV programs and just praying we would all survive. We are thankful we did. It was a traumatic experience all evening and into the early morning. We could see the dark clouds and the raging winds. I remember my young nephew telling me how his school had prepared them on how to take shelter. The schools had let them out early. I remember it was so very nice the early part of the day. In fact the weather was too nice. There is talk around that there were between 20-48 different tornadoes on Feb 05, 2008.I remember seeing all the birds’ flying. I remember it was unusually warm to be in the dead of winter here. Some people dressed without having on their winter coats, hats and gloves. My sister even grilled outside earlier because the weather was so very nice.Never did we imagine what would happen less than a couple of hours later. Even with the weather change and even with the fact that on the very week before we also had experienced a great storm with winds and hail that left our entire neighborhood without power and any electricity from about 4:00pm until 1:00am the following morning.Even with experiencing all this and being in the dark with only flashlights and candles and much of the food in the refrigerator going bad didn’t prepare us for what would happen on Tuesday Feb 05, 2008.On this very strange and traumatic night, all we could do was be together, take what shelter we could, be quiet and pray to God. All we could do in a flash of a moment was try to gather ourselves and make as much contact with love ones to see if they were alright and let them know we were alright.On this very night, I remember quoting to my nephew, Psalm 27, ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?’I remember seeing the smile on his little face then. I remember seeing the smiles on all our faces. I thank God we were able to smile. My heart goes out to the many who I wonder if through it all, they could for if only a brief moment have at least one last smile. Peace Be Still.Some like us will try to remember how it was as we now watch trucks rushing in trying to clean up all the debris and workers trying to get it back together…As we remember some of the portions of the buildings that were not damaged and remain standing, hopefully the lives behind these walls found refuge and safety…PEACE BE STILL.

AUTHOR VISITByTEMPIECOPYRIGHT © 2008As Tempie, author of ‘FEELINGS’ and of Albert and Tempie-THE WINNING TEAM makes her visit to the USA and back to Crawley, England; she will hold an array of truths to be evident.March 16, 2008 will mark yet another day of history for her. She was graciously invited and sponsored by The Friends of the Library to help launch the Grand Opening Celebrations of the newly built M. R. Davis Public Library in Southaven, Mississippi.She was met and greeted by Linda Hopper Jowers, Head Librarian, Carolyn McCammon, President of Friends of the Library and members of the Library Staff. She was made to feel as a ‘queen’ as they talked and shared fond memories.Linda shared that, “Tempie is the first author to hold a Book signing in their newly built over five million dollar library. She shared her Book signing was held the second week of their opening to commemorate the library being opened on Sundays .She also shared that The M.R. Davis Library was the same library that John Grisham had his first Book signing when he wrote, ‘ A Time to Kill.’ It was nice as Linda witnessed Tempie greeting and sharing all of her debut novel, ‘Feelings’ with much interest to a visitor and he stating he was John Grisham’s neighbor. Additionally, he gave Tempie his email address to join her mailing list.Linda also spoke of how proud and excited she is to have a library to attract aspiring writers and authors. Tempie thanked her for helping her provide a place she could come to to complete her novel. She remembered all the joy in seeing Linda place her debut novel, ‘Feelings’ on the library shelves with all the other great books. She thanked Linda for helping her get ‘Feelings’ on the shelves of the other First Regional Libraries when it was first released in 2006. She gave Tempie invitations of the Ribbon Cutting and Dedication Ceremony of the new M.R. Davis Public Library held Saturday, March 1, 2008 including a most distinguished list of guest including the Mayor Greg Davis , the Board of Aldermen of the City of Southaven, the Board of Supervisors of Desoto County, Mississippi, the Board of Trustees, Southaven Chamber of Commerce, Director of First Regional Library, Executive Director Mississippi Library Commission, Chairman, M.R. Davis Public Library Board of Trustees, Chaplain Southaven Police Dept, Music provided by Amy Vails, Harpist, Art display by Miriam Crotwell, etc… The Portrait Unveiling In Memory of Maude Rasco Davis was included in the Ceremony.Construction of the new facility was made possible with public funds from the City of Southaven, DeSoto County, and the Mississippi Capital Bond Improvement Fund administered through the Mississippi Library Commission.Some building facts:Old Building New Building Size: 15,682 sq. ft. 43,000 sq. ft. Collection Capacity: 75,000 volumes 200,000 volumes Seating: 94 seats 134 seats Meeting Room Capacity: 150 594 persons Parking 75 158 spacesCost - Site Preparation $500,000 Construction $4.5 million Furniture $195,000 Technology $90,000 Total $5,285,000Architect: O. Marvin Johnson Contractor: Murphy & SonsFeatures of the New Library: Self-check machine; expanded parking; separate Children’s Story Time Room; increased number of computers for public use; Friends of the Library Book Shop; Patio area on Jim Saucier Park…Tempie also was greeted by Carolyn, President of the Friends of the Library upon her arrival. Carolyn was instrumental in getting the Friends of the Library to sponsor her. Carolyn talked and showed her the Story Time Room and shared she was proud the Friends of the Library had provided $10,000 for the children’s furniture. Carolyn, wanted a special autographed copy of, ‘Feelings’ from Tempie with her best wishes to her and Albert in England and all over…All in all the Author Visit was a great success. Pictures and videos were taken. The library staff was gracious to assist Tempie’s nephew doing the Author Visit to his comfort. Additionally, Linda gave Tempie a keepsake poster and cordially left an open invitation to both Albert and Tempie – THE WINNING TEAM to come back and share more of their writings and music and her best wishes for their future and future adventures…