Samford Gives Back

As everyone knows, this area of the country was hit hard by the outbreak of tornadoes last week. Starting in Tuscaloosa, a tornado traveled some 200-plus miles through Alabama and into Georgia, leaving a path of destruction along the way.

I've only been able to get out to help once since it all happened. Sunday was the day. I'm still trying to wrap my head and heart around what I saw and I hope to share my experience, pictures and videos with you all on the blog here within the next week.

But for now, I wanted to share with you a story that appeared on our website today. It tells of the hearts of our amazing student-athletes, young men and women that I have the pleasure to work with every day. Students whose hearts explode for the people and communities around them in their darkest times.

The story is posted below. Please keep the disaster victims in your prayers as well as the thousands of people who are pouring out their hearts, lives and wallets to aid in relief. And pray that God continues to grow young people like the ones in this story.
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May 4, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - An estimated 100 Samford student-athletes spent most of the weekend volunteering in Pratt City, Ala., helping victims of last week's tornado outbreak.

Pratt City is one of many areas in the state of Alabama that was hit hard by the severe weather that came through the area last Wednesday. Scott Elementary School served as a base for collecting supplies people needed. Samford's student-athletes helped with delivering supplies to victims of the storms.

One of the groups of student-athletes who traveled to Pratt City to assist with the clean-up was football player Devyn Keith, along with teammates Bill Kottas, Jacobi Rodriguez and Jeremy Towns, and women's basketball player Jazmine Powers.

"Right after we saw the disaster, J.T. (Towns) and I immediately got on the phone, calling people, because we understood that those were people that we knew," Keith said. "After seeing what happened in Huntsville, I'm from Huntsville, and since I couldn't get up there, I said `let me go and see what happened to these people.' I didn't get to go down that day because I had to work, but we went down on Friday.

"We felt like it was an obligation," Keith said. "When you see that type of thing, you can't do anything but help, because here at Samford we were so blessed to not be affected that much by the tornados."

The group of athletes filled Kottas' truck with supplies and went down to Cherry Avenue, which was hit hard by the storms, checking door-to-door with people to see what supplies they needed.
One of the more touching stories that came out of this experience came from Keith. As he was working in the area, a lady pulled up in her car and Keith stopped her to see if she needed anything. She asked him if he was going to take care of her. He responded, "No, ma'am. I can't take care of you. God's going to take care of you. I'm just going to help out."

As the lady cried in her car, Keith reached in and hugged her and let her continue to cry. Keith loaded her car with sandwiches and other supplies. He then told her that he loved her and that everything was going to be alright. "We told her we loved her and we prayed for her," Keith said.

"She said she was really moved by the fact that we were out there. She said she had lost everything."

Powers said she had planned to go home that weekend, but she had a feeling she needed to help out in Pratt City.

"I was originally going to go home that Friday after class, but something just told me I needed to go and experience this," Powers said. "I was even packing up and my mind just shifted, telling me I needed to go. I got some stuff that I wasn't using in the house like soap and some other items I had and I just took it over and we went down there."

Powers said the experience of helping people who had just lost everything was something that really touched her. She said it was a tremendous experience.

"It was very emotional, but at the same time, you knew you were doing something great," Powers said. "I went to one lady's house, she was there by herself, and I brought a case of water into her kitchen. She just broke down and cried and gave me a hug. She said it was good to know that there are good people out there and that God is good and he is still looking after us.

"That was the part that was emotional for me, because they would get emotional, knowing that people were out there trying to help," Powers said. "It was a great experience and I was so glad I went over there."

Caroline Summers, Samford's senior photographer, was on hand to document the relief efforts for the university. Summers said she was touched by the efforts of the Samford students.

"I have always felt that I was blessed to work on a campus filled with such amazing people, both faculty and students," Summers said. "But, I must say, that I have never been prouder to be associated with Samford University than I was this weekend. These students don't just help out for something to do, they truly care."

April's Fury

So considering that we just ended the 24-hour weather watch marathon here in Sweet Home Alabama (officially dubbed by Fox 6 as April's Fury), there won't be an American Idol recap again tonight (sorry to disappoint AGAIN, Anna Little Morris!).

I do plan to hop on the interwebs and watch it tomorrow but I've got to say, it won't be the same with out my Stefano.

On another less humorous note, most of you around the South have probably heard about the terrible weather we had here in Alabama today. It was pretty wide spread throughout the state but I think it's safe to say that Tuscaloosa and Cullman got hit the worst. We're talking major destruction and fatalities.

Please keep the people who have been affected by these storms in your prayers. The people of Alabama have already started trying to find out how they can help in disaster relief and I couldn't be more excited to hear that. These storms today were no mistake. They were caused by The One who holds ALL in his hands.

I couldn't have said it better than what one of my college professors said on Twitter today: "Words that never rang truer than today: I will praise You in this storm..."

So, that's just what I'll do. I'll praise God for the incredible display of power that he put on today in his creation of nature and through his people. I pray that he gets the glory in the disaster relief of these storms.

To Him who can do immeasurably more than we can ask.

When Will We Ever Learn?

My heart is heavy today and has been for the past couple of days as I see the devastation that is blanketing the Southern states.

People are losing lives and livelihood all over Tennessee and Mississippi because of natural disaster and nature is being destroyed while business owners on the Gulf Coast are scrambling to figure out how they are going to keep their heads above water (no pun intended) because of a man-made disaster.

I have just one question.

Why does it take two seconds when a natural disaster (i.e. flood, hurricane, tornado, earthquake) hits for neighbors and friends to help each other out but it takes sweet forever for the government to step in a take action on a man-made disaster than could have been prevented?

My heart goes out to the people of Nashville, even more the whole state of Tennessee, right now because of what they are having to deal with. Nineteen people in Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky were killed because of the storms that hit the South this weekend. People all over Nashville are doing whatever they can to ease the destruction that is being caused by the flooding river there.

Glory be to God for those people willing to help a situation that could not have been prevented and that we, as a human race, could not control.

My heart also goes out to the people on the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Fishermen and business owners are seeing their livelihood flushed down the toilet in front of their eyes and the whole world is watching God's creation be destroyed because our government is dragging ass (excuse my choice of words) in efforts to get this mess cleaned up.

There is a difference between these two situations. One was completely out of the realm of our control. The other was completely preventable.

Also we as civilians are able to extend a hand to those affected by the floods. We can't do that with oil spill situation. That is a circumstance in which the government has to step in and do whatever they are supposed to do best, when we can't.

The oil that is flood in the Gulf of Mexico right now isn't just something that can be wiped of with a towel. This is crude oil. It soaks into your skin and makes you very sick. It eats away at the materials that boats are made of. It KILLS plants and animals in the water and ultimately kills the ocean's ecosystems.

Now, I'm pretty dumb when it comes to government and economy and all of that stuff. But I do know that people's lives are more important than red tape and money.

This event happened two weeks ago and it's getting worse by the hour. When will our government learn that if it continues to neglect its people, they will have many more issues to deal with than just how much something will cost. And if you don't invest in the lives of the people who actually make your country what it is, then you aren't investing in that country that you are running. You are killing it. Two hours on the ground just to show that you've seen that damage doesn't mean squat if you aren't taking action to do something about it.

I could go to Nashville today and watch other people scoop buckets full of water out of their basements and cut down trees, but if I'm not helping, what's the point in my being there.

So, goverment, take a lesson from your people. Stop talking about what you are going to do and just DO SOMETHING!

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Check out the video below of the floods in Nashville. Word on Twitter is that people have come out in droves to help in the clean-up process. If you are in the area and want to help or even if you aren't and what to send a donation, contact the Red Cross. Also, if you are in the area and want to help, head over to the Crosspoint Church-Bellevue campus. They are sending out teams.

Snowpalooza '10

Let's just talk about this right now.

Yesterday, we were under a "Winter Weather Advisory". The whole metro-Birmingham area freaked out, closing school and what-not. Samford even closed after everyone in my office decided to "work from home" Thursday, as to not put ourselves in a dangerous situation trying to get to work.

One to two inches was forecasted for yesterday. You wanna know how long it snowed in my neck of the woods yesterday? Huh? 'Round about 20 minutes. And it didn't even stick. Yet, there was considerable ice on the road and seeing that I live off a "windy road at the top of a mountain", I didn't leave my house once yesterday. Visions of my sliding off one side or the other down a ravine full of trees just wasn't conjuring up warm and cozy feelings for me.

I enjoyed the day off yesterday, considering that I took the day off on Monday to go to the doctor and woke up at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday after crawling out from under a drug-induced coma. (Let's just say, I won't ever confuse teaspoons and tablespoons again.)

So basically, I've only worked one and a half days this week (Tuesday all day and four hours on Wednesday), not counting today. But today, oh TODAY. As our Chief of Campus Safety said today, "Apparently the weather we expected yesterday decided to take off and watch the ball game last night and is making its presence known today."

It's a freakin' blizzard outside.

I woke up this morning to check the e-mail for maybe another day of cancellations but nothing showed. Then around 8 a.m., I looked outside and noticed some flurries but considering yesterday's "big showing", I didn't think much of it. As I opened my door to head out, around 9:54 a.m. this morning (because I can do that when I have to work until 9:54 p.m.), it was like I'd opened a door to an alternate universe. Snow was flying every which way, and I had a right mind to go right back inside and call it a day.

Still, I pressed on, down the mountain, creeping at a reckless 1.5 miles per hour, arriving to campus as the snow just got thicker and colder and harder.

Now, we are just waiting for Tennessee-Temple (someone please tell me why we are playing a non-NCAA school in the middle of conference season) to ring-a-ding-ding and say that it's just not safe for the trek all the way from Chattanooga.

So, my question is, what good is a "snow day", when the snow comes 24 hours later?

Answer me that, James Spann. (P.S. I love you.)

Sunday's Post #1 (Samford Baseball Edition)

So today is not only Mother's Day, it's my Blogoversary. I just realized this. I'm throwing a party right now. Or I would be. If only my city-wide search for cookie cake had been successful today. Because everyone knows that no party is a real party without cookie cake. It's just a fact of life.

Anyway, that's a whole 'nother post for a whole 'nother day.

This day has had enough action of it's own.

Today was the very last baseball game of the year and oh my word, at the emotional bittersweetness of this day. And y'all, this was the last sporting event on our campus until August 28, 2009.

It's a fact that I didn't go to a lot of baseball games when I was in college. I did in high school, especially my sophomore year because I dated the center fielder. Anywho. But I definitely think that I attended more baseball games my last year in Starkville (grad school year) than I did in my four years put together in undergrad.

And it is a fact that I've attended more Samford baseball games this year than I have in the last two years combined. But it's also a fact that one of my new bfries does marketing for baseball and I've gotten to know several of the players really well also. Precious kids. So obviously I wanted to go cheer my new little bros on. And it also helps that I got to work on my tan in the meantime.

Anyway, so today was Senior Day and oh, how I'm going to miss three out of the five of those kids. (No hard feelings against the other two. I just don't know them that well.)

Although we were there for nine hours, and we got beat 16-3, and lost our chances of making the tournament (and all them are right now saying please stop talking about this), it was a fun day overall and a great way to end the season.

We were in a rain delay for about four hours. At noon, the monsoons came and forced us to put the game on hold for about two hours. We all left to go eat lunch and returned to, well, more rain. As always, boys will be boys. They all returned with play clothes in hand and after a quick change, the slipping and sliding on the tarp commenced, as documented below.

No one players were hurt in the process of fun-having.

Anyway, so after the rains stop and the sun came out, play commenced and we got our hineys handed to us on a silver platter. 

But the game ended with my favorite player, our best closer, batting. If you know nothing about baseball, pitchers don't bat. It's just never a good thing. The coach decided to let him go bat and he ran the count full...and then struck out. But that is a moment that that kid will never forget and I am so thankful that our coach let it happen. 

I don't know what I'm going to do for the next four months with no sporting events to cover or plan for or score or attend. I know I've done this for the past few years, but this year is different somehow.

I've become more invested in the lives of these kids and it's hard to see them go. This year has had it's ups and downs. Major downs. Downs that have made me question why I am doing what I'm doing. But so many times in the last few months, God has shown me why. And today was one of those times. 

I can see clearly now the rain is gone.

EARTHQUAKE!

Y'all, I survived my first earthquake this morning. According to the USGS, a 3.8 magnitude earthquake hit Bibb County (where Hollie is from. Everyone say, Hi Hollie. Get better soon!) at 5:30 this morning.

As we've already learned here, not a lot of things can wake me up. I mean my best friend's brother came and played his trumpet in my ear one morning and I still didn't wake up. Call me stubborn. I yam what I yam.

However, this morning, I was shake-shake-shaken awake and in my Tylenol Cough syrup induced, drunken-stupor, I woke up thinking, EARTHQUAKE! And then I thought, "Katie, you're in Alabama. Earthquakes don't happen. It was just probably Kelly leaving for work (because it IS 5 in the a.m.) and she just shut the front door too hard (because that happens, and the house shakes).

It lasted for about 45 seconds and considering that nothing was falling off the wall or onto my bed, I rolled over and went back to sleep for another hour and a half. Then when I woke up and turn on the news, the anchor said there had been an earthquake in Bibb County that could be felt up to 35 miles away!

So, there you have it folks. Earthquakes do happen in Alabama. There is a fault line in Bibb County. The Red Gap fault. And supposedly this is the second earthquake in a few months there.

I can just see it now. There's a volcano developing under Bibb County. Tommy Lee Jones and Ann Heche will make appearances and try to stop the lava from traveling to Tuscaloosa and destroying the University of Alabama (which in my opinion, as long as Hollie and Justin and a few other people I know aren't there, that would complete fine and incredibly satisfying). People will be clinging to the Bear Bryant statue in a feeble attempt to avoid getting caught in the lava flow.

Wow, I just really let me imaginatio run rampant there. Or I've just see the movie Volcano one too many times.

The Rain Came Down For 40 Long Day-sees Day-sees

I think my neighbor across the street is building an ark. Seriously. That's how bad it's been raining here today. It's been thundering and lightning all day long. The rains have not ceased.

However, I'm madly thankful for the rain today. Because of it, I somehow got out of going to work at all today. I was supposed to go score a softball tournament at noon today, but all games were canceled for the day and I didn't get out of my pajamas until 4 p.m. I mean I was ready to go to work by noon but I just didn't get out of my pj's until then.

I thought long and hard about actually getting out in this weather. Nevertheless, I had to because there was some much needed grocery shopping to be done and I knew I wouldn't have a chance to do it at a decent hour at any time this weekend.

So, at 5 p.m. I ventured out into a rain that had recently been downgraded from "monsoon" level to just "50 gallon drums of rain" level.

Now, people, I have somewhat of a anti-umbrella fixation. I have an umbrella but it gets used very seldom. It's just too much to handle, especially when you know you will be coming out with a lot more than you went in with.

I also have a small anti-shopping cart fixation as well. Although I use them at the store when I know I'm going to be getting more than I can hold in my arms, I loathe pushing them out of the store, especially when I am not parked right beside a shopping cart "drop-off area" (for lack of a better word).

This makes shopping in the rain a bit more challenging. But I'm always up for a challenge, right?

Good thing I had my trusty Sperry Topsiders on. I loathe having wet shoes. I'd just as soon go barefoot before having to walk around in wet shoes.

Anyway, I made it there and back but no before my car decided to go into Transformer Mode and turn into a boat. Any other way, I wouldn't have gotten home.

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I love my new friend Zippy. Besides being one of the funniest people I've ever met, she's introduced me to two great artists in the last 24 hours. I introduced you to Landon Pigg last night. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, I give you Eric Hutchinson.

Eric Hutchinson "Rock & Roll"
by brienta

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As most of you already know, I have small obsession with anything to do with dancing. Especially dancing shows. So You Think You Can Dance has quickly made it to my top 10 of favorite TV shows. However, now I've fallen in love with MTV's Randy Jackson presents America's Best Dance Crew.

Besides the fact that Mario Lopez is the host and tries to be way more "street" than he really is, I L-O-V-E this show! People do things on this show that I wouldn't even imagine could be done. Insanity in motion put to some mad hip-hop mixes. It's crazy. And this season is my favorite because the best crew, in my opinion features two of SYTYCD's own top 10. Season one's Ryan and season three's Hok and Dominic. (I wish I could find something substantial to link to their names but it's late and I don't have the patience to search.)

These three guys are in Quest Crew, who I'm sure will take the title. See below videos for evidence. Although they were in the final three with two all-girl groups (who brought it every week), they are now in the finals with Beat Freaks, who I believe broke out one of the most insane and mind-blowing performances of all three seasons.

I leave you will more videos. The first two are of Quest Crew and the last is of Beat Freaks' crazy performance.