outside the tornado

my daughter posted to my facebook page " tornado coming at me. I love you ,mom." scariest post I ever recieved. and then the words " we are okay"  wow a moment I will never forget. ( I still get tears thinking about that day.) then the pictures started coming across the TV. i stood in stun silence watching view after view knowing there was nothing I could do to make it all go away. shortly after that day I visited  ringgo ga . buildings gone and homes wiped out. I remember thinking oh please dont let alabama be this bad. my family and friends are there. I soon learn it was that bad there too. I stayed glued to Tv and Facebook watching and crying. praying my daughter would get through this. we talked on the phone as i watched the computer so I could tell her where help was available. I was so proud of her when she said mom I took my neighbors to get diapers and food. She thought of the others as she herself wondered what to do.
the day after the tornado my daughter called and said mom cancell the plans for carolynns birthday.  the tornado took away what was to be carolyn's special day. no visits with her cousins, no cake, no motel room , no presents. I tearfully canceled all our plans. and continued to watch facebook as toomers for tuscaloosa told of needs and people stepped up to help. then i saw a posting for ALABAMA"S LOST BIRTHDAYS. a group was forming to help the kids who lose their birthdays to the storm. I ask if they could help Carolynn. she became their first birthday child.. As we had her party I learned the things my daughter shielded me from. like Carolyn really spent her birthday at childrens hospital. she celebrated with a bag of M&M's from a vending machine. such plans we had for her special day ending in a bag of M&M - heartbreaking. the stress on my daughters face that day told me another story too. nights without sleep and days struggling to be normal. by the end of the party my daughter had relaxed and she said this was much more than a party, for these two hours we were normal again. I didnt have to think about the house or where dinner was coming from. my neighbors kids and  carolyn were happy and laughing again. by the end of the party I had a mission to give this feeling to other mothers. no kid should miss their party.
I soon learned this was easier said than done. but i have to go now come back again as we journey through some of the joys and problems of hosting a birthday party from 300 miles away.  grannie