May was a month of firsts: first time covering extensive tornado damage, first feature story published for the Tyler paper I found, wrote and shot on my own, first time shooting a rodeo, first time second shooting a gay Jewish wedding, and first time I hosted a visitor in Tyler, among other eventful things. Oh, and Cam and I turned 25, which is crazy. I hope this year continues to bring many more firsts, because I always want to be experiencing and growing from new things. - CP Bill Cockrum, center, eats a sandwich as he surveys the damage to his shop as his friends Glenda and Bill Cobb help pick up items and put shelves back together in Fruitvale, Texas, on Monday, May 1, 2017. “He doesn’t know what to do,” Bill Cobb said of Cockrum. “He’s so devastated. He just doesn’t know what to do. ... Usually he’s very outgoing. He’s the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back.” Seven confirmed tornadoes ranging from EF-0 to EF-4 touched down in Northeast Texas April 29, causing widespread damage and power outages. From left to right, Amanda Dougherty, Chelsea MacDonald, and Sarah Dougherty take a moment to chat while they clean up after a tornado in Emory, Texas, on Monday, May 1, 2017. "You see this happen, but you'd never think this would happen to you," Sarah said. Seven confirmed tornadoes ranging from EF-0 to EF-4 touched down in Northeast Texas April 29, causing widespread damage and power outages. An Adele CD lays in the debris of Sarah and Anthony Dougherty's bathroom after a tornado in Emory, Texas, on Monday, May 1, 2017. Seven confirmed tornadoes ranging from EF-0 to EF-4 touched down in Northeast Texas April 29, causing widespread damage and power outages. Edward Dougherty pets his dog Oakley outside of what is left of his home after a tornado damaged it in Emory, Texas, on Monday, May 1, 2017. Dougherty was home with his wife Mary, sheltered under a thick blanket in the hallway when the tornado struck their house. Seven confirmed tornadoes ranging from EF-0 to EF-4 touched down in Northeast Texas April 29, causing widespread damage and power outages. Joel Enge laughs as a monarch caterpillar almost crawls up his nose as he poses for a portrait at Kingdom Life Academy's garden in Tyler, Texas, on Monday, April 17, 2017. Enge used to be scared of caterpillars, but was forced to overcome his fear when he had to round up 300 caterpillars that escaped in a science classroom. Joel Enge picks a milkweed bloom on the side of a county road in Tyler, Texas, on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. Enge says he will search for caterpillar eggs and caterpillars for hours or a full day depending on the day, and his favorite spots to search are the grassy sides of country highways. Hadassah Chapman, 10, laughs as Michalah Garrett, 12, tries to touch a monarch butterfly while Joel Enge holds a mesh laundry basket full of monarch butterflies over her head at Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, on Sunday, May 14, 2017. Enge brought 50 butterflies to the church to let children play with them in Sunday school and to host a butterfly release for the congregation to take part in. Joel Enge collects monarch butterflies to put on him for a portrait at Kingdom Life Academy's garden in Tyler, Texas, on Friday, May 12, 2017. Enge has raised butterflies for 16 years and hosts an annual butterfly release for either his school or his church, and finds spiritual application in the scientific process of metamorphosis: "[The caterpillars] move from being a source of destruction, devouring plants, to pollinators who give life to the plants...I was such a taker, to be honest, and in a sense, a destroyer, because it was all about me. But once I gave my life to Christ, he changed me from a taker to a giver, and I began to sacrifice my time, energy, and money to help others have a better life." Russell Van Matre holds an American flag and a certificate he was honored with during a sendoff for the annual Brookshire's Heroes Flight at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport in Tyler, Texas, on Monday, May 29, 2017. The veterans will travel to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial, as well as several other points of interest. Louise Waren holds her hand to her heart during the national anthem at a sendoff for the annual Brookshire's Heroes Flight at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport in Tyler, Texas, on Monday, May 29, 2017. Waren's husband Jack and other veterans will travel to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial, as well as several other points of interest. Malcolm Miller (15) runs the ball during the Robert E. Lee spring football game at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, Texas, on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. The defense beat the offense 43-12. Javier Neal poses for a portrait in Tyler, Texas, on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. Javier is a junior at Whitehouse High School and is the All-East Texas Boys Basketball Player of the Year. K'Lon Warren (3) is tackled by the defense during the John Tyler spring football game at John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas, on Thursday, May 24, 2017. Roy Lampton (19) jumps in the air and catches the ball as he falls into the end zone to make a touchdown during the John Tyler spring football game at John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas, on Thursday, May 24, 2017. Cole Newsom, Eric Marek and Alyssa Allison wait for Tyler Junior College's commencement to begin at Wagstaff Gymnasium in Tyler, Texas, on Friday, May 12, 2017. Over 1,100 students graduated in three different ceremonies. Dr. Svetislava “Sasha” Vukelja celebrates after Barbara O'Hara finishes ringing the bell to signify the end of her chemotherapy treatment at Christus Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler Cancer Center in Tyler, Texas, on Friday, May 12, 2017. May 12 was the last of eight chemotherapy treatments for O'Hara, who has been battling breast cancer for the second time. Players participate in a wrestling warmup during a Tyler Hoplites Rugby Football Club practice in Whitehouse, Texas, on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. The club practices twice a week and welcomes both men and women and people of all athletic ability to try rugby. Brian Barnett pumps fuel into a plane at the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport in Tyler, Texas, on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. The Historical Aviation Memorial Museum at the airport works to preserve the history of aviation and will be sharing the knowledge during an aviation camp June 27 through July 1 for children 12 to 15 years old. A senior receives high fives from elementary students during a graduation walk honoring John Tyler High School seniors at Bell Elementary School in Tyler, Texas, on Friday, May 26, 2017. Graduating seniors participate in the event to inspire younger students to work hard and continue pursuing education. Tyler Junior College's James Kuykendall pitches during the District C tournament at Mike Carter Field in Tyler, Texas, on Thursday, May 18, 2017. Charles Williams, second from left, speaks to Officer Darrell Gardner, second from right, during a community meeting at St. James Missionary Church in Tyler, Texas, on Tuesday, May 30, 2017. Gardner has worked the same beat for over 18 years. He has established a relationship with the citizens who call him directly when things are not right in their neighborhoods. Venisha Harmon poses for a portrait in the weight room at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, Texas, on Friday, May 26, 2017. Harmon is a graduating IB senior near the top 10 percent of her class who is the first female powerlifter at the school. She will be attending The University of Texas at Dallas and hopes to continue powerlifting in college. Lane Lurkey competes in bareback riding during the 30th annual Lindale Championship Rodeo in Lindale, Texas, on Thursday, May 18, 2017. The rodeo featured everything from cattle roping and mutton busting to bull riding and calf scrambles. A man falls to the ground while attempting to grab a steer during the steer wrestling event at the 30th annual Lindale Championship Rodeo in Lindale, Texas, on Thursday, May 18, 2017. The rodeo featured everything from cattle roping and mutton busting to bull riding and calf scrambles. A man grits his teeth while holding rope in his mouth as he attempts to rope a calf in the calf roping during the 30th annual Lindale Championship Rodeo in Lindale, Texas, on Thursday, May 18, 2017. The rodeo featured everything from cattle roping and mutton busting to bull riding and calf scrambles. Volunteers surround a man as he exits the gate on a horse as part of the saddle bronc riding during the 30th annual Lindale Championship Rodeo in Lindale, Texas, on Thursday, May 18, 2017. The rodeo featured everything from cattle roping and mutton busting to bull riding and calf scrambles.