Picking Up the Pieces--Postscript Added

There has been so much destruction this week.  So very many lives have been lost.  We are so saddened by the reports of homes that are no more and courageous fathers who die while literally lying across their children to protect them.

And we are so very grateful to our wonderful heavenly Father who saw fit to protect our daughter, son-in-law and their young family.  We rejoice that yesterday, instead of picking out caskets for  three little children, my daughter was cheerfully picking out paint colors for their small rental home.  Instead of weeping over lost possessions, she was preparing to move what they salvaged into a much smaller home.  Instead of being bitter over losing a large home, she is thankful for a smaller home that will be easier to clean and it will be easier to keep up with her small children.  Instead of being saddened by the loss of a large yard, she was excited about the small fenced in yard where her little boys can play without her worrying about where they are.

Yes, they will have hard times ahead.  There is the loss of a home that lots of sweat and money have been poured into...  We are extremely thankful for the small group of believers they worship with who have come together to save the contents of their home, have worked to prepare the rental property and have helped in so many ways.  We are also thankful for James' parents who have been keeping the grandsons every day, providing shelter for the whole family, feeding and caring for them, and we are also very thankful for the care from James' home church that has offered much help as well.

What a blessing to see God's people reaching out to help others in need!  Sadly, there are many others who need help and there are many, many times that God's people DON'T fill those needs due to ignorance or indifference.  Where ever you are today, what ever you are doing, find someone who needs some help and fill that need.  Food, shelter, clothing, money, prayers all are much needed at this time.  I do have a challenge for you.....It is so very easy to say to someone that you will pray for them and I don't mean to make light of prayer at all, however....put some muscle behind that prayer and actually do something to be a blessing.  Meet a need in any way you can!!  Words come easily.  Actions are an investment into those lives who are hurting.    Lord, make me a blessing to someone today!


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P.S.  Please, do not think this is a plea for help for my daughter and her family!!  They are so tremendously blessed and their immediate needs are being met.  They have food, clothing, shelter, help preparing a new home, help in clearing out the damage home and lots of aunts and uncles to help with the babysitting.  Most of their possessions that were worth keeping have been salvaged.  They do know how blessed they are and are extremely grateful.   But, even if you don't live in an area that has been ravaged by these storms there are so many needs in your own communities....You can meet a need if you just look around.

My Daughter's House--After the Tornado

Tuesday was my daughter's 27th birthday.  Lauren and her young family live in a small town.  Her husband surprised her with an overnight birthday trip to Memphis.  They took their 6 month old daughter with them on Tuesday and left the two older boys with the other grandparents in a near-by town.  While they were in Memphis, instead of their planned activities,  they had to stay in the hotel room as tornado sirens were constantly going off.  At about 3 A.M. on Wednesday morning they started receiving calls and texts inquiring as to their safety from friends and neighbors who didn't know that they were not at home.  They were told that a tornado had hit in their small community.  As the weather was still bad, they stayed put.

As the morning progressed, more and more phone calls came in and my son-in-law made some calls himself.  They were eventually told that their home had been hit.  They then left Memphis and  headed home to see how bad the damage was.   As they headed home they received more calls and texts from friends and family who were at their home trying to protect the contents.  They were told to prepare themselves for the worst.  Each time I talked with Lauren she became more emotional.  So very hard!!

Jeff and the older children then decided to make the trip down to see how they could help.  When Lauren arrived home she called me.  She said, "Mom, I can't believe what I am seeing!"  I am told she did a good job of keeping the tears in throughout the busy day.  When they arrived most of the furniture had been removed from the house.  Lauren didn't know that much of their belongs were fine and that friends had taken all they could to a warehouse where it was safe and sound.

As the day went on she found out that the laundry that she had done and left sitting in the den folded in five laundry baskets was still there and still dry.  Puzzles in the play room were still intact.  The three year old's mattress had been lifted off the frame by the tornado.  A beam was in the crib where the two year old sleeps.  The roof and ceiling of the part of the house where the children's bedrooms are was completely gone.

These are pictures that Devin took of Lauren and James' home.  How grateful to God we are that they were not at home.  If they had been at home, this would have been a day of sorrow as we most likely would have been preparing for one or more funerals.  The Lord truly was watching out for them.

Lauren and James' home

Part of the yard

Master bedroom...ceiling is sagging, but it is still there.

to the left was an enclosed garage...not enclosed any more...to the right was the laundry room

garage to the left, laundry room to the right

play fort is still standing

this is the guest room...with a view of the sky!

The boys' room

the kids bathroom

the baby's room

the office (the front entrance)

the kitchen (all the new appliances were able to be removed!)

the dining area

the den--roof and ceiling remained so their belongings in here were ok!

downed trees

more outside damage

the outside storage building where Lauren's Christmas things are stored

I am sure today they will continue cleaning and preparing the rental property they will be moving into and then going through their belongings to see what remains.  Friends took bedding and clothing to wash and fold for them and I am sure they will have many offers of help for the other work.  Please continue to pray for them as they work to put their lives back together.