Putting Things into Perspective!
Oh Kimberly… Where have you been?
Long story short, I’ve been sick. I pretty much spent my entire weekend on the couch binge watching Criminal Minds without an ounce of energy. Truly did not have any other symptoms except I just didn’t feel great and to be perfectly honest… I still don’t. Just tired tired.
Despite the tiredness, Russ and I received a text last night that our help was needed.
If you remember last week I spoke about the tornado that struck Pensacola. We were not affected at all and truly a blessing. It was an F3 tornado (that means a big one) and this area hasn’t seen one that size in 45 years. WOWSA.
We were in the direct path but we all know how the weather changes quickly and the tornado ended up missing us and hitting a path of destruction that is unbelievable. A family and close friend from church had their home heavily damaged and both cars destroyed. Last night, some thugs looted their home. Nothing like making a situation just a wee bit more awful.
Today we went to help them pack up their home and sift through the rubble.
Pulling into the neighborhood it looked like a war zone. I’ve never seen destruction like this except on TV and news coverage. To see it in person… oh my GOSH!! Some homes there was not even a shingle out of place. Others so damaged I don’t see how they can salvage it.
I walked into their home and a few of our other friends were there to help. I was completely overwhelmed. My friend has 4 children under the age of 10 and I kept looking around wondering how the hell did they survive? Her quick thinking literally saved their lives.
As I walked around the house to see where I would begin packing I just kept shaking my head in disbelief of the power of mother nature. Every window was blown out except 2. Glass was everywhere. Mud embedded into the walls with pieces of tree. Mud so thick into the door jams that it would make you scratch your head asking…. how did that happen??? Curtains ripped to shreds. Pieces of tree scattered throughout the house. Shingles found on bookshelves.
Everywhere I turned there was something destroyed right in front of me.
I began to think about that night. I did not earn the “mother of the year” award that evening. In fact I probably should have earned the “idiot award!” I remember calling my kids into the living room so they were close by. I told them to charge phones incase the power went out (because that’s important…right?) and we continued to sit in our living room watching the news despite the Tornado warning sounding. Meanwhile my friend was doing the same thing except she was much smarter than I was. The minute the warning went off, she grabbed her kids and took them to a safe place in the house. She remembers hearing the loud noises and banging of “things” and wrapping her arms around her kids. Then it was quite. It was over.
We are lucky. Next time I hear that tornado buzzard on my phone I can tell you I will be grabbing everyone and going to a safe place. Perspective. Why does it take something like this to wake me UP?
We packed all day and we are not done. My heart sank as we asked our friend all day long…. keep it or pitch it? Hard questions all day long. I kept imagining myself in her position. While we are all friends it’s still hard to have others in your home helping you sift through your personal things. I kept telling myself she is brave. So brave.
Despite all of these feelings that I thought about all day long, I was quick to remind myself that they are all alive. We made her laugh despite the agony of going through the rubble. I know she felt a lot of love today as we poured it all over her.
Back at home Russ and I had the chance to tell the kids about our day. I had to admit to my ignorance of the tornado warning. My kids are quite aware of my ignorance to many things and it always lends itself to a learning situation which is good, right? Maybe I should call it what it really is… stupidity. There is a difference.
Tonight we had an evening of NO WHINING aloud. Brandon started to complain about homework and it only took one look at my face for him to understand he needed to be grateful that his world was not turned upside down. He was able to sit and do homework, in his house… at the kitchen table with the lights on.
Perspective. Sometimes I feel like I need a 2 x 4 slammed over my head to understand things.
I haven’t stamped in a few days and I’m a little behind on projects but it will get done. It always does.
We are going back in the morning to finish packing her home. This is only the beginning for this family. They are indeed in for a long road ahead. While the road looks long and weary right now I’m confident it’s going to be okay. With a community of friends surrounding them, they will be fine.
Stay tuned. I have a fun few days ahead with cuteness overload to share soon.
As always. Thanks for taking the time to read.
XOXO
10 thoughts on “Putting Things into Perspective!”
overwhelmed by your testimony. tears and more tears. like you, i cannot imagine seeing all this up close and personal. i love the way you share your life with us. the good, the bad and the ugly. this story had all three in it. as you titled it, things in perspective. God bless!!! hope that if this ever happens to us, we have a friend or two like you to minister to us in the way you did. the Lord used you and your family in a very special way!!!
Oh Kimberly, I’m so glad you & your family were spared from that tornado–I was actually watching it live on The Weather Channel that evening! We live in Missouri (close to Joplin, where they experienced a horrendous tornado a few years ago). We know all too well the incredible destruction Mother Nature can wield! Our friends’ cousin lost her husband and 2 babies in the Joplin tornado. Simply.unimaginable.loss.
We forget how blessed we are & what is truly important sometimes. Life is a precious gift. We need to enjoy each & every moment! Sending prayers for your friends, as they pick up the pieces of their shattered life & start anew. I’m sure your gift of time & honestly, just being there helped so much. ((Hugs)) & love to you!
Thank you for giving us all a reality check on what is really important, our family, friends and most of all the gift of life. My heart broke for these people and it brought back a flood of memories of what I saw and experienced living on Dauphin Island during Ivan and Katrina. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. If your friend is a card maker or scrapbooker and lost things she used please let me know. I feel that the ladies in my card classes would be more than willing to share supplies for her.
Relieved you and yours were spared…but sadness for your friend and her family…joy that they also survived…overwhelmed by what lays ahead for them. What a roller coaster…but, GOD is in it all. Sometimes I do not understand…believe me I have a list to ask God about…a lot of why’s. But our ways are not His ways and our minds are not His mind. So there is a reason…we don’t see it yet, but even all bad can lead to something good. I have and will continue to pray for your friend and her family. Thank you for sharing…and yes, I too have made decisions that I still question to this day…Hurricane season…I know we can prepare, but you always just sit around, making sure the phones are charged, etc.,.How human of us! Blessings to you and yours and yes, go to the safe place next warning sound!
Wow! So thankful your friend and her family are ok physically. I’m sure mentally it will take a long time to recover. Once all the damage is cleaned up and the help is gone, they will still have the scars.
It does give much needed perspective and reminders that everyday life as we know it is a fragile thing!
TFS!
Hugs to all…
Oh how awful for your friend and her family. Wishing them all the best as they rebuild their lives and homes x
Living in Oklahoma as we have for 34 years, I totally understand what you are describing. Yes, precautions are important with tornados, but I’m just so happy you and your friends are alive and well. Take care.
And….thank you for your lovely stamping inspiration. I so enjoy your work.
Hi Kimberly! Please don’t beat yourself up for feeling like an “idiot mom.” I live here in Oklahoma, ya know…..tornado alley. 🙂 We don’t take shelter until we check the radar or stand on the front porch to see where the thing actually is. But when they do come through, the devastation is more than anyone can put into words. And the stories will give you chills. So glad you and your friends are safe. I’m sure she is very very thankful for you and all your help. I love your blog posts!! You’re awesome. 🙂
I don’t know you… (But I ‘kind of’ feel like i do!) I just follow your blog because I love your work… and I love, even more, your stories. I thank God you were safe… and I feel bad for your friend. I thank God… and I know she does, too… for wonderful, wonderful friends like you. Thank you… for all you do!
That was a great thing for you to help your friend out. I cannot imagine how upsetting that would be, not only to lose so much but to be helping to sort through what can be salvaged. Where I live we don’t have tornadoes so I am oblivious .. but this made it much more real to me. On the other hand, she was probably just thankful they were all safe and well and there are others that weren’t so lucky.
Kind of had to laugh at Darla’s comment that ‘we check the radar or stand on the front porch to see where the thing actually is.’ That would be me too! But thinking of your city and all those affected. It was interesting because with all the devastation, I watched the news and waited to hear of it, but there was not much aired here. I watched the video you posted and what a nice city you live in. Sad to see so much destroyed. Thinking of all affected, in one way or another …
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