Thirteen days ago Galin and I were getting the little kids ready for bed, when we got a shocking phone call from Galin’s brother. He said, “I hate to tell you this but your house has been hit by a tornado!” A few minutes later I started shaking uncontrollably as I stared at the photo he texted. It was too much to process. This was our home. The place we lived for almost a decade.
I lay in bed all night thanking God no one was home when the tornado hit and thinking about all the irreplaceable items I was sad to lose.
The doctor said it would be okay if Galin postponed a few of his radiation treatments so we could make a quick trip home to look at the damage and see if we could find anything worth salvaging.
When we drove up to our house we could hardly believe how many people were there to lend a helping hand. I can’t even put into words how much that meant to us.
Galin and I were able to walk through what was left of our home one last time before it was torn down and hauled away. I could not get over how filthy everything was.
It is strange to think we won’t be able to go back home when Galin is done with his cancer treatments. I am a planner and all the unknowns of the last several months has been hard. I am slowly learning what it means to let go and truly trust God.
No matter what happens I know He will not leave me or forsake me. He has proven to me He is a good good Father who cares about the little details in our lives.
The outpouring of love, prayers, and support we have received from family, friends, and strangers has been unbelievable. I have been touched so deeply. I have never felt so loved and cared for. I am in awe of how God uses His people to bless and encourage others.
Our youngest three children were with Galin and me in the camper when the tornado hit, but our oldest daughter, Brittany, had been home that evening. When it got stormy, one of Galin’s brothers called and asked her to come to their house because they have an in ground storm shelter. If he would not have called, she probably would have stayed home and went to our basement. The tornado moved our house 10 feet forward on the foundation and it made the back of the house cave into the basement. It would have been a miracle if she would have survived.
The tornado took the roof off our house and it rained all night but almost everything I felt the saddest about losing was found with no water damage - my love letters from Galin, negatives, videos of our children growing up, and Lily’s baby pictures from her foster mom in South Korea!
Right before we left town I backed up all my recent pictures and put them in a safe place.
After we found out our house was destroyed our children started talking about the things they were sad to lose. The one thing Brittany mentioned was her Bible. Her room was upstairs completely exposed to the wind and rain but her Bible was found completely dry!
Kayla told me she didn’t bring her favorite Bible and prayer journal on our trip because she was afraid they would get messed up in the camper. Her Bible was found with no water damage and her prayer journal only had water damage on the pages she hadn’t written on!
I know every good and perfect gift is from above and I praise Him for each one of these blessings. God is great and most worthy of praise. My heart continues to sing How great is my God.
I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Psalm 146:2
Brittany being interviewed by the local tv station
Matt, Jerusha, and Lily
standing in what was left of our room
what was left of Lily’s room
The kitchen was a disaster but this chalkboard was still hanging on the wall.
These amazing pictures were taken by Galin’s sister, Sannetta, and I am so grateful to have them! She has gone above and beyond the last several months. It would take a book to write down all the different ways she has blessed our family. You can find more of her work at The Art of Unscripted.
xox
Charla