A pause...

James spent all weekend finishing the dining room. By Saturday night, it looked fabulous -- the first thing in the house that we could truly label "new construction."  By Sunday night, weathermen were predicting a catastrophic tornado situation for Monday, May 20th. Turns out, they were right.  

Even now (I'm actually writing almost 4 months later), I get a sick feeling in my stomach at the thought of it.  

James was safely at work, and the girls and I headed to the Browns' to be close to their cellar, if necessary. It quickly became apparent that we needed to get below ground.  Long story short, my in-laws, the girls and I rode out the tornado in their cellar. We heard it go by us, and after we emerged from below ground, we quickly realized we had not been far from the heart of it.  The yard was full of debris, our Sequoia was caked in what I heard someone call "tornado barf," and we only had to walk down the drive and turn to the north to see the remains of a neighborhood.  Mangled playground equipment. Trees and wires everywhere.  

The Lord, in HIS grace, had spared us.  I grieved for those so near who had lost their homes.  

At one point in the cellar, I heard Gary on the weather radio, giving a warning for those ahead of the possible path -- a warning directed at OUR neighborhood, our house, our newly-finished dining room, our home.  I gasped, trying not to react for the sake of my girls, who were blissfully dancing with glow sticks. The tornado did not continue toward our house, but talk about a moment to put things in perspective. There were to be lots of those moments over the next few days...  

We are grateful, of course, for our house.  Proud of the work going on here.  But so much more grateful for the little people that live here. For the happy couple that lives here.  For the family and friends we are blessed to entertain here.  For the memories this house holds. And most of all, for the Heavenly Father who is here with us.   The One who protected us.  Who brought James safely home to us.  Who provided for us in so many ways.  And still does. The One who is working out His perfect plan in and through us. 

We'll get back to work on the house once things "settle down."  (Do they ever?)  But in the meantime, the verse I have cherished throughout life has taken on even more significance...

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you 

will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

The Brown girls, safe after the storm.