Sunday, September 2, 2012

that which doesn't kill us can only make us...

Our beloved Laplace, in SE Louisiana, went under water last week.  Ironically, Hurricane Isaac did what Hurricane Katrina did, seven years to the day, to many places that had only recently rebuilt and started over.  Benny and I watched from the security of our home in Oklahoma, dry, cool, safe...our hearts breaking nonetheless.  We had lived there for over 20 years, started our family there, worked and played there.  We sat in the living room and said what we heard so many others saying over and over, "we never had water like this, ever."

What started earlier in the week with jokes about the ominous sight of Jim Cantore in New Orleans, and the advisory from the officials of the dangers of playing the drinking game whenever you heard the phrase "hunker down", we all assumed Isaac, being a mere tropical storm and at most a cat 1, would blow through without so much as a by your leave.  In fact we were anticipating his arrival up here to bring us some much needed rain.  It was by chance we noticed on our Direct TV channels, they were running continuous coverage of all NoLa channels, 4, 6, 8 and 26.  We thought it was so neat to flip over once in a while for an update.  We stayed on facebook as well, maintaining contact with family and friends, seeing who was having the most fun 'hurrications'.  Sadly toward the end of the day, we started seeing some posts about a family in their attic in LaPlace that needed rescuing, then another one and another one.  Until we saw the post from a dear friend's daughter who said that her parents walked out of their house in chest deep water and were eventually rescued by boat.


this was our old neighborhood, devastating.

this was our house, from what we understand they had water in the garage, not sure about the back of the house.

But what I do know, the people that live in this area are faithful, resilient, resourceful, and strong.  Last year when we received the unthinkable news that Emily would not walk again, it was to these same people I made my first phone calls.  I knew prayers were needed and I knew just where to turn.  We still have the large packet of prayer cards from the 40 hour adoration that was organized and I can honestly say I remained so full from the outpouring of love and support.  I knew that during that time God was truly present with us, I felt Him and it was the power of prayer that got us through.

Needless to say, Benny and I stayed on facebook, watched the live feed from wwl and waited for any news from dear friends and family.  We were able to maintain contact with so many, thank you for the technology of today.  And then there was this...

and this...


neighbor helping neighbor,  Archbishop Aymond and Fr. Walter, all together making all things better and easier.  I made a mention on facebook the other day about POTUS arriving on Monday and one of my friends said "we'll have it all cleaned up by then."  Yes my friend you most certainly will.