I can’t believe it has been so long since I’ve written anything.  But so much has happened in these past three years since February 2016.  I was just beginning to feel a normalcy to my life again after Frank’s death when I had a visitor named Harvey come for a visit.  He came and stayed 4 days in my home completely destroying all Frank and I had built together.  Furniture, memories, files, etc., destroyed with four feet of water.  It was like loosing Frank all over again…losing our home and so many of our belongings.

God, however, was not lost.  He was with me in the decision of “where do I go now?”  He led me to go to a friends home who told me I could stay as long as I needed until I was back in my house.  She and her husband opened their home and hearts to me and I stayed with them for the duration of rebuilding.  God, as always, was on the spot with the help and comfort I needed.  He also sent friends from my church and family to help with the excavation process of tearing everything out up to 8 feet.  I now have an open concept home!  God sent another friend to be my contractor.  He didn’t normally do disaster contracting, but he knew just the right people to come and get the job done.  I am back in my house now.  Yes, no longer our house, just mine.  Very little to remind me of the 49 years of marriage to the godliest man I know.  I was able to salvage one table and one bookcase and a few pictures that were above the water level.  Thank the Lord, I had flood insurance and so was able to rebuild.  Most of those flooded didn’t have insurance and so were deeply impacted financially to rebuild and some are still not finished.

A year of deep sadness and depression set in.  The worst part of it all was not seeing any real purpose to such devastation.  I know God uses all things that come into a believer’s life for the good of His purpose.  But it is difficult to figure out how all this could have any good in it.  However, knowing God as I do and knowing His promises are true and sure, I am certain that He will one day show me.  One thing I know is that He has been with me every step of the way through the heartache, rebuilding, and adjusting to my new home.  I am ready now to continue seeking Him and what it is that He wants me to do to bring Him honor and glory.  He did say to Israel when they were destroyed, “I know the plans I have for you.  Plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)