Well, I have been kind of busy these last couple of days. It seems that Noah decided to pay us a visit here in Nashville this past weekend. The bad part, he didn't bring his ark!
On Saturday morn, we started out with rain. That’s all it was…rain. By the end of the day, I deemed that this was a huge rain, not “just rain”. Our pumps were running, the basement was OK with only a couple of inches of water. I did the manly thing and stayed up all night, manning the pumps, I mean the worst thing you can have is lazy pumps! Lazy kids, lazy spouses, lazy animals, I can handle. Lazy pumps are not allowed at my house!!!
Overnight we did well. The rain kept coming. The pumps kept up, and we were dry! Sunday morning, things changed quickly. At about 7:30, the creek in our back yard decided it did not like it’s earthly bounds, and decided to move. And move it did! Within 30 minutes, I went from 2 inches of water in my basement, to 6 foot!
The photo above is what it looked like just as the creek rose, We quickly packed up all that was important, i.e. my camera, my computer, my dogs! The wife and kid fended for themselves. Don’t look at me like that, they are old enough to take care of their selves! Of course I grabbed everything my wife told me to! The O’Neal Clan abandoned ship house and moved to the in-laws house.
Once we arrived there, we set down started mapping out a strategy for the future. In other words, we started worrying about what tomorrow would bring! While we were sitting there lamenting over our troubles, the ceiling above the dining room table started leaking. What else could go wrong?
Needless to say, we jumped up on the roof and started singing Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head! Just kidding, we placed tarps down to alleviate any leaks!
Finally on Monday morning we headed back to survey the damage. As I looked in the back yard all I saw was complete and utter devastation. My fence was down, and the corner of my house looked like New Orleans after Katrina had left. We still had 3 foot of water in the basement. Man oh man, depression started to take over. But then something amazing happened !
As I looked in the back yard, this is what I saw, a beautiful sunray peaking through. It was just a reminder to me, that no matter what I am going through, I am not alone. You know, I could go on and on about how bad things are. Sure, we’ve lost 15 years of memories that I can hold in my hand. We have a basement full of nasty water and mud galore. Yes, we have been put out for a while. But you know what? I’m not alone. I’ve got a God that loves me, protects me, and cares for me! I’m constantly reminded of the following verse:
"God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
At this point, all that was left to do was to empty the basement. I mean, we could have packed up and went to IHOP for all you could eat pancakes, but the wet mess would have still been there!
Heck, even the Oscar Mayer Wiener Mobile went for a swim!
But this is where we ended up. The basement is now clean and dry. So far it looks like the only mechanical thing we have lost is our upright freezer. And we are still waiting on the gas company to come and look at our water heater and furnace. That’s a major concern, but nothing we can’t handle. I mean geez, we just survived a 100 year flood!
Finally, I can’t end without a mud covered pic of myself!
For all my friends out there an huge THANK YOU is appropriate. Without the love, thoughts, well wishes and prayers from you, I would have lost it all! Not only the material things, but my sanity as well. Because of you, I was able to trudge thorough the stinky creek water, the snapping turtles that decided to make their home in my basement, and the muddy sludge that we are still finding! My friends on Facebook were a blessing, along with my church family and my weight loss support group. Thank you Melinda, Steve, Tammy, Jenn and Heather I mean come on, a complete stranger, that I only knew through the internet called and offered me a washer and dryer that was only a couple of years old! That’s what friends are for!
And I cannot and will not leave without acknowledging the I ♥ Faces Group. WOW!!! I received so many notes of encouragement from this group alone, that my son would walk by, see my e-mail inbox and say, “Not another one from that heart group!, does mama know you hang out with all these women?”
Guys, through the flood and all that’s happened, I feel cleansed, refreshed and ready to face the world. That is until the next round, then I might need you again!
Enjoy life, snap some shots, and have fun…
That’s what I’m gonna do!
