Update

      I've seen many recovery efforts in the Valley lately. People are steady working and building. And if you look past all the broken trees, limbs and remaining piles of ruble, you can see that things are beginning to look new again. A few places even have whole walls up.
   When we were at the meeting at Alpha Ranch this past weekend, the forester who came down said that in 2 to 3 years, everything will look fairly normal again. And of course we will never forget what happened, or the lives lost in the storm. But I can't help but be excited about the future now. Ever since the storm, things have all been kind of one big blur. It's not as bad now as it was in the weeks just after the storm. But still it doesn't seem like it should be early June already. Before we know it we'll all be enjoying the cool weather again and celebrating the holidays (which is my favorite time of year), thanking God that He has brought us to where we are.


    Unfortunately I don't have many pictures of the progress going on in the Valley yet. But as soon as I do they'll be posted. However I did come across a few things in the Valley that I thought were worth talking about.....

We saw this cross as we were coming home one day, it was no where near any ones house.....

.......so I have no idea who put it there, but I'm glad they did.

These are just a few pictures of some of the damage. This particular house is right across the road from us, it had a huge tree fallen on it.

This was a metal building which I believe was used to store donations that would be given away to those in need. This was an outreach that one of the churches was working on building up.

A stretch of road that is now unrecognizable, I still can't remember what used to be here.

This is the place where some of the Isbells lost their lives.

It was hard to make out the names from so far away but I believe the names from left to right are : Ronnie, Tammi and Leah Isbell.

This is the Boyd's house, the one we stayed in the night of the storm. Thankfully they did not receive much damage, a tree fell on the back of their house. I remember sitting on the front porch the morning after and, for a short time before they cut it all off, we almost had to sit under the branches on one side of the porch.

The Retreat Center. The only building left standing on the Lee's property, and it is in the process of being restored right now, so that they have somewhere to live temporarily while a house is being built. This is also the building all the Lee's went to when they were pulled or climbed out of the rubble. It protected the injured and unharmed while the rain fell outside and the cold wind swept through until 2:00 a.m. when medical help was finally able to get to them.

These are the trucks that are hauling tree limbs, branches, trunks and whatever else needs to be taken away. On the side of the truck in big letters it says Disaster Relief. These trucks have been down our road a few times, they've taken just about all of our debris.

This is the Debris Site, where they take all the debris after they pick it up and then burn it. Earlier today my Father was called out to this sight with the rest of the fire department. The flames had gotten out of hand and they could no longer control it. We are under an "Outdoor Burning Ban" but the people doing this are an exception. However, if it gets out of hand too much and catches the forest behind it on fire it could spread fast. Pray that doesn't happen.

One of the many officials at the meeting showing us a map of the Valley.

               Now that you have seen everything going on in the Valley, let me show a little bit of what we've been doing here at home. We've been unusually busy here, baking, cooking, gardening and so much more.....

Cinnamon Rolls   c ;

Steven called these Mom's Gone Mad desert....why? I have no idea.........

......but they were delicious.  c :

and Charlie....mostly watched.....

......that is until he was captured......

.....and dressed like a baby....

......and put in a stroller. But he enjoyed being "babied" and after a long day of watching......and being babied..........

......he fell asleep in Charlene's room, where he willingly slept all night long.

The makings of Rosewater. They all thought I was crazy when they saw me "cooking a rock",

 but the result was delicious.

Blackberries, which, soon, we'll be picking and jamming. You'll get to see plenty pictures of that. c ;

 Mine and Charlene's creations....

Fruit Salad, which was gone about five seconds after I took the picture.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Two of the cookies have graduation decorations on them, Charlene had the idea of putting them on my cookies. One day she came up to me and gave me a big hug and said "Chelsey, I don't want you to leave." I was getting ready to go somewhere at the time and I said. "I won't be gone for long."  She then informed me that she meant she didn't want me to leave for college, and I told her that I didn't know if I was going to college. She then said "If you do go, how long will you be gone?" "Two to three years." I replied. And she said " Two or three years? That's too long! Couldn't you just do college at home?"

We had a bit of a scare while we were baking, a snake crawled up in the yard. But luckily the dogs didn't even see it and it just slithered away.

They decided to sing to me.  c :

This is Charlene's tent.....

...complete with popcorn, a lantern......

....and a campfire.

By the way, this tripod flashlight is the same one we used the night of the storm. Since the men had to take all the flashlights to assist search and rescue efforts, this is the only one we were left with in the basement. And I think Steven found it in his bag after the men left.

The ingredients for Bread and Butter pickles.

Homemade Bread and Butter Pickles. Their really good. And the Cucumbers came right out of Jesse's garden c ;

Charlene, trying to catch chickens.

Why? You ask........

....just for the fun of it!

Over the weekend, a friend of mine gave me her fish tank, something I've been wanting for a long time. ( Not hers, just a fish tank c ; ) Complete with a filter, foliage, rocks, decorations and 5 live fish. Thanks Katy. c ;

It lights up the room at night and with the sound of the water swishing out of the filter and the blue reflections on the wall, it makes you feel like your under the ocean. c :

         Before I end this post, there is something I realized in my story about the storm that I was wrong about. I know I got some of the details mixed up, it was hard to remember what order things happened in. But when I said that Mr. Smith came and brought blankets the night of the storm, I meant Mr. Beason. The Beason's are another family that we met through the Cedar House.



   Because of problems with our computer, I don't have my other blog ready just yet. I'm lucky I was even able to post this. But I will have it ready in a few more days hopefully. And just to give you a heads up as to what I'll be posting about first, I'm starting off in Italy. c ;

"Thou art the Potter, I am the clay...."

      When evening rolled around today, the whole family loaded up and went to the place where the Crawford's used to live ( and will live there again soon ). For those of you who live in Shoal Creek Valley you know why, for those of you who don't, let me explain.
  I'm not sure exactly who put it on or what church did all the work, but there was a gathering that everyone in Shoal Creek was invited to. This is the second time we've done this. The first time it was more for the purpose of getting information and encouragement to everyone without actually having to go to each persons house. It also gave us all an excuse to be able to fellowship some.
   This time however it had a bit of a different feel to it. There was an evangelist there, formerly a preacher, who gave a sermon that was very encouraging and uplifting. I wish I could remember all the things he said because it was just the right thing that we all needed. I do remember one of the verses that he used though. I think I remembered because it's one of my favorites, it reads:


        We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. 

                                                                           ~  2 Corinthians 4:8-9



      He spoke of his own testimony and his battle with cancer and how God chose to work through that in his life to bring glory to Him through His people. Then He said that God was doing the same thing here with us. God used this storm to refine us like silver. It brings new meaning to " I am the potter and you are the clay."
   He also addressed the question that a lot of people have been asking. In fact just last week we were up at my Aunt Lilly Mae's house and talking to her about the storm when she asked this very same question.

     Why?

      He mentioned during his sermon that when he was going through cancer someone asked him what he had done that he was now receiving judgement for. But the fact is, because we live in a fallen world, the rain falls on the just and the unjust. But because our Father loves us so much He chooses to use these things to mold His people into just the right shape.
   It's not an easy thing. In fact I've heard it said that when you become a christian don't expect life to get easier, expect it to get harder. But also expect there to be One who is there with you no matter what. Helping you, defending you, and refining you along the way.
   I didn't know what to say to My Aunt when she asked that question, but now I do: God cares more about our character than our comfort.

   It was refreshing to here a sermon like that, especially since we've been having to stay home from church these last few weeks in order for dad and Jesse to work while they can.

   After the sermon, the pastor asked that everyone pray for someone next to them. In the end, during the invitation four people came up and were saved or rededicated there lives. God is working.

I think this was just before everyone went off to pray with each other.

I think living here in the middle of the mess, we sometimes forget just how bad it really all is. These generous people were still so amazed at how the Valley looks even a month after the storm.

We were so very grateful for the people who came, they brought food, toiletries, drinks, and lots of toys for the kids ( which was a big hit ).

                        
    It amazes me still just how eager they all were to help. Every time I turned around someone was offering me something else and telling us there was plenty for everyone. One of the statistics the preacher talked about was how more people in the body of Christ have risen up to help victims of the tornadoes here and all over America, then there was government help provided provided for the victims of hurricane Katrina.


    On a different note, it occurred to me earlier that the names I've mentioned in my notes and blogs are to a lot of you just that, names. And so I tried to snap a few shots of some of the people I've written about so that I can put a face to the names. I only have some of the Crawford's which I got this evening, none of the other families that I've mentioned were there. ( Please keep in mind that because of the quality of the pictures these photos don't do their beautiful faces justice. c ; )

This is Mrs. Crawford herself. A lady of grace and strength. And the mother of the family who allowed us to weather the storm at their house. In her arms is Jax who I believe is 8 weeks old now.

Bria, whom I am grateful to have the privilege to say is one of my best friends. Having her by my side during the storm really made a difference for me. I don't ever remember a moment when she completely lost it like so many of us did. She was strong and steady throughout the whole thing.

Sweet Alexa. This is the young lady I spoke of in my notes who brought me such joy the morning after the storm, when she would laugh at little things her sisters were doing. ( Oh and Jax again. )

Mallie. Probably the most outgoing of all the children from my experience. She just loves to give hugs. And as you can see is enjoying the free toys.

This is Kyla. I think I wrote about her. Shes the one who was in my lap during the storm. This was just after she had gotten a loli pop. She was very happy.

Brooks, cooling off in front of the fan. He's pretty quiet but most of the time the quiet ones have got a lot to say. I think I see a thinker in there somewhere. c ;

Ellia, no longer the youngest but still just as precious. 

                                        

And this is my own little sister Charlene. She is a bundle of energy. She loves her family but hates having her hair brushed. There is so much to say about her, I'll definitely write more about her later.

Jesse, Bria and Wes talking. You can't see her very well but Ellia is right down there and was listening to our conversations. Every time she decided she wanted the attention to be on her she would say "Hey!" and wait for a reply from all of us. Their so funny at that age.




                             

             Until you've actually met them however you won't know just how great they are. And I know these pictures are awful for first time images of them, but I promise to put up better ones later. As well as some of the other families I've mentioned and some of my own family.  And also this is not everyone in the Crawford family. These are just a few I was able to get with my brothers phone in between eating, listening to the sermon, helping little ones figure out how toys work, carrying babies, loading food to the truck and talking to everyone I could. c ;

   Oh by the way I thought I should mention that during the sermon Mr. Liveret's pigs got out and started walking around looking for garbage and scaring the people who weren't used to them.

This one was the biggest.

The boys put them up once but they got out again. They just couldn't stay away from the garbage.

                                       


It's late now, passed midnight in fact but I wanted to write all these things down while they were fresh on my mind. Hopefully soon I can blog about my family. I would love to introduce them to those of you who haven't met them as well as introduce some of our friends. Hope you enjoyed it. c :
Until then....

                                                                            Love Chelsey