the flood: bittersweet blessings

yesterday, i went back to check on the housey after spending 2 days cleaning salvaged belongings we’d taken over to farmhome [my parents’ house] while stevo and others kept at the flood mess with the demo and cleaning. after putting all my attention on the things that we were trying to save, i guess i’d temporarily blocked from my mind all our things that had to be left at the house as trash.

i had a little bit of a sad moment just walking around, seeing bits of our happy life thrown into a pile of yuck. it was just days ago that we were laughing on our cozy couch, beautifying our yard with pretty, blooming flowers, sipping wine on the back porch, and putting minnie to sleep at night in her snuggly puppy bed.

driving down the street, though, it’s so beautiful to see nashville [especially our neighborhood and others near it] pulling together as a community! many restaurants have served meals to our neighborhood. stores and services have offered discounts to floodies. the outreach has been incredible.

none of this is ideal, but we feel so fortunate for what we have in our lives! so many people are going through what we’re experiencing. many have even lost loved ones and pets. some have no one around them to lean on or help them.

i can’t emphasize enough how thankful, encouraged, hopeful, and loved we have felt this week. our lives have come to a complete halt. it’s been surreal and i don’t think we’ll ever truly grasp the fact that this happened to us, to our city… but through the whole thing we have had friends and family praying, loving, and donating to support us in whatever ways possible. it’s an amazing feeling to feel so cared about!! we are growing and learning in so many ways. we’ll rebuild our lives, rebuild our house, and come out with stronger relationships and a stronger community. we want to send a bighugeundying thank you forever out to friends, family, and strangers that have touched us so much [and prayers to all the fellow nashvillians affected]! the future looks bright. can’t wait.

[check out this vid of nashville that bff floodybuddy neighbylove maggie posted on her bloggy yesterday.]