The Butterfly Bush

 Just as the floodwaters carved out a new landscape in my backyard, the tide of fear, shock, sadness, and anger that followed carved out a new reality for me. Life is different now. In some ways, it will never be the same again.

The pictures above were taken in our yard on 8/27/2011 - the afternoon before Irene arrived.  This is our yard just 4 days later...The force and power of the water was incredible...

I was thinking today about Noah's flood...how incredibly powerful that must have been. Imagine the fear that filled Noah's heart as the rain pelted the ark and all living creatures outside perished. Imagine the faith, as he waited in the ark for the waters to dry up. Imagine the hope that welled up in his heart when that dove returned with an olive leaf!

Imagine the mud they must have stepped into when they exited the ark!

I found my "olive leaf" today -- a single, straggly stalk of green. It had been badly battered by the power of the flooded creek;  power that had downed trees, moved trucks, relocated boulders and bridges, had even moved houses off their foundations. It had stolen away large chunks of grass and yard, plants and flowers. Yet here, on the very edge of the eroded lawn, still rooted in the earth where I had planted it just this spring, reaching toward the sun, was my butterfly bush -- the survivor. This little bush not only hung onto its scrap of dirt - it waited until the waters receded and then mustered up all its strength to produce -- a blossom. A beautiful purple flower. Promise of another season to come, when all the debris will be finally cleared, grass will be planted, and (I promise) there will be new butterfly bushes planted alongside my survivor to keep him company....

 Irene may have taken much, but I am finding so much more that she has given. But that is the subject of another blog.....

Today is a new day. Tomorrow is a new tomorrow. I will hope, trust, stand, and reach toward heaven, and rooted firmly in the soil of my Father's garden, I will blossom, just like my little butterfly bush.

"For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:17

Flooding at Bakers.avi

This is Diane and Jere Baker's home, just a little bit down the road from the neighbors we stayed with during the storm. It was taken on Sunday afternoon as the storm was winding down and after the waters had receded quite a bit. Diane and Jere had evacuated early that morning, heading for higher ground in their camper.

It's Going...video.avi

The Fury of Irene - a photo journal

This was taken in our backyard just one day before Irene's visit.

Tropical storm Irene produced flooding in our area unlike any other event in the memories of even our eldest residents. Per some officials, this is the kind of flood that only happens every 500 years. Our beautiful mountaintop is devastated, but not defeated. The first few pictures are of our home, and areas within walking distance. I haven't yet been brave enough to explore nearby towns. Neighbors are helping neighbors, as bad as it was, it could have been much worse. There are many stories of lives that were saved. Our home, as bad as it looks on the outside, was perfectly preserved on the inside. Once we climbed over pieces of asphalt, branches, debris, a couple of partially buried vehicles and up the ramp that used to be our deck and opened the door to our home, we found the interior to be just the way we had left it - dry and undisturbed. We thank God for His mercy and pray for our friends and neighbors who are suffering many losses. The power of Irene was great, but our God is much greater!