1,000 Year Flood

I've been meaning to post a quick blurb about this for a while now, but I just now seem to be finding the time to get it done. Most of you probably know about the massive flood that hit Middle Tennessee in May. Kenneth and I spent hours looking at pictures on one of the Nashville news station's website. It was completely unreal to watch it unfold from Florida, and I know it was even more unreal for those who experienced it. My in-laws were one of the families whom it effected. My father-in-law was at work when the waters really started to rise, and my mother-in-law was home alone with their grand dog (Yo Yo - Blair's dog). She moved as much as she could upstairs before deciding to leave the house for dryer ground. She was taken by canoe from her front door. Yes, you read that right...a CANOE led by some local high school boys picked her up at her FRONT DOOR and took her to the end of the street that wasn't flooded to meet Gary with the car because he could not drive to the house. She made the local paper with this photo.She is grateful she went unmentioned in the caption, and you can't tell in the photo, but she has Yo Yo in her lap. The water flooded their garage, so they lost one of their cars. You can tell how high the water was in the garage by the line of residue left on the side of the Acura. It also flooded the patio. The water made it up to the top of the baseboards on the first floor, so they had to tear out the carpet, hardwood, and part of all the walls. You can see in the first photo just below that when the waters receded, mud and muck was left behind. This was Kenneth's room when he was growing up, and all of his yearbooks were tucked in the bottom of that shelf - they didn't make it. I think that bothered me more than him...I guess since I was on the yearbook staff all four years of high school. He also lost a Family Tree project he did in middle school - I think that one hurt a little more. They were lucky though. Their next door neighbors had evacuated early. Something caught fire in their garage during the flood, and they lost everything. Thankfully, they were not home, so they are safe.The lot has been since been bulldozed, which is a strange sight when looking out the kitchen window. The siding on the side my in-laws house was damaged by the fire next door. They were lucky.

Gary's brother-in-law, Ashley, came from North Carolina to help make the house a home again. He definitely worked hard, but he also enjoyed his breaks! :o)I know the Hamburgs were grateful for all of the help they received which included Blair, Ashley, Judy, several church members, several high school boys, Bambi and Terry, and several others I'm sure I'm forgetting or didn't even know pitched in to help. After taking the time to look through and choose the pictures for this post, it is unbelievable how incredible the house looks today. The new floors are gorgeous. The new baseboards add an updated look to the home. I know Pam and Gary would tell you there is a lot left to do, but all I can say is WELL DONE!

I saved this photo for last. It was taken during the midst of the flood as the waters were just hanging out. The rain had stopped. This shows the house that burned next to my in-laws' and their house on the far left. I think this picture is incredible. I know several people spent a lot of time in prayer during this time. There are still several families who are mourning lost loved ones or lost possessions. It is during times like these that we can re-evaluate ourselves and the things important to us. I am thankful my in-law's house did not burn, and they are safe. I am thankful my friends are safe. I am thankful that all Kenneth lost was his yearbooks. Please continue to prayer for the people effected by the 1,000 Year Flood in Middle Tennessee as many are still putting the pieces of their homes and lives back together.