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Sunday, March 14, 2010

When it rains it pours and then things get really really wet.....

We had several very lovely days with temps in the mid 50's. the sun was shining and it was glorious! but when you have layers upon layers of snow and ice built up on roof tops, things happen. For the first time ever in our 12 years of living in Ohio, we had ice break loose and do some damage. but we didn't realize the extent of it until yesterday.

A few days ago during the afternoon, Tyler and I heard a crash. I knew immediately what it was - ice breaking loose from the roof outside my upstairs bedroom. It sounded loud enough to have broken through the roof below, so I checked. All appeared fine. I climbed out onto the roof, and sure enough - the gutters had even been broken off, but otherwise all seemed well.

Yesterday the rains began. Temps had begun dropping again the afternoon before, but nothing unusual for this time of year. It rained all day yesterday. As I have been feeling better, I have been trying to do some organizing of my craft room - actually a closed-in porch that is - you guessed it - the room right below where the ice fell from my bedroom roof. Getting that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach yet? yep, you can tell where this is going..........

Late in the afternoon, I needed to grab some things from my craft room to put into bins. I walked into the room and was devastated. Water was dripping from the roof - all areas of the roof. All around the perimeter, the center, you name it - it was leaking. I did my best to salvage what I could. Thankfully I had already taken out my Primas, the majority of my ribbons and trims, my Basic Grey 6x6 paper pads, and my buttons! :) y'all know how important those things are to me when I craft! essentially the only other thing that wasn't damaged was my vast collection of solid cs. whew! I did manage to get some of my single wooden stamps out and a few other embellies.

Now in the midst of this, Camp Burton has had the Senior High Sabbath Retreat going on since Friday night. This isn't your normal sky high fun in the sun kind of retreat. This is a really in depth 'take you to your knees' kind of soul searching retreat that causes each person to truly get a closer look at their relationship with God. Everyone fasts for 24 hours, spends lots of time in worship and prayer, does some kind of mission project, but also connects with God in a way that can only be described as awesome - truly awesome. The focus of the Retreat was the relief efforts for Haiti. I spent some time on Friday trying to find video for David to put together for a short presentation. After several hours of watching video clips, slide presentations, etc., I was emotionally drained. God was speaking to me through the pictures I was seeing; the voices I was hearing. oh goodness, the things He was telling me. What I take for granted. How blessed I am and don't realize it. I was sobbing because of my ignorance and blindness.

And then the next day many of my crafting supplies are gone. No, God is not punishing me. I don't believe that for one moment. But it sure helped me keep things in perspective as I was trying to salvage things from my room. God just kept telling me over and over as I picked up each thing dripping with water - "think of the people of Haiti. you lost things - they lost homes; lives. you have so much. you are so blessed. you have more than so many. you are loved. Rejoice!"

now, I am human and it did take me a little while, but it finally sank in. sure, I hate to see things lost or destroyed. I don't like to see waste. but these are just things. Things. Things can be replaced. ALWAYS. maybe not the EXACT thing. maybe not today, or tomorrow, or next month. it may take me years. I really don't think I want to replace it all. in fact I know I don't. it doesn't mean the same to me anymore - you see I have a different perspective now. it's just stuff. yeah, it's stuff I use to do something I like that hopefully reaches out to someone. but it is PEOPLE that matter. it is RELATIONSHIPS that Jesus spent His life telling us to cultivate. those can never be replaced. and I am blessed as all get out that I have a precious precious family. I have friends that have overwhelmed me with their outpouring of affection while I have been sick. I have all of you who put up with my blathering and yammering and whatnot.... but seem to love coffee as much as I! grins! and that can never ever be replaced! Allelulia!!!! and all God's people said -
"AMEN!"

15 comments:

Stef H said...

oh jennifer... i am so sorry about your roof but you definitely moved me to tears this morning. your post was so very uplifting and i even did a little soul-searching myself. you are truly an angel and i thank you from my heart.

Lauri said...

Jennifer...I am so sorry to hear of this but...you are absolutely right..it is just stuff....you can create with as little as you have or as much as you have, what matters is what you put into your creating. I am purging A LOT this week, and have been giving away a lot of unused craft supplies trying to simplify because I find I am much happier when I have less!

Holly Young said...

So sorry about the damage to your things Jennifer, but your words about them just being things are so well put. You are blessed, and I believe your attitude and thoughts in situations like this will make you even more blessed in the next life.

thinker said...

so sorry to hear that you had so much damage & lost so much stuff... but you are SO right... it's just stuff... I loved your comment that what really matters is PEOPLE... and RELATIONSHIPS.... because those can never be replaced. that's exactly where my thoughts have been this week... thanks for the confirmation of my focus this morning!!!

Anita said...

Your story is a great reminder of what is most important in our life. I am sorry you lost so much craft supplies. What an awesome retreat for the youth.

Tammy said...

Oh honey....I'm so sorry to hear about your mess and you are right, it is just stuff. I need to remember your words when things happen. <3 ya girl!!!

Anne said...

Jennifer so sorry to hear about you losing things, but you're quite right, it's people not possessions that are important

Hugs
Anne

Angie said...

So sorry to hear this Jennifer! But God does have his way for showing us what really matters! Love your words!!! Just keep your chin up, and thank god everyday for the things that you do have. I know I do everyday,God, family & friends are what are most important! So happy you are feeling better! Hugs:)

Marlene said...

Hugz. Big Hugz.

michele said...

big hugs Jennifer. Sorry to hear about the craft stuff and damage to your home. You really are quite amazing! hugsxx

Yvette said...

Jennifer I'm so sorry to hear about the damage, but most grateful for such a touching post! God surely has a way of putting things into perspective for us. Maybe not always the way we think, but I think the most effective. Thanks for this post and for who you are!! HUGS!

Ann English said...

Oh, sweetie...so sorry to read this. You are right- people not things but of all the people I know, you didn't need a reminder as your priorities are clear. Sending hugs, my friend!

Vicki said...

Jennifer, checking in on you hon. Wow your post is inspiring in itself hon...yes we should all do a little soul searching these days...God bless you hon and hope things are looking up since this post. Take care Jennifer.

HUGS,
Vicki

Payne Holler Cards said...

your loss and your perspective on it are such a testimony to my heart! I do always think of what a blessing God gives to me to provide all the "stuff" that I joke about needing...when it's really only useless "vanity" as Solomon states...our walk with Him is the only thing that truly matters. We serve a loving God who blesses our talents also...your room will be even better than before! {{{{hugs}}}} Linda

CarlaKH said...

just spent some time reading your blog or parts of it... sending you a hug and a thank you for sharing this.. posts like this and your others really are a testimony to the PEOPLE that are behind the creations we so often hop thru but to realize a little more about the person is a blessing.