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!"