So this is the first post I've written a few weeks... yes I have posted some but those we pre written. Basically our lives have been turned upside down and the dust has kind of settled (literally) and I realized I hadn't written anything about it. Before you read on, know that we are all physically safe. Praise God for that. 2 weeks ago on the evening of September 1st I arrived home at 5:45pm to standing, rushing water in our entire downstairs. I was alone with the kids as Jon was on the road for work, due home the next afternoon. I can't even tell you how scary it was... I can hear the sound of the rushing water now and I felt like I was in the twilight zone. I just started screaming.
I ran to where I could hear the water rushing from and that was our powder room. Something was loose and water was flying everywhere at a high pressure and quick speed. Lucy followed me inside and slipped on the water so she was crying, I was crying, and Ford was very confused. Ernie had been home and freaking out the entire time. What a couple of months it's been for him, poor guy. Anyway, I called 911 because I didn't know what else to do and then called Jon. I tried to turn off the water main but it did nothing for the spraying water. Luckily the neighbors had a contractor outside working on cutting their cabinets and he came running over to help me. The culprit? The hose line that connects your toilet to the wall. You have them at each water source... toilets, sinks, dishwasher, fridge. And this one was made out of plastic, thus bursting because of too much pressure and deterioration. Long story short... the firefighters showed up and were absolutely amazing. Thank you A shift at the Lake Travis Fire Department in my neighborhood... I am going to bring you dinner soon. They stayed for 3 hours and used shop vacs to remove as much water as possible. I had neighbors in my house moving furniture upstairs and to their homes. A friend came to get my babies and Ernie, people brought dinner, and Jon finally got back into town about 9pm. An emergency relief company (Blackmon Mooring) sent someone to walk us through this and had a crew show up at 11pm with about 45 fans and dehumidifiers. Our precious hand scraped wood floors were soft and coming up, the walls, the toys, the rugs. We are thanking God that I was only gone for 2.5 hours and not all day or all weekend. We had planned on going to my parents lakehouse the next morning so if it had happened a day later, the damage would have been much much worse. I am also thankful that Thursday mornings our housekeeper comes and I prep the house by picking up everything off of the floor, putting everything away, etc. So my camera, laptop, more toys, ipads, etc were put away and unharmed. We spent a few days at my parents lakehouse and came home to a house that was torn apart. No floors, no baseboards, no doors, tons of dust, etc. We finally had an adjuster out here today (major delay in a contacting company they use... this is day 14 of the flood and pretty ridiculous) but they are amazing and going to take great care of us. We've been staying at a hotel and are going to try to stay at the house for a few days before construction starts... a hotel with 2 kids and no kitchen has not been ideal. It has been crazy, chaos, and very humbling. It could have been a lot worse. God was with us, continues to be with us, and will carry us through. Floors and baseboards can be fixed. I've had my breakdowns, especially since our baby girl could come in as little as 5 weeks, but I am finding joy. We were told that it will take about a month for everything to happen so I have my eyes set on that. Exactly a month from today is my birthday and that would be the greatest gift ever to be back in our house.
So as if I wasn't already the worst blogger ever, I probably won't be posting much while our house and lives are in limbo. The kids are happy and healthy and we are hanging in there! We have had dinner brought to us the past couple of nights and have them next week as well. Our friends and family have been wonderful and I know there will be so many silver linings once we are on the other side of it. And I am ready to be on the other side of it!
I've felt this to be a spiritual attack at times, Satan must hate that we are opening up our home to adoption in the name of the Gospel but my God is bigger than that. The enemy won't win.
Thanks for praying friends!
7 comments:
I love it when neighbors and communities come together to help one another. So sorry to hear this happened Ruthie and hoping it all gets resolved soon. Thankfully, you have a two story so only half the house is affected.
Oh my goodness! I am so, so sorry you've been dealing with this. And I know this is such an important time right now. You guys will be in our prayers for this and the adoption!
Our house flooded when I was a kid - an inch of water (from a busted toilet) was in the whole house (1 story) - we lived an entire summer on the foundation before everything got replaced - floors, baseboards, some furniture, even the doors had to be replaced. Luckily we only had to stay in a hotel for a few nights. My sister and I were probably 8 and 10 so it was fun for us - a hotel with a pool! But I know it was stressful (in hindsight) for my parents. I remember having a nightmare one night and my mom stepping on the carpet nails in the dark, ugh! So thankful it got caught when it did and wasn't as bad as it could have been! And thankful for everyone's safety and health!
Hi Ruthie. I don't know you but came across your blog a while back and just had to share encouragement in what you are facing now. My husband and I have 4 biological children (6 mo to 10 y/o) and started fostering this past summer out of a desire to obey what we think God wants us to do for the orphans. We have had so much stress and strife since a little boy was added to our mix and just today I realized the need to pray for protection against the enemy. And to request that specific thing. It's no small thing in the midst of hard days that make you want to throw the towel in but God is able to enable us to do this thing of loving these little people and helping them to heal and be loved. The enemy will not rest but praise God that HE works on our behalf always, even while we sleep.... there's a verse about that somewhere. Psalms maybe? Anyway, just some things the Lord is reminding me of as we face similar trials. When we said yes to taking our kiddo my husband's car was totaleld and that was the beginning of so many assaults that continue to this day, little and big. His mercies are new every morning! And He will always go before us if we follow Him. ��
Oh goodness, I am so sorry about the flooding and craziness that has ensued since then. You have such a positive attitude about the whole situation. I am so glad you have been well taken care of by those around you and God. He is so good. Praying for you guys!
Oh, I SO see God all in this situation. So glad everyone is alright and can't wait for you to be on the other side of it. But, oh man, what a testimony you have and will continue to have! Praise God because he definitely worked it out. The devil is a lie and you have the victory!
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