First Impressions

We were a cobbled-together little band of six who piled into trusty "Bessie" for the weekend trip to Tuscaloosa. In various ways, we were each responding to the call to pitch in and help the people of a community still partially numb from the disaster of April 27, 2011. I suggested taking Cole on this trip, knowing it would impact his life in a way that day-to-day ordinary life in Greenville never could. Michelle also wanted to take Cassie, and at the last minute we were able to add on fellow UA-mom Ginger and nurse Catherine. Each one, hand-picked by God for this adventure.

Some of my first impressions as we got closer to our exit on I-20 included what was playing on the radio. Most stations, even nine days post-storm, had switched from their regular music or talk format to a call-in program where people offering assistance and those needing supplies or volunteers could find each other. Even 20 miles or so before reaching Tuscaloosa, there were banners and posters advertising for tornado relief collection points or simply giving residents information on how to apply for assistance or where to go for shelter. The week before I had been frustrated with the media's nonstop coverage of a royal wedding I had no relative interest in and then the OBL assassination. The news cycle seemed to have quickly and painlessly moved forward from the massive needs across several hard-hit southern states. It didn't take more than a few minutes in Alabama for out little group to be brought back to the reality that these people had thought about little else than tornado recovery for the past week and a half. And some will likely do so for weeks, months, even years to come.

It also seemed so odd that we could drive along McFarland Boulevard, and aside from relief tents in the parking lots and military vehicles in abundance, there was no sign of the storm.

Then we were at 15th Street.

Buildings with blue-tarped roofs or no roofs at all. Cars scattered every which way with broken-out windows and covered in dust & rubble. Enormous chunks of concrete haphazardly piled where the tornado had tossed the remains of businesses. Trees that had become sci-fi-like, leafless, broken sticks and stumps poking out of the ground at random angles. And a few blocks later, we were again driving in normal-world.





Hard to comprehend how something so violently destructive could leave this kind of devastation along its reckless path through a city. But life on both sides of its wake seemed untouched. We didn't yet know about the people we would meet and stories we would hear over the weekend that would dispel the illusion of life being in any way normal, even if outward appearances made it seem that way.

Only the Tip of the Iceberg

I also wanted to share a couple of the pictures Kalynn took the day after the storm when they were able to return to their little house to retrieve some of their things. Here is what they found:


This is the front of the house, and it is one of the few that was left standing! It's incredible that Radley (the sweetest, bravest pooch I know!) survived being in the house without a scratch!

This is the view into their once-shady backyard.

Thanks again for praying us along on our journey this weekend. When I get my thoughts together to give a further update, I'm sure there will be some specific suggestions on how you might be able to personally assist in the relief and ministry that lies ahead for this city.

And HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to my own special mom and to all of you moms who are reading.

Tuscaloosa Bound

I know, I know, I haven't done an update in FOREVER! And don't panic -- even though it's long overdue, this post will be brief.

Today I'm not writing to give any news about Charlie's cancer prognosis but rather to solicit your prayers on behalf of another member of our family who recently experienced a life-altering event. Our oldest daughter, Kalynn, has moved to Tuscaloosa and is making plans to reenter the University of Alabama to finish her degree in English. Unless you live under a rock, you know that an extremely powerful tornado cut a swath of destruction right through the city on April 27. Kalynn's house was in its path.

Thanks be to God, she was not at home and was kept safe!

But the nearness to our family of the wake of devastation has urged us to get involved as a family to somehow helping with the relief efforts. Terri and Cole will be traveling to Tuscaloosa with a small band of six volunteers from Grace Church to serve this weekend. Charlie has plans in the works to go with a team of men for a week later this month. The marathon-like recovery will likely provide many future opportunities for service.

Please lift us up in prayer this weekend. None of us has ever been "boots on the ground" for disaster relief, and there will undoubtedly be things we will experience that will utterly overwhelm our hearts and minds.

I will post an update after we return as soon as possible. We each thank you in advance for lifting us before the Throne. Pray we will see the hurting community of Tuscaloosa with His eyes and that He would empower and equip us to be His hands and feet.