If you have been reading my site here lately or on Facebook you have probably noticed alot of tornado talk. I apologize to my out of state readers, but this storm has affected me deeply. I am preparing to go back to the regular deals, but honestly, I feel guilty going on with regular business while those in my sweet home Alabama are hurting, some living in shelters, still looking for loved ones, or have lost everything including loved ones. I just want to get this off my heart before I move on.
I have shed many tears these last few days for my neighbors and friends. This has hit so close to home! The familiar places I drive by weekly are gone, destroyed in a moment by the fury. My dear husband has been gone from daylight to dark for the past 3 days after helping with cleanup, and he has shared with me some of the stories he has heard. Some are heartbreaking and some are encouraging, but they all have a special person or a family behind them.
He came home yesterday evening sunburned and exhausted, but knowing that this is only the beginning. Those of us who still have our homes and belongings should be thankful and give to those who need it. Those of us who still have our families should hug them a little tighter. Those of us who want to help should find a way.
The video I have linked to above is personal to me because it shows homes and business that I see every week. My husband took them last week while he was going in to work. The video only shows one of the many communities that are hurting right now. Please pray for them all.
There is much recovery and cleanup to come. There will be many opportunities and need in the next several months to serve and donate.
I will go on with the regular deals and coupon information. However…I will not allow myself to forget about those who need us!  Alabama is my home and she has been wounded deeply. This storm was one of the largest natural disasters in this country, and we will never forget it.
Well said…we took two of our kids to Cullman yesterday to work after church. Our youngest got up this morning and was worried b/c we only took the supplies they asked for and not food. He was worried they would be hungry (he’s only 6).
You have no reason to apologize what so ever. Some may not understand because they have never seen this kind of destruction first hand, most will understand with or without ever seeing that kind of destruction. I live in Missouri,right on the edge of Kansas or as some would say, tornado alley. I have seen it, i have lived it! It is awful. Please know that most of us totally understand where you are coming from. Please tell your hubby to stay hydrated, use his sunscreen and give him a BIG thank you for helping to try to make life normal for those who right now simply just can not even say the words because they are still so devestated! My thoughts and prayers are with your community!
I can’t even imagine what that’s like. It must be heartbreaking.
Its really too bad that you feel you need to apologize. I live in Colorado and do not know anyone personally from down there but my heart and prayers go out to all the people effected by the storms. By reading things like what you have on your site it keeps the devastation fresh in my mind and makes me realize that anything I am going through at this time in nothing compared to what they are going through. Please don’t stop posting updates for all of us.
Thank you for sharing! It’s important that we be reminded of this. Sometimes we go on with our lives and forget. Thank you for reminding me that I am so blessed, and that I need to send more prayers!!! Thank you.
So very sad – Hoping our local church will unite and send teams to help rebuild. Feels wrong to not be helping out our neighbors.
My heart goes out to all that have been affected by these horrible tornados. I have several boxes of items I would love to donate that I would have given to the Womens Shelter, and am trying to find a local team going down there. Shipping them would cost over $150, which I cannot afford.
My heart aches for everyone affected. Beautiful and encouraging song you chose to use with your video. We don’t know what tomorrow holds … or when it might be us in need … those who live in other states who want to help with donations may want to contact a local Southern Baptist Church in your area … and ask about contributing to Disaster Relief in Alabama, etc. … most Baptist Associations have Disaster Relief Teams ready to respond … and I believe (correct me if I am wrong) that 100% of monies donated will be used to assist the victims.
Love, hugs and prayers from Mobile. We are sending everything we can up your way.
Holly,
I know the pain you are feeling right now. I work at a bank is a very hard hit area, and we are lucky to still have our branch. My customers have come in with nothing, and I was lucky enough to help a couple from my stockpile today and words cannot explain how wonderful that felt. I took the rest of the box to a donation drop off right outside of the devestation and I really cannot put into words what I have seen these past few days. I could see a tornado from the basement of my home, holding my little girl and just hoping it didn’t come at us. I would like you and your readers to know, my employer, regions bank, has made a donation of 1 million dollars to help with relief efforts, and all of us are looking to help. Anyone who lives outside the area, the only disaster I can compare this too is hurricane Andrew in 93′. Think of homestead, but in a clear path accross the entire state. Sorry If I don’t make a lot of sense right now, but this has really been hard on everyone here.
I feel so lucky to have not lost my home, I also live in Sweet Home Alabama and can not believe all the devastation. I almost feel guilty having power. The stories of devastation, and of hope, have touched me and I wish there was more that I could do. Please keep up the great work you do on here and do not feel guilty or appologize! Thanks to you and your husband for all you’re doing!
Being in North Alabama, I thank you for anything you might have posted about our storms in the states that have been affected. I personally just had internet restored 15 minutes ago, power 2 days ago. Things are in recovery mode in this area. It was horrible but could have been worse.
My prayers are with all those who have lost so much this past week. I live in NW Florida and we have experienced similar things during hurricanes but nothing as extreme as this devestation. My husband is in Alabama working with the power company trying to get power restored and I’m trying to help with a donation drive at my church. I just wish there was more that I could do. For those of you who want to donate but live far away, check out the website http://www.toomers4tuscaloosa.org. They have a list of out of state donation sites where they’ve already arranged for transport. You also can donate money to the local church there and 100% of the funds go to tornado victims. God bless you all!
I’m sorry but that website that I just gave should be .com and not .org
Words cannot BEGIN to express the huge swing of emotion that has happened over and over again–from hearing a family member is ok OR to hearing of those lives where lost in these storms, OR to those who have literally lost everything!! PLEASE, Please open your stockpiles and give. I know that God will provide for those that love Him, so even if you bought your stockpile with meager means, God will provide for those who love him. Give liberally–many ALL OVER ALABAMA who aren’t making the news NEED the Basics of life!!
You have no reason to apologize and your feelings and emotions are totally understandable. The recent storms have affected so many people and it is heart wrenching. Glad you and your husband are safe.
Those of us in Wisconsin have you all in our thoughts and prayers. Take as much time as you need to recover. When our city/area was hit about 5-6 years ago, it was horrible and it was NOTHING like the devastation Alabama and others are going through. Glad you are all safe.
Anyone upset with you about your postings on the tornadoes has no heart. Being from a small town in Oklahoma, and living fairly near the coast now (surviving Ike also on the list) where hurricanes scare us every year, I can feel the pain you live with every day. I am glad you and your family made it through materialistically unscathed. My prayers are with the survivors, and with you. God bless and keep you.
I also live in North Alabama (Huntsville). Watching your video made me cry as I did the day of the storms and many many days after. I have lived here since 2007 and never paid much attention to the sirens but I will now. I think the hardest I cried during this time was when I called my husband and told him a tornado was heading towards him (he works for UPS) and then the power went out and we lost cell service. With no power and cell service I couldn’t call him and didn’t know where the tornado was. I started crying because I couldn’t get a hold of him. Once I did he let me know that he was fine. I want to help with the clean up but can’t because I have a toddler in the house.