This blog post has been hard for me to nail down to get my point across. I have trashed two  drafts that just didn’t do it.

This is my sister’s house. The water got really close, as you can see from the back of her car here.

Life changes very rapidly. Mine certainly has. It almost feels at times like it took off and left me, but it didn’t. I have watched friends and family lose everything to Harvey, and also go in to rescue others who have lost everything. It has put some things in perspective for me as I watch these things happen. The Hermits have all been affected in some way by Harvey. I myself watched my sister post pictures of water inching up to her car and house, but not quite reaching it while other houses and cars were under water.

It is a huge kick in the gut to see the people there suffering so. My first thoughts were that I am a very strong swimmer, and have done my share of board and body surfing in some pretty strong water, maybe I could help. Then reality set in that nobody is that good of a swimmer to fight those currents. Some boats are not even strong enough to fight the currents.

This is also in front of my sister’s house. There is a car that has water to the license plate. Across the street, the house is just slightly lower than hers.

I will have to just donate money, which seems small to me, but that is really what is needed right now.

The thing about all of this is that the water will recede. People will rebuild their homes and their lives. Flowers will still bloom. Our friends and family will overcome this. It will take a long time, but the human spirit that is there will prevail. Just like the green grass that has come up with the rains, so will they. They will find their place again.

Pretty flowers that have come up with all of the rain and bring the promise that life will prevail.

The unnamed heroes who have pulled people from flooded homes will work until everyone is saved that they can possibly get to. The people being rescued will forever remember when they were saved, and they will carry that spirit of people loving one another with them forever.

I challenge everyone who is reading who is able (and not affected by the storm) to donate something. Money, supplies, whatever you can. Donate these things in thanks for still having everything that you have worked so hard for, and in honor of those who do not. One case of water makes a difference. Everything does at this point.

I was finally able to put our flag back out and let it fly in the wind.

Stop today and look at your yard or your neighborhood. Look at the grass, look at the flowers blooming from the yard and know that our neighbors affected will bloom as well. We will help them and we watch them come back.