What a difference a week can make! Last week at this time we were watching flood waters rise, snow melt at an alarming rate and pumping water away from the house. This morning we sat on the deck in the sunshine and enjoyed the warmth immensely.
Our river is making it’s way back into the banks where it should be, ice bergs are turning dirty and look lonely in the middle of fields. The ice jam on the river has made it’s way downstream and I have a tulip blooming in a pot.
I am reminded of the fact that downstream all is not well and won’t be for a very long time. Nebraska is suffering greatly. Ranchers have lost herds, ground and are overwhelmed. Entire towns have been submerged with ice floes inside buildings where people used to gather. Wells have been compromised so water restrictions are in place in many locations.
Someone was questioning on Facebook how come there were no stories of looting going on in these locations. I have done some thinking about that question; because it is a good one.
I think one of the biggest reasons is that these are real communities. People know who lives next door. They know the guy they buy their groceries from and more than likely know the family of the checker in the grocery line.
People in rural communities are neighbors. They worship together…maybe not at the same church or in the same denomination but they worship together. These people sit side by side and watch their children play at sporting events…many times against each other at these sporting events.
These people in the heartland have worked hard for their place in life and they respect each other and hold each other accountable. It would be hard to steal from someone you have prayed with, laughed with, cried with and know.
These people have that old-fashioned sense of community with a strong emphasis on unity. They don’t always agree….often don’t agree….. but get along anyway. It is family and family has your back.
These Nebraska towns are what American used to be all over this country. They are the best of us and don’t let you off the hook when you have acted your worst. They say it like it is and you know they tell you things because they care. It is honesty….it is integrity….it is unity.
I am in awe of these Midwesterners and hope I can be counted among them. They are a lot to live up to. My mind wanders to how can we help people who are used to giving instead of taking? I am going to try post some links below of places that can be contacted.
In NW IA there will be a trailer parked at Livestock Manufacturing and Equipment at the corner of Hwy 18 & 75, (west of Hull, IA) starting Saturday where you can bring supplies such as: Milk Replace, Fencing needs, bottled water, cleaning supplies and so on.
Fremont, NE has been putting out lists of places to go to volunteer and list of supplies needed by communities and individuals.
The Red Cross and Salvation Army are also great places to find out what is needed by way of supplies and/or volunteers. I have a feeling they will be needing things for a long while.
I am trying to also post a video someone made of the damage in Nebraska this past week. I hope it works! I am not confident in that but we will see.
The lesson I am learning from this past week is that it is good to have neighbors you know. It is good to be that neighbor. It is a blessing to have someone’s back and they have yours.
I have learned quiet people are often underrated. Their courage isn’t noisy…it isn’t loud. Their integrity is the kind that often needs a second look….but when you really see that person…you see someone you want for your neighbor.
Our prayers are with you Nebraska. Our help is on the way and your courage in this devastation will be the quiet roar that shows a nation what America was and still is.
Courage doesn’t always roar,
sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering
I will try again tomorrow.
Amen!
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Just devastating…I couldn’t imagine. Our prayers are with them.
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I cannot imagine either George. We had flooding but not to this extent. The water mixed with the ice was unreal. I have a son and daughter in law who live in Nebraska and they are keeping me updated. They are above water but do have city wells that are compromised.
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Im so glad you are safe and dry. My heart goes out to those people not as fortunate. This has been a tough winter and first day of spring for so many. I hope your son and daughter in law are safe as well.💗
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They are far enough from a river so are safe. It would be hard for us to get to them at this point because so many roads are shut on the way there….but no problem…they are safe!!!
It was a beautiful day here.
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May I please, please, please reblog this?
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Yes you certainly may Jessica! I would be honored.
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Thank you. You’re words about neighbors and worshipping with people, even though the church may be different there, those words are what my upbringing means to me. I can’t even begin to explain how much your summary of what Nebraskans are means to me.
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Done. Thank you soooooooo much!!!
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This is really terrible and I hope the government will do its part to ease the suffering of those caught up in the devastation. I love the way you describe the people who live there. Respect, accountability and a sense of community are very precious commodities these days.
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The President has approved the disaster declaration by the governors and a few days ago the Vice President toured the Midwest area to see the damage and what help was needed.
I really love how the private sector is stepping up to help. There are trucking companies in various states that are parking trailers and semis at locations to be filled by the guy on the street. They are donating their time and equipment to get these items where they are needed.
Farmers and elevators are gathering feed stuff and hay bales to truck down there for the livestock that needs it. Some might find that remarkable but to me this is just what we do in these circumstances…we help how we can. It does not matter if we know them personally or not. We do not wait for someone else to help and I love that concept.
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So glad things are getting back to normal for you. The meting here is slow and steady which is good. We still have snow on the ground but it’s shrinking😜
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Ours went really fast due to rain last week. Was a mess then but kind of glad to be this far! Still some snow around. Lots of huge ice blocks are still on the river bank and in the field. I am really curious how long those will hang around.
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Praise God for the tulip. Sure sign of better things to come. Happy spring❤️🌷
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Your slide show worked well. We don’t watch TV, so I haven’t seen pictures of the flooding. Thanks for bringing me up to date. I’m glad y’all have managed to stay dry so far.
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We watch tv but we tend to watch old shows and PBS. The sun is really starting to dry things out around here. I hope it does that for Nebraska.
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Faye,
Glad it is the end of the road of the winter for you all but saddened by the news from Nebraska.. What a great message you shared. The ‘having our neighbour’s back” thing is not just for rural America, it was true for many communities around the world. Denominations and religions did not matter. If you lived with them and breathed the same air God gave us and shared the same things that are free and often unappreciated, then you were family. And in family there will be disagreements and different views but being there when they need them was the strength of that community. Unfortunately these days, we do not want to know our neighbours. Prayers for Nebraska
Susie
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You are so right Susie. Somewhere along the line we lost the sense of neighborhood and community. I have a feeling we need to get that back one person at a time.
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One person at a time ? That is a new concept for me- I would have thought one family at a time. But the sense of the friendly neighbourhood has to come back and the sooner the better. When a mother needs to go out, some one in the neighbourhood should be trusted enough to look after her children or her house and things like that.
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I guess I say one person because everyone in a family still has their own opinion on things and one on one getting to know a person is a great way to really know someone. I totally agree that it would be good to know your neighbors as a mom so we all watch out for each others kids. And yes…..I do believe it can be that way again.
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It is just so sad. Prayers for all and for those down stream because all of this will eventually come down here. Is there any hope for the crops?
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You are in my prayers Beverly because yes….they are telling us that it is heading down and for people to be prepared.
I think the ranchers who lost their herds of cattle will probably suffer the most as they lost the calves and a herd takes a long time to build up.
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Lord help us all. My son had to go out of the normal way to get home from Tx. the other day. Some of the roads in the delta of Mississippi are already under water.
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I wondered about that Beverly! Prayers your way as these waters head downstream. Unfortunately North Dakota has a huge snow pack that still needs to melt. It is going to be a long Spring I think.
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Reblogged this on Unmeasured Journeys and commented:
I was born in Southwest Iowa and raised in Northwest Missouri. If you’ve seen the news lately, you will know that Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri are all underwater.
I’ve got to be honest with you here, seeing all those pictures of the “ocean’ that is engulfing the small towns, farms, and livelyhood of my family and friends that live in that area, yanks my heart and causes my tears to fall.
But here’s the thing, we are resiliant. I may not live in that area anymore, but it is still home. Yesterday, there was a New York Times article about Hamburg Iowa. I was born in Hamburg Iowa and my folks still live not to far from there in the town where I was raised. When “home” is hurting, it hurts.
When I read this beautiful post of Faye’s yesterday, I asked her “please, please, please may I reblog this?” Her words about Nebraskans are how I feel about so many people in all the areas affected by the flood. Kindness and being neighborly doesn’t stop at the state lines up there. Everything Faye says here is also true about people in Southwest Iowa and Northwest Missouri.
Thank you, Faye, for letting me share your insights, compassion, and love. I am so proud of where we are from and I want people to know it.
PS Mom and Dad, wanted you to read this.
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I just love the people who live in this part of the country. I suspect there are pockets of folks like this in every state….you just have to find them. Susie is right….they are all over the world really. They are the people who can drive you crazy but will stand with you to the end…..yup….just like family.
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What a touching post about the floods and the response to them! I think you are right, it is the sense of community that makes a difference, and that will help with the recovery process. Helping each other, helping ourselves, and just doing the best we can whatever the circumstances truly is what is right with America.
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You are so right Ann. We take what comes and help where we can. I love the fact that in this area no one is waiting for the government to make the move and send help…people are just gathering needed things and donating time and equipment to send where it is needed.
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I was lucky enough to live in a small town in Kansas for a while while I was growing up, and that was exactly the attitude everyone had. When trouble came, differences were put aside and everyone pitched in together to fix it and help. That independence is a good thing, I think, and so is the sense of responsibility to each other rather than waiting for the government to fix it.
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oh Fate-this moved me to tears. This post is as good as any I have ever read. I understand completely, this truth! This is the spirit of rural communities, farmers and just folks sharing a life, committed to one another. This is love. Well said my dear and prayers are sent for our midwest states-God bless you for sharing this. love Michele
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You are so welcome Michele. It has been on my heart since the flooding started and I started seeing FB posts saying farmers deserved this disaster and other mean things. I also was seeing posts asking why the government wasn’t moving faster and so much negative. I just felt people needed to hear what was real and what is happening and in all the sadness there is so much good.
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good for you! my dear FAYE-not Fate! ha!
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LOLOL I answer to so many names!! My first name is actually Clarice and my middle name Faye. When I was a child the town librarian called me Clara….so not to worry Michele.
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Clarice is beautiful! so is Faye!
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you know-I have not heard a word from Cobs . . .talked to Beverly today. Praying still.
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Mrs. Crafts is also concerned and has not heard anything. Thought I would ask her last week.
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it is n awful predicament and no onw seems to even know her real name! Do you?
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I don’t! I think I have her address somewhere as she sent me a card about a year ago. Maybe I should go dig that up and see if there is a name on it.
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Having never been through a flood we cannot even imagine what it is like for the good folks in Nebraska. Just seeing the images of what they are going through makes us realize we are lucky just to be dealing with a little mud!
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I am with you totally. We have river bottom fields that flood quite often but not to the extent of what this year has been. We are just grateful it was before crops were put in.
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What a fantastic post Faye. Amen – all of us in the heartland of America know how to help and support each other. The reason – We put God in our life first and then we turn to help our neighbors and friends. It is truly hard to watch so many people lose their homes and suffer so much. I have been in a flood in my lifetime and it was devastating. Love this post Faye.
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Thank you so much Peggy. You are right about the heartland. I love the fact that we don’t wait for help to show up we just get over there and start. God is a huge part of the makeup of the heartland and I am proud of that fact!
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This is so sad. It seems like a wonderful place to live.
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Nebraska is southwest of us and the devastation is unreal down there. I cannot imagine how hard it must be for those that live there.
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