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.
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…
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