What doesn't kill me makes me stronger.....

What an incredibly insane week it's been!  You never expect to have a disaster actually strike you.  From time to time you hear stories about families that have been hit by disasters and our hearts go out to them, if we are close to them we try to help, and then we get back to our own lives.  I always thought I was a pretty organized person and that if we ever had an emergency I'd be ready, I created an "emergency" binder about a year ago that has all our important documents just in case something were ever to happen.... Well that "something" actually did happen and although it's nice to have our important documents, they have not provided us with our shelter, or food, or clothing, it has not comforted myself or my husband, or our children in any way..... All the necessary things that we take for granted have come from all of you, and we are so grateful, there are no words to express.  This week has been overwhelming and emotional, compounding everything is the fact that I'm still slower than my 2 year old, and so I climb our new stairs every day up and down, watching Michael and the other kids run ahead of me, happy go lucky, not a care in the world, which helps to put things in perspective, we are ALL SAFE.  I cannot fathom the tragedies that happen every single day in this world in which terrible accidents happen and lives are completely shattered because beautiful souls are no longer with us.  Our lives have not been shattered, not in the least, we are so incredibly blessed, this if anything has been just a minor bump in the road of life.  I'm not going to lie, it's been a challenge, it's been exhausting, my diet has been completely derailed, but we are going to get through this just like anything else, and probably be stronger because of it.  I have a whole new appreciation for hair ties, socks, living space, outdoor space, etc.  We have been completely blown away by the outpouring of support, encouragement, prayers, meal train meals from Paul and Ellie's school, and the humanity of all the people around us.  Every little thing has helped tremendously, especially the meals, and the offers for sitters so that Jim and I can just plow through everything that needs to get done.  Our immediate family members have been incredible, especially Jim's mom, taking the kids off our hands so we can get work done.  We continue to take everything one day at a time.  To all of the people out there who have helped us, loved us, prayed for us, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!