Ramblings from the rubble…

~~warning… rambling tangent 😉  I will readily admit that I have a hard time, each time that I blog about Moore.  There is so much that I want to share with you, but I have a tough time knowing how much is enough, and how much is too much.  I have shared some of the downfalls in donation distribution efforts, and I find it is difficult to attempt to inform without harming the overall cause.
I have lacked in sharing the homeowners’ stories.  We have talked with so many lovely, in need, genuine people both in the donation distribution center, and in the effected neighborhoods, but it just doesn’t feel right to share their stories without their permission.  And I just can’t talk with them when they share in confidence, and then say, ‘so, can I take your picture’, or ‘do you mind if I share this with my friends online’… I would never want them to question if I cared –  to wonder if I was just ‘after a story’, when I really just want to give them an opportunity to vent and share, which is often so healing!    Frequently we, society, talk of the ‘victims’ like they are a crowd of faceless clones, all lumped together, but each one has their own story, their own struggles.  Often, so much of their identity felt lost when they lost their homes and possessions.  I feel as if I am taking away more of their privacy and identity by passing on details that they shared with me; they have already lost so much by having their inner lives picked up, stirred around, and thrown down, to be sifted through by strangers, and coldly shoved to the curb to be hauled off by disposal contractors.

I really, really do Not want to discourage people from giving – the needs are so great!  But I do think that there needs to be an educated awareness so that people can make wise decisions in regards to choosing an organization that is going to act responsibly with the donations that they are entrusted with.  Please, please, do not feel as if it were a gamble, or a waste to donate money, supplies, or your time to helping Moore recover!!!  I’m a firm believer that even if ‘your’ case of water were to be returned, or misappropriated by someone lacking integrity, or simply stressed by circumstances, that you will still be blessed for your selfless act of unconditional giving. <3  So many, many more good deeds are happening around here than bad ones.
For us, we are so glad that we have been able to come down here and donate our time and labor, and don’t regret it for one second!  We are so thankful that many of you gave (supplies/donations, fuel money, prayers) to make that possible, and we hope that we are being a good representation of your love and prayers for the people of Moore.

and now on to our regular post…  😀
This morning Vaughn took the rented skidsteer out to the McC’s property and dropped it off so the family could work with it some more.  Then he, Eli, Beth, and Thomas spent the day volunteering with SP again.  They have such a great team this week, that they were really bummed it was Saturday, and many of their new friends would be leaving.  ‘Course, they always have great teams, but this week there were quite a few younger volunteers, and they all became fast friends almost immediately.

Since Vaughn was able to go today, so was Thomas.  Until minors are 16, they have to have a parent on the crew (or a chaperone that is at least 21)…The crews go onto a property and clean up both large and small debris.  One of the homeowners today said that he had contacted SP after he saw a crew at his neighbor’s cleaning up.  He and Vaughn were talking, and he pointed at his neighbor’s lot and said, “I’d really love it if mine could look like that!”  Vaughn said they would do their best.

And they did.  Well, when they weren’t speeding around the lot in the go-cart! LOL!  😀

This tree was monstrous!!! (different job) They had to get a large saw, and someone qualified to run it due to it’s blade length.The lumberjack 😉 cut out a slab for the property owner to make a table out of,

and the rest of the tree was blocked into 8 to 10 foot lengths so the machinery could haul it off.  The guys said there should be more front end loaders out there – they make short work of debris piles.  Specially if they have special claws installed like this one does…

I had a few things to do in the donation center today – mainly to finish organizing the clothing that has come in, and clean up the little side room that has become the ‘closet’.  I got that done, but didn’t get it vacuumed (there was a funeral meal being served in a nearby room).

We had a torrential downpour in this area of town, and it caused the kids’ SP work crew to stop working for a few hours, and I ended up staying in the church awhile longer even though my work was done.  Jake held down the fort (RV), making sure that all the windows were closed (he had to go out in the hard rain and close the vent on the job trailer), and he fed the kids Cup O’ Noodles for lunch; the kids were probably glad that I stayed in – I don’t care for those, and would have made something else for lunch! LOL!

Tonight we had company!  Grampa Kent and Gramma Dana (our Road Grands) came over for a few hours, and we had gumbo for dinner.  It’s my fav thing to make for company because we never make anything to go with it (easy!); except for rice to put it over, and it can sit on the stove for hours and only gets better! LOL!  We had a sweet time of visiting, and now that it’s almost time to go, Caleb has finally warmed up to them! Figures.

It’s hard to believe that we have been here almost 2 weeks!   We will have to leave later this week for a mad dash back to MT to run firework stands (because we committed to them, and we like to eat 😉 ).   Already the kids are complaining and asking if we HAVE to go, and if we can come back as soon as firework season (including Aunt Gayle’s party) is over.

We do hope to come back later this summer or fall, and help with the continuing cleanup, or rebuilding.   There is still so much to do.