We Gather Together To Ask The Lord’s Blessing… Hello everyone. I had planned on sharing this sweet farmhouse kitchen/dining room fall autumn tour today with you all today. Everything in it’s place… just how I like to keep my house… and completely decked out with some gorgeous orange pumpkins my husband bought me for my birthday…
But today something else is on my heart and mind…
Many of you who follow us on social media know that we evacuated our house on Wednesday from Hurricane Florence. Our home is right on the outskirts of the hurricane, along the coast of the Carolinas. Our county shares borders the counties lining the coastline… counties that have mandatory evacuations. Many of our neighbors stayed, and are facing flooding, high winds, and tornado watch. It breaks my heart becuase just a couple towns down from us in New Bern, Havelock, and Newport are all getting the brunt of the storm. We used to live in all three of those towns when my husband was stationed at Cherry Point in the USMC.
This post includes affiliate links, but I only share things that I LOVE & think you will too.
As we are away from our home, not knowing what we will come back to, I am looking back at the photos I took of our dining room, two days before we packed up and decided not to stay and weather the storm.
In a sort of irony, the artwork I chose to put in our house for this fall was “We Gather Together To ask The Lord’s Blessing.”
Those words ring so true! Sometimes life throws a curveball at us (or in today’s case, Hurricane Florence!)
This time last year I was waiting on a biopsy to find out if I had cancer (read more about that HERE…) And now this year we are waiting on news from the weather man about the well being of our sweet farming town.
I haven’t been able to tear myself away from the news. I keep pressing refresh on my phone, checking in with loved ones who stayed, making sure that for now everyone is safe.
I won’t deny that I have had a sick feeling in my stomach for the past week… but at the same time somehow I have a calming peace surrounding me.
I was somehow able to meticulous prepare and pack for a possible evacuation without having a breakdown. I only started to tear up as I placed the last rubbermaid into our truck. But then I told myself I had to be strong. We had a six hour drive to where we are currently waiting out the storm, and we were taking both cars.
I was the one who was going to drive the kids, so I needed to make sure I was 100% focused.
God gave me such a peace as we drove away. But I still felt kind of guilty leaving… thinking of all the what ifs…
What if it didn’t end up being bad? What if we aren’t able to get back becuase of flooding and downed trees? Am I just being a worrier by leaving? Should we just tough it out?
I am praying for the best for our community, but I am also glad we left.
I mean, hello? Tornado watch!
Either outcome, good or bad, I won’t regret leaving with my husband and babies.
When it comes down to it, if I had to walk away with only my family it would all be okay. They are all that matters to me.
Yes, we have poured our hearts and time into fixing up this sweet little farmhouse, but I could lose it all and still be happy.
I mean, there’s not much you can do for your house when it comes to mother nature.
Those of you who watch my Instagram Highlights (see them HERE) know that I was having a moment over my pink, blue, and white heirloom pumpkin patch in our garden. According to our neighbor who has lived there many years, she thought they wouldn’t make it due to possible flooding in our yard. As silly as that sounds, that really broke my heart a little bit. I mean, my kids and I planted, hand pollinated, and watched them grow all summer. I had planned out this garden for over a year… and it has brought use so much fun and joy as we made this new house of ours into a home. It’s really pretty insignificant when you think of the scope of things… my little pumpkin patch… haha!
But with all that said, on a happy note, my other neighbors who stayed were so sweet and sent me a message to let me know that they still have power, there are no downed tress on our property (that they have seen yet), and that my pumpkins haven’t drowned as of yet! Yay!
Like how sweet are these people?! Here they are with two little ones of their own, braving out the storm, and they took the time to check on my pumpkins. That about made me cry.
For the most part, in my experience, you really see the best in people in situations like these. People all want to help each other. Our other neighbor was kind enough to use his riding mower to cut our grass as we were leaving. Like who does that?!
Before we left I literally put everything I cared about upstairs in case of flooding. I always want to hope for the best, but plan for the worst.
We have some gorgeous bradford pear trees in our front yard that are notorious for falling, or splitting during bad weather. I am really praying that they don’t get damaged. Apparently the neighbor who cut our grass for us lost a large one in his yard.
We have many close friends who are stationed in Cherry Point at the USMC base there, and they are still there, despite all the flooding.
It makes me so sad to see videos and photos of similar spots our family used to visit be flooded to the bottom branches of the trees. The convention center in New Bern was where we would go for the yearly USMC balls, and that whole street and park area is flooded out.
We are hoping to try and get back this weekend if possible, but we are waiting and watching before making the final decision.
Please keep our little coastal cities and towns in your prayers. Even when the storm stops, the hurricane will still be felt.
When you look at photos of this happy little fall farmhouse dining room and kitchen, you would hardly think that just two days later it would all be packed away, and left empty, and sad.
I am homesick, and I just want to go sleep in my own bed and put all my things back in order. I am praying and hoping that it will all be that simple once we return.
Thank you for all your encouragement, well wishes and prayers.
SHOP THE LOOK OF THIS ROOM:
PROJECTS FROM THIS POST:
WE GATHER TOGETHER PRINTABLE | DIY BARNWOOD CHALK PAINT | DIY FARMHOUSE TABLE
DIY SALVAGED DECOR WINDOW ARCHES | DIY PALLET BARN DOOR HUTCH
Thinking of you and hope you don’t have any damage! Your house looks amazing! You did a beautiful job.
All of the coast has been in my prayers and I will continue to pray for your family. I am in SW Virginia and the rain is on it’s way towards us on Sunday and Monday. God is in control and we must trust in his promises. Please be safe and I am hoping you and your family can return home soon. God’s blessings.
Thank you so much! You stay safe as well.
Hi, I really hope your home is ok. I understand what you’re going through…I live in Kinston, NC. Catastrophic flooding is becoming pretty frequent here. Your home is beautiful and I pray it was spared.
Wow- you are super close to us. For now our hoe only has minimal damage. So thankful for that! Hope all is well with you and your home too. <3
Hope all is alright at your house. We live about an hour west of Raleigh.
Thank you! So far, only minimal damage. Same to you- stay safe!
Your post put everything in perspective much more Than the news, for me anyways. I am in campobella south Carolina, things are fine here.I admire your strength and courage, and that of your neighbors. Many prayers for you all. God speed . thank you for your post
You are so kind! Thank you so much for that encouragement. <3
Reading this in 2020, poignant and your words are relevant now as much as ever. I admire your faith and strength.