Water water every where but not a drop to drink!

Storms, storms and more storms.  We got home from church today a little before 5:00 pm.  We had stopped by an older woman's home after church to visit with her since she had not been at church today.  Upon arriving home we came in the door to our weather radio going off with an alarm.  It was a tornado warning and the storm front was only minutes away.  We went to the family room for shelter when the high winds started.  A little while later we lost power.  Once the storm had passed, we were able to get things checked out.  The utility room had started to flood because the battery backup sump pump that we have wasn't able to keep up.  So we got out the generator and got it going.  While we were getting it ready the flood started into the family room and started across to the opposite wall, flooding half the family room by the time we got everything in place and started.  A little while later Lisa and I decided to take a drive up town.  We saw a few power poles down and snapped off just a couple roads over from us.  Our neighbors told us that there is a tree down across a road just north of us that also took out power lines.  So it looks like we will be without power for little while any way. Thank the Lord that we were home while this was taking place and not on the road.
In Christ,
       Tim <><

**Update**
Hello Everyone!  We got power back last night and are still trying to dry out and clean up.  This flood was worse than the one we had earlier this year.  But it is a little easier to clean up with how we rearranged the furniture!  Hope you all have better weather than us!
In Christ,
       Tiffany

Endurance is gone but he will not be forgotten!

If anyone were to tell you, that only one person could change the world you would probably disagree.  Well I know it to be true because I've seen it with my own eyes.  God has used a small boy to accomplish more in his 8 and a half months of life than most people accomplish in a lifetime.  This little boy was able to bring The Church together like I have never seen before.  People reaching out in friendship,  people being prayer warriors on others behalf.  People unselfishly giving of time and resources for others.  This is only the tip of the iceberg so to speak.  Through God this little boy taught people to be unselfish and to think of others more than yourself.  He strengthened every ones faith watching how God renewed his strength almost daily.  Watching his parents Mike and Heather and siblings give of themselves until they were totally reliant on God and his providence, living only by faith one day at a time.  Seeing bewildered faces on others wondering how can it be that a family from across the country would have SO MANY VISITORS.  His life though short was filled with purpose and resolve.  Though we may never know to the full extent of how his life changed others.  I can tell you this, mine has changed.  I have a renewed faith in the Church and trust that the Lord has great things ahead.  I have been encouraged by Mike and Heather's stand for Life when it wasn't easy and even down right hard at times.  I have been encouraged by their selflessness.  I truly felt like I was getting together with old friends when we met for the very first time.  I have been encouraged by their churches willingness to support them during this time of need.  I have been encouraged seeing brothers and sisters in Christ coming together on the Holstons behalf.  The Lord was able to make a way for our family to go and be with the Holstons during the surgery.  I was hoping to be an encouragement to them, but instead I was the one encouraged and strengthened by both Mike and Heather and the other families.  I praise God for his greatness and mercy, and his abundant grace.  Our love and prayers are going with the Holstons as they travel back to Seattle.  We will truly miss you!

In Christ <><
Tim

Families in need of help and prayer

Hello All,
    We thought we would pass on information regarding some families that are in need that we have been thinking about and praying for lately.  First off, the Lee, Crawford, and Boyd families were all devastated by the recent spat of tornadoes that ripped through the south.  Mr. Phillips posted about them on his blog here and here. Peter Bradrick is running a website were you can donate directly to these families via their local church.  The website is http://www.bradrick.org/helpalfamilies/ .  Also, Mrs.Crawford's website http://www.generationcedar.com/main/ has posted mailing addresses so you can send things (notes, gifts, etc.) directly to them here! 

     Secondly, we've been praying for the Holston family who we learned about on Daddy's SMM group.  (A group of men who all went through Mr. Botkin's Saturday Morning Mentoring last year.)  They have an adorable little baby boy named Endurance.  Endurance was born with heart problems last year and we've been following his progress on their blog http://www.run-with-endurance.blogspot.com/.  All this time they have been living in Seattle, Washington but they have just moved to Columbus, Ohio! You can get all the details at their blog, but please pray for a smooth settling in for the family and for Endurance to do well in the hospital down there.  

   We've been doing pretty well here.  Our sump pump failed and we got about an inch of water in part of our basement.  That was a fun mess to clean up!!  The perfect excuse to rearrange the Family room!  Our other appliances have been giving us a rough time as well.  Our laptop crashed with half of TJ's school work on it (we were thankfully able to recover the hard drive). We had to replace the dishwasher and a part on the dryer.  A burner on the stove went out and was replaced just in time for the bottom element in the oven to make a dramatic exit (It began to spark, flame and melt while we were making dinner)!  However... the leaves are on the trees, plants are going in the ground, seeds will soon be planted for the garden and hopefully everything will settle down soon.  We hope all is well with all of you!

In Christ,
   For the Family,
         Tiffany