Pray for Austell

Early Monday morning as David and I were getting around attempting to ready ourselves for a new week, we were discussing how it lightened and thundered literally all night long, all night! Without further thought, I headed out the door with my two oldest little people on our way to school. David sent me a 911 text while I was in morning devotions, so I called ASAP. The news he shared was devastating. The Whitmires, who are responsible for half-raising our three children over the past year, were on the verge of losing their home to Sweetwater Creek, which was quickly on the rise. He called me again not even an hour later telling me to get Carter and Summer and come home, now! The creek was rising fast and the roads in and out of the city of Austell were closing. Thanks to the help of my sweet staff at school, Carter, Summer, and I quickly got on the road after a pit-stop at Old MacDonald's for some milk and apple dippers. After only having to turn around once and picking up sweet little Tilly from our neighbors, we made it home safely. By 11:00 AM, the Whitmire's house was flooded completely. Thankfully, they were able to get a truckload of their things out. David was gone most of the day going from house to house helping people. I think he came home three times to put on dry clothes. He has worked so hard these past two days. I am proud to call him my pastor, but even more proud to call him my husband. By 4:00, the water had completely covered the Whitmire's roof. It is like nothing you have ever seen. That evening our church served supper to people in the community. My school called to let me know that school was cancelled. Most Atlanta schools were cancelled for today. David did not get home until after 8 at which point we discovered that our basement (crawl space) was flooded and our hot water tank was out. He and our neighbors were scooping out water with 5 gallon buckets until after 11:00 PM. What a day! I remember going to bed last night praying that it would not rain any more and just feeling as if I were in a fog and that maybe, hopefully today did not really happen. But it did, and the pictures below are a reminder of the events of yesterday. Please pray for the city of Austell and the people of Austell. Pray for our church that we would be the hands and feet of Jesus to our community. The sun came out today. It was beautiful and a reminder of the One who holds every raindrop in His hand.

This is located just past Wallace BBQ a popular eating spot in Austell.

The Whitmire's home. Our three children have spent many hours there, but they have spent a lifetime in this home.

This is taken from our driveway. Three houses down from us was completely flooded.

This is the horse farm just down from our house.

What's left of a Chevron station.

Bankhead Highway

Six Flags over Georgia also located in Austell; the famous Scream Machine, one of my favorite roller coasters as a child.

Downtown Atlanta. Parts of the famous Chattahoochee have also flooded.

Right beside a church members house. The water lacked 3 inches from getting into their home.

Another church member's house. We spent our summer swimming at their pool. You can see the lanterns that make up the pathway to what used to be the pool.

The stable to the horse farm behind our home.

Another shot of the horse farm.

A close up of Brooks Drive in Austell where we live.

However. . .

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day and their names are Carter, Summer, Tilly, and David. I am so thankful for my sweet family and there is no one in the world I would want to be on a journey with than them.

Have you ever seen sweeter faces in the midst of a storm?