A Home for Lydia, Flooding
My new release opens with Lydia Fisher staring at the run-down property she helps to run, and considering the effects of the recent floods.
Lydia Fisher pulled her sweater around her shoulders and sank down on the top step of the last cabin as the sun set along Pebble Creek. The waters had begun to recede from last week’s rains, but the creek still pushed at its banks—running swiftly past the Plain Cabins and not pausing to consider her worries.
Debris from the flooding reached to the bottom step of cabin twelve. She could have reached out and nudged it with the toe of her shoe. Fortunately, the water hadn’t made it into the small cottages.
Almost, though.
Only two days ago she’d stood at the office window and watched as the waters had crept closer to the picturesque buildings nestled along the creek—watched and prayed.
So many times when we suffer through a natural disaster, we ask WHY? I think it’s a natural question. I believe God understands our frustration and anger and sadness when we struggle through these times. In this story, for Lydia, that flood is a beginning, not an end.
Can you testify to a similar event in your life?
Blessings,
V
p.s. – A Home for Lydia is now available in both paperback and ebook from all distributors.
I can’t wait to read “A Home for Lydia.” I’m “booked” up with books for reviewing, so I have to pace myself, but just the introduction makes me want to read it now! We’ve had a couple of events in our lives that have been out of our control, and I think that we just assume things like this aren’t going to happen to us. One incident was in November several years ago we had to have our furnace replaced in subzero temperatures, and last summer the central air conditioning unit burned out on a 104 degree day. Those are not hardships by any means, but at the time it’s terribly frustrating, not to mention expensive! Those are times when God provides His comfort, and a sense of peace came over me both times that I knew only God could provide. What an awesome God we serve!
PEACE is a key part of those trials, and it does come. Right, Nancy? And no worries about when you read Lydia. It’s not going anywhere.
do you know when it will be out at the walmarts across ohio??
Hi Courtney. I don’t believe I’ve been in Walmart yet. But it should be at all your local bookstores (if you have any) and of course at all on-line vendors. You can even purchase the books from my website. Buy links are on each books page on my website. Thank you for asking! http://vannettachapman.com/books/a-promise-for-miriam/
Vannetta, I was in a flood when I was in Kansas. It was awful. Lived in a trailer that was pretty high off the ground, and water was up to my knees inside the house. It was a small country with mostly older folks. The guys were busy trying to get stuff up out in the yards, and I was trying to get all I could put up higher. We also had a lot of stuff in a little old house used for storage which a lot was important. Just not enough room in our house for when moving there from a large house in OK. No one to help us for our kids lived in another state. And, with water you have to work fast. No way to save everything. We were able to clean some of the furniture and save it. Lost lots of our pictures tho. FEMA didn’t give very much and only 3 mo. to find another place. NOT like the money they give now or did for Hurricane Katrina. They put people up in real nice, big apartments, and was still paying those people’s rent 5 years later. A cousin had a small travel trailer for us to use. But, God helped us get a real good deal for what little money we did have. A larger, nicer trailer home for less than it would have to redo the flooded one. Someone was going to lose it to the bank and just wanted the $4000. they owed. It was 14 x 70. Maxie
Maxie, thank you for sharing your story. Flooding has affected so many people in our country. It’s good to hear how God saw you through.
In 2008, my husband lost his job. He found one but it was 500 miles away. My mother was diagnosed with cancer. I quit my job and moved in with my parents to care for my mother through her illness. My husband drove back and forth on weekends to see us. My mother passed 3 months later. I stayed as a promise to my mother to take care of my father. It was a very hard year with a lot of turmoil and abuse. My father passed 11 months after my mother. We packed up and moved to our new town without a second glance. God gave us a new start after a very rough year. Since I was not working I stayed home to care for my daughters. He has now led us to homeschooling and being closer to Him. It was definately a new start.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Melissa. I know God will use your testimony to encourage others.
While I haven’t lived through a flood I can remember the winter of 1966 living in Michigan at the time. We had a blizzard of a huge capacity. Schools were closed for a week. We lived in the country and we were completely snowed in. I remember food was pretty scarce by the time we were dug out and could make it to the store to buy a few things that were still on the shelves. I know this will be gross for some people when they read this but we had to have food. When I look back on it now, I know it was a way that God provided for our needs.
Judy, isn’t it amazing how God always brings us through?
Oh, can’t wait to read this one sounds good.
You have such a talent for being able to let a person sink into your books & feel like they are with the people in them. Have a blessed day.
Thank you, Mary!
Hi Vannetta, in Dec. of 2007, my county was hit hard by a flood, the damage was indescribable. Years later, I still see remmenants of damage. There was a huge outpouring of support when this happened, but I don’t think the county has ever fully recovered.
I know of at least one person who came to the Lord because of this, but it’s still hard sometimes to understand why God lets this happen. I guess we just need to trust in Him, even when we don’t have all the answers.
On a lighter note, good luck with your book, it looks great, the cover is beautiful.
Debby Lee, thank you so much for your comment. Yes, it IS a time of trial and unless you’ve lived through it I’m not sure you can completely understand how difficult it is for all involved.
I saw the devastating effects of the flood of 1993 on the Mississippi River. We lived in the area however far enough away not to suffer damage ourselves but to see West Quincy washed out was horrible. Then cant remember the year but it was fairly recent when the Mississippi washed part of the town of Gulfport Il. and that area still hasnt rebuilt.Many homes and buisnesses lost then.I no longer live close to the Missisissipi but i sure do miss it.We love to just go sit by it and watch the boats and barges go by. Its so relaxing when the River is calm.
I haven’t had as much tragedy as most folks but when things get shaken up beyond my ability to carry them I am trying to learn to not ask ‘Why?’. If Abba is truly in control of my life then I feel the question better asked is ‘What?’ as in ‘What do you want me to learn from this?’ or “What are you trying to show me?” … it is a question that He has always answered… where the ‘Why?’ question… I can’t recall He has ever answered that one
That is a wonderful way to put it, Hadassah. Thanks for commenting!