Hey Melanie. So, you were holding up the Common Ground Coffee House while the rest of the folks are on Spring Break??? ;-)
Sorry for my long absence. We had some Spring this year. On March 3rd, at 2:00 AM, a tornado devastated the area where our younger daughter and family live. The twister demolished an area of 7 miles long and 2 miles wide. We live 3 miles from ground zero.
Although the wind snapped huge trees, like tooth picks, took all the 7’ tall decorative wooden fence into the next county, took a good portion out of the roof, demolished the living room window, the sliding glass door to the patio, the air-condition system….. but everybody in their respective bedrooms was safe – as if in the hands of our precious Lord!!! Lenke and I in our evening devotions always pray for our children and grandchildren, and we heard about the storm coming up and heard about the possibility of tornado…. But the weather forecasting was 50/50 so we did not pay much attention to it. Nevertheless we prayed for our loved one’s safety and when our daughter called us up at 2:15 AM and told us what happened, but also told us that they were safe, we praised the Lord for keeping them – for He is our shelter in the time of storm!
From day one we were involved with the insurance report / claim, as we hold the mortgage on their house. We had to fight with the adjusters, claim coordinators, and bank officials (due to the mortgage) as they also hold interest in the repair process and held up the moneys the insurance finally issued. We are finally approaching the completion of all repairs.
Then on March 28th at around 9:00 PM I had an automobile accident. Our 2009 KIA Optima deluxe was totaled. I had three of my ribs fractured / broke, and ever since I am recovering. Those people who had a fractured rib can sympathize with me, for it was very painful the first three weeks. The doctor told me in the ER (after they took am X-Ray and CT Scan) that the breaks were clear and need no surgery, but the healing will take a long time. The pain factor will also diminish after 5-6 weeks. The first 2 weeks I slept in Lenke’s motorized recliner chair – for I was not able to move without pain. Finally I can sleep in my own bed, however, I need 4 thick floppy pillows to prop myself up and be able to get up, in the middle of the night, without much pain. The other motorist did not have his head-lights on, so when I was trying to turn in to a street I did not see him coming. Fortunately there was another driver, who was waiting his turn to get out of the same street I was going to, and has seen the accident. He came to me and said “That man did not have his headlight on.” I asked him to tell the same to the arriving Police officers. The blessing of this was that our daughter, who lives in New York City, came down and insisted that we accept 5K from her (which she withdrew from her retirement fund), because she wanted to help us in obtaining another vehicle. The insurance totaled our car, leaving us with nothing, and we even had to call the GAP Insurance to pick up the payment to the bank, which Allstate Insurance was not willing (because of depreciation of the vehicle). So we were fortunate to secure a 2012 Hyundai Sonata GLS, which we lease for 4 years, with the option to buy at the end of the contract year (unless we decide to rent another vehicle in 2016). For the other vehicle we paid $379.15 a month, and for the new can we pay $251.00 because of the 3K down-payment. Lenke and I can’t stop giving thanks to the Lord for “interrupting” our lives in this fashion, and for His saving grace!!! I still have a lot of pain, but am getting better by each day. Just wanted to look in to our friendly CGCH.
We were glad to hear that Sue Weindorf has a pacemaker installed and is doing marvelous! I am sure she will be back here soon.
Well, I do not know when and how often I will be able to look in here and spend some time with you folks, but until I will be able to do so, may the good Lord richly bless you and keep you in the hollow of His hands! Love in Christ, Barnabas
