Prayers

My hometown of Florence, OR along with the rest of the Oregon Coast was hit with a massive storm on Tuesday of this week. This storm brought gusts of up to 110 mph, a mass amount of rain, injuries, power outages and now flooding due to the rain. I am so thankful that my dad and grandparents live up in the mountains safely out of the flood zone, but it is so sad to see the nearby town of Mapleton being engulfed by the Siuslaw River as the waters flood. People have been posting pictures on Facebook all week showing the horrifying damage that is being done to that tiny town. The town is literally sitting at the edge of the Siuslaw River, so businesses, homes, cars, etc are being taken over by the flood waters. Families have been evacuated, but leave behind their home, valuables, and security to be destroyed by the flood waters. It is so sad to think that so many people's lives are being put on hold due to a storm.

I remember the last time we got a huge storm that caused flooding like this, it was nearly 16 years ago in 1996. I don't remember it being this bad, but it caused evacuations as well. I was all of 9 years old when that happened so I of course had no idea the impact of it all at the time, but seeing it happen all over again at age 24 it makes my heart hurt. It just puts things into perspective, just to be thankful for your life everyday and to not let one day go by of being ungrateful for everything you have because just like that everything you ever knew can be literally swept out from under you...but I would imagine it also makes you even more grateful for the people in your life and the relationships you have, because although it will be hard to rebuild your house, buy or fix your car, etc...you can't replace your relationships, you can't replace your family and friends or your memories so when every material thing is taken from you, be thankful for having what is most important...those people in your lives.

 I just ask that everyone take a second to pray for those families dealing with the floods and the damage from this storm, and to also thank God for their family, friends, and life that they have. It is so easy to get caught up in everyday drama and to be negative, but when you look around at the world and read the news...or even just speak with a friend about what is going on in their life...you quickly realize there are so many people out their fighting harder battles than you, and that things could always be worse.

Inside Siuslaw Bank

Siuslaw Bank

Local Businesses

Someone's home

There is flooding all over Oregon right now if you want to follow the news this is the link to a local news station covering all of the floods: http://search.kval.com/default.aspx?ct=r&q=%22flood%22&pg=1