Life over the past few months has oddly resembled the catastrophic weather from "The Day After Tomorrow". Two feet of snow caused part of our barn roof to collapse, trapping and seriously injuring one of our horses. Duvall was totally isolated with record floods (whose floodwaters were so intense, they literally ripped the asphalt from some of the roadways). Roads were closed for several days, and some restaurants ran out of food, with lines of people so long they looped into the parking lots.
My family spent those several flood days separated from one another. My father stayed at the house to 'hold down the fort', my mother was trapped in monroe, piling sand bags in an effort to defend the Pilchuck animal hospital from rising waters, and my sister and I were stuck in Redmond so we could attend school. Ironically, the floods hit during my Homecoming week at Bear Creek. My family spent the week separated, but by saturday, the day of my last high school Homecoming dance, all of us were able to come home again. I was able to enjoy the wonderful blessings of a romantic 'Evening in Hollywood', knowing my family was safe, and together, at home.
This winter has been very hard on all of us here at Christel Haven. Each of us buckled under the weight of worry, stress, and fear that the wild weather heaped upon us. Yet, at its worst, God reminded us of the joy he fills our lives with.
The weather lightened up enough so we were able to spend the few days around Christmas with our loved ones. The night our barn collapsed, we were swiftly surrounded by neighbors, friends, and strangers eager to help. People struck by their own hardships this season ran -literally ran!- to our aid, helping to dig us out of the snowy hell. God reminded us of his loving nature through the pure kindess of those people.
I will admit, in the midst of our trials this winter, I have often forgotten to be joyful. The massive mounds of snow piled up around our property were so daunting. Much of my Christmas break was spent doing emergency work, and many of my plans were swept away. Ultimately, though, things worked out for the good, and this crazy winter has become a symbol for me.
As a senior in high school, life at Christel Haven, at Bear Creek, is drawing to a close for me. Fears of the future, where I'll go for college, what will happen to my most cherished relationships...for a while I was an emotional rollercoaster. That is, until I realized that anything this next year brings will be nothing compared to the challenges of this last winter. And you know what? God brought me through the winter just fine.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future."
~Brittanie V.
