UPDATE! Happy New Year to ALL of YOU!

[GulfBreezer]

Gosh I have missed you ALL so very much! I have received so many uplifting emails from many members! Life has sure changed! Ivan wreaked his havoc on our town but it is nothing compared to the tsunami devastation. I feel thier pain! I have sent pictures to many members but if I missed you and you would like them, feel free to email me at gulfbreezer@seminoles.com. Donna (Isobar) has emailed me many times and she has pics too. I am trying to catch up on board news and all the happenings! CONGRATS DUCK!! Welcome to a WONDERFUL TEAM! January is bringing us to the rebuilding stage of our recovery and we have a very busy few months ahead! I was blessed by Slidell (Louisanna) High School. They sponsored me as a family in need and sent me a gift card that has helped tremendously. I mailed them a "thank you" letter that I am going to include in this post for those of you who wish to get a recap. The update to that letter is that we have started rebuilding, still unable to have power at my home. Since losing my job to Ivan, I have started my own business, Logan Financial Services, and am finally up and running (many prayers needed for that venture). This post would be way too long if I were to include everything that is going on but to try to capture it in a nutshell........here is what I have learned..........God never gives us more than we can handle, Faith is the key to surviving tragedy, Tragedies are not always tragedies....there is blessings in EVERYTHING! We just sometimes have to dig really deep to find them. Friends and family are the most important things in life. Love will never be destroyed. So many lessons..........so little time! I am going to try to be here more and reconnect with all of you. Thanks for all of your support and know that there has not been a day gone by that you are not thought of and prayed for. Here is a copy of my Thank You letter...... much love to you all............

Slidell Speech Club,

A simple “Thank You” seems so insufficient for the amazing kindness and compassion your group has shown. Since September 16th, there have been many unsung heroes that have stepped forward to give what they could and you have joined a very special group of people.
I will begin by giving you some details on “life as I knew it then” and “life as I know it now”. Prior to September 16, 2004, I was working as a payroll accountant, a single mom and a full time college student finishing my Bachelor’s in Business Accounting. Life was very busy but resembled normalcy. I had struggled fiercely to purchase my first home in 2001 and had worked tirelessly to make it a home. I succeeded! My oldest son, Timothy, had already gone off to college at FSU on a full scholarship and my youngest son, Chaz, an avid football player and 8th grader, was happy with our life. In May of 2004, I met a wonderful man and had started thinking about my future with him, a social life that I had put on hold to raise my children. We watched Ivan for a very long time it seemed, the more we watched the more we realized that our luck had run out and our time had come. On September 15th, Jeff (the love of my life) and I decided that Chaz and I did not need to stay in our house simply because of all the trees I had in my yard. We decided to stay in his home which was newer than mine and had been built with the newer hurricane codes. So, Chaz and I packed a suitcase with about 3 changes of clothes each. I grabbed some pictures and insurance papers. We stood at the front door and I said to Chaz “this could be the last time we look at our house” and as I said it, I just prayed I was wrong but in my gut, I knew this was going to be really bad.
We had stocked up on all the “hurricane supplies” (we have had plenty of experience), loaded up and went to Jeff’s. Me, Chaz and our Great Dane, Jasmine! The weather started to get worse and we were glued to the Weather Channel and our local station. We watched trees go down and we listened to the unrelenting wind, knowing that when daylight came, life would be forever changed. The power went out around 10:30pm and it got really scary then because we could hear everything going on outside. We laid in the hallway (it was the safest place for us) and all held each other and prayed silently.
Daylight did eventually come and we contacted my family members who had left Gulf Breeze. Everyone was okay but very scared of what they would come home to. Since we were the only ones who stayed in town and did not have to cross a bridge to get home (all bridges were closed), we ventured out to assess the damage of all of our homes. We went to mine first. It took many detours to make our way there; we had to dodge many trees and power lines. When we finally rounded the corner, I knew in my heart that it was real bad. We saw the tree on top of my house but still had no idea of the extent of the damage. From the outside, it looked as if the tree was the only damage I had. We opened the front door and reality slapped me in the face! The water line was 4 feet up the wall and all of my belongings had floated through the house. Appliances had turned over and were 10 feet from their original spot. Life would never be the same. There was a mud coating on all the floors and the smell was unbelievable. I couldn’t stay long, the pain in my heart was just too much to handle. I needed to check on my family’s homes. My brother’s home was the first one we checked, it was in one piece and livable. It had plenty of damage but nothing we couldn’t overcome. Since that day, his roof has collapsed from all the recent rains. My mother’s condo was unreachable. The stairs leading to her place were completely gone and we had no way of knowing of the damage inside. She is now living in a travel trailer in my brother’s driveway.
The devastation in our small community has been enormous, so many lives changed forever. Through it all, we have seen humanity in a way I was not even sure existed much anymore. Volunteers from everywhere, adults and children, churches and other organizations, schools and families. How do you repay that kind of selflessness? The only way I know how is to rebuild our little city even better and stronger than before. We may be down but we are not out! I have learned many lessons in life and one of the most rewarding ones is that I have two choices when tragedy hits, I can either succumb to the pressure and grief or I can pick myself up and deal with what life has given me. I am not one to succumb to anything; it is just not in my nature. I try to never question God’s will, He is sure smarter than me and my faith in that is what keeps me going most days. Through all of this tragedy, we have witnessed so many miracles. Miracles that can be seen and touched, miracles that have kept the hope alive that even in the midst of tragedy, God will not let us down.
Your group is just another miracle that has blessed my life and I will be eternally grateful for your kindness. I have enclosed some pictures with brief explanations on the back, so that you can feel closer to the miracle that you represent. I will do my best to keep you updated on the progress and I hope that you will all stay in touch. I am sending a heartfelt hug to each person that played a part in this gift. You are all God’s angels who have been sent to put a smile in tired hearts. May God bless you and yours every single day!

Sandi Logan

[vbhoutex]

Sandi, So wonderful to hear from you!!! We continue to pray for more miracles in your life so that you may soon have a "normal" life. Your faith is incredible!! I too know that God never gives us more than we can bear, but I question whether I could get through what you have been and are going through.

You are a shining star for all of us. We look forward to your return when some sort of normalcy returns to your life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! MAY IT BE MORE THAN PROSPEROUS!!!

[Skywatch_NC]

HAPPY 2005 SANDI & FAMILY!!

(((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))

Eric

[SouthernWx]

Happy New Year Sandi!!

May God bless you and your family in 2005!!

Perry

[GulfBreezer]

David, Eric & Perry........
Thank you for all the well wishes! I have missed you all tremendously and wish the absolute best for you in the coming year. It is taking me some time to catch up on all the happenings here. I have missed Miss Mary and Garrett alot. I have stayed in contact with Johnathan (Rainband) and Jeremy (TheRock) through out all of this. Oh heck.......I have just missed S2K more than I thought!

[wx247]

OH Sandi!!! (((HUGS))) I teared up just reading your letter. You were the first person to answer my call after our disaster and I want you to know that if you need anything at all -- no matter how big or small -- you can always get ahold of me and let me know and it will be done.

Although we have never met, you hold a special place in my heart. Donna has been keeping me posted on you.

I hope 2005 is the best year ever for you!!!

God Bless!

[breeze]

Sandi, I do hope that the New Year brings more good
things to you, greater than you could have ever imagined!
Please do keep us posted on your progress, and, know
that we miss having you around!

[Brent]

Happy New Year and best of luck Sandi! Hope 2005 brings you new hope for the future and no hurricanes.

[GulfBreezer]

Happy New Year and best of luck Sandi! Hope 2005 brings you new hope for the future and no hurricanes.

AMEN TO THAT!! I don't have many fears, but right now my fear is that I finally get rebuilt and have another Ivan next year. But, hey, if that is God's plan, then who am I to argue??

[Miss Mary]

Sandi - I teared up as well, reading your post. While you describe utter devastation you then go on to say God doesn't give us more than I can handle. Do you know what an inspiration to all of us here at Storm2K you are? Here you've missing us when we've been missing YOU. I'm so glad you survived Ivan and your sons as well. Houses can be rebuilt, lives are what matter. Thank goodness you have Jeff in your life too. While you've lost a lot last year it sounds as if you've gain even more in return - the love of your life, the generosity of others and your Faith.

I am SO GLAD you posted! Happy New Year to you and yours.

Love (and I mean that!),
Mary

[W13]

Happy New Year!