Rain, rain, rain

Well, many of you may have heard that much of Washington is under water and unfortunately my bros house backs up to a river! We've had quite the week!
My brother was out of town this week, so Amber and I woke up early Wednesday morning and packed the boys a bag and each of us some stuff as well as all of their keepsakes and literally headed for high ground. We were praising the Lord later that day, because Amber had a doctor's appointment in the morning which quickened our departure...had we not left that early, we would have been stuck in the havoc that happened only an hour after we left. People were scrambling to get valuables out of their homes before the roads closed and sure enough, every road in and out of Orting closed by about 11am. After much hassle in deciding where to stay and how to keep 4yr. old Carson from been frightened, we ended up at some friends' house that night ready to camp out for a few days! Meanwhile my brother was sitting in his truck waiting for the mountain passes to open so that he could get home and ended up spending two nights on the mountain due to avalanches. With so much irregular snowfall this season preceding the rainstorm, the danger of avalanche and flood raised to unusual heights. Amber, Carson, Brady and I camped out in some tight quarters for 2 days, but praised the Lord for some wonderful friends that made us feel right at home. Carson prayed with Amber and I for God to stop the rain and sure enough, Thursday night the rain stopped and the sun came out today. Much of the water has soaked in or dried up and praise the Lord none of the water reached their home! This picture is what the trail behind the house looks like. We were blessed as just down the road a bit some homes were not so fortunate.
If you haven't guessed, I moved back up to my brother's house last month and have enjoyed the opportunity to be back with these beautiful boys. The Lord has been so gracious in allowing much time with my family to build and re-build where it didn't seem possible. Your prayers would be appreciated as God directs and opens doors for where I'm heading. Love you all so much; it has been so wonderful to hear from so many of you on the blog. Though I wish we could be speaking in person, it is great to here where the Lord has taken you in these past months.

Much love,
Amanda

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now...It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace." Phil.1:3-5,7a