Wednesday, June 11, 2008
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Baggin' It
No, these weren't brown bags filled with our lunch. They were white bags filled with sand.
As with many of the states in the Midwest dealing with the severe storms and floods, we here in Iowa are also beginning to see results of the heavy rains that we've been getting. Northern and central Iowa have been hit the hardest, but the high rivers are now making their way down to our city, which lies along the river.
And, as a result, we got a lesson in community service.
This morning, I read on our local paper’s website that volunteers were needed to fill sandbags. I thought, Why not? After getting an affirmative answer from our boys, we headed over to the water plant by the river to help. This was a new experience for all of us, but we picked up on what to do right away.
For the most part, I tied the bags that someone else had already filled. But, during the 5 hours that we were there, the boys did everything from scooping the sand to tying the bags.
At lunchtime, they served us free sandwiches, chips, drinks and other goodies. Yum!
As I mentioned already, it was a community service. We worked alongside the Amish men and boys, Mexicans (who couldn’t speak English), old people, young people, men and women. The boys even picked up on the camaraderie of the occasion. Although the reason for the occasion was not a good one (the oncoming flood that is being predicted), this ended up being a very good learning experience for our boys.
~Connie~
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Comments (8)
What a wonderful opportunity, Connie! Way to teach the boys about their responsibility to protect and serve! And I imagine they are young enough that they found the hard work to be 'fun'! :)
@wonderinone - You picked the right word, Shonya... "serve". I feel that we have been lacking in this area, so I prayed that God could help me teach the boys to be more serving. In answer to pray, I have learned that *I* need to be a better example in order to teach them.
Also, it's amazing how the opportunities have been flowing in. I hardly ever go into the Ottumwa Courier's website, but I just "happened" to yesterday morning and that's when I learned about the city needing volunteers to sandbag. And, now, today we are going to help an older couple get their garage sale set up. Looks like it's going to be a busy summer... of serving others! 
Good to hear from you, Shonya. Hope you all are staying "high and dry".
this is the time of year that I am truely happy we live on a hill!! lol Dosen't this make you wonder how much and how hard it must have had to rain to flood the ENTIRE world in 40 days?
I still remember the flood in '93. Impressive stuff. Anytime we would go into st. louis to visit my grandparents, we would see walls and walls of sandbags keeping the mighty mississip' in check. Good work!
@JenLynn07 - I've been thinking alot about Noah today. I'm sure glad God gave us His promise of not destroying the world with water again... because otherwise I would begin to wander.
We had a hard time getting back to our house tonight after being gone all day. I kept turning off on different streets, trying to find one that wasn't covered with water. I finally got to our street... and it was under water, too. Oh well. We plunged ahead and made it home. 
Our 2 sump pumps in the basement are earning their keep tonight. The river is supposed to crest on Monday. And, our silly boys are excited about it all. 
@brensue60 - Yes, I remember Riverview Park. They had that one really scary ride that went out over the river or at least next to it (the Mouse?), kind of like a roller coaster. Is that the Birdland area that I've been reading about on the news that flooded? Or is that a different place?
Norman and I went to a wedding reception tonight at the Bridge View Center here in town, which is right next to the river. Of course, we all had to go out and watch the river. It's not going over the levees yet, but getting close. The police were driving their cars back and forth calling out warnings and telling people not to get on the levees and past the barracades. One of the bridges is closed since the water is right up to it now. We've got some flooding in the lower parts here in town, but nothing like some of the other cities are having... yet.
@wardssward - Yes, I remember that ride too . . . I think it was called the Mad Mouse and it was a pretty wild ride! The Birdland area is part of the old Riverview Park. I'm not sure where all the rides ended up going, but if I remember correctly the famous carousel may still be in the area ... possibly at Adventureland?
Are you still staying high and dry?