Hurricane(s) Francis and Jeanne turned September 2004 into historical carnage in my community.  Our lives were literally blown apart BUT the Lord let us survive! Yet after a couple of emails, many prayers and hands reached out, hurricane relief was sent from all around the country and miracle after miracle happened.  It is not a summer I choose to experience again, but never was there a team such as the one that stood behind me, carried me when I thought that I couldn't go any farther (14 days with no power, no shower and hauled in water from neighborhood pools to flush toilets and ice) and helped me stand up and get out into the community that needed so much help.

Jim Wilson who sacrificed two tires to get me water and coffee as soon as the hurricane passed. People from around the nation, many of them strangers, rallied behind me (and my family). The Lord opened the doors, and used them in ways that would help the most.  Their names are listed on the "angels in disguise" page and we are forever grateful for them.

A special thanks goes to Rev. Lance Orndorff ( the Street Bishops International), who reminded me as a brother in Christ and counselor, of what the walk was truly about.  He watched me crawl, fumble, fall and stand back up and never judged me only walked beside me to make sure that I would stay spiritually grounded in my most human moments.  Bless his heart believe me I had more than a few of them!

Ruth and Tiff where would I be without your enduring love and passion to make a difference in this world?  You two women are representative of what humanity can do and I pray faithfully that you be blessed for all that you did to make the hurricane relief program come to fruition.

Thank you, all of you, for caring, sharing and sacrificing in so many different ways.  May God's blessings return that which each of you gave so freely many times more.  (Below are pictures of the final Hurricane Relief program that The Bruised Rose has taken up.  The children that so many of you sent items to were given a Christmas celebration with funds raised locally and left over from donations for the hurricane relief.  The pictures say it all!  God Bless and Merry Christmas.

50 children got an orange and apple!

Gift bags had two small gifts, candy and school supplies!

Laughter, cupcakes and surprises!

Comparing notes on each others gifts!

There is a lot of neat things in this bag!

Three tables of goodies to bag up!

Nothing like a soda pop and cupcake!