Source: Facebook
“Happy are those who take life day by day, complain very little, and are thankful for the little things in life.”
On Wednesday, April 22nd, Onalaska was hit by an EF-3 tornado. A small lakeside community in southeast Texas that most people had never heard of had suddenly become a hot topic for many news stations.
My sweet grandparents are some of the most important and influential people in my life. I owe so much credit to them for molding me into the person I am today.
My Pawpaw had just gotten home from the post office and he and my Gramma were both sitting on their back porch watching the storm roll in– it’s what country folk do!
They quickly realized that the green sky was accompanied by the sound of a freight train. They hurried inside and took shelter in the hallway, only barely getting the glass door shut before the tornado was on top of them. They held each other tight, watched and listened as their property succumbed to the strength of the winds.
Their mobile home had a wrap around porch and metal awning. We are sure that this is what saved them, as it truly acted a shell that took the brunt of fallen trees on the front, and peeled back and protected what was underneath on the back end of the house where my grandparents stood.
My grandparents came out safely and without even a scratch.
Their house itself had very, very minor roof damage.
Pawpaw’s shop was crushed by a tree.
The carport and Gramma’s car were also crushed by a tree.
The well-house was untouched.
Handmade picnic tables were untouched.
Two of their vehicles were untouched.
and most miraculously— Gramma’s beloved swing was UNTOUCHED.
Trees, fencing, roofing, and other debris literally surrounded this swing, yet it stood strong after this massive storm.
As of this last year, both of my grandparents are now retired. They spend so much time out here on this swing talking about the life they’ve built together and how peaceful their little property is.
And the beauty is that just 24 hours after their property was ripped apart, they sat on that same swing and still felt happiness with each other and what they have.
Sometimes the people who have very little are happier than those who have so much.
Make sure that you have someone on your swing that makes you happy when a storm surrounds you. ❤️
