I have been blessed from the get-go with loving parents and siblings. My siblings and I are homeschooled and live in the middle of the corn fields in central Illinois. I have a story but not just one story. I believe that life is really a book, with different chapters. Just as a book has lows, it also has its highs.

In 2013, like any other Sunday (except that my sister and mom had stayed home from church because they were sick), I was sitting in my Sunday school class that my Dad was teaching when suddenly an elder appeared, urging us to head for shelter; tornado was approaching. Looking back, I remember it felt almost like a nightmare — something I’d seen only on documentaries or the Weather Channel. Thankfully, my family at church was safe and, as far as we knew, it was only a warning.

I found my siblings, and we waited for my dad to drive an elderly woman home before he could come get us. Suddenly, our Dad’s childhood friend and current neighbor burst into the church announcing, “Your house is leveled, but your mom and sister are okay!” In disbelief, we all cried, including my oldest brother. “A tornado had hit our home while Mom and Kate were there!” I thought, “Is this real?”

After loving church members hugged us, we were told to take cover again. Another tornado warning was in effect. We headed next door to our youth pastor’s basement where we cried even more. I remember singing with the radio to get my mind off the situation. Finally, my dad arrived to drive us to our Grandma’s because, clearly, at that point we had no home.

After witnessing traffic jams and pedestrians running scared, we realized that the tornado must have been larger than we had perceived. Later that evening, I got to see our “home.” I was awe-

struck, not only by the destruction of our house, but also by how most of my friends had lost their homes as well. A thousand homes were said to have been effected. It wasn’t make-believe; this was real!

I saw countless people helping others. How encouraging that was. We pored over what had been my house, damaged beyond repair, but we were fortunate. We were able to salvage some things, including all of our scrapbooks. Most people had lost all of their vehicles, clothes, family heirlooms, everything. Ironically, our “beautiful” 2002 vans survived!

Sadly, looters were rampant, so we collected everything of monetary value. I will never forget the feeling of relief when I first saw and tightly hugged my mom, who had been badly shaken up after hiding in our basement during what we learned had been an F-4 tornado. I was grateful for my three-year-old sister’s innocence. She had happily played with toys, oblivious that she had survived such a catastrophic event.

Despite the damage and loss, time moved on. My parents elected to demolish what was left of our home and rebuild. Fortunately, we had excellent insurance coverage. For the next year and a half, we lived in several rental houses while waiting for a place to call home. This was a trying time, longing for normalcy. When we finally moved back into our home, most of the other homes affected by the tornado had also been rebuilt.

Today, I’m joyful that I can tell that formidable story from a vantage point of recognizing how God kept my family and friends safe. Sadly, there were three deaths and numerous injuries. Providentially, most people were in church, praising God, which potentially saved hundreds of lives.

My story doesn’t end there though nor did our challenges. Within another year, my family discovered that my loving father of 47 had Early Onset Alzheimer’s, a disease that continually kills brain cells, leading to death. What a shock, once again. Even now it feels surreal.

I began noticing he was very forgetful. When he would drive me places, he ran through red lights, thinking they were green. The saddest part is that now he is no longer himself. My dad was the most encouraging and happy man alive. He is still happy, but his personality has changed dramatically, and now I drive him places. If only we had him checked out earlier.

We thought my dad might lose his job due to his continually poor performance. Thankfully, however, he was put on disability at Caterpillar. God provided people to help our family navigate difficult decisions and necessary courses of action. I am convinced that God places people in our lives “for such a time as this.” We can truly affect everyone we encounter, whether for good or bad.

So here I am now, trying to hope and look to God because I’m a mess if I lose my focus on Him. Although there is no cure for this disease that leads to a “long goodbye,” and my best friend hardly remembers my name, I have an eternal hope. Everything in this life will fade, but my God, He never will. I can shake my fist at God, which, I hate to say I’ve done. But I prefer to look to Him, placing the despair of this situation in my heavenly Father’s hands.

When I begin to feel like Job, I have to remind myself to persevere, to hope only in Christ. Without Christ, life is meaningless. I can only encourage others to have faith, hope, and love. Love God, love family, love friends, love life. We cannot take for granted any of these gifts – ever. Though sometimes I need to be reminded because but I am hurt and, frankly, still in shock, I know that God has a wonderful plan for me and my family. I am confident in Jesus Christ, and know His destination for us will be well worth the wait.