Support Abby & Drew's Tornado Recovery

Abby & Drew Taylor lost their home Saturday night due to an EF-2 tornado. This is my niece Abby’s story - in her words . . .

You always think it won’t happen to you.

And then one day, it does. And you look at your whole life, everything you’ve worked so hard for, just scattered in what was once your yard.

You see the couch you just took a nap on. The stove you just cooked supper on. The book you had just read to your baby. His crib, twisted and broken. The bed you slept soundly on for so long, snapped and thrown. The recliner you rocked your baby in every single day. Your wedding dress splayed on the ground. Your family photos, covered in debris and soaking wet. The blanket your cats slept on everyday, muddy and lying over a fence. The front door that you watched your husband walk out of every morning. The same door you stare at all day, just waiting for him to come home. The furniture and decor you had planned perfectly for your nursery, in pieces. In places it shouldn’t be. You see everything and know for a fact that if you had stayed, your family would be looking for your bodies in that mess and not just your wedding rings.

I could go on and on.

It’s objects, yes. But it’s not just “things”.

It’s your memories. Your home.

If you don’t know what it’s like to see your life, your belongings, your privacy, in every way but how you left it, be thankful.

James, Drew, and I had gone next door to stay with my parents in their house for the storm. It was like any other stormy day. We ate lunch and supper. We talked and we laughed at James and his funny faces. We laid down, to get some rest before things got bad. And then it all just happened. The five of us were in the hall. Covered in pillows and blankets. James in my arms, sound asleep. Drew protecting over me. Mom protecting over him. And Dad protecting over us all. We could hear it. Everything flying. My mom praying. Our hearts absolutely pounding. And when it was all over, I knew without a doubt that our home next door was gone. My brother and sister-in-law in Montgomery, they were watching the news. They watched the blue dot pop up on the map to signal debris. Right where our houses were. Dad and Drew went to check on the trailer. All they came back with was James’ door sign from the hospital.

How on earth the tornado managed to mostly spare my parents home could only be one thing. Our God is so good.

Thank you to everyone who has thought of us, prayed for us, reached out to us, or showed up to help. I genuinely don’t know how to tell you how thankful we are for you.

Abby, Drew & James Taylor