I never remember to call her on her birthday.
Ever.
We’ve been friends for 17 years, and I always call the day before or the day after, but never on the actual day.  I’m pretty good at remembering dates, I’m just rarely aware of what the date is today.
I think we’ve been friends for as long as [...]

It is said that somewhere in Iowa, a small town’s football team still takes a knee before each game.  The players and coaches join hands and bow their heads, and they defy the laws that tell them that they cannot pray together.  It is rumored that they kneel together and recite the Lord’s Prayer.
“Our Father, [...]

I am from Parkersburg, Iowa.
I wasn’t born there, I don’t live there now, but it is, without a doubt, where I am from.
It is – and will always be – integral to who I am.
On Wednesday morning, that part of who I am was once again hit by tragedy.  But this tragedy was far, far [...]

I’ve heard a million stories about the tornado that wiped out my hometown, Parkersburg, Iowa, last spring.
I’ve seen pictures and books and newspaper stories. I’ve sifted through the rumble and walked through the war zone.
And none of it prepared me for this video.

The woman holding the camera and her husband owned the restaurant where [...]

The longer we’re away, the more bitter and sweet it is to go back.
While being with our oldest friends is a stark reminder of what we could never have in another place, it is also difficult to be anything but grateful. Grateful because somewhere, always, there is a place where we can go back [...]

I spent several hours yesterday uploading 500 pictures – and I’m still not done.
I then proceeded to spend several more hours painting the front entry and hallway of my house – because that totally makes sense to do right after you come home from vacation and should be getting ready for work.
What that means [...]

Yesterday, I showed you some of the lessons that my week in Parkersburg taught me.
There is one more valuable lesson that I haven’t yet discussed. It’s just been… well, painful, honestly, to think about. And it really needed it’s own post.
You see, we left in a hurry. I barely had time to [...]

We got home from Parkersburg Sunday morning.
I wonder if I’ll ever be able to use that word again without an overwhelming flood of emotions, not the least of which is guilt. And confusion. And just raw, raw, raw… emotion. My perception of home has changed dramatically in the last week.
It is a [...]

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Adam here.
Britt’s leaving this morning with Jared and the kids to drive straight back to Florida. When she gets back, she’ll still be coordinating ways to contribute, but she’ll be able to collect her thoughts a bit more and figure out the best avenue, so thanks for being patient with that. There’s no [...]

I asked Britt if she wanted me to post something for her today. Thursday was a long day, filled with more frustration and difficulty gaining any ground and she was exhausted.
Here was our exchange:
Adam: Do you want me to post something for you for Friday?
Britt: Only this-
I got my fucking period.
Only I [...]

I’m writing this at 9:35pm CST on Wednesday night. Day 3.
I had to check the calendar to tell you what day it was.
Time stands still here. And at the same time, is flying by – with little to no progress to mark it with.
I’m drained. Emotionally and physically.
I’m defeated. I came [...]

Adam here again.
I haven’t talked to Britt tonight, but I spoke to her a few times during the day and she’s helping her in-laws and friends gather whatever belongings they can find. Sometime soon she’ll be figuring out what supplies will be helpful and I’ll post that info here. For now, though, if [...]

Adam here.
For those of you who don’t follow Britt on Twitter, she and Jared and the kids left this morning to drive the 24-hour drive up to Parkersburg, Iowa, so that they can provide help and moral support to his family and their friends who have lost their homes.
I’ve been talking to her off and [...]

If you follow me on Twitter, you already know.
Yesterday what is being estimated as an F-4 Tornado hit Parkersburg, Iowa. Our hometown.
Our town. The place where we grew up. The community where we know the neighbors and the businesses and the streets.
Or at least, we did. From what I’ve heard, even [...]