Prayers for North Dakota and Minnesota

It is absolutely unbelievable how much these two states are under stress right now - there is so much flooding throughout North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Add to that blizzard conditions with some areas in western North Dakota receiving 18+ inches of snow (we're slated for 3-7 inches of snow here - NOT what we need).

It is times like this that we seem to ponder why we live here.

As much as I'm not a fan of winter and wind (because wind in the Red River Valley is WIND...our 'breezy' days would be considered very windy in other areas), I can easily tell you why we love our community - the people. To see the massive efforts of volunteerism is overwhelming. Yesterday 450,000 sandbags were filled in Fargo alone. Yesterday's goal was 200,000 for Fargo. (I'd give you Moorhead stats, but since Moorhead is smaller in population, their stats aren't as publicized as Fargo.) It's amazing to think of all of the hands that went into filling all of those bags. And for those of you not in this area, there are many other cities and towns up and down the Valley fighting this flood that are working on filling very impressive amounts of sandbags.

Being Ms. Sinus Infection, I volunteered at our campus' flood volunteer information/check-in station today. I had a great time and can't wait to go back tomorrow - I've met new people from around campus and really enjoyed seeing everyone before they went out on the fight. It was indescribable. I was so impressed with how many return volunteers there were. People couldn't wait to get back on the sandbag lines. I was also moved by the fact that most of our 13,000+ students do not call Fargo-Moorhead their 'permanent home', but yet they are out in full-force to help save our communities. For many of the students, this area isn't even their home state, region or country. It was emotional. As we handed out sack lunches and water, some would ask if we had enough food, as their sack lunch could be saved for someone else. What attitude!

Even if you aren't driving near the river in our communities, reminders of the flood fight are everywhere. 'Sandbag' grubby clothing is sported everywhere, random sandbags are on the streets (they have fallen off of the semis), the dump trucks bringing clay for dikes and sand for sandbags rumble through the streets and semis with flatbed trailers loaded with pallets of sandbags get police escorts to their destination (speeds traffic along for the semis). It brings back a lot of memories from 1997 when we came down from Mayville, North Dakota to help our dear friends, Joel and Jody, in south Fargo. It was like a war zone. Thankfully, Fargo - Moorhead won the battle in 1997. There were spots lost here and there, but for the most part, the city held.

Trav was out for a while sandbagging in Moorhead tonight and met two people from other communities that have come to help. We've heard of groups coming from UND, St. Cloud State and the Cities with flood fight volunteers.

NDSU has canceled classes through Thursday to encourage everyone to support the flood fight. We'll see what the week brings and what happens for Friday. Offices are still open, but we're encouraged to help out in some way with the flood effort.

Travis got the battery back up sump pump connected today. He also humored me and bought a back up sump pump for the one that is currently in the hole. This stuff really freaks out a northwestern North Dakota/eastern Montana girl (very regional flooding out west - we have HILLS out west). I feel a bit sump-pump obsessed and I'm sure there is a support group out there for me some place. Since we have the sanitary sewer situation covered now here, I need to worry about something! So, it may be overkill, but considering that our sump pump runs pretty consistently for 9-10 months out of the year, the current one is going to only last so long. So, thank you, sweetheart, for putting up with my obsessive worries. ;-) Prepare for the worst and pray for the best!

In good news - Carson is doing better. He isn't 100% but the pressure on his ears is much better! He slept in and went to school at 9:00. No hearing aids today, so that was a challenge for him, but hopefully he hung in okay.

Grace had her two-year well child check up today. She is going great - continue with Early Intervention and her ankle inserts. Here's her stats:
Height - 35 1/2 inches (90th percentile)
Weight - 31 pounds (90th percentile)
Head circumference - 48 centimeters (70th percentile)

No wonder we have to put everything so far out of her reach - she is going to be taller than her Mama pretty soon!

Thanks for your prayers for our region - keep them coming!

Also, please add sweet Kaia Larson to your prayers: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kaialarson. She is three months old and had open heart surgery today at Mayo. She's doing great and continues to need prayers (and prayers for her family - we know how much Mommy and Daddy need prayers too). I've known Kaia's Daddy, Greg, since he was born. His sister, Angie, is my age (so yes, we are very young - right, Ang?) and is the sister I never had (our baby showers were together!). Angie's parents are my Godparents. You can see that our families are very close. My heart aches for families going through medical 'stuff' with their kids, but yet I'm so thankful for the technology that is available today. Please lift this very special little girl and family up in your prayers.