I have been through a hurricane, and lived to tell the tale.

sisters in hope, originally uploaded by Tipping Point Photo//Liz.

What happened:

Kids. Cat. More kids. Hairbrush, flowers, shoes, socks, stripes. Cat again. More kids! Shoes Dorothy would love. Bikes, bikes, bikes. Heavy footfalls. Curls. Tears and more tears. Out the door and away we go! Down the street. Greenhouse, pumpkins, flowers, celery picker. "Don't pick the pansies, don't hide from the camera, sit with your sister, it's raining, over here, no, here, no, here." Tears again, but chocolate! Yum!!!! Back home for snacks. Delicious homemade applesauce--thank you! Mac and cheese for little mouths--gobblegobblegobblegobbleallgone. New shirts, new socks, tutus, that darn cat, to grandpa's house we go. Climbing, climbing, vroom vroom, zoom zoom. TEARS! Climbing, climbing, climbing. Into the car, down to the farm we go. Corn. Mud. Cowgirl. Dramatic skies. Jumping, sillies, falling down. Apples and fun for all. New friends.

What I saw:

Independence.
Patience.
Boundless courage in little bodies.
Family.
Raw emotion.
Hope upon hope upon hope.
Real life.

(You can see it, too.)