Beyond the Storm: Quilts of Love Series (27 page)

BOOK: Beyond the Storm: Quilts of Love Series

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When the memorial service was finally over, the skies overhead were black and roiling and rumbling with the spirit of another supercell. Rain began to fall in earnest, driving everyone home as soon as humanly possible. No sooner had Abigail and Justin chauffeured their clan to Selma’s place in the new truck and the Olds than the newly replaced storm sirens began to wail. Another storm was on the way.
What would it bring?
Abigail wondered, reacting first with dread. And then fear. And then chagrin, as she parked the Olds and Justin parked his truck in Selma’s driveway. If they were all going to live in Rawston without sinking, the way Peter had, they needed to keep their eyes on the Lord in the midst of the storm. No matter how scary. Together, they hustled everyone into Selma’s storm shelter, lit the emergency candles, reached for each other’s hands and began to pray that their Creator would help them beyond every storm.

Epilogue

G
ood morning, Rawston, heart of the American Midwest! We’ve got 7 a.m. straight up on your Thursday, May 3
^rd, and you are listening to Mike and Julie on 101.5 K-RAW. Keep it right here for another installation of our special weeklong tribute:
Rawston: One Year Later
, featuring the guys from Dan the Handyman Lumberyard. Today’s special guests are co-owners, Justin Girard and Bob Ray Lathrop. Good morning, guys!”

“Good morning, Mike and Julie.”

“Let’s start off by having you tell us how your lives have changed since the storm. Bob Ray?”

“This is gonna sound really weird, Mike, but in many respects, they’ve gotten better. For starters, my man Justin here is going to be getting married next month, to Abigail Durham, from the new Doo Drop In Hair Salon in Old Town.”

“Congratulations, Justin!”

“Thanks! We’re thrilled. And, Bob Ray should mention that he and his wife just welcomed a baby daughter into their family, Danielle Louise. And she’s a beauty. Looks just like her mama.”

“I’d love to show you all pictures of her, but since this is radio . . .”

“Speaking of babies, I hear that immediately after the storm, you delivered a baby, Justin! How is everybody doing today?”

“As well as can be expected. Today, that baby is now walking and talking some. His father, my best friend, Daniel Strohacker, was killed in the storm, and we all still feel his loss. But we know that Danny would be happy to see the way his wife and baby are coping, and how the business at his lumberyard has flourished because of the massive rebuilding efforts.”

“Bob Ray, is it true that you guys had to move into a group home of sorts?”

“That was a total blessing, Julie. Justin’s fiancée’s great aunt— Selma Louise Tully—opened her home to a bunch of us right after the storm, and we’ve all been living together for a year now while we rebuild Justin’s house and Abigail’s business among other projects.”

“You know, Mike and Julie, I think both Bob Ray and I can say that this time together as one big family has been one of the best times in our lives.”

“Oh, yeah. Justin’s right. We’re really going to miss him and Abigail after the wedding. But the rest of us are staying put, for now. We all help each other out, and we’re in no hurry at the moment. In fact, my wife and I are in the process of buying Selma’s house and annexing off an apartment for her.”

“So busy! You’ve both been instrumental in the rebuilding process here in Rawston. How’s that going, Justin?”

“Everybody has been working like maniacs, and the results are impressive. The high school and hospital are bigger and better than ever, and Old Town is beginning to reemerge from the chaos. In fact, everyone is going to take the weekend off and celebrate at the annual Rawston Quilt-o-Rama in two weeks. We’ve got people coming in from all over to celebrate and to view the ‘Rawston Storm Quilt’ that the community put together this last year with some of the tattered fabric that was salvaged from the storm.”

“Kind of a special symbol of rebuilding, huh, guys?”

“Yeah, bit by bit, we’re putting the pieces back together. And it’s . . . beautiful.”

Discussion Questions

Abigail Durham seemed to be living the American dream, at the beginning of the book, as a young, successful business owner. How do you see that she needed God’s direction in her life?
Some people would think that a storm would ruin your life forever. What were the positive things that came from the storm?
How did Selma help Abigail deal with the losses that the storm brought?
Quilting is not just Selma’s work—it is an activity that helps her make sense of chaos and stay centered on God’s sovereignty. What activity do you use to stay centered?
Abigail is afraid to give her heart to Justin and find hope after the storm. If you knew Abigail, how would you help her learn to trust God? Have you ever experienced something similar? How did you cope? What did you learn?
Jen Strohacker was widowed at a young age. Why do you think God would put two people together only to take one away?
Have you lost someone you loved? How did you deal with the loss?
Bob Ray seemed to change overnight. Do you think his changes were permanent? Why? Why not?
Isuzu’s family lost their Olympic dream and suffered great loss. How, in the scheme of things, might this have been good for the children? For the parents?
Do you think Dr. Bernard Blumenfeld was a real doctor? A homeless man with a real story? An angel unaware?
What was the ripple effect of Danny Strohacker’s death? How do you see that his life might have been used? His death?
Have you ever questioned God’s plan in the midst of a life storm? How have you come through and seen His hand on your life?