Gloria and David here

It has been some week! I was supposed to be at work celebrating our 1 year anniversary of being in business~ Yay Mercantile! Instead, we stood on our balcony overlooking the foyer and watched as 2 1/2 feet of water flowed in our home on the first floor. It was like Titanic, but less romantic!

We are completely overwhelmed and exhausted. WE HAVE NO FLOOD INSURANCE! YIKES! We were told about 8 years ago that we were required to get flood insurance, the FEMA maps had been re-drawn since our survey upon moving in, 2 years prior. Then, 3 years later, we were sent a letter in the mail, from our mortgage co saying that the maps had been re-drawn again, and that we were no longer required to carry flood insurance. "Occasionally FEMA revises the boundaries of special flood hazard areas, based upon construction, improvements of canals and levees and such, that can mitigate the possibilities of losses from Flooding."

I've been on the phone and computer with every government and insurance agency. This will be my new full time job, I am certain. We are disappointed that we have not of yet been included in FEMA relief, but are hopeful it will come.

In the meanwhile, the good folks from St. Matthew's Episcopal Church and Habitat for Humanity Gwinnett, our church and our volunteer group, came out yesterday to start the demolition and clean up. We got all the wet sheet rock and floor boards out. The sub floor is exposed and airing out as we speak. The day before, our daughter's good friend and ours, Josh Lindstrom and his friend Joe, came out immediately, as soon as they could get through the roads and ripped out carpeting. Our son, Charles Park, got here to help rip up flooring as soon as he could from Kennesaw State. The roads were all closed up there. Our daughter Sawyer is in Pittsburgh, at college, stranded with the G20Summit! At least we are all safe. We feel blessed. We are so grateful for all the helping hands and loving hearts that have reached out to us already.

This will be a long process. We are taking it step by step. Alternately, crying and laughing. When my children's pre-school "Fat Cat" production was thrown to the curb, that's when I lost it. Stuff is stuff, but some stuff is precious. When they were ripping apart the kitchen yesterday, I saw David's face go pale. It's hard. But then we find something to laugh about. I said to David that I felt like my head was going to explode and he said, "Honey, please don't let your head explode,we have so much to clean up already!" We both laughed, a lot.

David's brother, Park is here now, flown in from MN. They are out renting industrial air blowers and dehumidifiers. We are living on the 2nd floor. That's all we can do for now. We are trying hard to keep the faith. Thanks to my Mercantile Family, and the Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro Family, for being so good to us regarding time off. Thanks to everyone that has offered help, ideas and assistance. We will need plenty of all those things.

Love and light,

Gloria and David Armstrong