I posted on Facebook earlier this week about my struggle to get back into wedding blogging with everything that is going down in the North East (especially New Jersey, my hometown). A vendor commented that weddings symbolize hope – and that that is something I could focus on to try and placate my feelings.
I’ll admit though, while hope is a great thing to believe in and follow, I am still struggling. Especially as I am headed to NJ tomorrow morning to celebrate my sister’s birthday with family and friends. What awaits me is my parents house – still without power and gas station lines that have an average of over an hour wait (my dad waited 90 minutes yesterday).
But their part of New Jersey is nothing compared to the coast, where I also have family and friends located. In addition to peoples homes and lives being destroyed, it’s the destruction of some of our favorite small businesses that is also tugging at my heart.
Bay Head – New Jersey (that bridge was a highway …)
My good friend Sean sharde with me some more stories of destruction from his grandparents. They have/had a house on the NJ shore in Bay Head. Apparently business insurance is, not shockingly, incredibly complicated and overly difficult to deal with. Sean’s family’s favorite bakery was ruined by Sandy, but the bakery’s insurance will only cover the cost of fixing the  building of the bakery – not all the ruined equipment inside (which is estimated at over 600K).
I am struggling at this point to not only get back into wedding blogging, but with the absolute helplessness I feel. I want to DO something to help – but I just don’t know what.
People say “donate to the Red Cross“, donate blood … and I will do that, but, I also want to do something that directly impacts at least ONE small business. So, I am in the process of trying to get something started to help Muellers (the bakery above). Please bear with me as I try and work this out AND get back into the swing of regular blogging.
And if you feel so inclined, please do donate to the Red Cross or donate blood :)
Thank you :)
5 comments
Great blog post b! It is so hard to believe this. Xo
If there’s anything they need photography-wise, count me in.
I’ve felt the exact same way about different situations in the past (insurance companies + my Mom’s Lyme Disease, insurance refusing to cover her treatments) and it’s the sort of thing that threatens to smother you. I know you’re not particularly religious, but whenever I feel the overwhelming sense of helplessness start to take over I remind myself the God is sovereign and there’s nothing outside of his control. And even though I can’t see the purpose behind whatever’s happened, that there IS something to be learned from it. More than anything, knowing God’s in control helps keep me afloat. I’ll be praying for you and your friends at Muellers.
What a great heartfelt post! I am from NJ as well, and have many friends / family still there.
You can also buy something online for your furry friends at Harry Barker now through Monday Nov. 5th and Harry Barker will match your purchase and send it along with other supplies to the Humane Society, the Monmouth County SPCA, and the Humane Society of Atlantic City for our furry friends who are hurting for supplies in New Jersey and NYC!
http://www.harrybarker.com/?utm_campaign=Sandy%20Note&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=http%3A//www.harrybarker.com/