Jay is a great place to call home

To the editor:

“There is no place like home.”

This line from a classic movie has even greater meaning for Larry and I now.

This was our dream home. The tornado took it in what seemed like an instant.

We are safe, as were others who lost even more than we did.

Yet out of this loss and sadness comes hope and love.

We have taken so long to write a thank you to the people who have helped us through these times because finding the right words of gratitude was difficult. Summing up our gratefulness is nearly impossible. We have tried to say thank you to many and sent cards, but no way can we cover all the people and organizations that were there for us. I do not want to attempt to mention each individual person as help came from miles away and at least two or three states.

Every need was met — offers of homes, offers to board our pets from local veterinarians, friends, neighbors, family, strangers, employers, past employers, coworkers, EMS, REMC and the list goes on and on.

Those helping with recovery and storage of all my collectibles took such care. Our barnyard quickly filled with machinery for clean up and so many helpers I can’t count.

Food appeared to feed the masses inside and out. Some of it was from people we knew, but a lot of it was from people I had never met.

Our minds were in a whirl and it was hard to focus or comprehend what was happening and what we were doing and what to do next.

While thanking everyone, we need to thank those who cried with us and shared the endless hugs to comfort us:

•My friend who took our dog and cared for him so he would not be alone and feel abandoned.

•Our pastor who took our cats to the parsonage and showed them love and comfort.

•The Bryant EMS worker who came into the house to make 100 percent sure I was OK. His family helped build our house.

•The friend from Ohio who provided a trailer to store recovered items.

•The neighbor and friends who provided storage totes to pack things in.

Thanks to the United Way and to the Red Cross for their help. Thanks to our landlords who allowed us to keep our pets with us against their policy.

The list is endless.

Our church has a saying: “God’s work, our hands.” This was a prime example of that.

Now, with all that said and knowing I have not covered all, we have one more thing to add. I started this letter with, “There’s no place like home.” Our home is fixable and we will be back there. That much is for sure.

Home is more than wood and bricks and hard work. Home is this county. These friends and neighbors are home. Those hugs, those tears shared, those pats on the back, those “what can I do to help” questions, are home.

To those who are still reaching out to us to support us and help us every day, we say thank you. A house is a home but it alone does not make it complete.

You are our home. Jay County is our home.

We thank God for watching over us every day. We are blessed.

Larry and Karen Barnette

Portland