Post Traumatic Flood Syndrome

Rob laughs, saying that I have started a pattern with blogging, writing time frames for things going on in our lives. But I feel that there's a definite "Before Flood" and "After Flood" time frame, at least for the time being. Today I passed the local shopping center and thought "It'd be so nice to pull in there and go shopping" but there's only one store that has re-opened since the flood. Kohls announced that their brand new store (Open for 9 mos.) was a total loss and they wouldn't be re-opening. The biggest adjustment, at least for E, is that Rouse's isn't close to re-opening. He asked me to drive by there yesterday to see what it looks like because that's his favorite place to go grocery shopping. Sadly, it was still gutted to the ceilings, which was discouraging. I understand that a lot of places suffered horrific loss but I want everything and everyone to just bounce back and I'm learning that that's not going to happen. It takes time and patience and money and patience and teamwork and patience. So, instead, I rejoice with every business that re-opens and every friend that is one step closer to getting their house back together.
E is a lot like the buildings. Before the flood he was thriving and adjusting well to his new "norm" (ie mama working and him going to preschool). After the flood he really struggled. He cried over every little thing and did not want me out of his sight. Every time it rained he fa-reaked out! He rarely slept through the night and was cranky as all get out. Now that our friends have moved back to their house, we are seeing some of the "ole" E resurface. He now sleeps through the night again (Hallelujah!) and just this week he has stopped crying when I drop him off at preschool. On Sunday he's going to attempt to go to his Sunday School class (at a different building from the main sanctuary).
Like everything concerning the flood, it's baby steps. It's baby steps to rebuilding life as we knew it before the flood. But every baby step is a reason to celebrate. So we celebrate that Moe's (our free burrito place) will be re-opening soon and that the sporting good store will be re-opening next month. And we celebrate that E is making strides in overcoming his post traumatic flood syndrome. (I have no doubt it's a real thing.) Thank you, Jesus, for the baby steps....and keep 'em coming!