Will Things Ever Be The Same?

I have been asking myself this question so many times lately about so many differnt situations.  Obviously, the first concern is in my own household.  I wonder about Dayton and pray that after this:

will he every be the same as he was before this happened?  I am sure that with time, exercise and determination he will have full range of motion. I am just worried about his "e"motions after going through all of this. Can he keep his spirits up for another 6 weeks? Will he need the screws taken out in a year?  What if he doesn't have them removed? Not that this is our only concern but will he ever want to play baseball again?  Do I want that for him?  Two summers in a row of being laid up, it is worth it?  Not sure.  We do not know what is to come, we just take it day by day but I have to wonder, will things ever be the same? 

I drove through a small town in our area yesterday that was hit very hard by a tornado, this is a place that we as a family have as our "go to" place when we want to take a day and get out of here for a while. I drop the guys off  at Cabela's and I go to the candle/antique store and wander for a while.  I was amazed at the devastation that took place during the storm.  People were left with nothing, some that looked like that did not have much to start with.  My heart just broke as I drove through the town,  I was really just speechless, and I wondered to myself, will things ever be the same for these people? When the next storm approaches, what kind of fears must they face? 

Santa Rosa Beach  April 2010

Lastly, I have been praying so hard for the Gulf Coast, I am just sick.  We had the best spring break just a few months ago on the Coast, I was sure that I would spend the next 50 spring vacations in this area, we loved it that much.  We even considered retiring down there someday.  Now I am not so sure.  I pray that the gorgeous white sandy beaches and emerald green waters will somehow be exempt from the oil spill.  I could just cry.  Will things ever be the same there for those people or will life as they know it completely change? 

I sure have alot to be thankful for, believe me I have really taken a close look at myself lately, especially while staying at the Children's Hospital for 5 days.  Seriously, there are some real heros in this world.  I cannot help but count my blessings every day, sometimes it takes your world turning upside down for you to realize what really matters in life.  It really is the "little things" that mean the most.  I have been the recipient of some very gracious "little things" lately and it just makes me want to do the same for others.  I am not sure of what my heart is tugging at just yet, but I know I am changed, I want to help others in some capacity.  I would love to volunteer at the hospital in some way, I love to smile and make people happy, I would love to breathe a bit of sunshine into their lives.  What ways do you help others? Any good ideas out there?  I would love to hear them. I do know one thing... I will never be the same.