The Hand of God was Everywhere

 Last Friday, June 12, 2026, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,  at appoximately 1:15 a.m the sound of pelting rain on our bedroom window woke me up. I realized how hard the rain was coming down and barely had time to utter an abrupt prayer when an enormously LOUD sound scared me half to death. 

I thought it was just a clap of thunder right over the house, and then I saw a tree limb fall right past the bedroom window and hit the patio.  I was out of bed instantly. 

Suddenly, it started raining in Wayne's closet.  We could see nothing because the power was out and so had to find some flashlights to determine what was happening.   The ceiling in the closet was intact, but there was indeed water pouring onto the carpet.  Wayne got a couple of buckets and a towel and we left it since there was nothing else to be done. 

We went to the first floor and looked out into the pitch black backyard with our flashlights.  Wayne made out that the garage looked a little funny and we could see the limb on the patio.  There was no fire and no imminent danger so Wayne crawled into the newly put together guest room bed and crashed hard. 

I, on the other hand, was awake praying Rosaries  and wandering the house for the next two hours. I finally settled enough to sleep and went to bed as well.  

What a sight we were greeted with in the morning!!! 

Crushed gate.

First thing I saw in the morning.

The neighbor's very tall maple tree had crushed our garage and landed a mere foot from our bedroom window onto the roof of the house.  It poked several holes through the deck boards under the shingles and that is where the water came in. 

So, about the Hand of God: 

-We were in the bed and were completely unhurt

-The part of the garage that did not collapse is the side where Wayne's power tools are stored.

-The grill that is visible was only slightly hurt and the propane tank attached (and the others in the garage) did not explode.

- The lights in the garage were not electrified because the power went out (and the breakers worked), so no fire.

-The tree did not break any windows and did not crash down over our bed.

-My Mother's Day begonias were untouched (picture below). 

-My vehicle was in the exact right spot on the driveway that it was not damaged at all, but the front bumper got a little "kiss" from some leaves.

-The tree crew that removed a large maple tree from our yard last year was two blocks away when Wayne called them. They came right over and removed the whole tree that afternoon.

-The rain stopped until the tarp guy came and covered the holes.

-DTE has the power back on before lunch time. 

More photos:

Orange spot, far right, begonias. 

Bedroom windows.

The new crack in the bedroom wall that occurred during the tree removal. 

Tarps on the house roof. 

Our garage today. 

The biggest thing about all of this, is that Wayne was getting mentally prepared to rip off the south wall of the garage and replace it; replace the ladder to the attic and get the floor leveled so it would stop flooding. 

God took care of all of that for us!

The insurance adjuster, the construction company, and the tarp guy will all be here tomorrow. The tarps have to be removed so the adjuster can take photos of the holes. Then they need to be replaced.  By time all is said and done, we will have a nice fat folder of receipts.  Keep checking back for more news on our progress. 

And say a little prayer of thanksgiving for God's loving ways.