7 - FLOODED DREAMS

FLOODED DREAMS

12 ⅞ x 19 ⅜ inches

(c. 1855—Great-Great Grandmother Edvinna Young overlooking the loss of their home)

My great-great grandparents courageously crossed the plains by covered wagon in search of their dream— their very own land. After staking their claim in the Nebraska territory, they built their first house—a single room log cabin.

Grandma was not yet twenty-one years old. French and refined, she was unaccustomed to hardships of any kind. Her journal includes chilling stories of the harrowing events she and Grandpa endured: severe winters, typhoid fevers, flooding, and Indian attacks.

In her journal, she shares a terrifying incident when an Indian forced his way into their cabin while Grandpa had gone for supplies. As the Indian raised his tomahawk to strike Grandma, she summoned God for help. Suddenly, he turned his head and lowered his tomahawk; hearing someone approaching, he quickly fled. Later she wrote in her journal about her survival mindset: “In my defenselessness my safety lies.” Her words reveal a high level of spiritual awareness that I, too, embrace as part of my spiritual path.

After a close encounter with the unharnessed nature of water, she wrote: “We were awakened one morning by the sound of rushing water.” Edvinna and Andrew narrowly escaped with their lives. They lost their log cabin and most of their belongings to the raging Missouri River that was swollen from melting wintersnow and spring rains.

Like many of our forefathers, my great-great grandparents endured unthinkable conditions. Their faith repeatedly kept them grounded.