Resilience...

 This past January, a friend introduced me to the town of Pilger, NE.
As you know, Pilger was hit by two devastating tornadoes June 16, 2014.
I was greeted by smiling faces and hand shakes. These polite welcoming strangers took me around town following the path of the tornadoes.
It being January things looked pretty bleak. There were no leaves on trees and the brown of winter had settled in.
Outside of town, it was obvious where the tornado started; the trees were very damaged.
While the town had been cleaned up, the devastation was still very apparent.
I ended up spending the afternoon with these amazing people.
Angela, Joe, their son, Jake, and Amy. I got to hear stories and get to know these wonderful people.
By the time I left they were no longer strangers.
Instead, they left me feeling like we were long time friends. They are truly inspiring, and are a huge reason this town is now know as “The Town Too Tough To Die.”
The tornadoes took numerous homes and businesses and two lives in and around Pilger.
Last Thursday was the two year anniversary of the tornadoes. I had the afternoon off and decided to venture back to Pilger to see how things were going.
I was surprised, things are looking good. The trees, while still showing all the destruction, are producing leaves and coming back to life.
The town looks good as well! There is a new bank, tire shop, trucking shop, church and numerous other things. They are slowly building a “new” Pilger. 
I got to meet up with Angela, Joe and Amy again for a short visit. I was once again greeted with smiling faces and hugs.
Residents were busy preparing for a celebration that took place on Saturday, with open houses all over town and the new and rebuilt businesses.
I saw pictures of before and after the tornadoes. I heard more stories, I witnessed the beginning of healing.
Pilger is a town of resilience, they have gotten quite a bit of coverage even in the last few months. It is truly inspiring, they are not going to give up.
I was unable to attend the celebration Saturday, as we laid my step-grandpa to rest, and then I got some R and R with my small family and dear friends.
From what I saw when I was there and have heard, I think the celebration was fantastic.
Getting such an up-close and personal look at the devastation such a tornado brings has changed me.
I have had experiences with tornadoes and cleaned up after them, but nothing as detrimental as these were.
The town has suffered a hit to the population since the tornadoes, but that doesn’t stop them.
They are continuing on with life and their spirits are high. Much of the people reading this can relate to what happens when a small community is destroyed.
Small towns struggle to survive as it is, losing the majority of a town and school is scary. You wonder how the town will continue on.
Pilger is proof you can. The thing with small communities is they all band together and help each other.
I am so thankful for the experiences I have had there. I thank God for the people I have met. They are some of the kindest, welcoming people I have ever come across. I am proud to call them my friends.
If you are ever driving down HWY 15, I strongly suggest you take a little extra time in your trip to drive into Pilger.
Chances are, there will be a smiling friendly face, happy to tell you stories and show you the town.
If things have been a little rough for you, take a trip up there. Meeting these people and seeing the resilience of a town “Too Tough To Die” puts things in a whole new perspective.
It’s a motto we could all stand to take on in life. Go visit this quaint little place, be inspired and leave feeling revived and ready to take on the world.