Cedars, October 2020

Fall 2020 12 had blown over. It was kind of crazy,” Dicks said. During the two weeks of cleanup and sorting through the wreckage, the Bergtholds were living in a hotel paid for by their insurance. There was no Wi-Fi or cell service within 15 miles, which meant they were unable to communicate with anyone. This made the logistics of getting help extremely difficult. “It’s amazing how those small things made up the bulk of that trial,” Bergthold said. With so many people displaced, houses were few and far between. However, a house just 10 minutes from their property came up on Zillow out of nowhere. Within 30 minutes, Bergthold’s dad signed the lease and they had a new place to live until a new house is built on their property. Home was a heavy thought for the Bergtholds. From a harsh transition back home for Laini to the trauma the family endured after, the word took on new meaning in this season. “In March when we came home, I was really struggling with having to leave school and coming home for corona,” she said. “So I made this Spotify playlist. It was called ‘theology of home.’” To say the playlist was timely is an understatement. It is full of songs and poems that hold a delicate balance of heartache and joy. They long for heaven yet rejoice in earth. There is a song on it called “After the Storm” by Mumford & Sons. Bergthold created the playlist on April 3. Her house was destroyed on April 12. “I thought that I made it because I had to stay home, but then the Lord ended up using it to show me that even when I lose my home, He is still taking care of me,” she said. “The Lord was preparing my heart so much for everything that happened.” The playlist, the video from her back porch, and a joyride she was able to go on the day before in her beloved car that was destroyed in the storm were sweet gifts from the Lord before a season of immense suffering. “I feel like a lot of people look back on these experiences and they’re like ‘I wish I would’ve appreciated what I had more,’ but I don’t feel that way because I got to appreciate it so much,” Bergthold said. “It was a really sweet goodbye.” Now, Bergthold is learning to grieve — to change her definition of home and understand more than before what it means to trust the Lord. She is ministering to her younger siblings who have struggled to grapple with this trial. She is thankful to be home, which to her simply means wherever her family is, even if there are no trees. “Planting trees early in spring, We make a place for birds to sing In time to come. How do we know? They are singing here now. There is no other guarantee That singing will ever be.” “For the Future,” by Wendell Berry Abigail Hintz is a junior Journalism major and the Sports and Dig- ital Editor for Cedars. She loves reading, playing Spikeball with her friends and watching soccer 24/7. Photo courtesy of Laini Bergthold. Laini Bergthold’s roommate, Josie Dicks, poses on top of Bergthold’s car before a tornado destroyed it. Bergthold was able to go on a joyride in her beloved car the day before the tornado hit. Photo courtesy of Laini Bergthold. The tornado swept through the Bergtholds’ property, including both their home and the surrounding trees.