Tornado changes Iowa couple's Christmas tradition
The couple used to invite people to their home for a soup supper following a Christmas Eve service. Their home was destroyed Wednesday night.
The couple used to invite people to their home for a soup supper following a Christmas Eve service. Their home was destroyed Wednesday night.
The couple used to invite people to their home for a soup supper following a Christmas Eve service. Their home was destroyed Wednesday night.
Lynn and Deb Smith have a longstanding tradition. After the Christmas Eve service at their church in Bayard, they invite people over to their home for a soup supper.
Such were the plans again this year, but those literally came crashing down Wednesday night when a tornado destroyed the couple's home on the east side of town.
"We used to come in over here where the island's all smashed down. We'd have a whole bunch of soup on the island and the counter," Lynn said while giving a tour of the damage Sunday.
"If you left hungry it was your fault," he said with a laugh.
Over the past few days, dozens of volunteers -- including strangers -- have shown up to help the Smiths clear debris and look for valuables. The couple is scheduled to meet with their insurance provider Monday to figure out what to do next.
But the soup supper at their house is off the table.
Still, the couple plans to keep up the tradition in a different way by serving soup in the church basement after the service Friday night.
"Traditions always change," Lynn said. "You got to start new ones. Some end. Then you start a new one. Maybe next year we'll have a soup supper in a new house."