PARKERSBURG - Even without drywall, paint or furniture, she could easily imagine the final result. Fireplace. Music room. Spacious dining area. Open staircase. And plenty of space for furniture.

Carol Smiley's two-story home in southwest Parkersburg is a work in progress, and the interior leaves much to the imagination. But Smiley already can picture family dinners, evening sing-alongs and holidays to come.

When complete, the new home she will share with her husband of eight years, Richard, will be a welcoming place. It already is a testament to grit, hope and determination.

"And we want it to be cozy and inviting and feel like there's hospitality here," Carol, 57, said.

The Parkersburg residence is a work site. The Smileys commute from a second house in Waterloo, building on weekends. Power tools occupy a front room. Sawdust hangs in the air.

"Smells like progress," Carol said.

Last spring, an EF5 tornado passed by the Smileys' neighborhood and continued east along the south side of Parkersburg. Their house was upright, but the storm shifted the structure 3 feet. A neighbor's wall sliced through the Smileys' bedroom, and they noted other serious problems.

The house would have to go.

"It was pretty messed up," Richard, 54, said.

The Smileys picked up the pieces and moved forward.

Like many other people in Butler, Black Hawk and Buchanan counties, they spent the past year starting over. And since December, Carol and Richard Smiley have faced an additional battle.

About a week before Christmas, Carol discovered a large lump in her left breast.

Trials and blessings

Carol is a glass half-full kind of person. Her positive outlook, fueled by a firm faith in Jesus, keeps her body and spirit going despite an unusually tough chapter in her life.

"I choose to believe everything is good and we are going to make it through and it's going to be a blessing."

The Smileys think back to the storm. Most Sundays involve an afternoon nap. But that day, the Smileys left town to attend a graduation party in Washburn. On the way home, they received reports of severe weather.

Richard didn't want to drive into a storm. He figured a 20-minute shopping trip at Wal-Mart to pick up a television converter box might provide a sufficient delay.

As the Smileys worked their way home taking a somewhat indirect route, Carol noted clear skies. Then they spotted a big black cloud. Closer to home, Richard pointed out fields littered with debris.

Driving into Parkersburg from the east, traffic slowed. Branches, automobiles and pieces of homes created an impasse. Carol couldn't recognize her surroundings.

"So we pulled over to the side and started walking," Richard said.

The Smileys walked across town. Assessing damage to their home, Carol noticed where she and her husband likely would have sought safety. There was a pile bricks.

"Jesus had his hand on us to occupy us in other ways," Carol said.

Matter of faith

She never expected to get cancer. When she did, she prayed.

Two cycles of chemotherapy reduced the tumor significantly. Carol also had surgery, and she is following through with a year-long treatment plan. She believes she is healed.

Fellow church members watch with amazement as the Smileys walk through their trials, according to the Rev. Joe Henson, their pastor at Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in Cedar Falls.

"When Carol found out about the cancer, her world wasn't devastated," he said. "She actually had a smile on her face saying it's something God can take care of."

When people in Parkersburg started rebuilding their homes, some hired contractors. Some ordered prefabricated homes. The Smileys were among those who decided to do the work themselves. They bought an adjacent lot and dug in.

"We didn't know there were options," said Richard, who often displays a dry wit.

"Then we saw other people dragging in houses," Carol said.

The project is daunting at times. Running their own show offers freedom, surprises and confidence in the workmanship. The couple also hope to save some cash.

Family members, friends and others they don't know have shared the load. Richard's brother, Travis, is the resident expert. The Smileys are learning as they go, so helping hands are always welcome and speed the process, Carol said.

"We pray for volunteers," she said.

Richard doesn't profess any great love for working with wood - at least not at the moment or on this scale. During the week, he works as an engineering technician for the University of Northern Iowa. Carol is employed by McKenna Professional Imaging in Waterloo.

As first-time home builders, they aren't sure how long the project will take. Richard prefers to focus on the task at hand.

"If you think about how much you have got to do, it will drive you mad," he said.

Dream home

Neighbor Betty Alderman went a different route. She chose a prefabricated house and moved in last August.

The home still takes time, though. There's been painting to do, seeding the lawn and landscaping.

The process gets old.

"You work and you come home and you're tired," Alderman said.

"Where do you start and where does it end?"

For Alderman, the year passed quickly. Carol Smiley says the months took their time.

Over all, she thinks Parkersburg is coming along fine, though she misses the trees.

"It feels like the town's getting back on it's feet," Carol said.

She dreams about move-in day. By Christmas would be nice. The Smileys have no fixed deadlines: The house will take as long as it takes and they will like what they end up with.

Prior to the storm, the Smileys discussed selling their homes in Waterloo and Parkersburg and finding the perfect house. They never found the right one.

Then came May 25, 2008. Decision made.

When the house is complete, the Smileys believe they will finally have their dream home.

"We have just really been blessed this year," Carol said.

To see a video of Carol and Richard Smiley by photographer Dawn Sagert, go online at dsagert.blogspot.com.