So here’s my IKE story:
I freaked out before the storm came – I think you witnessed that in a previous blog. I bought out aisles and aisles of HEB’s snack and nonperishable foods (enough to feed a tribe). I looked online every so often to check the progress and see if the Hurricane Center said anything different (I was practically glued to it, okay). I was hoping that the local news people were hyping it up. THEY WEREN’T!
Friday was a tad bit boring and it seemed as though the storm wasn’t coming. I was telling my parent’s that I wanted to go out into the street and yell, “Come already! HIT ME WITH WHAT YOU'VE GOT! HIT ME!” (ha – I would’ve never survived it if it actually hit me). That evening my family and I sat around in the back yard admiring the spectacular skies and the wind that was picking up a bit. I called it a night about 11 pm when the storm was there (not yet in full force) and not too long after I was up again. I was woken up by the trees snapping in half and howling winds. It sounded like a train or worse. My little cousin (3 yrs) describes it like this, “Mimi, there were monsters all in the wind.” Yeah – like I said, it was scary.
In all honesty, I was more composed than I thought I would be considering I freaked out so bad prior to the storm. My gramma was with us – and that helped me keep my cool. I’m not saying I wasn’t scared because I was! I think it would’ve been much worse for me if I didn’t feel like I was responsible for someone else’s well being. Does that make sense?
My grandmother handled it very well. My mother was absolutely HILARIOUS! If there only had been a constant video recording of her. She’s so funny! My dad slept through the whole thing! Aser would have been outside the entire time if we had allowed him to. I tried sleeping but was unsuccessful. Instead, I had Caedmon’s Call’s - There’s Only One looping in my head. Tim laughed at the rest of us.
After the storm, everyone walked out of their homes as if they had been in bomb shelters. It was the weirdest thing ever! Once everyone saw that everyone else was okay, everyone got to work. This was the most neighborly kindness I have ever experienced in my life. All I have to say is that I love my neighbors! They are amazing! Everyone was helping each other – raking, cleaning, sawing fallen trees to pieces, sharing water & food, etc. It was beautiful! One of my neighbors went to a neighboring town and bought pizza for ALL of us! WHOA!
So the mess – there are still fallen trees everywhere. We lost two of them. There was no damage to my house. My parent’s house is also okay. It almost seemed like there was a bubble protecting the house. There are two trees that hover over it and the big honkin’ branches that should have fallen on the house, fell away from it. It was amazing. My grandmother’s house is also JUST FINE! There was no flooding even after the rain we got after the storm.
Things are not yet back to normal. Gas is hard to come by. Electricity is also out in a lot of places – thankfully not at my house (my parents are still staying with Aser & me). I dare not step into a grocery store where I imagine it’s crazy. I’ve heard that people have been fighting over LOAVES OF BREAD! Now why would you go into something like that knowing that people are at their wits end?
One of my friends is my HERO! I’m honestly impressed by her. Her house is near the coast and suffered serious damage. When I spoke to her last night she said, “It’s sad, but it could be worse. This loss is only materialistic and I could have nothing right now.” She is in good spirits and thankful that everyBODY is okay.
Something that I keep wondering is – You can prepare physically, but how in the world do you prepare emotionally and mentally? Is it possible?
Through all of this, I’m reminded that GOD is and forever will be good. He’s so good to us. Read Psalm 29.
Friday was a tad bit boring and it seemed as though the storm wasn’t coming. I was telling my parent’s that I wanted to go out into the street and yell, “Come already! HIT ME WITH WHAT YOU'VE GOT! HIT ME!” (ha – I would’ve never survived it if it actually hit me). That evening my family and I sat around in the back yard admiring the spectacular skies and the wind that was picking up a bit. I called it a night about 11 pm when the storm was there (not yet in full force) and not too long after I was up again. I was woken up by the trees snapping in half and howling winds. It sounded like a train or worse. My little cousin (3 yrs) describes it like this, “Mimi, there were monsters all in the wind.” Yeah – like I said, it was scary.
In all honesty, I was more composed than I thought I would be considering I freaked out so bad prior to the storm. My gramma was with us – and that helped me keep my cool. I’m not saying I wasn’t scared because I was! I think it would’ve been much worse for me if I didn’t feel like I was responsible for someone else’s well being. Does that make sense?
My grandmother handled it very well. My mother was absolutely HILARIOUS! If there only had been a constant video recording of her. She’s so funny! My dad slept through the whole thing! Aser would have been outside the entire time if we had allowed him to. I tried sleeping but was unsuccessful. Instead, I had Caedmon’s Call’s - There’s Only One looping in my head. Tim laughed at the rest of us.
After the storm, everyone walked out of their homes as if they had been in bomb shelters. It was the weirdest thing ever! Once everyone saw that everyone else was okay, everyone got to work. This was the most neighborly kindness I have ever experienced in my life. All I have to say is that I love my neighbors! They are amazing! Everyone was helping each other – raking, cleaning, sawing fallen trees to pieces, sharing water & food, etc. It was beautiful! One of my neighbors went to a neighboring town and bought pizza for ALL of us! WHOA!
So the mess – there are still fallen trees everywhere. We lost two of them. There was no damage to my house. My parent’s house is also okay. It almost seemed like there was a bubble protecting the house. There are two trees that hover over it and the big honkin’ branches that should have fallen on the house, fell away from it. It was amazing. My grandmother’s house is also JUST FINE! There was no flooding even after the rain we got after the storm.
Things are not yet back to normal. Gas is hard to come by. Electricity is also out in a lot of places – thankfully not at my house (my parents are still staying with Aser & me). I dare not step into a grocery store where I imagine it’s crazy. I’ve heard that people have been fighting over LOAVES OF BREAD! Now why would you go into something like that knowing that people are at their wits end?
One of my friends is my HERO! I’m honestly impressed by her. Her house is near the coast and suffered serious damage. When I spoke to her last night she said, “It’s sad, but it could be worse. This loss is only materialistic and I could have nothing right now.” She is in good spirits and thankful that everyBODY is okay.
Something that I keep wondering is – You can prepare physically, but how in the world do you prepare emotionally and mentally? Is it possible?
Through all of this, I’m reminded that GOD is and forever will be good. He’s so good to us. Read Psalm 29.
The Lord will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace.
