Random Observations…

I’ve discovered that life goes on in the aftermath of a hurricane.  Now that everyone in the community has had their power restored, life is pretty much back to normal.  I believe the last of our community had their power restored by last Wednesday. The students have all returned to school, and clean up is in progress almost everywhere I look.  Life goes on.

After being able to actually tour the area we live in, and see much of the damage caused by hurricane Matthew, I now realize, more than ever, how blessed most of us really are!  There are many, many trees down, with a lot of them within just a few feet of people’s homes.  Fortunately, most of the trees fell away from most people’s houses–or in between them.  But for the Grace of God, all those homes could have been damaged, including the former home of Ed’s parents.

I’m observing that our little flock of chickens hasn’t been quite the same since hurricane Matthew.  Their chicken coop is located at the edge of our yard, where several tall pines surround it.  The noise from the storm was LOUD from inside our house, so I can only imagine how it must have sounded to the chickens from their coop outside!  Whenever I let the hens out of their pen, the following morning, the poor things pretty much stayed hidden for the first day after the storm.  The fact that some of our hens are in the middle of molting season hasn’t helped matters, either.  Some of the poor things look like they’ve been plucked, so they’re still looking naked and afraid:)  Egg production is now at a standstill.

Have you ever noticed how one project always seems to lead to another one?  During the hurricane, we were forced to move two freezers from the former home of Ed’s parents.  One freezer we put inside of our storage house, the other we placed under our carport, temporarily.  Because there are no windows for ventilation in our storage house, we had to purchase a screened door for the house.  Ed’s in the process of installing the screened door as I write.

Yesterday, I observed, again, how God will help us triumph over whatever stumbling blocks Satan throws in our path.  Yesterday morning, I woke up with a headache, that persisted all day, and threatened to keep me from attending worship.  I determinedly  made it to the first service, but by the end of the day, I came close to giving in to the headache, which had worsened. I was really struggling because our son was guest speaking at a little church, in town, and I really wanted to hear him preach again.  Finally, at the last minute, I got off the couch, put on my clothes and went to church–headache and all.  And do you know what?  Once I got into church and began the worship service my headache almost went away!  Praise the Lord!

You know, good worship services can take place anytime, anywhere.  What could be sweeter than gathering with four elderly Alzheimer patients, in an assisted living home, singing Jesus Loves Me, and hearing their sweet voices all chiming in?  That experience was priceless, and one I’ll always treasure.

There’s nothing quite like decorating for autumn…twice!  I’d just finished putting up the last of our fall decor, when the weatherman began warning us about hurricane Matthew.  Finally, on the day before the storm, I decided I should bring the outside decorations inside.  I’m so glad I did!  Last Friday, Ed and I  finished decorating–for the second time.  Unfortunately, my blow up jack-o-lantern decided to stop working last night.  What’s a girl to do?

My back is feeling much better, these days.  Although I’m still cautious, I can bend without discomfort, once again.  I still feel some minor nerve involvement in my left leg, but I can live with it, and hope, in time, that will continue to improve, as well.  The surgical site on my ‘backside’ is also doing well.  One of these days I might actually get rid of my padded toilet seat 🙂

I don’t know why, but I’ve really been struggling with this ‘blogging thing’, lately.  What once came so easily, is now so difficult.  I’m lacking in both motivation and energy.  I hope the situation will improve, with time, and that my blogging friends will not forsake me during this difficult time.  Thank you to those who still come by and comment!  I love and appreciate you.  Thank goodness for The Wednesday Hodgepodge, which guarantees I’ll blog and visit at least once a week, but I’m going to try and to better.  With that thought in mind, I’m outta’ here…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A ‘Moving’ Hodgepodge…

It’s a ‘different’ kind of week at our house.  We’re still trying to settle down from the past few days of dealing with hurricane Matthew, and its after effects.  Thankfully,  our power and internet have been restored so I can participate in today’s Hodgepodge!  As always, many thanks to our hostess, Joyce, for hosting.

1. What would you say is the best and worst thing about moving house?

The best thing about moving is getting a fresh start in a new place.  The worst thing about moving is packing, unpacking, and figuring out where everything should go.  I hate moving!

2. What’s moved you recently?

Hearing our two oldest grandsons pray.  I’m very moved by how well the two of them can already pray, even at ages four and seven.

3. Do you feel your life is moving forward, backward, or is on hold? How so?

Life is definitely moving forward, because time is passing at a break-neck speed!  In less than tw0 weeks Ed will, hopefully, be celebrating the year anniversary of his heart attack.  I’ll also receive my first social security check.  (When did I get that old?!)  Last, but not least, our youngest grandchild will also be turning three in about three weeks!  No more babies in our family 😦

4. On the move, move mountains, get a move on, it’s your move, or bust a move…which phrase best applies to some aspect of your life right now? Explain.

For the past five days, it’s been “get a move on” around here.  You see, although we live about 80 miles from the Georgia coast, we happen to live in an area that was greatly affected by hurricane Matthew.  First we had to prepare for the storm, then we had to survive the storm, now we’re cleaning up the mess caused by the storm. (I’ll give more details below.)

5. What song makes you want to get up and move?

These days, there’s not much that makes me want to get up and move, but back in my teen years I loved to dance to this song…

6. Your favorite snack to grab when you’re ‘on the move’?

I don’t really have a favorite snack to grab ‘on the move’, but I’ll say a banana or a pack of crackers because I can eat those while driving.

7. What one accessory makes your house feel like home?

I can’t think of any single accessory that makes our house feel like home, but wall decor is very important to me.  Our new house didn’t feel like a home, to me, until we hung pictures or other kinds of wall decor.

Random:

As I mentioned, earlier, hurricane Matthew sure packed a punch in our area!  I’ve never heard such wind or seen as many downed trees and power lines in our area.  Friday night was definitely a night to remember!  Ed and I lost two large pecan trees, but, fortunately suffered no other property damage.  Our oldest son suffered some mild damage to his home and to their children’s trampoline, but nothing too serious.  Actually, Ed and I were some of the very fortunate few who were able to keep electricity throughout the storm!  What a blessing!

some of our neighbor’s downed pecan trees

Both of our sons and their families stayed with us during the storm, then both sons lost power at their houses.  When all was said and done, nine of us ended up staying together in our two bedroom, one bathroom house for several days and nights.  We not only survived, but actually had some good times together while doing it!

On the day after the storm, we had to unload and move two freezers, plus the food, to our house because the house where the freezers were kept lost power. We also moved the food from our son’s freezer into our freezer to keep it from thawing.  Our youngest son was able to put his frozen food in our daughter’s freezer because she still had power. We did a lot of food moving, then the unthinkable happened.

Two days after the storm, on Sunday, Ed and I (and our daughter) lost power, too!  Some of the linemen accidentally burned up our transformer while doing some repairs down the line, then had to get a new transformer from Atlanta.  The nine of us were actually sitting around the table having supper when the power went out, so we ended up dining by candlelight!

Things got a little more complicated with nine of us living in a house without power or running water, but we made it! (We have a well/pump, so no power equals no running water, either)  Well, we not only survived, I think we grew closer together.  In hard times, we pulled together–and improvised.  Have you tried PBJ and water for breakfast, lately?  I have!

Fortunately, for us, on Monday morning,  a friend of our DIL’s, who’d already gotten their power restored, was giving away some ice they no longer needed.  When our DIL said we’d like to have the ice, they offered use of their generator, as well.  What a Godsend that turned out to be!  (Ed was about to make an eight hour drive to purchase one.)  We were able to save all of the food we’d worked so hard to grow, pick and store, while many people lost all of their frozen food.  Again, we were so blessed!

our former pastor’s home

Thankfully, our power was restored, late Monday afternoon, less than twenty-four hours after we lost it.  Our youngest son’s power was restored about nine o’clock Monday night, so they went home.  Our oldest son’s power was restored sometime after bedtime, on Monday night, so they went home yesterday.

Some folks in our area are still without power (four days/nights and counting), because so many trees are down in our area. Many roads are still blocked by fallen trees, so school has been cancelled for the week.  A lot of people sustained damage to their homes or vehicles, but it could have been so much worse.  In most cases, the majority of trees fell away from homes.  What a blessing!

Speaking of blessings, the two people in the picture, below, ‘tied the knot’, fifty-three years ago, today, when they were really just ‘babes’.  Today, they’re still together, and going strong!  I’d like to send special wishes to my brother and his wife (who’s always been like a sister to me).

Happy Anniversary guys! I love y’all and hope you have a great day!

53 years and counting…