ike

I can't tell you how much it meant to me to see your comments from the last post. Thank you for holding us in your thoughts and prayers. It's been a long 72 hours.

We hunkered down in Charlie's room on Friday night. The winds in our neighborhood were clocked at 100 mph. It's a terrible, powerless feeling when the wind shakes your house and bends your trees in half. All you can do is pray and breathe.

Steve and I are glad we stayed because it blew one of our locked casement windows open. There would have been a lot of damage to our house had we not been there. Of course, if they had recommended or mandated evacuation for our zip code, we would have been the first to go. They were smart this time and kept the highways open for the people who really needed to evacuate.

My mom and her husband spent Friday night in San Antonio and came back on Saturday. They bought us a generator and that's been great. We still have no power. Yesterday, Steve and I decided that it would be best for me and the kids to head for my dad's house in San Antonio. It was so nice waking up here this morning.

It's going to be a long recovery process. Thanks again for your thoughts and support. 

From our front porch . . .

Steve and Charlie survey the damage on one end of our street . . .

then the other . . . every street looks like this. sadly, some of the trees fell into the houses rather than into the streets.

So much to be thankful for . . .

Comments

[dawnfh]

call me at work - my cell phone is a piece... should i switch to the iphone? ha ha. So, dont try my cell.

[Kelly]

Glad to hear that you are all well and that your house made it through the storm without major damage. My heart goes out to those that have lost so much.

I can so relate to your list, and have been there myself for the past few weeks (no haircut or i-phone, but otherwise, I'm right there with you!). I think it helps to recognize it and share. Takes away the shame/guilt we sometimes feel for not handling all this stuff better... I am loving your CD and feel so lucky to have stumbled on your blog. We are all putting one foot in front of the other...

[nyjlm]

whew- glad to hear from you, been worrying all weekend. The pictures look very familiar- very much like our street after Charley. I hope your power is back sooner rather than later. Hooray for husbands who send us off to air conditioned places- first night or two after the storm aren't bad, then it is oppressive.

[Brené Brown]

That is so true. First night = scary. Second night = adventure. Third night = doors open for slight breeze, mosquitoes biting as you sleep, tired, wet, no clean clothes, can't drink or shower until they know the water is OK. that's when we left. and, believe me . . . I know how absolutely privileged and lucky we are to be able to leave and have somewhere to go. gratitude galore!

[Ronda]

Hi Brené- You've been in my thoughts all weekend... I was relieved to see your post (to know that you and your family are okay). The photos say it all about what you went through. Believe it or not, we felt the aftermath of Ike in Buffalo last night. There were actually a few power outages here, resulting in school closures. That's one powerful storm.

Hang in there!

Ronda

[India J]

So glad to hear you guys are OK - this is the stuff we only ever see in films or on TV - it brings it so close to home via blogs though, as it's almost like we know each other (even though it's my first visit). Good luck with the clearing up - we're to far to offer help, I'm afraid..:)

[Katherine Goodwins]

I saw the reports on the news and was worried for you. We don't get storms quite like that in England, so I can't imagine what it must have been like sitting there listening to it. So glad you and your family are OK. Katherine x

[Shalet]

I'm glad you are all well. I hope the clean-up is safe and smooth.

[The Other Laura]

I'm so happy to hear that you'all made it through the storm okay.

[Carmen]

So glad you and your family are ok.

[Christiane]

Sending happy thoughts and best wishes your way from the (almost) other end of the world. Hang in there and take care. It is good that he (Ike) is gone.

[Jen Lee]

So. Relieved.

[deb]

Glad to know you're all fine.

[Monica]

So great to see that picture of your family. All okay. Will continue to think of you as you clean up and get back into 'normal' life.

[amanda]

So thankful you guys are good. Will be praying no more bang cutting urges overtake you!

[AVZC]

Glad you guys are okay. We are still here (Kirk's fam had a generator). The cold front is really nice. Funny how quick something like this can change the pace of life. It feels totally different. Have a great time in San Antonio! If the AC is not on before the cold front ends, we might be joining you.

[Isle Dance]

Amazing.

[Allison]

I am so glad that you all are ok! I am praying for a speedy recovery for everyone. God bless you and your family.

[krista]

....so glad you all are okay!!

[Jenn Hains]

Wow. The last photo of you and your family almost made me cry. I thought of you when I heard about Ike and kept you in my prayers, as I regularly follow your blog. The photo is interesting because there are all these things torn apart, but there you are with your family - in tact. What blessings.

[jen lemen]

oh, this brings back memories!
hang in there. it's also possible to bake chocolate chip cookies on the grill in post-hurricane conditions, in case the urge overtakes steve back at home.

[phyllis]

so glad to hear you are all safe.

[Linni]

aahhhh...so glad you are safe!
something like this does give perspective?!
Enjoy the stay at your dad's place! xx

[Leanne Wargowsky]

So glad you are ok. Sending positive healing energy to you and all those in the path of Ike. Peace.

[hipmomofboyz]

oh my.....how very scary. I am in San Antonio and we were suppose to get this last weekend and then it turned at the last minute. I'm glad to see you are doing o.k.

[jen gray]

remember how we were talking about natural disasters back in oregon? like the worst that could happen on the coast? and isnt good to know that it can happen and you can survive it and actually find grace and love and community and what really matters on the other side?
i know its hard, and i know its all so very surreal and traumatic, and it takes time to come around from somthing like this,....so snuggle up in the love that surrounds you, and ask for help, and know that in time, all will be well...
much love
jen gray

[Jenny Rebecca]

Your pictures and story sound and look just like ours after Charlie hit Orlando. Not quite as scary 'cause we weren't on the coast, but it sure did wallop our neighborhood. I remember trees down everywhere, cookouts to use up food in the refrigerator, and scavenging for coffee of all things the morning after. A nearby Starbucks that still had power was quite the meeting place. No power for a couple weeks, power trucks streaming in from all sorts of other states. A few weeks later we were headed out of town for something and passed truck after truck finally heading back to their own homes. It was quite overwhelming and I ended up scrawling a big "Thank You" on a piece of paper - we honked at every truck we passed and held the sign up in the window as we went by.
Sending blessings your way!