A Hurricane of Blessings

Have you ever found yourself too busy with everyday life? Don't you just wish that life would stop for a little while so you can just enjoy being with your family and have nothing else to worry about? I find myself thinking these things. It would be so nice if Todd could just stay home and spend some time with us...It would be so nice if I could have a break from the laundry...It would be nice to have a romantic candlelight dinner with my husband.

Then Ike came. And I, by God's grace, have found so much blessing in this time. I have loved the quiet little moments we have spent together as a family. I have loved the dinners by candlelight. When else can we sit around and work on a puzzle without feeling guilty about all the other things we should be doing instead? Oh darn, I couldn't do laundry because the power is out! Todd was able to stay home from work for an entire week! We went to bed at reasonable times because it was dark and there was nothing to watch on TV! We are so well rested. It's amazing how much better you sleep with no lights shining into the house from the neighbor's house and the street. I don't have to worry about fixing my hair, and it's ok that it looks bad. Everyone's hair is like that. They don't have a hair dryer either!

Then we were worried that it would be too hot without our beloved AC. God sent us a nice cool front. It was so beautiful!

We did start to run out of things to eat, so we took off and drove to Tyler to visit Grandma and Grandpa Perry. When else can our family just pack up and leave in the middle of the week? I see it all as blessings. People are out talking to their neighbors and taking walks together. I didn't have to cook dinner for an entire week. And just think how low our electricity bill will be next month! My refrigerator hasn't been this clean since the day we bought it. I was forced to clean it all out when the power didn't come back and everything went bad. I needed a reason to give it a good scrubbing. I tend to forget about things like that.

I could go on and on. I really enjoyed this past week. Yes, lots of things were different, and we had to make adjustments, but I think it was really good for us. I thank God for the little break He gave us. I am thankful for the time Todd was able to spend playing with his little boy in the middle of the day. I am thankful that He takes such good care of us and surrounds us with blessings, even in the midst of a storm.

Tyler liked the glow sticks when the power was out!

We went to the zoo while we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa Perry.

Tyler even got to see his Aunt Alicia!

Grandpa "Bamba" and Aunt Alicia swing Tyler

Tyler and Daddy feeding the ducks and fish and turtles.

"Bamba" pushing Tyler on the swing at his house