Ike's Bytes

Wow! This has been quite the last couple of weeks. I have defiantly been humbled. The Lord had a plan for us, and if we forget this, He, in His infinite wisdom has a way of reminding us. It is our job to accept this His plan, and live in His glory. I have seen His hand in miracles around us everyday. Some are small, others are beyond comprehension. There seems to be devastation all around us, but yet we have been so very blessed to have our family and friends all safe and sound. Here are just a few of the blessings our family has experienced.

We have been so blessed to be able to get to know our neighbors better. We have had both families on each side of us move in the last year and we have really missed them. And, in our fault, not taken the opportunity to get to know our new neighbors. Well, there's nothin' like a hurricane to make fast friends. The day before the hurricane, Jared was very busy getting his subdivision ready and trying to pacify some of his anal homeowners. I thought I would help him out by getting the wood cut for the windows before he got home. After I got the wood and saw out and all ready to go, I noticed my neighbor was trying to cut 3/4 in. plywood with a battery-powered hand saw. Well, I offered my table saw and had to help him feed his wood because it was so heavy. After we got finished, he helped me get all of my windows measured and we were just getting the last piece cut when Jared pulled up. I was very grateful. He then gave his left over hurricane clips. Another neighbor graciously let us use his big ladder to put up the second story boards. Then we were able to return the favor with a piece of plywood he needed for his last window. One neighbor gave us ice and we had wood left over we shared with him. When one neighbor got a generator, he so kindly let us plug in our deep freeze. It would have been a huge expense if we had lost all of the food in freezer. Then when we got power, and they still didn't, we let them plug into our electricity. These are just the examples in our little lives. I witnessed God's children pulling together all over the community. Do you think this was part of his plan? Don't have to think about it too long do you? We appreciated all of our friends and neighbors who helped us out. Lynette and Jack, thanks for the offer to let us bring a freezer over, and storing our stuff in the interim. (also, thanks for the bread.)

Dan and Cheryl. you guys were very patient with us and our laundry episode. (We had every towel in the house wet from trying to keep the wind driven rain out. Cheryl helped me hand wash literally a ton of them. Finally Dan got water and we were able to wash them at his apartment...and have a place to sleep. Another great evacuation story with my great sis.)
Janine and Kyle, coming to check on us.
And to those I'm sure I forgot.

Next, when else can a mom have such a great opportunity to teach her children about serving other children of God. The girls were so excited to tell Jared where they had worked each day. They were troopers and worked so hard. Kayla was working right along with those boys we worked with one day. (Thanks, Mel, for the great lunch!) I was very proud of all of them.

And lastly, how could we have made it through the last week if the Lord had not blessed us with exceptional weather. When is it ever in the low eighties and low sixties in September? Never, except when it is part of the Lord's plan to help us get through this trying time. Please remind me of this when I start to complain about the Texas weather. I get so grouchy when it is hot and humid. I really don't know how we could have made it without the power and no AC. Not to mention, it would have made it so difficult to get the work done outside we needed to. It was beautiful weather.

It has been so uplifting to ponder and reflect all that our family has experienced and hopefully I will integrate what I have learned into my life.