Then, the storm comes. For hours you wonder if your roof will stay in place, will that giant tree crash through the ceiling? Is that a tornado I hear? What about storm surge, will we be under water?
In all honesty though, it's the after storm that is the most difficult, and hardest to prepare for. Days without power, unrelenting heat, panic at the stillness of the night, fear or looters, fights over gasoline, water and food. How is everyone else? Are their homes ok? Is the family safe? What are the army choppers for? Where is the help? Do I need help? Relief that the tree didn't crash through the home. The strange need to conserve everything....gas, food, water, energy. How do you help? Where do you start? What if they turn off the water? How will I deal with sewage?
It's a lot of stress and strain on your mind and body. I truly don't know how people can make it through without the foundation of Christ. I would be lost.
So, even in tough times, we look for laughter, for joy, for a chance to be human and feel something beyond panic. That's what this post is for. To remember the funny moments. The happy times. The little blessings. The goodness that comes even in the wake of stress.
This is a funny story. About four days before the storm, I wanted to pick up just a few more things, so we went to the store. As we got out of the car, Nathan grabbed a paper airplane he had made that morning. He said, "I'm going to make a dollar while we are shopping." Half listening, I smiled and kept walking. While looking at beef jerky, there were two big men in the aisle with us. Nathan went up to them and said, "Hello, would you like to buy my paper airplane for a dollar?" Hahahaha! What?!? The guys were super sweet and had a fun little conversation with him, but ultimately, they passed. Not to be too discouraged, he went up to a lady on the next aisle and asked her the same thing. At this point, I remembered what he said when we pulled up to the store and I started laughing. I said, ' Oh my goodness, how funny! When we got out of the car, he told me he was going to make a dollar while shopping and sell his paper airplane, but I didn't really believe him.' She smiled and said to him, "Of course I want to buy your airplane!" Pulled a dollar out of her wallet and the swapped goods. hahaha. What a little stinker (and entrepreneur) ! He was so proud of his dollar!
Two days before the storm, we were fully prepared, there was really nothing else for me to do. So, we attempted to do school work. We read about Ohio, one of my favorite states. However, Nathan is a Michigan fan (we still love him, but he's lost his inheritance....hahaha, just kidding!). Anyway, he was not happy to have a coloring page for Ohio. So, he scribbled Blue and Gold all over it....the colors for the University of Michigan.
Apparently, the outward calm was rubbing off on the girls, because the day before the hurricane they thought it would be a good idea to make chocolate covered strawberries. Inside, I was far more stressed than they realized...I ate several of those strawberries! haha.
Just a funny meme going around Facebook.
The day after the storm, we were helping a friend clean up their fallen trees. The kids and I were taking a break out by the road when a man pulled up and offered us free pierogis. He owns Taste of Poland in Bonita. These were a blessing in disguise and a yummy treat for dinner.
I was able to fry them up on the grill that night.
OK, here is where things get weird. The storm brought out a love for lizards in Nathan. He's always enjoyed catching them (a right of passage for children in Florida). But, he started doing some weird (and funny) things with them.
Lizard earring anyone?
Yep, a lizard nose ring. GROSS!!!! hahaha
I can't wait to show this to his future wife, hehehe.
Friday afternoon, we decided to take a little reprieve and night to clean up in Pt. Charlotte. I took 8 bags of dirty laundry to Jeremy's granny's and aunt's house. We all got a hot shower, and a good night sleep...and clean clothes!
I also snuck away for a breakfast at Chick Fil A, and a cookie for later. It was amazing!
This is something the kids and I have watched videos on, but never seen in real life. It's a floating fire ant pile! Don't worry....no one got bit or disturbed it...but it was cool to see!
One day, we spent the morning helping Ya ya and Papa clean up their yard. As a 'thank you', they treated the kids and I to CiCi's Pizza. If you know anything about this sweet girl....she LOVES a good buffet! She earned it too! Hannah earned the nickname "Mule" over these past few weeks. She worked SO incredibly hard, and I never heard her complain once. She was quick to volunteer, and did her best.
We had to take a game break. My skeleton is doing planks. We joked that this is how we felt, while waiting for power to come back on.
The grill. Ugh. I really don't like grills. They have always scared me. I heard about an ESPN anchor who was severely burned when a grill blew up in her face. I've never liked using the grill or turning it on for that matter. I got fairly used to using the side burner. We had some yummy dinners including tacos, fajitas, perogies, chicken and noodles, etc. One night, I thought I'd get fancy and make hamburgers. I had been doing "hard things" all week, and thought I would also attempt to conquer my fear of lighing the grill.
It.did.not.go.well.
That darn thing blew up in my face. Apparently, I left the thing open too long (it was like 5 seconds) because I was having a hard time getting my lighter to light. I stuck it down in there, lit the lighter, and flames and heat came barreling up at me. I screamed, leaned backward and ran away. I remember seeing blue flames, and heat all around my face and head. I didn't know what had happened or if I was hurt. I fell to the ground in my backyard and just started crying. I was ok. I smelled a bit of burnt hair...but there was nothing wrong with me. I was not burned. However, I was very scared. It was the first time I had cried since everything had happened. I probably just needed to let it out.
Although I am safe, I have gone back to my old ways, and refuse to ever light a grill again. As Nicole said, it is my "ex grill-friend" haha.
Nicole LOVED that she got to carry around candles. She bought this little candle holder at a thrift store about a month earlier. She felt very pioneer-ish to be able to use it this past week. I do think it got old though.
This is what nearly two weeks of not being able to drink your water looks like. Our recycle bin was filled to the brim with plastic water bottles.
First car wash after the storm. Ahhh...it felt good.
These guys were the best site of all though. It took 10 days before we got power, but we knew hundreds, probably thousands, of crews were working night and day to help us.
Just a few moments after we got power, a friends snapped this beautiful sunset.
This was a power company staging area. Hundreds of trucks and their crew rested here each day. THANK YOU!!!!
