Summer goes out like a lion

Our weekend in Ohio started out hot and muggy, and ended up suffering the tail end of Ike. Saturday, I was itching to decorate for fall, despite the 90 degree heat. My MIL and I went mum-shopping, and found a nursery selling gorgeous mums 3 for $15! I only bought two for me, and I'm dying to get some more. Anyway, here is my front porch, after my hard work (and before Ike arrived).



Saturday night, Catherine's girls came to have a sleep over with Isabel. They get along wonderfully, and we had so much fun together. We went to the park and hiked and played, then got ice cream, then came home and played some more. Don't even ask what they are doing with this doll...I didn't even want to know...

Sunday morning after church, we drove to take the girls home. The winds were picking up on our way there, and by the time we arrived, Catherine's street was closed due to downed power lines! We stayed for about thirty minutes, until it was clear that Ike had arrived, and we needed to get home. Driving out of their neighborhood was like being in a war zone...trees and power lines down everywhere, huge trees being split in two right before our eyes...it was scary. The kids were freaking out, Gabe in the backseat declaring "We're gonna die!" (Where has he heard that one? Probably from his older brother.) When we finally got home, we were without power, and the winds were ferocious, up to 72mph we discovered later. I had just stocked our freezer and fridge with groceries on Friday, and I was stressing that all that food would be a loss. Thank God, we had power back on by 6:30p. We are the lucky ones. A few lost shingles, a piece of siding, and lots of broken trees are all that we have to contend with today. My two sisters and my mom are still without power, as is Catherine and Becky's mom, and so many others. Duke Energy had sent a lot of linemen down to Texas to help, so they are very shortstaffed and working hard to get the 570,000 people without power back online.

Just this small taste of Ike has got me feeling so bad for the people down south who are suffering so much more. I have been praying like a madwoman, both for being spared here, and for the people I don't even know who are struggling to make it through their days. Please join me in praying for quick restoration of power, protection against the dangers that come with lack of power (fires, lack of emergency assistance, etc.). God knows their needs; let's just help plead their case.

Goodbye and good riddance, Ike. I didn't like your namesake, and I don't like you.