Train Ride

Last Saturday we went on a fun family outing to a park where an organization of train lovers gives free miniature train rides. I found out about it just through searching the internet for fun, local, free activities for kids! And since Bo LOVES trains, I thought this would be perfect. And really, the day could not have been better!! We left about 9:30 AM and arrived shortly after 10. Since the hurricane we have had some really great weather and this day was no exception. We waited in line for our first ride for about 20 minutes. Talking with others in line, we found out that the line normally stretches out and around the building and you may have to wait for an hour to ride, not to mention that it's usually blazing hot! Because of the hurricane, we had great weather and a much, much shorter wait!! We didn't even have to wait for our second ride! The only thing we didn't get to do was ride the train with the steam engine. I guess we'll have to wait until next month - the free rides are only on the third Saturday of every month.

Power Restored!

After approximately 7 days and 13 hours, our power was restored. And let me say, I don't think I would have lasted much longer. I know that it could have been much worse. And I know that there are still people in Houston without power. Not to mention the state of Galveston island, which is officially "closed" according to a sign we saw today, while traveling on the interstate.

Here's our story...

Robert was out of school on Friday before the storm, and we spent most of the day watching the news and preparing for the hurricane. The winds kicked up around 9 pm with occasional gusts and got worse as the night went on. We put Bo to bed in his crib, but transferred him to his pack 'n play in the hallway around 9. I prepared my sleeping bag in the hallway and laid down around 11:30, getting through 2 songs on my iPod before it died - one preparation I wish I had remembered to make. I woke up occasionally and heard the winds, trying not to let it worry me. I was awoken early by Robert turning on the radio to hear the damage reports, and Bo saying, "I'm ready to get up."

Being in Sugar Land, we were on the calmer side of the storm. By God's grace, our house didn't get damaged. We had a few large branches that were either on the ground or hanging from trees. And a good bit of our fence was blown down.

We spent much of Saturday inside as the winds were still gusting in the morning. Bo and I took a short walk around the block later to look at the damage and just to get out of the house, as Bo was getting a little stir-crazy. We didn't see much damage to houses, just a few trees down some branches down or hanging and lots of leaves and debris. It wasn't until we went out that night that we saw this right outside our neighborhood...



We went to Sam's on Monday to find some ice. But we had to go to two other stores before we found milk, some of the last few jugs, and the bread aisle was completely empty. Tuesday, the big trucks arrived with ice. And Thursday, they had ice, water and MRE's - army meals...which I don't think I'm brave enough to try.

As I said earlier, I was getting closer and closer to the line of "okay, I've had enough". And I did say that I know it could have been much worse. This whole week without electricity actually hasn't been that bad. One reason is that God brought us some cooler weather. We opened some of the windows and enjoyed some cool breezes. We spent some great time outside as a family, since school was canceled for the week for Robert. Bo enjoyed helping Daddy wash the cars and helping Mommy rake the leaves and sticks.



Another reason it was not so bad was the generosity of our Christian brothers and sisters. Saturday, Sunday and Monday we were at different friends' houses grilling out the various meats and seafood that were thawing from everyone's freezers. Tuesday through Thursday we were fed by a local church who opened their doors to the public with free food, air conditioning, free WiFi and plenty of plugs to charge phones, laptops, etc. I really don't know what we would have done without the generosity of these people. I definitely would have come to the "I've had enough" line much, much sooner.

Hurricane Ike

It's 3 PM and we just heard the wind outside for the first time, and I am expecting the rain to start at any minute. It was super nice this morning...sunshine with a nice breeze, around the low 70's. Bo and I went for a walk around the neighborhood. He was enjoying pushing one of his ride-on toys for a little while, but soon was more excited about looking for stop signs and fire hydrants. So I had the pleasure of carrying the thing back home.

There were only a few houses with boards on the windows, but there may be a few more by nightfall. I heard an electric saw up the street when I went out for the mail.

I took a trip to the bank this morning and saw that most of the stores and restaurants were closed...except for Denny's. Robert made a trip to Home Depot, to find that it had closed at 8 AM, so he made his way over to Lowe's for some plastic sheeting. We've gathered some supplies - water, canned goods, flashlights/batteries, a radio, etc., just to be on the safe side. We are expecting to lose power, but I'm not sure for how long. Our biggest concern is flying debris that could damage windows and trees falling on the roof. The wind is expected to be at max 100 mph. It's a category 2 hurricane, as far as I know, right now, and may get up to a category 3. But it's also a very large storm, taking up 80% of the Gulf of Mexico.

This will be my last post until the storm passes. It's expected to make landfall early tomorrow morning (Saturday) between 1 and 3 AM and be gone by Sunday. Pray for the Houston/Sugar Land area. Also pray for those that decided to stay on the coast...I'm afraid they aren't going to make it through this one.

I will update the blog as soon as possible after the storm passes - depending on our power and internet situation. Thanks for your prayers.

Part Two of catching up

So, after moving, we headed to the beach...Destin to be exact. It just so happened that Destin is pretty much a half-way mark between here and where my parents live. So we met in the middle! We had a great vacation with my parents and grandmother. It was a great escape from the mess that we had in our house...so much of an escape that I didn't take any pictures. BUT, before you say that I'm an awful parent for not documenting our vacation, my dad and mom took plenty of pictures...that I'm hoping to get copies of. So, the only one on this computer is of us on the youth beach trip. Anyways, the vacation was just what we needed.

Coming back to a mess of a house was not on our list of "things we are excited about".

Alas, Robert started school and is getting to a place where his body is slowly catching up with his feet. He has been busy, busy, busy! But that is to be expected for a first year teacher. We are slowly adjusting to a school schedule, after being in a ministry schedule for so long.

Another big, new event is that Bo and I started last week at a Children's Day Out program! I am working as the music teacher on Tuesdays and a "floater" on Thursdays. I know, get all your laughs out now. Teaching music to toddlers thru 5 year olds. So, this year I'll be singing a lot of "Jesus Loves Me", "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "This Little Light of Mine". Keep laughing.

So, I am on Robert's computer and thought, "There are probably not any pictures on here I could use for the blog...but let me just check." This is what I found. I think Robert was "practicing" his photo skills for his classes. I had no idea. Sorry, honey, this is too funny.

Fencing or sword fighting with golf club.

Who knows...really.

"I love golf club."


"Me and my golf club are one. He helps me think."

And We're Back!!

Wow. Way too much happening in the last 2 months to give full details, so I've created a time-line...

July 13 - last day of Robert's youth ministry job

July 14 - start packing (probably should have started this sooner)

July 17 - moving guys come for the big stuff, church guys come for the boxes

July 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 - These were long days...

Go back and forth between new home and old apartment (too many times) getting everything else that wasn't previously boxed and moved (pretty much the whole kitchen, plus lots of other random stuff)

Go back and forth between Lowe's, Home Depot and Sears searching for a washing machine, dryer and refrigerator (trying to get a good deal)

Eat at Chik-Fil-A every other day, b/c we had no refrigerator and to take advantage of their free Wi-Fi, b/c we had no internet

Play "The Jungle Book" on the computer (b/c our TV wasn't set up yet) for Bo about a thousand times to keep him entertained and out of the chaotic mess of moving boxes and stuff

Have sweet, sweet friends take Bo off our hands so we could really get some work done

Kill numerous ants, spiders and roaches (the last of these are definitely bigger in Texas)

Clean, disinfect, de-germ, vacuum, mop, Clorox entire house

Have several different "fix-it" guys come by for a broken dishwasher, a broken oven and non-working electrical outlets


So much fun in so little time! And there's more to come...

Here's a random pic to enjoy while I try to find the memory card with all the most recent photos. Robert and Bo blowing bubbles on our old porch.