Surviving the Hurricane

Two of our children, Son #1 and Son # 4, and their families live near the Texas coast and both sons sent their wives and children (four of our seven grandchildren) to stay with us several days before Ike made up its mind where it was going ashore. My sister and daughter-in-law and her two grandchildren live near Houston, but they elected to stay put for the hurricane--otherwise, we might have had them here also. What a grand party that would have been!

We had fun while everyone was here! The first morning Miss Ella Bella woke up and climbed into bed with Aunt Tammy and a bag of books to read. Then she helped Granddaddy feed the deer before breakfast.

We decided to go to the zoo and met Miss Ella Bella's best friend (and mother) there. We visited the animals, oldest grandchild helped with youngest grandchild while some of us rode the train.

Back home, Miss Ella Bella wanted to have her own "glubs" so she could help Granddaddy work. He put her to work pounding nails into an old piece of wood while he helped Grandson #1 get a bike ready to ride. And Aunt Tammy got some quality time with her youngest nephew. We ended the day with cousins watching a movie together.

That night was interesting because Grandson #1 began sneezing and having chills and fever and Miss Ella Bella threw up most of the night, so the mothers and grandmother did not get much sleep. However, Miss Ella Bella was completely recovered by morning and Grandson #1 was relegated to a bedroom and with the TV for most of the day. The rest of us had some shopping excursions and fathers joined us to wait out the storm. We spent the evening glued to the various TV reports about the storm, wondering what it would do and whether property would be damaged.

I am happy to report that the hurricane completely missed the areas where our sons live but went right over my sister's house with no apparent damage. Thus our family hurricane watch was over this morning and both families began making plans for a quick return to their homes and lives, leaving us with a quiet house again. I am thankful that we all had this time together and even more thankful that everyone is okay!

I reminded my children that it is these events that make the stories that they will tell and retell over the years.

Hurricanes

I am about tired of hurricanes! We have had way too many threaten the gulf coast where many of our relative live this year! The first one ruined my vacation to one of my favorite beaches where hubby was supposed to attend a conference, the next one made us uneasy while we kept one eye on the Weather Channel during a family gathering, and this current one cannot make up its mind which direction it is going to take. Therefore the phone lines are busy, busy with friends and relatives who live near the coast calling about the situation.

These storms have a hard time making up their minds where they want to come ashore and keep coastal residents on edge through August and September with their fickle ways. We residents farther inland prepare for evacuees and just hope for the rain that they might bring to our parched land in this drought-ridden area. So far the rains have not come, but we pray that this one will bring rain--not tornadoes, strong winds or flooding.

Oops! Time to run listen to the Weather Channel's latest update. This could drive me nuts before hurricane season is over! And I must put clean sheets on the beds for daughter-in-law #3 and two children who are evacuating in our direction tomorrow. Perhaps others will follow. Gotta fix a few casseroles for the freezer tomorrow and stock up on snacks and juice for the young 'uns!