A Lunch Date!

Here is Colton and his good friend, Grace, at our 1st Chick-fil-A outing since Ike!

Life is just so much better in the hand of a good friend!

Happy 9th birthday, Andrew!

In the middle of our Ike recovery we took time out to celebrate our favorite 9 year old! He had a few friends over for a Book Party! We had lots of fun making book marks, book bags, building book castles, blind folded building of towers, a fun character name game, and a book exchange. Of course we indulged in pizza, skittles, pretzels, and brownie sundaes! It was the easiest cake this year since Andrew doesn't like cake... we baked a pan of brownies instead!

You are so special, Andrew! God blesses us with you and your many gifts each day! We love you!

What Hurricane Ike Left...

Here are just a few of the pics that spoke to me...

1. The Space McDonalds that we frequent

2. Before and after shot of Crystal Beach

3. Kemah Lighthouse district

4. Kemah rides

5. Hwy. 45 about 15 min. from our home

Here is the most extensive grouping of pics from Ike that I have seen. You have to have some patience since some of the pics are slow to come up.

http://www.tpicks.com/pictures%20people%20have%20sent%20me.html

Still seems unbelievable! But God is good...

Post Ike... What do we do now?

How do you come home from an evacuation and just pick up where you left off? Ike came and took so much from everyone. He stole two weeks and much more from so many that were in his path. I have been trying to deal with life after Ike and it has been tough. I struggle with why we were ok through the storm and so many were not... their homes were damaged, or they lost everything, or they lost their job, or they couldn't come home because they didn't have power, or they were working tirelessly to help others, etc... We can't even go out to eat because some of our favorite places have lost power or worse. There's no going to the beach right now and no heading to Kemah for lunch and rides. We were looking forward to the Balloonar Liftoff that is held each year and JSC... canceled this year. Tom and I had a hard time coming back from Ike and our communication took a huge hit. Colton was a screaming mess for about a week because he was feeding off me. Braden was extra loud and crazy which only intensified everything! So... I began to pray (don't get me wrong, I had been praying the whole time and God answered our prayers for safety and keeping our home safe). Now my prayer was... use us Lord... we have power, our health, and all our stuff... use us. And he did!!! Be careful what you pray for! :)

As I was taking the kids to the park I stopped to talk to my neighbor and he told me the unforgettable story of a former worker of his and his family from San Leon who had lost everything and were still living in their uninhabitable home. My neighbor and his wife took this family in. So, after I got home from the park I told the kids and we went through their toys, books, games, etc... and filled a box for this family. I sent out e-mail to my MOMS group, small group and a few other friends for clothing needs and things stated to trickle in. The next morning I was trying to regroup our lives and head to the grocery store. Tom called telling me to get some ice and not to get anything frozen because a HUGE extended family from Galveston had just moved into the rental home on our other side and we will be holding all their food. This family had 10 homes effected because of Ike and most of their homes will have to be bulldozed. Our front room looks like Good Will as we are accepting things from friends to bless both of these families.

Thank you God for blessing us so we can be a blessing to others!

Ike not only brought destruction, he brought change... change in the way we see our neighbors, change in our priorities, change in our attitudes and thoughts, change in our lifestyle (some more so than others). Normally I don't like change, but when I see neighbors connecting, friends taking time to get together and talk all this Ike mess through, offers to help clean up, donations coming in, children making new friends, encouraging words, people taking time to listen to others, etc... I don't mind change this time around.

Thanks Ike for bringing us new neighbors who are showing us daily how to praise you in the storm, thanks Ike for the blessing of friendship for my boys from Brandon (new neighbor from Galveston), thanks Ike for friendships that have gotten stronger as we rode this storm out together, thanks Ike for a church who has taught us how to go out and BE CHURCH, not just DO CHURCH every Sunday, thanks Ike for Ang and the spontaneous and much needed play date at her home, thanks Ike for creating all sort of ways that Tom and I can teach our children to be a blessing to others with the their friendship, time, and belongings, thanks Ike for tearing down ugly signs and trees that will be replaced with new ones, thanks Ike for the countless people who are sacrificing daily to help Houston get back on their feet, thanks Ike for more time with friends since school was out, and thanks Ike that church was canceled Sunday morning so we could worship with our small group at the Swiggards.

We continue to Praise you, Lord, in the storm...

Returning Home after Ike...

After holding a spontaneous church service in Grandma and Grandpa Bleam's living room, we packed up and headed home. We were going knowing there was no power and I wasn't handling things well... Praise God again when our cell phone worked for a minute and we called home and heard my voice on our answering machine! We have power!!! We got separated from the Swiggards and since Tom and Scott went home hours after the storm had passed to unload our fridges and freezers, we didn't have much gas. I was a nervous wreck yet again, but God continued to guide and bless our decisions and we made it home just fine.

To see huge signs down, windows blown out, huge trees uprooted, mile long lines for gas and ice, common sights seen every day all boarded up... puts you in a really different world. Knowing full well God's power and plan we give him all glory and honor for truly sparing our community. Though there is vast devastation around us in all coastal communities, most things around here in our small corner of the world have minimal damage. Nothing that can't be fixed. We are home safe and sound with power and the boys are enjoying time at home with all their things with less stress than the past several days. I feel in la la land with all the devastation around and yet all is fine at our home. I have checked on all friends and our small group and everyone fared well. Some better than others. We have opened our home for anyone who needs a place to recharge, do laundry, get a bite, or sleep. So far we have only had the Swiggards who still do not have power. Tom's back is a mess from putting up the storm shutters and I am feeling so exhausted! The schools are closed until further notice. We haven't ventured out yet, but hear things are slowly coming open here and there. Most friends will stay evacuated until they know they have power. Our church suffered some damage, but again nothing that can't be fixed. We'll probably put together another spontaneous worship service somewhere since there will be no church services on Sunday. I'm so thankful that things worked out the way they did. Our friend, John the storm chaser, was down here the whole time and said, "The devastation in Chambers county (e.g. Crystal Beach) resembles that of Katrina. Certainly, a shift 30 miles further west in the landfall point and Houston would of had serious trouble much beyond the extended inconvenienced (no power, etc.) most are currently experiencing. We can be very thankful."

I am so thankful today for countless things and especially the cool front that is here now with highs in the mid 80's and lows in the mid 60's and I'm praising God in the storm! :)

Evacuees again...

Tom finished boarding up our home, took a bike ride around the neighborhood, got a good night's sleep and then met up with Karen's husband, Scott, to head up to Huntsville. Tom really wanted to "ride the storm out", but I really wanted him to be with the family. We were so happy when they arrived! Karen and I were pretty much nervous the whole time and glued to the Weather Station. We were so concerned about the storm surge and had realized what a massive storm Ike was! The guys took the kids to the park while we stressed some more and got out maps and had lots of conversations. Meanwhile the kids had a great time playing game boys, drawing, playing games, watching the deer in the back yard, watching movies, eating, playing with the 3 dogs, etc... We even went to this little movie rental/pizza joint for dinner and met the owners of Charolina Creek Christian Camp. This is the camp where LSA classes go on class retreats. How awesome God is when he plants people like that in your path. I got about 4 hrs. of sleep on Friday night. I got up at 2 a.m. slept off and on till 3, got up and read the Bible until 4 a.m. spending a lot of time reading Psalm 20 - 25, tried to sleep again until 5 when I realized Grandma and Grandpa were up! Down I went to watch the Weather Channel again... The nerves and stress were unreal! To have no control... Jeremiah 29:11 kept running in my mind..."For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." We lost power in Huntsville about 5:30 a.m. Although Grandpa Bleam had generators hooked up to the fridge, TV, and eventually a window unit, it was HOT! Poor Colton was running around in his diaper and his little head was drenched! Things were getting a little more tense at the house, but we all fared well. We had contact with family and friends when our cell phones worked. Praise God our home was spared and we just needed to figure out what to do next... Now the question was, when will the power be on at home?

A shift in priorities...

Last Wednesday began as any normal day would... get up early to get ready, help the boys with lunches, breakfast, spikey hair for Braden, etc... Then Colton and I were off to school for a Room Mom meeting. After that we headed to HEB for our regular weekly grocery shopping. Except this trip I had Hurricane Ike in the back of my mind and picked up 4 gallons of water and extra batteries along with milk, bread, cheese, etc... Late afternoon, calls started going around with friends with the million dollar question... What are your plans? I even tried to take a nap with Colton since the stress was building and I was trying to escape. After two National Weather Updates having Ike heading closer and closer, most of us decided to evacuate. Tom and I were still unsure and flashbacks of Rita were unnerving. I talked with my friend, Karen, and we decided to pack for 3 days and not really worry about all our prized possessions. Tom started to put the storm shutters up and I tried to get the boys to bed on time since they were to have school the next day. Tom and I tried to get a good night's sleep. Thankfully so... School was canceled at 5:45 a.m. on Thurs. morning and we decided to load up the boys and our stuff and caravan with Karen and the girls to Karen's parent's home in Huntsville, TX. We left about 9:30 and made 3 short stops. The boys were awesome (you will notice all 3 boys in the van eyes glued to the DVD player I bought from a friend, thanks Charlotte!), and we made it there without any problems. You can imagine my nerves, especially driving by myself and leaving Tom. Every time the traffic would back up my heart would stop and I just kept saying to God, "I just can't do this again..." Just at that moment traffic would move on and we made good time. We made it safely to Grandma and Grandpa Bleam's! Praise God it was not a repeat of our Rita evacuation! :)

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you." Psalm 56:3

Lunch Bunch!

For years I have watched my mother-in-law talk about and enjoy her Lunch Bunch month after month... So, last year I decided to get some friends together and start our own version of Lunch Bunch! It was wonderful and such a blessing! Thanks to Grandma Barb watching some of our kids that weren't in school yet, we were able to go out to eat the 1st Friday of every month during the school year! So, now we have added a few friends and this is the start of our 2nd year! Yea! I dearly love these amazing women of God! They bless me, challenge me, inspire me, love me, and make me laugh. I hosted this month at Laura's Cafe, a quaint little ladies lunch place, and had a rose for everyone at their place! I just love this kind of thing! :)

"Be completely humble and gentle: be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

Happy birthday, Lauren!

Thankfully we didn't have to evacuate for Hurricane Gustav and we were able to go to the Swiggard's home to celebrate Lauren's 9th birthday! I can't believe she is 9... that means Andrew is right around the corner... It ended up being a sunny, beautiful day, with a nice breeze. My boys always love to go to their house! This time they enjoyed swimming, ping pong, watching "Camp Rock" in the garage room while eating YUMMY pizza and eating the cleaver, HUGE cookie/ice cream cake! What a blessing it is to celebrate with friends!

Braden had fun with Emma, Colton loves Miss Jenna, and Andrew had all sorts of fun with the pool whale! :)

Spontaneous Pajama Party!

While I was fretting over Gustav on the phone with Karen and Ang (thanks girls!) on Friday night... Andrew, Braden, and Colton ran upstairs got on their PJ's, did their bedtime routine, grabbed their blankets, pillows, sleeping friends, and Colton got his pacie. Then the made themselves at home and created their own little Pajama Party while they had a ball watching the old "Speed Racer" shows (thanks Candi for letting us borrow your DVD!)! It touched my heart to watch them take care of each other and turn just an ordinary night into a night of brotherly fun! :)

When we watch our children growing in love for each other and enjoying being together, it is in those moments that God is blessing and filling our hearts so we can endure the more difficult moments. :)

Take me out to the ballgame!

We had a great night at Minute Maid Park on Saturday night! Thanks Scott and Karen for the tickets! We have a tradition of getting there for batting practice and watching from our seats, heading off to the Squeeze Play kid area for a while, get something to eat, head back to our seats and eat while we watch the game, go back for more kid fun, watch more of the game, take a family pic, and then head home. It is great!

Where else can you eat a ginormous hot dog and sing "Deep in the Heart of Texas"?

Andrew loved the splatting cage and having his team WIN! Braden loved seeing his friend from school and climbing in the train. Colton would let out the loudest scream/squeal every time the fans cheered! He also had fun with the camera (see the silly one of me above). We all like to see the train move when the Astros get a home run, although when they play the Cardinals, we don't really like it! :)

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24

Puzzles and Spikes

Colton is SO into puzzles these days! He gets one out of the basket and quietly takes it to the table and works on it for a long time until it is complete! Sometimes he asks for help. He is so fun! He is also WAY into spiky hair, just like big brother, Braden! He loves it! I think it looks silly, but he wants his "spikes"! :)

Thanks, God, for puzzles and Spiker hair gel so my boys don't lose their spikes! :)