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! :)