Just Catching Up

It seems like it's been forever since I've been able to post. But I guess the old expression "Better Late Than Never" can apply here.

So much has been happening and not happening. It seemed that forever nothing was happening. Schools and businesses were closed due to the lack of power. However, every day a few more grocery stores and gas stations began slowly but surely reopening as power was restored. Equally, lawns and streets slowly began being cleared and a sense of normalcy returning.

God blessed us that first week and brought a "cool front" - that basically means the temps stayed below 90 but below 90 can be a wonderful thing. Unfortunately by the end of the first week the temperatures were creeping back to the upper 80s/low 90s. With the increase in the temperature came decreases in patience.

We returned to the land of civilized human beings on Monday when the power was restored. Woo Hoo! Tuesday volleyball returned. Homeschool co-op started back today in a temporary location. Life for us not severely affected by the storm is really almost back to normal.

We have all seen the graphic images on the television and heard the rumors of all kinds of disasters--they are everywhere you turn. And please understand I am in no way trying to diminish the losses of some, but for those of you not living here please recognize that the media is reporting the worst cases. Were there gas lines? Yes, for the first few days. Are there some homes completely destroyed? Yes, some but not the majority. Most people I have spoke to have had similar damage to ours--lost fences and trees. Some have roof damage which led to isolate water damage inside. But few had a complete loss.

The rainbow in all this is the spirit of compassion and kindredship. Neighbors helping neighbors. People helping complete strangers. Everywhere you turn you see and hear the stories of help that has been occuring. It gives you a warm fuzzy inside. Sometimes the help is in unrecognized ways. In Bible class last Sunday, Kouba was talking how he was disappointed that his son was not "excited" about helping others clear limbs and such. I reminded him that God gave each of us different gifts and talents and expects us to use them to glorify him in that way. Sometimes we as parents forget that God knows better than we do and we get frustrated because our children aren't doing what *we* think is best. Just a reminder.

Hope y'all are all well and good. Remember to hug your children today and don't forget to tell them you love them. Remember to let their gifts shine in their way.

Betty

Southern Hospitality

I have bittersweet emotions at this moment. I am sitting in the hotel room in Biloxi thinking of the many life-changing events of the last few days--some good, some not so good.

I must say that the people of Biloxi have been wonderful whether they knew it or not. In addition to Wal-Mart and Radio Shack, we have also had a fantastic experience with the Honda dealership who fixed the radio which quit working because of the Magellan cord that broke in the power point. (I told my darling daughter she really didn't want to have to listen to me sing for 450 miles. She agreed.) There was even the somewhat strange, but very friendly, waiter at Applebee's who I am convinced was hitting on my much-too-young-to-date daughter. These people did not know we were "evacuees" (wow, that's the first time I've thought about that), they were just being themselves. They were just demonstrating true Southern Hospitality.

Think about it the next time you are in a position to help someone or just plain be friendly. You may not know what they are dealing with. A small act of kindness could make a huge difference.

We will be heading home in the morning. We have no electricity, 2 fewer trees, and much less fence. But we have a home in tact as well as a dad/hubby waiting for us. We are truly blessed.

Betty

Wally World

Those of you who know me know how much I despise that mega-conglomerate I refer to as "Wally World". What you may not know is in my 20s I worked part-time for his cousin "Sam". I think I have earned my opinion.

Why, you ask, do I dislike Wally so strongly? I believe they should be sued for deceptive advertising. Their commercials depict a place where people are friendly and helpful. I have yet to find this store. The stores I have been IF you can find an employee they are (1) definitely NOT helpful and (2) incapable of helping even if they wanted.

Typically, I will travel out of my way to patronize their French competitor Target. However, in Biloxi I was unaware of where a Target was so I begrudginly ventured into the "graveyard". You see, in my rush to evacuate I forget to pack my cell phone charger which is a necessity at this time. To my surprise I encountered friendly employees. Not only that I needed help and actually encountered employees who HELPED. Has my vision of Wally World been shattered??? Well, let's not rush to any judgements...

After Wally World I had to go to Radio Shack. You see, as helpful as the employees at Wally were, they did not have what I needed. At Radio Shack we also encountered a HELPFUL employee. Not only did they have what I needed--a new power cord for the Magellan--the employee even got the broken one out of the power point (that's another story). That's true Customer Service.

So, was it an exceptional Wally World or just good, old-fashioned Southern Hospitality I encountered? Judge for yourself but my opinion of the mega-conglomerate has not changed based on one anomoly.

For now, I am happy and in communication with the rest of the world from Biloxi,
Betty

Third Time Is A Charm

My how I despise those words this morning.

As I sit in a hotel room on the beach in Biloxi, Mississippi looking out the window at choppy water and very windy conditions, my thoughts are of home. No, I'm not on a grand, glorious vacation. I am here and not home because Hurricane Ike could not be like his predecessors and stand me up for a date elsewhere. No, he is headed straight for my house. Mine and my friends and family.

Amanda and I chose to go against the grain and travel east playing chicken with Ike. I felt he was still far enough south in the Gulf that we may get weather from some of the outer bands so I wasn't that concerned with going east. The smart part of this is most people were going west or north so we avoided a vast majority of the traffic. However, what would normally be a 7-hour drive was an 11-hour drive. It took 2 hours to get across Baton Rouge, Lousiana. Interesting.

Did I mention Jackie stayed home? Yes, he did. He and Sophie (the dog).

Please pray for all those who did not evacuate. Give thanks that so far the storm has not intensified like predicted. And for those of you home reading this, please be careful.

Betty