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

Here We Go Again and Other Ramblings

Well, it seems it was just yesterday we were preparing for our good buddy Eduardo and then he stood us up. So here we are again, quite possibly getting stood up by Gustav. I would let this hurt my ego, but you know, I have a husband and he doesn't appreciate when I cheat on him--especially with a hurricane. So I think I shall just count my blessings and not be offended by being stood up. I realize that hurricanes sometimes take wierd twists and turns, but at this point it would appear we shall only get some rain from Gustav. It just seems really strange to know that the gorgeous weather we are having today will be interrupted in a few hours. Please pray for all those in the path of this storm.

Other ramblings...

The past week has been typically busy. More and more, day by day, I am beginning to believe crazy busy is just normal. Most days I am up at 4:30 and don't get to bed until 10 - 11.

This week brought a new activity to our family--homeschool co-op. Amanda really enjoyed her first day and seems very excited. I, on the other hand, could take-it or leave-it. I am blessed to be a helper in kindergarten to 5th grade PE. There is one young kindergartner who I am convinced will grow up to be either an Olympic sprinter or kick-boxing expert. The story with him went something like this--he ran, we chased, we caught, we attempted to carry back, he kicked. That inspired another darling to try and make her escape but in a much less conspicuous manner--she simply kept slowly backing away. But I felt the most sympathy for the *only girl* in a class of 3rd to 5th grade boys. I understand her not wanting to participate because the game we were playing would involve "touching" a boy. ICK! So my Friday mornings from now until next May shall be filled with joyful children so happy to be in PE.

I have not decided yet to do or not to do the San Antonio marathon. Training these past two weeks has been a struggle at best (unless you count chasing escaping kindergarteners). Or shall I say finding the time to train has been the struggle. When I am training it's tough but do-able. I believe there is still a chance to register but after today the fees go up. I have, however, found many 5Ks in the area to register for.

We started a new Bible class in church this morning and it was great! Our youth minister--Kouba--is trading places and teaching the parents of the youth instead of the youth. He started out by mentioning the response of one of the youth which was something like "Hey...you just have to teach them, I have to live with them." I must remember to find out if it was my darling teenager who said that. So Kouba's lesson included listing the 5 problems we have in our lives. Next we were to list 5 problems our teens have in their life. I was struggling to come up with 5 in my life, much less my daughter's. Ultimately what I got out of the lesson is questioning how serious the day to day struggles we face are. Is it really that tough? I know it certainly seems ginormous at the time, but in looking back was it really that much. We should all--especially me--remember that if we allow him to, God will take care of all our challenges and we don't have to worry one iota. Easy today, tough tomorrow. I gotta work on that. Thanks Kouba!

BTW, did I mention that Kouba had a birthday a few days ago? Yes, my darling daughter and 2 of her friends (including Kouba's daughter) "decorated" his house in honor of that birthday. Isn't it great to know you are loved????

More ramblings later, but for now here's to less of me!
Betty

"Wii Hoo"

Okay, I know it's supposed to be "Woo Hoo" but in this case I think "Wii Hoo" fits better. I am excited and proud to announce that after weeks of constant driving all around, we have finally acquired the coveted "Wii Fit". Wii Hoo!!! Thanks to my good buddy Pam for her assistance we are now working out on the Wii Fit.

I may not say this in a few months, but for right now it's pretty fun. It has 4 categories of exercises you can work out on--Yoga, Strength Builder, Aerobics, and Balance. We didn't get started until late last night so we haven't been through it all so I will have to keep you posted.

It will give you an assesment of your current body--balance, BMI, weight--and then allow you to set goals for how much you want to gain/lose and in what time frame. It will continue to track these for you and let you know your progress.

I'll report more as we use it more but for now here's to less of me!

Betty

PS. Thanks again Pam!

Are My Ears Deformed? Observations about Walking

Here are a few observations I have made while training/walking...

1) Walking on a treadmill - I like it for the fact that I can control my pace. I don't like it because it's the same scenery. Even with the televisions on the treadmill at the Y, I find myself paying too much attention to the "clock" to see how much longer I have to go.

2) Walking on the street - I like the scenery that is constantly changing. I don't find myself watching my watch. I also feel that the short goals of "if I can just make it to the next turn" help the time go faster. The downside is the obvious traffic to watch out for, as well as the dogs.

3) Walking on the street, in the elements, is only moderately more sweaty than being inside the Y, unless it starts raining.

4) Rain on your walk is good if it's the last mile because it cools you off. Rain on your first mile only makes for steam and more heat.

And finally,

5) Are my ears deformed? I can't see to keep the earbuds to my iPod in my ear. This is another reason walking on the street is more appealing. I seem to be so focused on trying to keep the things in my ears I lose my sense of time and it doesn't really seem like I was out there as long as I was. Any suggestions???

I still have not decided to do the San Antonio Half Marathon but I have not ruled it out either. Still thinking!

Here's to less of me in DC!
Betty