Friday, October 7, 2016

I am thankful

 

Good morning everyone ~ It is 7:08 EST and I am having my second cup of coffee this morning. My area is now under Tropical Storm warning, and the winds have really subsided. Did not lose electricity.

After I posted last night, the winds and rain picked up and lasted until around 4 this morning. Not like Frances, Jeanne or Wilma, but still scary, especially when you hear slams, thuds, bangs. I am nervous about going out and seeing how everything looks this morning. I hope no fencing is down, that the barn girls and barn are just fine, and other things are well too.

My stomach was a wreck yesterday from nerves. In spite of the wonderful, uplifting verses I had post yesterday morning, I had a panic attack around 11 a.m., after seeing the Accu-weather prediction of Matthew being a cat. 4 hurricane and making landfall north of here. I called my dear brother-in-law and he said they had just watched the latest weather report on TV, and the storm had veered a little to the east, which was a relief and an answer to prayer.  (I had been praying that God would blow the storm or make a hand motion and it would move to the east, and He did. WOW!) Todd told me he thought I would be fine, not that he had a crystal ball, but that’s what he thought. He and Sue had gone to Miami to stay with their daughter. Their home had been predicted to have the eye come right over them so they left. I hope their place survived.

I calmed a tad after talking to him. Being here by myself, is rather unnerving that’s for sure. It was good hearing his voice.

So with the storm staying more to the east, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. It sounded really awful in here though. I couldn’t sleep in my bed because it was just too stressful with the noise of the wind, so I took pillows, grabbed a sheet from the linen closet, and made a makeshift bed with the love seat. I put a stool with a pillow on it kittycorner at the end for a place for my lower legs/feet to rest. I had my pillow at my head bunched up to block noise to my ears from the wind. I put the a.c. on constant fan instead of energy saving mode, that way there would be some continual white noise. It was quieter in the living room and Miss Tork and I did get some sleep. She slept on my chest/stomach, bless her heart.

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I turned on some LED battery operated Christmas lights in case we lost electricity, which we didn’t.

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10-06-storm-lights

Ok, I got brave, got dressed, grabbed my camera and headed outside. I am truly blessed and thankful to God for protecting me and not giving me more than I can handle. I just wanted to bawl in thanksgiving, but didn’t, I said thank you, thank you instead and right now I have a huge smile on my face. I made it through this first hurricane without my dear husband. Yay! I did what I had to do to prepare.

There are some bent over flowers, a downed dead limb from the avocado tree which was the huge bang I heard last night as it hit some stored galvanized empty tanks. The biggest deal that I didn’t hear, except maybe the big section from the top of a dead pine tree that was the thud I heard/felt, at the back of the driveway along with some of the neighbor’s overgrown hibiscus tree limbs. I’ll cut up what I can and get help for the rest.

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Even though I had my panic attack, and was fearful, God did not leave me. He was right with me through it all.  I even had a dream last night/this morning, about my dear husband being here with this hurricane. Things were a wreck outside and he looked at me with bright, shiny brown eyes and a smile on his face and he said as he hugged me, “it’s just stuff, but, we have Jesus”. Then he said it again, and kissed me on the lips twice and I woke up. I had to get right up and right down the dream so that I wouldn’t forget it.

Rinky, one of my barn girls meowed at me from one of the screened window shelves that are high up in the barn. What a relief! I need to go out and feed them and clean their litter and visit with them.  Bless their little kitty hearts.

I am praying for all effected by this storm, in the Carribean, in Florida and on up the east coast.

Thank you all again for your love and support.

Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady

Small bouquet picked yesterday.

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Birds are singing.

43 comments:

Barbara Barth said...

So happy you are OK. Thought about you this morning as I am scared about my little house in St. Augustine. Came here to check on you and now am smiling. Sending hugs.

Sallysmom said...

So glad to hear things are ok. Take care and don't overdo trying to clean up.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

Went to bed praying it would veer and woke up with the same...I was SURE you'd be without electricity at least but decided to check anyway. Glad it is alright with you today! :)

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

I was thinking of you Lorraine, and I feel good after reading your'report'!

Karen said...

Thank God you are OK. What a night you must have had and how wonderful that Miss Tork stayed with you the entire time. I'm grinning from ear to ear and saying prayers of thankfulness; I pray the hurricane weakens and doesn't do all the damage which was predicted. The dream was beautiful and powerful, I truly believe Mark is watching over you. :-)

Terra said...

I've been praying for you specifically and also for all in the hurricane's path, and like you I asked God to move the storm to the east, over the sea. Yay, you made it through, even with the panic attack. Sweet what your hubby said to you in your dream.

BeachGypsy said...

So glad you made it thru so well! God is good! Now its headed on its way to charleston....

Kennie said...

Oh so relieved and happy to hear that you made it thru okay. Yay!!! Now tonight you can sleep well. :) Love, Kit

Nancy J said...

You have been in my thoughts all day and this morning a huge relief to read your words and know you, Miss Tork and the barn girls are all safe. I am hoping that Matthew does not head out to sea then turn back to inland again. Lots of news on our TV, devastation, huge winds beyond what I could imagine. Those shutters would have kept out a lot of the noise. Do not try and clean up too much today, and help will come for the too heavy stuff. XXX

jerilanders said...

Hurrah! you are brave and safe.. Those kitties probably had a few panic attacks too!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Praise God that He kept you safe through all of this.

Janneke said...

Pffft, that must have been a very unnerving night and also the days before, you must be very tired of it. I'm very glad to learn you are safe and sound and the clean up can wait until somebody is there to help you.
Regards, Janneke

Deb said...

Good to hear you are okay and damage was minimal, and that you didn't lose power. The LED lights were a good idea, in fact a while back I used a 50 percent off Joanns coupon and purchased a small LED light to use for extra light when sewing and when I lose power it gives off some great light. I have bought 2 more each time using the Joanns coupons.

NanaDiana said...

I am so happy you made it through the night. Somehow things are not so scary in the light of day. Panicking is human and even though we trust and believe in God we still panic sometimes because we ARE human.
God bless you- We are praying for everyone in that area. xo Diana

denimflyz said...

Praise the Lord. I prayed, and lit a LED candle for you. I was very stressed for you. I've never been through a hurricane, plenty of tornadoes and horrid electrical thunderstorms. I am so very thankful that you and the furkids are safe.
Hugs my friend.
Denim

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

I thought about you every time I saw the news yesterday. I am thankful that you and your kitties are safe.

I had to start limiting my news viewing yesterday, because they were even starting to make me nervous with all of the hurricane reporting, and I live in the Midwest. I'm not sure if it was yesterday or the day before, but did anyone else see (I believe it was the weather guy) on one of the main cable channels showing the radar images of the hurricane and pointing out that it looked like a giant skull (I think he might have said laughing skull, but when I tried to rewind it to see if that is what I really heard, I hit the wrong button and couldn't get back to it). I didn't think that was necessary. The situation was frightening enough for people in the affected areas without that kind of gruesome imagining.

It was good to see your post here today.

SimplySingleSenior said...

What a relief to see you are ok and had minimal damage. Such a harrowing experience! Thank you for updating us!

Susan said...

Glad you are safe. All is well up,this way, too. Just a lot of branches and moss to pick up.

M.K. said...

FL, I have thought about you as we all wait on this storm, and am SO relieved to hear that it's passed and you are OKAY :) And your home is fine too. And your animals. It's such a comfort to have a pet with you -- just another warm body to be with you. This is a big storm. We are still waiting for it. It will pass out to sea (we hope) and not go over us, but the rain will be significant, and we do get flooding here. Stay safe, and breathe easier now :)

Joy Junktion said...

Great News! I have thought of you a lot the past 24 hours! So thankful that all is well! You did Well, Rainey!! Bless you, Cindy xo

GretchenJoanna said...

Thank the Lord! I love that He just moved that storm over a tad eastward :-) He didn't get fazed at all by your panic attack, either. Sending love....

Celestina Marie said...

So glad all is okay and you did fine. What a thankful blessing this is and to see the pretty bouquet following the storm, is incredible.
Smiling right with you!! Hugs for a sweet weekend. xo

lil red hen said...

Such a relief to know you're o.k.! Don't try to do all the cleaning in a short amount of time; it will wait for you. :)

L. D. said...

I was very concerned about the plum cottage and you. Our neighbors own condo down there and they left last weekend to get down there to secure things. I really do't know exactly where they live down there in the winter but they are new at living there. I am glad things did not get so damaged.

Kim said...

So glad to hear that you are ok. What a lovely bouquet...a welcome sight for sure.

Deborah Montgomery said...

So thankful to hear you are okay! What a night you had. Such a blessing to have a kitty snuggling up with you. And that dream of yours -- what a huge comfort to you. Blessings to you, and thanking our Lord you are safe, Deborah

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

So glad to read that you are good after the hurricane. Take care!!!

Summer said...

Glad you are okay ♥ Happy Sunday ♥

summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

Darcie said...

So glad to get over here and read your post. I thought of you the last few days, and finally got a chance to get on here and see how you fared. What a storm, and what a thing to have to go through by yourself! So glad all is okay, my friend!!!

Debra Howard said...

I am so thankful you are OK. Thankful that your home and garden are OK too.

Melanie said...

So glad to hear you remained safe and that your property didn't sustain any damage. {{hugs}}

Maryann said...

I'm so glad you did okay with the storm, and had no damage. I had stopped watching the weather because they said it had turned east and said we were out of the path. Well apparently it hooked up with a cold front as it came close to us and we were just hammered with rain. Lots of flooding, I don't think anyone was expecting it. We did fine with the exception of a car that took on some water because we had it parked in the street. It started okay but will take a few days to dry out. It could have been worse, feeling thankful.

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Great news, Rainey, so glad you and yours are safe and sound. Do you have an enclosed room/closet you can go into...one without windows? A friend in Myrtle Beach area stocked her clothes closet with essentials, just in case.

Cathy @ My 1929 Charmer said...

I am so glad you are alright, every time the weather came on about the storm i thought of you and prayed you would be safe. Glad when I hear it had veered and lessened in degree. You are safe and sound and that is the good thing. ..The damage seems minimum but still needs to be addressed.. Thanks for your supportive comment on our remodel gone bad.

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Hello, dear Lorraine, I am so very glad to hear this! I was truly praying for you and thinking of you and worried, yes, I was worried about you, too! Glad that your little cottage did not suffer damage and you didn't lose power and that your kitties are all well, too. How sweet that your kitty slept close to your heart during the storm. I do believe animals know when we need comfort....I love that your dear hubby comes to you in dreams - so very sweet.Sending hugs xo Karen

Jessica Jarrell said...

I'm so thankful that you are alright, I was definitely thinking about you as the storm went through. I'm also thankful the barn kitties were ok too! What a sweet dream that was to have. I just know I'd have to write it down right away too. I love dreams like that.

Take care FlowerLady, I hope you are having a good week!

BeachGypsy said...

Hi Lorraine, just checking to see how you're doing down that way now and how the clean up is going. It was a bad storm wasn't it? We have been able to return home and we have power here but so many still do not. Such bad flooding all over! How did the lil barn kitties do? How are you feeling this week? Sure hope all is well for you.

Deb J. in Utah said...

So glad you are OK. Prayers for peace from AZ.

Darla said...

I didn't realize you were in the path of the storm. I'm so bad an keeping track of where all my friends are located and what is happening in their neighborhood. I'm relieved to hear that the damage to your property wasn't worse. You get a big gold star for being so brave. I'm afraid I would have been hiding under the bed.

Darla

Homemaker's Heart said...

I've been following your posts by email. Praying for you every day and giving reports to my husband. I realized, while I've been praying for you and you are on my mind daily...I forgot to post something to say so. I hope clean up has gone smooth. Haven't heard anything in a few days so I hope all is well.

I love the lights. They made me smile. I just bought some white Christmas lights for our living room with a remote thing-a-ma-jig they plug into. It suppose to save $$ so we don't have to turn on the big lights in th ceiling. Also makes for a cozy environment.

Your flowers too brought a smile. I used to go to town once a week and pick through the discounted flowers at the florist. I got a good deal and learned to nurse them along and got a good week out of them for just a few dollars.

Since I haven't been able to grow flowers here yet (still learning about the high altitude and dry air along with wind) I enjoy very much coming to your blog to see flowers. Thank you very much for sharing the beauty in your life...and your lovely spirit.

Hugs to you,
Dee

June said...

I watched this storm closely Lorraine and prayed for all of you in it's path. I was so relieved when I saw that Florida was not going to take a direct hit. It has been so heartbreaking for me to see all the flooding up the coast though and all the people losing everything they have. It's almost more than I can watch and think about.
How lovely about the dream you had Lorraine. It had to be a joyful thing to experience after such a scary ordeal. I'm so, so glad that you didn't have more damage!
sending hugs your way...

Katie Mansfield said...

Terrible. I'm so glad you are okay, brave girl!

Anne Payne said...

I am glad you came through the storm without any major damage. I can't imagine how it must have felt to go through something like this without your dear husband. The Lord surely was with you and protected you! Praise His holy name!!! Your Ranunculus (is that what's in the bouquet?)are gorgeous!