Thank You, Lord!

Well, yesterday. What a roller coaster of a day! We heard for several days that the "big storm" was coming. Eight to twelve inches of snow and high winds. The roads were already treacherous. My Christmas shopping is close but not done, but those I haven't completed will have to understand...I'm not risking my life just to get candy, etc.

So with friends, kids, and grandkids scattered everywhere around this county, unafraid of anything, my phone started ringing. Friends and relatives from other cities calling to confirm that I'm okay. That got me wondering if this was going to be worse than I'd heard. Carle and my neighbor came to check my generator, did some work on it, and taught themselves about it. Carle went and got me several cans of fresh gasoline. The neighbor said he would come run it for me.

My humility and gratitude for their help set the tears a'flowing. The stress of the whole situation intensified my missing Warren...he always took care of everything so I didn't have to worry. Now I have to rely on the kindness of others. I could learn how to run it easy enough, but am not strong enough to drag it outdoors. Or lift the gas cans.

Then I got a message: "The storm is in Olympia." I did a few last minute things and got out all my lanterns, radio and flashlights. Put new batteries where needed. Then I heard on the radio, "The storm is in Federal Way." OMG, Jill is IN Federal Way.

I cried until Jill got here and assured me the kids would be okay, then all I had to do was worry about the grandkids getting back safely. Every few minutes I'd go check through the window to see how bad it was snowing. Jill asked, "Just taking a worry-boost break, Ma?" So I asked the smart aleck, "And just how will you get to the hospital in all this snow to visit me when I have my stroke?" Finally Jill asked, "Ma, are you SURE we're not Jewish?"

This morning when I got up, the power is still on, the snow is maybe 4", and there are no trees through my roof. And it looks to me like the ice is actually melting down by the dock, but that could be an optical illusion. (This lake does that, you know.) Anyway, thank you, Lord, for sparing us and answering my prayers yet again.