Getting things back to normal......

The mandatory curfew (8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.) for our county has been lifted. Stores in the area are beginning to be inspected and reopening. All schools in our immediate area will be back in session starting Monday! :)

We are slowly getting our property back pre-Ike. Allen, our subdivision handyman, came by yesterday and replaced the shingles on our roof. Joe, our fence guy, came by last week and is working up an estimate to replace our fence. We are still counting our blessings that our subdivision received only minor damage.

I did have some problems today talking to a representative from Dish Network about our HD channels not working. When I called in, of course I get an automated voice telling me to enter 1 for English, then in a brief statement say what type of problem I am having..............WELL, about the time I get ready to say "HD channels are not working", Eli takes a huge drink of water and comes to sit beside me. (Anyone who knows anything about Bulldogs know that they have very short noses, so most of the time water goes up the nose when they drink.) Eli starts this woof-sneeze, woof-sneeze sounds and the automated voice says, "I am sorry, I did not understand you, in a brief statement please say what type of problem you are having."

Again, I try to state my problem and Eli starts the woof-sneeze, woof-sneeze stuff. The automated voice then politely says, "I am sorry, I did not understand you, please try your call again later." Then we are disconnected!

I call back, get to the same place in the conversation and AGAIN Eli is sneezing! It took me calling them three times before I finally got Eli to stop trying to state our problem and was able to talk to a REAL person. Our satellite was damaged by Ike, and Dish will be sending our a service person next week.

Please continue to pray for the people of Bolivar Peninsula. They were allowed back into the area today, only to see first-hand that there is nothing of their property left. They may visit the peninsula from 6:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. each day, but no one is allowed to stay.

Thanks to everyone that has called and sent messages asking how we are doing. Things will be very different in the area for a very long time. The area isn't "home" to us, it is just where we are living at the time, but to so many people this is home. These people had not even fully recovered from Hurricane Rita yet.

Our pastor told everyone Sunday in his message that "while the privacy fences are down, meet your neighbors and help each other recover together." Sunday afternoon Jim and I counted 13 children and five dogs in our backyard! (Did I mention how glad we are that school has started back!)

(The pictures in this post were taken at Crystal Beach on the Bolivar Peninsula before Ike, and the way that we will fondly remember it.)

We are all back in Texas together now!

Eli and I left Alabama Thursday morning around 5:00 a.m. We were hoping to be home in Texas by 3:00 p.m. However, after stopping in Vicksburg, MS at the visitor's information center, we experienced a little problem. As we came off the exit ramp and got back onto I20, headed for the LONG bridge...............we had a blow out on the front right tire!!!!

I knew by the sound that it wasn't gonna be good. I pulled off onto the shoulder under the overpass and saw the damage. I put Eli's leash on him and we walked back up the exit ramp, crossed the highway and asked for assistance at the visitor's information center. They gave me a business card for a towing service. I called the service and we waited until the truck arrived.

I was upset. I was very upset. I wasn't upset that I had a blowout, I wasn't upset that I was gonna have to "deal with the situation" and be late getting home. I was upset that Eli would get too hot because he was already stressed out to the max! (If you have been following our blog, you know that Eli has had to go to the doctor because of his stress over evacuating two times in the last couple of weeks. He doesn't need anymore stress put on him!) As long as I live I will never, ever forget the frightened look on his little face as we were walking back to the information center and all those cars were zooming by us.

Greg, the guy from Shorter's Towing came to pick us up. He had no problem letting Eli ride in the cab with us.........he just wasn't gonna help me get Eli in the cab. (No matter what I say to people, looking at an 80 pound bulldog is scary!) I was begging Eli to "help" me help him get up in that cab!

All the way to the tire store I was praying that God would please take care of Eli and not let him have a heart attack because he was panting and making some terrible noises trying to breathe.

Michael, the nice gentlemen at Firestone Complete Auto Care, was very understanding about Eli's situation and said that I could bring him inside with me. Just about the time I would get Eli calmed down and laying down, someone would come inside or Eli would hear a noise........upsetting him again.

After about two and a half hours of dealing with the tire situation, we were finally back on the road again! We arrived home in Texas around 6:30 p.m.

It was sad seeing all the destruction to our town, our subdivision and our own property. However, we are so thankful that it is only minor here compared to so many others south of us.

We are still under a mandatory curfew from 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. Our Walmart is open from 9:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m. daily now. However, their shelves are very, very bare. I went this morning to buy groceries and had several things on my list that I wanted to pick up. But, after seeing the shelves, I had to forget about using my list, and purchase what items were available!

Eli has been sleeping alot since we got home. He still isn't back to himself yet. Please keep him in your prayers.

Ike Update

Jim survived staying in the house during the storm. However, he has stated that it will be his last time to do so if it is a Cat 2 or higher.
We have minor damage to our property. But, compared to thousands of people it is very, very minor and the biggest thing will be dealing with the insurance company and finding someone to do the repairs.
Eli is ready to see his Daddy (me too!) so, as soon as things calm down and we are sure that we will be able to purchase gas along the route........we will return to Texas!
Thanks to everyone that has been praying for us, please continue to do so.

PS...another little update, I have fulfilled my promise to SIL to make him White Bean Chili. We invited Mother up on Friday night for supper and this is what we prepared.

Eli and I are in Alabama, please pray for Jim in Texas!

Eli and I arrived in Tuscaloosa around 3:30 this afternoon. Ike's landfall predictions were too unstable for us to stay. We left at 5:30 this morning before the mandatory evacuations began. Jim had to stay for work. He said it was unbelievable how many buses, cars, and RVs were headed North on all the "back roads".
Eli is stressed out again over the long trip. We have an appointment with Dr. Kimbrell in the morning, please keep him in your prayers.
Please pray that Jim will be safe during all of this!

Where will Ike make landfall, SIL, and Pandora

Per our local website:
Emergency Management Officials in Southeast Texas are continuing to monitor Hurricane Ike. Based upon the current track and predictions provided by the National Weather Service, there are no planned evacuations for the region.

However, with that said, the exact landfall location remains very uncertain. The best estimate right now is for landfall somewhere between Brownsville and Corpus Christi. It should be noted that this is subject to change should conditions change. One should not focus on an exact landfall location at this time and all interests along the western Gulf coast should monitor the progress of Ike closely. Since, the "cone of uncertainty" extends from Northern Mexico to Southeast Texas...

We are approximately 300 miles east of Corpus Christi, so hopefully we will not be close to the direct hit, although we remain in the cone.

On a happier note, my SIL (son-in-law), actually seems to be disappointed that MIL (me, his Mother-in-law) isn't coming back so soon to stay with them! Isn't that amazing! I have the greatest son-in-law on Earth!

When we were home with Dan and Krisha during the mandatory evacuation for Gustav, we had some wonderful meals prepared for us.

• Krisha: prepared a wonderful breakfast quiche, and this wonderful Stroganoff Sandwich

and the delicious Alabama and Auburn cakes,

• Wayne and Anita: Grilled steaks and all the trimmings while we watched the Alabama/Clemson football game.
• Wanda: Smoked turkey, creamed potatoes, baby limas, squash casserole, homemade brownies w/ice cream....and SWEET TEA on Sunday for lunch.
• Mother: Ok, my Mother doesn't cook anymore except on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but she did take us out Sunday night for a great supper!

So, after everyone else had been so wonderful to host the evacuees, I told Dan and Krisha that since they had to go back to work on Tuesday that I would cook dinner for them that night, Dan had requested White Bean Chili. I had good intentions of going to the grocery store Tuesday morning and getting all the ingredients for that and to make him the Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings. However, before Jim and I could get up and get ready to go to the store, Jim's office called that we had to return to Texas THAT DAY so that he could start up the mill the following day!


SO, you see, my SIL wants me back in Alabama because I "owe" him dinner! As much as I would love to be there to prepare it for him, it doesn't look like I will be going anytime soon. However, I promise you Dan, I WILL cook this meal for you the next time we come home or that you come to Texas.


I love my Son-in-law!

Krisha started me a Pandora charm bracelet as a gift when she and Dan got married. She has continued to add to it, as has Jim (more times than he realizes! I just love that man!). Some of the charms include the

1. little girl (Krisha),
2. Wedding cake (Dan and Krisha's wedding)
3. A flip-flop (Jim and my visits to the beach)
4. Sun, moon and stars (Jim got a laugh when I told him this was from him because I KNOW he would give me the sun, moon and stars!)
5. Angel of Hope (watching over me )

There are several more, each charm has special meaning. But, the latest charm is the current winner............THE EYE OF THE STORM!

Ok, anyone out there want to guess why? I'll give you some hints,
Erin, Humberto, Gustav and Ike!


Everyone please continue to pray for the people and property that Ike has destroyed and continues to destroy!

Go West Young Man, (or at least Ike)

9:00 a.m. Tuesday Update:

Per the Weather Channel: Ike is expected to enter the gulf and re-strengthen. Its course and amount of restrengthening after that point remains uncertain, but residents, especially all along the Texas, western Louisiana, and northern Mexico Gulf Coasts, should stay apprised of this dangerous storm.

If Ike stays on the projected path they now have him on, but moves West only a little bit, we will no longer be in the cone area! So please continue to pray that he keeps moving West. I don't want him to destroy people's lives and property anywhere, but I don't want him here.

There are still people recovering in this area from when Rita hit in 2005. Houses with the blue tarps covering the roofs, abandoned damaged homes, etc. It is a long recovery process that some people never get over.

Let's pray for all the victims Hurricane Ike has already caused damage to, and pray for all of those still in his path.

Hurricane Ike is on the way, so I'm (probably) leaving!

UPDATE: The Weather Channel at 9:00 p.m. is saying that landfall could possibly go further west than first shown on this picture. So, I will stay in Texas until at least Wednesday, then reevaluate!

We got back from Alabama last Tuesday, (we were there because of the mandatory evacuation of our county due to Gustav) and it looks as if I may be headed back there because of IKE! Jim has decided that it will be best if I leave now with Eli and he stays behind until it is mandatory for him to leave.

Because of where we live, if Louisiana is put under a mandatory evacuation we have to travel NorthWEST. We will not be allowed to travel East because of the evacuees leaving Louisiana. (Too much congestion). So, I'm waiting on the "it's time for you to leave" orders from Jim to hit the road........tomorrow, Wednesday or Thursday.

Hopefully, the National Hurricane Center will be able to pinpoint the location for Ike to make landfall better tomorrow. However, looking at all the projected paths currently available, it shows coming in south of Houston, which is approximately 90 miles from us. Kind of like Gustav, too close to call if we are in danger or not!

Please say a prayer for us and all the people in Ike's path.

Gustav leaves and the Love bugs arrive

We left Alabama headed back to Texas on Tuesday morning. We drove Interstate 20 and the back roads to avoid the heavy traffic of Interstate 10. However, we drove through the thunderstorms, flash flood warnings, and tornado warnings.

Eli hadn't been himself the week before we left for Alabama, but I just thought it was from the heat. However, the stress of packing up suddenly and the long ride took it's toll on him. We arrived in Alabama at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, and by 11:30 a.m. we were in the animal clinic with Eli. He wasn't able to control his breathing and he was having diarrhea. After several tests, Dr. Kimbrell told us that Eli's liver enzymes were elevated, he was dehydrated, and under extreme stress. So, Eli spent the day at the clinic receiving IV fluids, but we were able to pick him up that night so that we wouldn't be away from him for too long. I'm not even gonna write about the stress this situation caused me, and Jim too. Thankfully, Jim was able to talk to me and calm me down and made me realize that "leaving" Eli was the best thing for Eli at the time. Did I mention that my mother came to the clinic too? She was also trying to convince me that I was still a "good Mother" by leaving him there for a few hours. But, I said I wasn't gonna write about that.......

Our visit with everyone was great, short, but great. There never seems to be enough time to spend with everyone.

Now, on to the Love bugs:

"Love Bugs are small flies that are in the process of mating when they swarm over the roads. So usually there are two individuals: the large one is the female and the small one is the male. The female usually gets her way and she drags the male around with her."

........AND, I hate them.

At this time of the year, the air in SE Texas is filled with them. They are a nuisance! Not because they bite or sting, but because they splatter on windshields, windows, doors, walls, etc. If you are outside, you can not open your mouth to even have a conversation without a dozen or more trying to check you for cavities. They swarm on Eli when he goes out to do his business. It is like a scene from the movie, "The Birds".

The local newspapers have done articles describing how they can clot on the front of a car radiator or the compressor of a refrigerator truck, and cause overheating. And in addition to doing a number on car paint, they're murder on a freshly painted house.

It might not be so bad if there were only a dozen or so, but it looks as if there are thousands together at one time. They try to get inside our house (and they succeed). Around every door and window they find a way in and then die..........hundreds of them. I can't even see out the windows and French doors going out to the patio because these bugs are all over them. I can vacuum two or three times a day and still not get them all up!

I've been told that they will remain in the area for another three to four weeks. I won't miss them when they are gone.