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.