Posted in Personal

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9/19 ETA: 
We've since learned that Hurricane Ike hit Ohio as a Level 1 hurricane.     There are still some without power.


Wow!  Sunday afternoon, evening, and night were unreal!  Ohio got a small taste of Hurricane Ike, and I simply cannot imagine the power that must have been behind the real thing!  I have never seen sustained winds like that that lasted for hours.  Small branches and leaves were flying everywhere...or rolling like tumbleweeds.  I saw one bird trying to fly.....he was losing the battle. 

I went back home to get our dog, as I knew her box was right under a willow that we've been waiting to fall....most of the limbs had already come down in other storms.  I felt sure it would come down in this one!  Driving home to get her was like driving on an obstacle course...limbs down everywhere on the roads.  I've never seen her so happy to see us....even when we have returned from being been gone several days.

When it was all over, we had no trees come down.  \o/   My in-laws lost three, but did not fall on anything that could not be replaced.   Half of one tree fell while we were there.  We were out on the patio and it fell toward us onto the upper patio.  It took out an old grill, but the smoker and the picnic table survived it.  The other half came down after we left, but fell into the field.    Another tree fell into the same field, but much further from the house.   The third tree that fell was in the horses' area.  It landed on the brand new round bale hay feeder, but we are thankful none of the horses were hurt.

We were without power for more than 50 hours.....which is awesome, as we were told it would 4 to 10 days before we had electric.   We were one of the lucky ones.....we dusted off the generator and hooked up the freezer and fridge and two lamps.   We had borrowed the generator from my in-laws for the summer, to ensure dh's doctorate project was never without power for any great length of time. 

My in-laws were worried about their basement flooding (but the rains never came!), so they told us to keep the generator since we had recently purchased 325 lbs. of beef!!!    They were able to locate and purchase a generator for themselves Monday afternoon......only after calling all around trying to find one.  They were required to secure the purchase with their credit card.  Then they had to drive about an hour and half to get it. 

Lines at the gas stations were unbelievable...everyone filling up their containers so they could run generators.   Fire stations were giving away water.  Local stores had Red Cross and fire stations come in and take the foods from the coolers and freezers and give it away to those in need......I cannot imagine the amount of money they lost.  Everywhere you looked Monday and yesterday, folks were cleaning up trees and debris; pick-up trucks were filled with branches.    Restaurants that had electric had lines and waiting lists.  Restaurants that were normally closed during breakfast hours, opened to serve.   Ice and water at the stores went fast.

Many are still without power....please keep them in  your prayers.  We are so thankful that this took place in September and not January!


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Posted in Personal

Wow, I always envisioned my 100th post being something exciting.  If nothing else, just a post about it being my 100th!   Instead, I'm asking for prayer for my husband's father and grandmother. 

This morning, my FIL was taken by ambulance to the hospital.   He had some chest pains and passed out.  In the hospital, they gave him 3 nitro to stop the pain.  He may have cracked or at least bruised his ribs in the fall, but he's doing a bit better now.  They're keeping him for tests.

This week, my FIL's mother (the only living grandparent for my husband and I) was diagnosed with PAD (peripheral atherosclerotic disease) and may have to have one or both feet amputated someday.  She's also in congestive heart failure. 

So, if you'd lift them up in prayer, we'd appreciate it!



Just wanted to give an updated:  My FIL spent 4 days in the hospital.  His heart went into A-Fib, so he's been put on new medications.   Grandma is still doing so-so.  Please continue lifting them up in prayer. 


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Posted in Personal

Here's one of my favorite shots of this barrel racer.  She made every contesting event look effortless......her and her horse were one.  It's no wonder she took a lot of blue home with her!




I happened to be up in the announcer's stand when she started.  This barrel is under the announcer's window, and when I saw her coming, I snapped this shot.

Posted in Personal

One of our 4H moms decided to get in on the mounted games' fun!  What a photo finish to her run!  She gets through the "gate" at almost a full run and the horse rears, spins, and comes back down at a stop...without knocking a pole down.  What a run!





This young lady had to fight a bit to get her horse under control, but she managed to do so without falling off.

Posted in Personal

This young lady at the fair was determined to stay on her horse, but alas it was just not to be.  I think she kept the smile on her face until the inevitable was mere inches away.  Fortunately, she was not hurt--sore the next day, but it could have been a whole lot worse.  I believe it was when I gave her copies of the pictures that she realized just how bad it could have been.









On this last shot, she looks to be right under the horses legs.  Fortunately the horse side stepped and did not step on her.  \o/

Posted in Personal

When you get a blister on your thumb from holding the camera!!! 

I took about 2,500 pictures at our recent county fair!!   By the time the week ended, I had a blister and the tennis elbow pain was in full gear.  Also, by the end of the week, you begin to see strange sites like this one that make you think you're hallucinating!




Most of the photos were of the 4H kids' horse events.  It's always fun to take pictures of the gymkhana events and the mounted games, as these are full of action.   I'll be posting a few of the cooler shots I got.

Posted in Personal

For me, it's "Fixing Ourselves First" from Raising Godly Tomatoes, which you can read on-line here, and Mitten Strings for God:  Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry. 

Both are books I want to own.  And I think I'll add them both to my "Must Read Yearly" list, which also includes Terri Camp's Ignite the Fire! (most of which can be read on-line here.)


So, what's encouraging or inspiring you right now?


Psst....check out my new "Shelfari" over on the right, under the list of friends and blogs--------------------->

Posted in Personal

Our church had a card making night last week.  I have never done anything like that except lapbooking--does that count?

It was so much fun!!  DD10 will be going with me next time!  I think that will make for some nice Mommy and Daughter time.

Posted in Personal

A birth date, a dash, a death date.   There was much in that dash, more than I could write here, but I'll mention a couple things special to me.

I remember summertime in the mountains of North Carolina with him and my Aunt Nita.  I looked forward to those vacations, and still reminisce about them.  Man, what a breakfast those two could prepare--you couldn't help but stuff yourself silly.  Could have lived on those biscuits alone, they were perfect.  I wonder how many folks ate them at his Granny Squirrel restaurant and still think on them?

One thing I will always remember was his bear hugs.  Big, enveloping, loving.  I shall miss those.  Even the ones over the phone.

The last time I saw Uncle Odell was three years ago this month.  Skinnier, shaky from Parkinsons, but still my Uncle Odell.  Still gave great bear hugs.  Still liked to eat.  Still laughing and joking with everyone--family, friend, or stranger.

I'm so glad my girls got to meet him, got to experience those bear hugs.  They were young, but they still talk about going back to Florida. 




And this one's another favorite memory, when Nita and Odell came up to visit us and we went to the park and fed the ducks.



Bear hugs and love always, Uncle Odell.



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Posted in Personal

That my honey bought while I was at a homeschool convention.  I can't even drive it --it's a stick!


It looks black, but it's really a dark blue.  When the sun shines on it, it's so pretty and sparkly!  It's a Ford Fusion.



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