a roof roof here and a roof roof there, here a roof, there a roof....

Sorry for the silly title but that is what is in my head after talking to roofers off and on today! We have had one estimate for our roof so far. Only 4 more to go! Anyway, I am ready for our family to put Ike behind us. We are in need of a new roof, fence, and screens. We are actually in need of more than that but those things the insurance will "cover." It has been a hectic time around here trying to decide what to replace first. I know y'all are saying a roof! Yes, I agree. However, I share fence area with neighbors who need to get their property fixed just as much as we do. We did decide to move on with the roof first and get estimates from several different recommended roofers. That alone to set up appointments has been a 3 week process. Yuck! Obviously the cost of materials has gone up because of the demand. Which means to get a new roof cost a whole lot more. Can you say "cha ching!" We all know this thanks to our economics class. Just to give you an idea here are a few pics....

BEFORE





AFTER

 



this is a view from my kitchen window to my neighbor behind me =0)

 



this is a view into our neighbor next door to us and on down to the next neighbor

 





this is a view from my neighbors backyard to ours

 



the front of our house...bushes gone...

 

Anyway, we have work to do! Please pray for us! Thanks!

We have Power & Teeth!!!!

We got in late Monday night from Dallas! I had a great time with my best friend and her kiddos. I watched all 3 kiddos by myself on Wednesday!  It worked out really well because both boys would nap at the same time. Baby bear had a great time watching Football (Go Cowboys!) and  taking a bath in the tub like a big boy. He was really excited to see Papa Bear Sunday night! Here are a few pictures of what we did! 

 



 

I think baby bear has a girlfriend! 

 









 

Anyway, it is strange being back and feeling overwhelmed by all that needs to be done. I know it is going to take TIME!!! Though I do feel blessed knowing that our friends, family, and neighbors are safe. It is great having wonderful neighbors!  

It has been an interesting experience going to the grocery store. Basically store number 3 for me to find milk and eggs. This is not the time to be picky about your meats or dairy choices. You know you get use certain routines of life. I know every aisle of where all my groceries are in the store where I usually shop at. This time I was a fish out of water. Which is fine but it is adjusting to the "new norm" of life for now! 

 

The biggest news is baby bear has a tooth now!   It is hard to believe how fast they grow up! I feel as if it was just yesterday I was coming home from the hospital and then other times it seems so long ago. I wish I could bottle up certain moments that I have with him. I am so blessed to stay home with my son.

 



 

Thank you to all who have been such a wonderful support during this time of Hurricane Ike and after. Please continue to pray for those who still do not have power and have lost their homes! Also, pray for our community to be restored!

Let the Blessings Rain Down

Hurricane cometh and I goeth. Okay, I know that Go-eth is not a word but moving along!



First, Thanks for all your prayers concerning Hurricane Ike and our family. We did stay through and a few days after without power. Hubby decided to stay behind while I took Jonathan to Dallas. I would have suffered stayed longer until we did get power however circumstances caused us to change our minds! Jonathan was developing a heat rash. Yuck! Poor baby was still smiling about everything but we knew that if we didn't change his surroundings it would get worse for him. He did sleep through the first couple of nights and then after that he became restless.

 

Let me back up the choo choo train. Our house encountered some damage to the roof, screens, and the fence. Basically, we will need a new fence. No trees in our yard were uprooted but a couple of bushes that hubby hates did not make it. He was real sad having to move that debris. Ha ha!!! Our neighborhood is another story. Many trees uprooted, most homes lost their fences, roof damage, and other varies things are gone. The people in our community are safe and well. That is what's most important!

 

Some blessings have come forth from Mr. Ike! All my neighbors were out helping one another, sharing generators, comforting one another, and in general just being there for each other during a difficult time. Let me just say being without power can become depressing. Our neighborhood still does not have power and they say it could be another week. A few houses on the other side do but for the most part it is dark. It is hard picking up the pieces especially when you are disconnected from your church home. Most cell phones were not working in our area or they would be on analog roam so the battery would die out sooner. Plus, lack of "regular" food instead of boxed snacks can wear on you after some time. So, I say all this to remind myself that is good to reach out and know your neighbors beyond the everyday stuff. How do people make it through these times without a strong connection to a church family? If you can not get out or have no means where do you turn for help, understanding, and a lot of compassion? I assume it would be their neighbors. I am glad that I do know most people around me but honestly I can not say I know them well. When I looked around my neighborhood or just my little area people were reaching out to one another that maybe might not  have before due to busy schedules or circumstances. Ike made everyone even the workaholic slow down.

Ike forced myself to get out and ask for help from people I have never met. That is a humbling experience. Most of you who do know me know that I am out going and you would think it would be easy for someone like myself to ask for help. However, it is not! Something that might surprise a few of you is I am shy or reserved in some situations. I hang back, observe, and analyze. I know you probably have spit out your coffee or your jaw has dropped open. It is never easy or comfortable to ask for help. Why is this? Maybe "outside influences" have made us think that asking for help is a weak aspect. It is funny or ironic that Christ said "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. This is found in 2 Corinthians 12:9. Though that is a small part of the big picture in this chapter. You can see that Christ always has a way of letting you see that it is the polar opposite or the less popular aspect that he sees as a positive. "He even states that the first shall be last and the last shall be first (Rev 1:17)." Christ is all about shaking things up and making you grow. I am sure you will never see an advertisement for "weakness the new strength."  Okay, this why I am not in marketing so don't laugh at my slogan =0)!!!

 

My thoughts may seem jumbled to you or unclear but all I ask is for you to love me right where I am in this growing period. It was not easy leaving my hubby behind or my community. It was not easy letting my best friend come to get me, her "refugee" (that is for you Misty). When I feel that I could have stayed behind and support my neighbors, friends, and community. It is not easy for my son to be without his daddy. I would be a fool to expect things to be easy! I think you know what I mean when I use the word "easy."  Staying behind has its own positives and negatives just as leaving does. So, ask you where is Christ power working in your weakness?

 

Continue to pray for me as I will for you all! Many blessings and love to you and yours.....