We are still evacuated...still bumming internet off the girl we are staying with to post these few blogs to update friends and family.
Power is starting to be restored, but still 88% of Houston has no power back yet. I am anxious...totally anxious...
In Austin, you wouldn't even think a hurricane hit Texas....it is sunny and hot here....we didnt get any rain, so it is hard mentally to think to understand what has gone on....
Keep praying that power will get restored SOON!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
hmm.
I think today was harder than yesterday mentally. Now that the storm is over, I want to get back home and see what there is to see and see what needs to be done. I talked w/ a girl who works at my apartment complex and she said that we have no power...90% of the people in Houston have NO power and the restoration is taking a long time. We were planning on going home tomorrow...but with no power, no a.c, no nothing, it seems a little dumb. Who knows how long it will take to get power back- I am upset about losing all of our perishable items from the grocery store. It is stupid- since people lost their homes and valuables, but, still, selfishness comes out. And for that I need to ask forgiveness!
We haven't done much since being in Austin. I want to at least see the capital and the downtown area, so hopefully we will be able to get out and do that tomorrow. It hasn't rained AT ALL here. Michigan has had like 8 inches of rain, at least at my dad's house! Not even from the hurricane.
Anyways, continue to pray for me mentally...
We haven't done much since being in Austin. I want to at least see the capital and the downtown area, so hopefully we will be able to get out and do that tomorrow. It hasn't rained AT ALL here. Michigan has had like 8 inches of rain, at least at my dad's house! Not even from the hurricane.
Anyways, continue to pray for me mentally...
Friday, September 12, 2008
Hurricane Ike
Just a note to everyone out there- Jamos and I evacuated Houston on Thursday morning, we beat the traffic out of town. Praise the Lord. We loaded all of our important 'stuff' in the car and we are now in Austin, TX staying , with a girl who works with Jamos and our friend Amy who also came with us. We are very thankful for her hospitality. It is hard to not be mentally stressed out...with the idea that we could come home to things we own, ruined...and what will happen after that in dealing with insurance, etc., It is quite hard to figure out what is valuable enough to take with you....and what isn't necessary. We didn't take much knowing that yes, things can be replaced, but not our lives. Strange concept to be living thru right now for Jamos and I.
We ask for prayers as the storm hits tonight and tomorrow. Pray specifically for safety of our home, that no windows would break and flood waters would stay away. Pray for us mentally that we will be strong. Pray for our fellow neighbor who stayed, will be safe and for their minds as they endure a very scary storm. Pray that the power will not be out. Or, if it goes out- that it will quickly return. To not have air in Houston right now is AWFUL. It is very hot...Also, we will not have food (perishable), water or be able to work since we will not have a way to use the computer w/o electric.
There is much to think about right now.
Thank you for your prayers. Watch the storm, feel free to call my cell if you want to check in with me. We may be in and out, but, please, feel free! :) I love hearing from friends and it helps to know that your prayeirs are being sent to the Lord who controls the storms power.
We ask for prayers as the storm hits tonight and tomorrow. Pray specifically for safety of our home, that no windows would break and flood waters would stay away. Pray for us mentally that we will be strong. Pray for our fellow neighbor who stayed, will be safe and for their minds as they endure a very scary storm. Pray that the power will not be out. Or, if it goes out- that it will quickly return. To not have air in Houston right now is AWFUL. It is very hot...Also, we will not have food (perishable), water or be able to work since we will not have a way to use the computer w/o electric.
There is much to think about right now.
Thank you for your prayers. Watch the storm, feel free to call my cell if you want to check in with me. We may be in and out, but, please, feel free! :) I love hearing from friends and it helps to know that your prayeirs are being sent to the Lord who controls the storms power.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
A little writing on the plane....
What a wonderful few days. I am writing this as I fly home to Houston- obviously, writing in word, to upload to the blog later, but, I figure I have some free time currently, so I would use this to my advantage and write some of my thoughts. Of course, as I was thinking a few moments ago, I had quite a few thoughts I thought I could write about, but now that I am actually writing, not so much.
Back to the last few days, I arrived in Michigan on Thursday afternoon, I met up with my mom in the airport and she rented a car for us- we drove up north to Houghton Lake, stopping along the way at Bronners in Frankenmuth. I actually did not buy a thing while we were there, but got pretty excited for Christmas!
EWW! I hate turbulence! I am sure we will feel the affects of the hurricane though in flight. Okay, sorry. Anyways, we arrived at the cottage in time to move our stuff in and head over to my great aunt and uncle’s house for Nachos. I got to play with Molly, the sweetest golden retriever you will EVER meet! We went for a walk and looked at the lake and the boats. Feeling the cooler temps and AMAZING breeze was marvelous. At night, we would go outside and look at the stars. You forget how beautiful a clear sky at night really is. I am so used to haze and bright lights, we don’t get to look at the sky very often and actually see stars. The temps were in the 50’s at night, perfect sleeping weather!
Seriously, we are going thru something awful, and need to get around this before everyone gets motion sickness on this plane! If that happens, I will be very mad! Sorry, you get to hear my mindless thoughts during travel since I am writing while we fly. I used to journal while flying, I should try to find some of those journals and read what I wrote about.
Back to the lake, we were able to go to a few garage sales, ride bikes, go to the tent sale at the huge craft store that is in HL, we watched sunsets, went for walks, ate ice cream, met up with friends from SW Michigan that my mom was friends with LONG ago, ate pizza for 3 meals in a ROW (basically the entire weekend) watched 2 movies, “The Blue Butterfly” and “August Rush” I had seen A.R- and LOVED it, I was surprised I didn’t cry this time! The Blue Butterfly my mom picked out in honor of Jamos, because it was a sweet story about a little boy whose last wish was to find this blue butterfly- and this nature man took him to Costa Rica! That is where Jamos comes in- J GEESH! I am sick of shaking around up here pilot man!
Anyways, Sunday we drove back to Jackson, so I could get ready for move in day 2008!!! We went to Los Tres Amigo’s for their amazing chimichanga! We met up with Rachel and had dinner with her. While we were there I saw a few people I knew, including Sharon, who I worked with when I did my internship at the Jackson County Community Foundation. Back when I was a junior in College! I ended up working there AFTER my internship was over during my senior year, which was really awesome. We still keep in touch via email, so it was nice to actually “run” into her! J
We stayed with my friend Carrie from work, her and her husband have a fabulous home, that she so nicely opened up for my mother and I to stay! Jamos used to stay with her when we were dating and he would come to town, I can’t repay her for how thankful we both are that she let him do that! So, we got to Carries, hung out a bit and hit the hay to be at the office at around 7:30am the following morning! Again, record numbers of students enrolled at SAU this year. We had a 10% increase in freshman this year, which is AWESOME!!!!! We are such a blessed university, with the economy the way it is, some schools are really struggling with enrollment, and we aren’t! We actually had NO more room for male students to stay on campus and live in the dorms! Most of our girls were tripled too! I have 75% of a territory and so my goal number was 41 and I had 41 students. Carrie had over 80!! We did good!!!! And it was a fun day with very few crisis situations!
I was reminded of move in day nearly 4 years ago, when Jamos was an intern in our office and we were working together to move students in. I don’t remember much else from that day besides HIM! J And, the funny thing is, I hardly knew him, he was a student AND, why would I care, but obviously the Lord had other things in mind for both of us and together we give him praise!
I was reminded of 10 years ago as well, when I was dropped off by my mom and dad in Gamma 110. I was TERRIFIED. All the way from Florida I came…no idea what I was getting into, scared I was going to need my mommy…SAU is an amazing place to grow, find yourself and meet some amazing friends- and I should say that it is also a lovely place to work!!!
In other news, I got to ride on the new admissions GOLF CART!!! Very fun! Saw lots of my ‘friends’ who work in other offices around campus, got coffee at Sacred Grounds, walked a lot, saw my students who I worked with over 5 years ago who are now graduated with real jobs of their own! Amazing!
Honestly, now that I work from home and am not around such a great community each day, it really makes me thankful. I makes me wish I could get out of my apartment and drive to work each day- but not at just any ‘place’ I would choose SAU.
Anyways, so, today, we got pictures for the new website. I am about 100% sure my hair looks awful and the pictures are going to be stupid, BUT, I got them done and so did the rest of the office! J
My mom and I drove back to the airport, returned our rental car, heard a stupid joke about the garden of eden from the man on the bus, and finally ate dinner at Max and Erma’s in the airport.
Going thru security, they have 2 lines, one, you go thru normal and the other you get to go thru this thing that squirts high pressure air at you- and tests for like, bad things I guess. Anyways, I chose to go thru the puffs of air line, and it always makes me laugh, cause it scares me when the puffs come out and I end up laughing and the poor man running it has to deal with me being CORNY. Speaking of CORNY, I learned all I know from my MOTHER!!! And, only when I am WITH my mother do I realize this about myself, which makes me critical of my mother for I know what she says I will SOON say as well!!!!
Back to my week. Last night after move in day, we went back to Carries house, where John was hanging out with some of the kids they take to church and send to camp. They were awesome. I learned I am not good at bandaids on toes- we met up with Lauren and all went to the Parlour where the lady messed up on this HUGE peanut butter ice cream deal and so she gave it to us FREE! We also ordered a bunch of food and MORE ice cream, but to get something for free was nice!
We went back to Carries and Carrie and I played Wii. Then, my mom joined in on the action and beat my butt on tennis and bowling. We played this cow race and I think that is my FAVORITE! J
Tonight at the airport, I was able to meet the pilot- random story, here we go. So, I wanted to get exit row seating, because I am tall and really only fly with exit row seats- (spoiled I know) SO, anyways, I go up there and this guy and lady just arrived so I asked them if they knew if I could get an exit row! The guy was like, “sure, I am just the crew, but, we can see what we can do” he was an older guy, but tall as well, so, he is looking at the computer behind the counter and then is like, “come see if you can figure out the program” I am like, “ME?” he is like YEA, so I go behind the counter and we are trying to figure out what seats on the plane are exit row, blah blah. So, I tell him I will bring him some chocolate, which I had in my bag, melted of course, but it is chocolate none-the less. So, I come back, and the person who normally works the counters is there, so they get it all figured out for me! I go back and sit with my mom whose plane didn’t leave for like 2 more hours and meet a pilot who flies a LOT and lives in Houston- we chit chat, and he is just on the plane coming home from flying- but I get on the flight and the guy who was helping me was the pilot of the plane! He gives me like this hug when I get on, introduces me to the flight attendance and tells them I am his friend- and that he likes tall women! I am like, yea tall women are pretty great! SO, I am sitting in my seat, and he comes to find me and he is like, “there you are” blah blah and I had my book open with pictures of Jamos as my book mark- and he is like, WHAT? You have another man? I am like, DUH! So, all of that to say, I was encouraged because I always want to talk to the pilots of my plane and today I got to- which makes me feel so much safer while flying!!!
Well, we will be down in Houston in 15 minutes, so I need to shut my computer down! Thanks for reading!
Back to the last few days, I arrived in Michigan on Thursday afternoon, I met up with my mom in the airport and she rented a car for us- we drove up north to Houghton Lake, stopping along the way at Bronners in Frankenmuth. I actually did not buy a thing while we were there, but got pretty excited for Christmas!
EWW! I hate turbulence! I am sure we will feel the affects of the hurricane though in flight. Okay, sorry. Anyways, we arrived at the cottage in time to move our stuff in and head over to my great aunt and uncle’s house for Nachos. I got to play with Molly, the sweetest golden retriever you will EVER meet! We went for a walk and looked at the lake and the boats. Feeling the cooler temps and AMAZING breeze was marvelous. At night, we would go outside and look at the stars. You forget how beautiful a clear sky at night really is. I am so used to haze and bright lights, we don’t get to look at the sky very often and actually see stars. The temps were in the 50’s at night, perfect sleeping weather!
Seriously, we are going thru something awful, and need to get around this before everyone gets motion sickness on this plane! If that happens, I will be very mad! Sorry, you get to hear my mindless thoughts during travel since I am writing while we fly. I used to journal while flying, I should try to find some of those journals and read what I wrote about.
Back to the lake, we were able to go to a few garage sales, ride bikes, go to the tent sale at the huge craft store that is in HL, we watched sunsets, went for walks, ate ice cream, met up with friends from SW Michigan that my mom was friends with LONG ago, ate pizza for 3 meals in a ROW (basically the entire weekend) watched 2 movies, “The Blue Butterfly” and “August Rush” I had seen A.R- and LOVED it, I was surprised I didn’t cry this time! The Blue Butterfly my mom picked out in honor of Jamos, because it was a sweet story about a little boy whose last wish was to find this blue butterfly- and this nature man took him to Costa Rica! That is where Jamos comes in- J GEESH! I am sick of shaking around up here pilot man!
Anyways, Sunday we drove back to Jackson, so I could get ready for move in day 2008!!! We went to Los Tres Amigo’s for their amazing chimichanga! We met up with Rachel and had dinner with her. While we were there I saw a few people I knew, including Sharon, who I worked with when I did my internship at the Jackson County Community Foundation. Back when I was a junior in College! I ended up working there AFTER my internship was over during my senior year, which was really awesome. We still keep in touch via email, so it was nice to actually “run” into her! J
We stayed with my friend Carrie from work, her and her husband have a fabulous home, that she so nicely opened up for my mother and I to stay! Jamos used to stay with her when we were dating and he would come to town, I can’t repay her for how thankful we both are that she let him do that! So, we got to Carries, hung out a bit and hit the hay to be at the office at around 7:30am the following morning! Again, record numbers of students enrolled at SAU this year. We had a 10% increase in freshman this year, which is AWESOME!!!!! We are such a blessed university, with the economy the way it is, some schools are really struggling with enrollment, and we aren’t! We actually had NO more room for male students to stay on campus and live in the dorms! Most of our girls were tripled too! I have 75% of a territory and so my goal number was 41 and I had 41 students. Carrie had over 80!! We did good!!!! And it was a fun day with very few crisis situations!
I was reminded of move in day nearly 4 years ago, when Jamos was an intern in our office and we were working together to move students in. I don’t remember much else from that day besides HIM! J And, the funny thing is, I hardly knew him, he was a student AND, why would I care, but obviously the Lord had other things in mind for both of us and together we give him praise!
I was reminded of 10 years ago as well, when I was dropped off by my mom and dad in Gamma 110. I was TERRIFIED. All the way from Florida I came…no idea what I was getting into, scared I was going to need my mommy…SAU is an amazing place to grow, find yourself and meet some amazing friends- and I should say that it is also a lovely place to work!!!
In other news, I got to ride on the new admissions GOLF CART!!! Very fun! Saw lots of my ‘friends’ who work in other offices around campus, got coffee at Sacred Grounds, walked a lot, saw my students who I worked with over 5 years ago who are now graduated with real jobs of their own! Amazing!
Honestly, now that I work from home and am not around such a great community each day, it really makes me thankful. I makes me wish I could get out of my apartment and drive to work each day- but not at just any ‘place’ I would choose SAU.
Anyways, so, today, we got pictures for the new website. I am about 100% sure my hair looks awful and the pictures are going to be stupid, BUT, I got them done and so did the rest of the office! J
My mom and I drove back to the airport, returned our rental car, heard a stupid joke about the garden of eden from the man on the bus, and finally ate dinner at Max and Erma’s in the airport.
Going thru security, they have 2 lines, one, you go thru normal and the other you get to go thru this thing that squirts high pressure air at you- and tests for like, bad things I guess. Anyways, I chose to go thru the puffs of air line, and it always makes me laugh, cause it scares me when the puffs come out and I end up laughing and the poor man running it has to deal with me being CORNY. Speaking of CORNY, I learned all I know from my MOTHER!!! And, only when I am WITH my mother do I realize this about myself, which makes me critical of my mother for I know what she says I will SOON say as well!!!!
Back to my week. Last night after move in day, we went back to Carries house, where John was hanging out with some of the kids they take to church and send to camp. They were awesome. I learned I am not good at bandaids on toes- we met up with Lauren and all went to the Parlour where the lady messed up on this HUGE peanut butter ice cream deal and so she gave it to us FREE! We also ordered a bunch of food and MORE ice cream, but to get something for free was nice!
We went back to Carries and Carrie and I played Wii. Then, my mom joined in on the action and beat my butt on tennis and bowling. We played this cow race and I think that is my FAVORITE! J
Tonight at the airport, I was able to meet the pilot- random story, here we go. So, I wanted to get exit row seating, because I am tall and really only fly with exit row seats- (spoiled I know) SO, anyways, I go up there and this guy and lady just arrived so I asked them if they knew if I could get an exit row! The guy was like, “sure, I am just the crew, but, we can see what we can do” he was an older guy, but tall as well, so, he is looking at the computer behind the counter and then is like, “come see if you can figure out the program” I am like, “ME?” he is like YEA, so I go behind the counter and we are trying to figure out what seats on the plane are exit row, blah blah. So, I tell him I will bring him some chocolate, which I had in my bag, melted of course, but it is chocolate none-the less. So, I come back, and the person who normally works the counters is there, so they get it all figured out for me! I go back and sit with my mom whose plane didn’t leave for like 2 more hours and meet a pilot who flies a LOT and lives in Houston- we chit chat, and he is just on the plane coming home from flying- but I get on the flight and the guy who was helping me was the pilot of the plane! He gives me like this hug when I get on, introduces me to the flight attendance and tells them I am his friend- and that he likes tall women! I am like, yea tall women are pretty great! SO, I am sitting in my seat, and he comes to find me and he is like, “there you are” blah blah and I had my book open with pictures of Jamos as my book mark- and he is like, WHAT? You have another man? I am like, DUH! So, all of that to say, I was encouraged because I always want to talk to the pilots of my plane and today I got to- which makes me feel so much safer while flying!!!
Well, we will be down in Houston in 15 minutes, so I need to shut my computer down! Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Flying back to Tejas
Well, my time in Michigan is coming to an end. I have LOVED being back in Michigan, back at work with the friends I love, and being in cooler weather (sort of). I will write more and include picture of my time here in Michigan. I am excited to see Jamos- he survived hurricane Gustov- and hopefully I will make it hope safe and sound! :)
Write more later!
Pray for a safe flight!
Write more later!
Pray for a safe flight!
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