Rob laughs, saying that I have started a pattern with blogging, writing time frames for things going on in our lives. But I feel that there's a definite "Before Flood" and "After Flood" time frame, at least for the time being. Today I passed the local shopping center and thought "It'd be so nice to pull in there and go shopping" but there's only one store that has re-opened since the flood. Kohls announced that their brand new store (Open for 9 mos.) was a total loss and they wouldn't be re-opening. The biggest adjustment, at least for E, is that Rouse's isn't close to re-opening. He asked me to drive by there yesterday to see what it looks like because that's his favorite place to go grocery shopping. Sadly, it was still gutted to the ceilings, which was discouraging. I understand that a lot of places suffered horrific loss but I want everything and everyone to just bounce back and I'm learning that that's not going to happen. It takes time and patience and money and patience and teamwork and patience. So, instead, I rejoice with every business that re-opens and every friend that is one step closer to getting their house back together.
E is a lot like the buildings. Before the flood he was thriving and adjusting well to his new "norm" (ie mama working and him going to preschool). After the flood he really struggled. He cried over every little thing and did not want me out of his sight. Every time it rained he fa-reaked out! He rarely slept through the night and was cranky as all get out. Now that our friends have moved back to their house, we are seeing some of the "ole" E resurface. He now sleeps through the night again (Hallelujah!) and just this week he has stopped crying when I drop him off at preschool. On Sunday he's going to attempt to go to his Sunday School class (at a different building from the main sanctuary).
Like everything concerning the flood, it's baby steps. It's baby steps to rebuilding life as we knew it before the flood. But every baby step is a reason to celebrate. So we celebrate that Moe's (our free burrito place) will be re-opening soon and that the sporting good store will be re-opening next month. And we celebrate that E is making strides in overcoming his post traumatic flood syndrome. (I have no doubt it's a real thing.) Thank you, Jesus, for the baby steps....and keep 'em coming!
Friday, October 21, 2016
Saturday, October 15, 2016
A Difference of a Week
Last week at this time I was 40yrs old. Last week at this time we had a houseful of people. Last week at this time we were renters. Last week at this time, E would cry when I took him to preschool. Ah, what a difference 7 days can make.
This week my birthday slipped by without much pomp and circumstance. But I felt loved nonetheless. Between FB, texts, phone calls, cards, my students and gifts there was no doubt in my mind that I am blessed to be loved by so many family and friends. Birthdays have always been special because, to me, it's a day to count my blessings. It's a day to be thankful for all that God has blessed me with during my life. It's a day to realize just how loved I truly am. It's a day that is special no matter if I celebrate with a big party or just my boys. It's a day full of blessings and love!
Monday, after 2 months and 1 day, our houseguests were able to move back into their house. The kids are having withdrawals. Whenever the boys are home, they want to be at our friends' house or their kids want to be at our house. Rob and I were laughing because, after living with us for 2 months, this became "home" to them so they just walk in without knocking. Not that it bothers us. I'm thankful that they became so comfortable in our home. Bedtime has become easier though. E only woke me up 1 night this week, making it the most sleep I've gotten on a consistent basis since the flood. The boys are also sleeping in later, which gives me time to do my devotions and take a shower before the chaos of the morning ensues. E enjoys coming home after preschool and just playing by himself in his room. He's always been our introvert so I think the quiet has helped him take steps to overcome his Post Traumatic Flood Syndrome.
Sometime, earlier this year, I decided that, even though I am not a huge fan of Louisiana, I am a huge fan of all that it encompasses. It has been the place where my life has been the worst and the best. It has been the place where I have truly learned about myself and have accepted my flaws/imperfections as well as my strengths. It has been a place where our marriage was nearly broken into a million places before becoming the strongest it has ever been. So, sometime in late Spring/early Summer, I decided that I'd like to be more settled here by buying a house. Rob and I talked about it and prayed about it but decided to wait until after the boys and I got back from Cali before we seriously started looking. Within 2 weeks of being back the flood hit, sending the real estate market into a tailspin in this area. I won't go into all the drama, headache and heartache that went into finding a house that not only met our needs but our wants. But I am thankful to report that, after looking at dozens of houses, the Lord, as always, provided just the perfect one for us. Earlier this week we found out that our offer had been accepted on a beautiful lake front house. It already passed inspection and the ball is rolling on making it our home. Hopefully we'll be in it sometime around Thanksgiving but it's contingent on the seller's new house being built. Either way we are thankful that we waited because the house I really wanted to put an offer on earlier this Summer got 3 1/2 feet of water during the flood! This house, our new home, didn't even get water near it despite being on a lake. God provided and protected us once again!
Last week at this time, E would cry and cling to me every time I took him to preschool. We prayed that he would adjust but I feared it'd take awhile like it did with his older brother. Thankfully our prayers were answered, and on Wednesday, he stopped the drop off crying. By Friday he acted as if he could care less that I had dropped him off. He still asks every morning if it's a school day but he doesn't cry and that's progress. Like I said earlier, he is making progress on getting over all the flood stuff and that's a great thing.
So, in the past week, a lot has happened. A lot of good has happened and it just makes us realize how truly blessed we are in life!
This week my birthday slipped by without much pomp and circumstance. But I felt loved nonetheless. Between FB, texts, phone calls, cards, my students and gifts there was no doubt in my mind that I am blessed to be loved by so many family and friends. Birthdays have always been special because, to me, it's a day to count my blessings. It's a day to be thankful for all that God has blessed me with during my life. It's a day to realize just how loved I truly am. It's a day that is special no matter if I celebrate with a big party or just my boys. It's a day full of blessings and love!
Monday, after 2 months and 1 day, our houseguests were able to move back into their house. The kids are having withdrawals. Whenever the boys are home, they want to be at our friends' house or their kids want to be at our house. Rob and I were laughing because, after living with us for 2 months, this became "home" to them so they just walk in without knocking. Not that it bothers us. I'm thankful that they became so comfortable in our home. Bedtime has become easier though. E only woke me up 1 night this week, making it the most sleep I've gotten on a consistent basis since the flood. The boys are also sleeping in later, which gives me time to do my devotions and take a shower before the chaos of the morning ensues. E enjoys coming home after preschool and just playing by himself in his room. He's always been our introvert so I think the quiet has helped him take steps to overcome his Post Traumatic Flood Syndrome.
Sometime, earlier this year, I decided that, even though I am not a huge fan of Louisiana, I am a huge fan of all that it encompasses. It has been the place where my life has been the worst and the best. It has been the place where I have truly learned about myself and have accepted my flaws/imperfections as well as my strengths. It has been a place where our marriage was nearly broken into a million places before becoming the strongest it has ever been. So, sometime in late Spring/early Summer, I decided that I'd like to be more settled here by buying a house. Rob and I talked about it and prayed about it but decided to wait until after the boys and I got back from Cali before we seriously started looking. Within 2 weeks of being back the flood hit, sending the real estate market into a tailspin in this area. I won't go into all the drama, headache and heartache that went into finding a house that not only met our needs but our wants. But I am thankful to report that, after looking at dozens of houses, the Lord, as always, provided just the perfect one for us. Earlier this week we found out that our offer had been accepted on a beautiful lake front house. It already passed inspection and the ball is rolling on making it our home. Hopefully we'll be in it sometime around Thanksgiving but it's contingent on the seller's new house being built. Either way we are thankful that we waited because the house I really wanted to put an offer on earlier this Summer got 3 1/2 feet of water during the flood! This house, our new home, didn't even get water near it despite being on a lake. God provided and protected us once again!
Last week at this time, E would cry and cling to me every time I took him to preschool. We prayed that he would adjust but I feared it'd take awhile like it did with his older brother. Thankfully our prayers were answered, and on Wednesday, he stopped the drop off crying. By Friday he acted as if he could care less that I had dropped him off. He still asks every morning if it's a school day but he doesn't cry and that's progress. Like I said earlier, he is making progress on getting over all the flood stuff and that's a great thing.
So, in the past week, a lot has happened. A lot of good has happened and it just makes us realize how truly blessed we are in life!
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