Ice Storm 2009

Although not much fun to live through, PP and Nattie decided to make the best of it.

These are the same view during the snow and ice and after it melted that PP took.

I've started to blog at least twice in the last few days and haven't been inspired at all. I went back to work last week but the kids were out all week long. Nat goes back on Monday. Reese will start Tues. The hardest part about going back to work was hearing the criticism about the fact that even though I had well water, I should somehow know how to hook the generator up to the water and therefore have an endless supply at my disposal. After I wept all day over those couple of people that I let hurt my feelings, I explained to one of them that if you wanted to know how to sell insurance, book keeping, nursing, building houses you could ask my family about it. Or if you wanted to be loved to death; you could get that from my family too. But...if you are looking for electricians or plumbers or something of that nature, don't bother looking at the Stivers/Barnhill family. Within one day of this, BB had a friend who is an electrician at our house (well, at our community house) and had the water running. Everyone was so excited. So, now at 12 days, we have tv, water, heat, microwave, a couple lamps, and all the love you could ask for to go around!!!! Today was also a start to the cleanup. While PP, BB and Reese went out to gather the trees, I went to my house and emptied the fridge. Wow, I couldn't believe how dirty it was. I guess if you haven't cleaned it in 8 years that is to be expected. Anyway, I did that and swept the floor and folded some laundry that was left from before the storm and back to MM and PP house I went. As much fun as this has been, I am ready to get back to normal. Hopefully in a few days we will be with power again. I have been trying to gather my thoughts as to what I have learned from all of this or what type of impact it has made on my overall outlook. So, if I ever get that together, I will blog it. Until then...

Hot water is good therapy!

Since my last update, my brother has come and swept the kids and I off to Nashville to Shannon's aunt's home where they have been staying since the power outage. At first I was reluctant to go. Who knows why other than I wasn't feeling very good and didn't feel much like trying to get everything together in a hurry. I sort of didn't want to leave mom and dad either. Of course we didn't want to leave BB but he was working so much we weren't seeing him anyway. So, we went. And boy how glad I am that we did. First thing was first-SHOWER/BATH! I took a shower first then ran water for a soaking bath. It was wonderful. I don't know if it was the lack of a bath or not knowing when the next one would come that made it so wonderful, but still it was wonderful. We are working on our 3rd night here and plan to go home tomorrow. We still don't have power but Nanny and Poppy do and maybe we can go there. Kids don't have school and I am off work one more day. The best part of the trip to Nashville was the hospitality that Shannon's Aunt Linda showed to us. She is such a sweet spirit and had such calming affect on me. The kids have played non-stop for 2 days and right now Nat is already asleep. She didn't even make it all the way through the Super Bowl! She has rock climbed and rode a dirt bike this weekend. Reese rode a 4-wheeler. We have watched movies and taken several baths. Not to mention all the food. You would think we hadn't eaten anything in a week. It was very surprising how fast I was tired of PB and cheese and crackers. Maybe it was the stomach flu. I'd like to think I wouldn't be that picky that quick. Who knows? Hopefully I won't ever have to test that again. I still say the worst part was not being able to get in touch with anyone. I feel so overwhelmed to say that I am glad that it was the way it was and not more serious. When BB and I couldn't get home that night due to trees, I kept thinking what if this was a big earthquake that they are always predicting and their wasn't just a tree to remove but the whole road was a mess and we couldn't just wait til the next day to try to get home again. I feel thankful from the bottom of my heart to wait out the power outage knowing that although it was very inconvenient and scary at first, that everyone was safe and accounted for and that I got to spend time with family and Shannon's family that would never have happened otherwise. God works and He is good even in the midst of chaos and confusion. He brings things to pass in your life that you couldn't orchestrate even if you tried. I pray I am always conscious and give my thanks to Him and not myself. I hope to put some of the pictures that dad took on the blog soon. Goodnight!