Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful!

I feel bad for saying I wanted to go out and play in the wind the other day because I apparently live in a neighborhood who the storm seemed to skip over, while all the surrounding communities look like a hurricane ripped through it, {which apparently the winds we sustained could have been considered  hurricane force 2 winds}.

There is a lot of damage everywhere.  The cities have been re-landscaped by Mother Nature.  Fences have been ripped apart.  Roofs blown off.  Beautiful 100+ year old trees ripped out.  Sidewalks torn up.  So many golf courses lost 200-400 or so trees!  It is astounding!  Thursday was not a good day to be a tree.  :(

The neighbors house near a property we own had a huge old tree ripped out which subsequently took out the power with it. 

This is not uncommon.  Thousands have been without power.  This afternoon, our tenants finally got their power turned back on, three days later.

And driving down the streets is incredibly sobering.  We have spent the past few days helping clean up trees and putting sections of the roof back on at our place.

Tonight round 2 is supposed to hit.  Another high wind advisory.  Not as strong as the last one but made more dangerous because of the potential flying debris.  The governor advised everyone to stay home tonight to avoid the dangerous conditions and to secure as much debris as we could before the storm hits.

Lots of churches cancelled their services today in order to help with the storm clean up before the next one hits.  I am amazed at the kindness and goodwill of people during times like these!  Everyone is so willing to help.  There were even thoughtful neighbors driving around handing out cookies and hot chocolate to all the helpers.  {And btw, the lady that stopped by to offer us cookies was a fellow Type 1!  Woot!  High five girl!  I love you and had no idea you lived so near me!}

We even had a bunch of young kids we didn't even know help us unload at the cities drop off zone.

Look how amazing they are!

It warms my heart to see such kindness!

Now that's Christlike service in action!

High five to the youth!!!

Sights like this going down the road

are all too common right now!

Even the army is out in force helping out!

It has been quite sobering.  We don't live in an area that Mother Nature beats up very often.  We don't live in Tornado Alley, or where hurricanes happen.  I live in a landlocked state out in the West.  I guess I am just grateful that we are safe, that no one died in the storm and that my own house didn't sustain any damage so that we could be out helping others.

Stay safe everyone!

Mwah!