A Different Kind Of "Normal"

As the clean up continues from Hurricane Ike, life around here is desperately trying to become "normal" again. But it's definitely a different kind of "normal." I think that way of thinking will remain for a very long, long time. Whatever was our normal routine & life from before Ike brought much devastation to this city of Houston, Galveston & others, is gone...just a memory of what things were like before.
Several mornings I've woken up just thinking to myself, was that a dream? Did that really happen? I'm quickly reminded, yes, it's real, & get myself up & out of bed to get going for another day, wondering what it will bring.

We're thanking God still that we were able to get power back on here Monday evening. We were the last block in our area to get it, who cares, IT'S ON!!! We are so grateful. Anyone reading this from a battery laptop, who needs a place to come stay, please come! Bring your laundry, come to eat, don't stay where you are without electricity &/or water!

As of yesterday, 34% of Houston & Galveston area's population had power restored, 66%still had not. Hopefully those numbers have changed even overnight as crews from literally around the country have come in to help with this power outage from the storm. I don't know if you have ever lived in a big city without power, I hadn't, it's very interesting to see how much we depend on clean water, on power, one thing leads quickly to another in the order of what is affected! Life certainly has come to a stand still, especially in those downtown & coastal areas. Gas is still at a minimum, food & bottled water is there in some places, many stores still cannot open due to the power outage, so people have to travel to find some. Our garbage pick up came yesterday, but since they're running out of fuel too, we're not sure if they'll be back for awhile. School in our Cy-Fair District is now out through Friday as they attempt desperately to get their buildings restored. Restaurants close at 6PM because they've run out of food. Starbucks is a rare find in this suburbia world now.

Rescue & recovery is well under way as teams are now able to get into some of those areas most affected. From what I understand, officials are not allowing the media to fly over the most devasted areas during recovery efforts, they are unfortunately now finding many who did not make it through the storm.
This is the time where more personal stories are beginning to come out. Troy & I know many families who have had trees fall on their houses or garages, on their cars, etc..., many who are still without power. We know several whose family beach houses are GONE. FEMA is here, President Bush toured the city yesterday with our Governor, but I think the greater impact of relief & help have just been felt by neighbor helping neighbor, by friend helping friend. People WANT to help. There's a spirit of generosity & desire to serve that often comes out in these times of greatest need, of greatest devastation. I pray that continues...this whole thing is going to take "awhile."

I'm incredibly thankful that "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psa. 46:1 So, even if we face "trouble" from hurricanes, from stock market drops, from life events that would make us want to crumble...we can find STRENGTH & REFUGE in Him. HE IS OUR SAFE PLACE.