Survived, but...

We survived Harvey. 

We were on vacation when word of the Hurricane came, and its threat to the Houston area.  We were too far from home to get home before the weather made it impossible to get home.  

We were far from home, and never had a chance to prepare.  A close friend, who lives in an area with mandatory evacuation, moved his family into our house for a few days while we were unable to get home.  Having someone there helped relieve our stress a bit, and we feel for them as they are under increased stress.  We prayed that the worst indeed is past and not yet to come.  The unknown is stressful.

We were able to get to the Dallas area and stayed with Cindy's brother.  Got there around 4 pm on Sunday.  At the time we didn't know when we would be able to get home.  It was tough.  It would have been nice to be in our own house, even with the storm raging. But being up in the Dallas area meant we were safe, and having someone in our house helped because they could tell if the house was fine.  They and other neighbors checked on creek levels.  But still, very frustrating. 

Cindy contracted Shingles while I was in Abilene in early August for a reunion.  She felt well enough to travel for our vacation to see the August solar eclipse, but she was still in pain as her body healed.  She tired very easily. 

Just after we arrived in the Dallas area, I talked Sunday night to our son-in-law. He went to the ER with chest pain the previous Friday morning. They ran tests and confirmed he had  a heart attack. They performed a catheter and stint to repair the blockage. Two days later he came home good as new. But this was a "bring me to my knees" scary.

We prayed as they begin to make changes and adjustments as a family to continue improving his health. And for our daughter as she processes the events of the weekend.

Prayer was all we had for many moments.  Our friends who have already lost much.  Friends who have had to leave home.  

Then on Tuesday, my Dad & stepmom were evacuated from their house.  They moved in with my sister, who lives nearby.  We now know that they took some water in their house.  Not much, but enough to keep them from moving back in for several days.  I am helping where I can.  

We made it home on Thursday, and on the next day I went to their house, walking about a mile in waders through the flood waters. A little water got in the house. The front two rooms have soggy carpets, and some damage in the walls of one of those rooms and also in another tiled room walls.  Throw rugs in two tiled rooms were drenched. There was also some water in their bedroom, carpets only and not in the walls.  Thankfully, their cars in the garage appeared to be dry.

I was grateful for the 3 young men who helped me carry across the street through high water the heavy and very full garbage bag of necessary items from the house, and the other 3 young men who let me ride in their jeep to the high ground where Dad was waiting.

On Monday, I spent most of the morning at the house with two young couples from their home church. The young people pulled the carpets from three rooms and the closets.  Some furniture was also tossed.  I got to clean out the defrosted freezers and fridge. 😝 

About 6 inches of sheetrock and baseboards were removed from two rooms. More baseboards also taken out of the bedroom closets.  The only damaged furniture (so far) was from the living room. Some clothes from closets may need to tossed if not cleanable.

My stepmom's son came to help with more cleanup and sanitizing the house, spending lots of time trying to make it more livable when they can move back in.

Cindy is still in a lot of discomfort during this long recovery from Shingles.

By the grace of God we survived Harvey, but at times I have felt completely overwhelmed.  Sometimes faith is tested by the big challenges in life.  Other times, it is tested by one body blow after another, a roller coaster of ups and downs in a few short days.  We're still here, still faithful.  We are not the same as two short weeks ago.