Sandy is Coming....So They Say.

This is one time I would really like the weather folks to be very, very wrong.  Right now many people in our community are still cleaning up from the tornado that came through last week.  There are tarps on roofs, trees on houses and a missing playground at a local church.  

So, if the talk about the possible destruction of Hurricane Sandy (Frankenstorm) happens to be hype I will be ever so grateful.  

At least this time Warren is supposed to be at home.  He missed the tornado last week (that knocked out our power) and last year when we had a huge snowstorm (that knocked out our power) at the end of October he managed to be out of town too.  Hmm....I'm sensing a theme.  Not sure if it is Warren's theme or the weather's theme.  Either way, having him at home if the power is out is much better.  He knows how to set up and run the generator which will keep our house "running".  Even if it is at a reduced capacity. 

I don't think I ever told you how close Jonathan and I were to encountering the recent tornado.  In fact we were mere moments from being directly in its path as we headed into Lancaster for dinner before Jonathan had to be at work.  Right before we left the house we realized that it was storming.  I hopped online and checked for weather alerts.  There were none.  So we headed out.  As we were just heading out of Quarryville on 222 there was a very impressive lightning and thunder combo just to our left.  We both shuddered at the intensity.  We discussed our surprise at the strength of the storm.  It had to be either right before we passed the road to New Providence or just after, the tornado swept across 222 and on to White Oak Road.  I've seen some of the damage all over our area and can tell you that God's hand must have protected many that night.  Roofs were taken off homes, trees smashed into many buildings and a roof collapsed on a pavilion onto little league players and parents who were taking refuge there.  Amazingly, 

there were no deaths.  Several were taken to the hospital from the pavilion collapse but no one died.  

Some of you know that I would have goats if we had the right conditions.  Since that is not going to happen I love to observe goats on local farms.  One of these farms is about three miles from our home.  They have about fifty goats.  During this storm that barn collapsed while all of the goats were inside.  Amazingly they were all fine.  However, the barn is gone.  Completely gone.

So, this is the reason I am not excited about Sandy's approach.  It seems like a mighty hard time for those who are trying to rebuild.  Just sayin'.

However, I am not the one who gets to choose the weather.  If I were, I'm afraid it might be 70 degrees and sunny all of the time.  That would create problems all their own.  My faith is in the One who created the weather.  The One who calmed the storms as we are told in the Gospels.  

I will pray for those in the path of the storm.  We will prepare with our generator, gasoline, propane for the grill and foods that can be cooked on the grill.  If we all happen to be at home together for a few days we'll make the most of it.  

What would you do with a few days without power?  I'm already thinking of some great books on the bookshelves that are just waiting for my attention.  Some games of Scrabble with the family sounds mighty fine as well.  Hmmm.....maybe I shouldn't be so quick to wish Sandy away.