Well, church is canceled this morning because of Irene’s impending arrival. This is the first time we’ve ever canceled church because of weather, so we’re all just sitting here in front of the various news shows, drinking tea, and watching the rain and wind pick up outside. (Actually, Kory has not yet been seen this morning! Sleepyhead teenagers…) New Jersey and Long Island are getting the brunt of the storm right now, and we’re only about three hours from there. Connecticut friends have lost power, as have many in our state already.
Yesterday, we spent half of the day at a lovely wedding and the other half of the day preparing for the storm. We got out all of the provisions we keep around for blizzards and snowstorms. Would you believe we’ve NEVER had to use any of them in a snowstorm? For this storm, though, we’ve received two automated messages from our electric company, and one from our town urging us to stay at home and be prepared to go for up to seven days without power! To live in New England and prepare more for a hurricane than a blizzard seems very strange, but here’s what we did:
1. Bought 2 cases of bottled water at our local pharmacy on Friday, because our grocery store had NO water. The shelves were completely empty, and people were resorting to club soda.
2. Filled the bathtub, all of our water bottles, and the gallon jugs of water we keep for emergency use in the winter with water. (Though our town website says they don’t anticipate any disruption in water supply.)
3. Gathered all flashlights, emergency candles, and matches.
4. Brought the bunnies and their hutches into the mudroom and off the back porch.
5. Checked/cleaned gutters and drainage. (We have had water in our basement before because of heavy rain.)
6. Bought all groceries for the week.
7. Washed and dried ALL laundry and dishes.
8. Gathered passports, birth certificates, etc. from basement in case of flooding. (Though a tree through the roof is more of a concern than flooding! We’ve got huge trees surrounding our house ~ almost everyone here does! Both Cooper AND Robert had dreams that a tree fell through our roof last night.)
9. Made a fresh batch of granola. 😉 (Not that this is is urgent, but at least we’ll have healthy food options during our power outage!)
10. Prayed for God’s protection and mercy.
The wind is really picking up now, so I should publish this before I can’t, but all of this reminds me of a Psalm that “happened” to be the next one I would read one morning while in Maine. It had stormed there all night, and I couldn’t sleep, because my heart and mind were having similar stormy thoughts and anxieties that day…
The LORD reigns,
He is clothed with majesty
The Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.
You are from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
The floods have lifted up their voice,
The floods lift up their pounding waves.
More than the sounds of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The LORD on high is mighty.
The floods have lifted up their voice,
The floods lift up their pounding waves.
More than the sounds of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The LORD on high is mighty.
Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness befits Your house,
O LORD, forevermore.
Holiness befits Your house,
O LORD, forevermore.
Psalm 93
His Word is living and active! He is faithful to speak through it, and He did speak to me very clearly that day. He is in control. He reigns. He is mightier than the storm.