amazing community!

Today is Stake Conference (a multiple congregation meeting) but it was canceled. Everyone is out in the neighborhood cleaning up debris. Men & women with trailers & trucks are filling them up. Trees that weren't cleaned up yesterday are being cleaned up today. They came & took away our busted up fence & we picked up all the garbage etc. from the yard.

There is a 70% chance of snow & 100% chance of

more wind

nope not kiddin'

This time it shouldn't be as bad as last time- just gust up to 70 MPH.

Shoot- that's just baby stuff!

The kids are hoping & praying for school to be canceled again!

I'm just emailing the missionary & trying to get the laundry caught up in case the power goes out again. Priorities people!

Plus... I'm getting packages ready to send out for Christmas. Nearly all of our family live in different states. If I can get them all put together I'm headed to the post office first thing in the morning. Just think- with a wind storm swirling around-- there shouldn't be any lines?

 I know, I'm really thinking ahead! Heck, I'm brilliant!

blown away

It's been a very hectic, crazy, scary & long couple of days.

The wind came for a visit.

East wind- came to my town & blew hard. Gusts up to 102 MPH to be exact.

It started early Thursday morning around 2:00 AM. I was awake... so I know. Around 3:30 AM Trent woke up & we went downstairs- hoping not to wake up Brett. The power was out- and we landed on the couches. We didn't sleep much... and around 5:30 the power was back on & we turned on the news. Semi trucks were knocked over on the freeway, trees were down all over town. The weather man said if you live in our town- do not send your kids to school no matter what! School had not been canceled. Soon after that the power was out again & we all were up.

Brian & Laura came here- they have single pane windows & were worried.

Our fence blew down.

We watched the roots of the tree just behind our house- rocking almost out of the ground back & forth. Brett ran to Home Depot- bought 100 feet of rope. He & Brian tied it to the tree, then to another tree & anchored it. It wouldn't have hit the house- but would have crashed threw the deck.

 (I finally cleaned up all the Thanksgiving decorations in my warm hoody)

It got cold. Really cold- 15 degrees with the wind chill outside & 50's inside. Brett was out & about helping neighbors & checking on people. Chloe & Hailey were at the Johnson's-- their house was slammed!!

 You can see past the car there- the tree roots coming up threw the driveway! Below: two more trees down- one went through Carolines bedroom wall. They had windows blown out too.

We ate dinner at WEnde's house - their power was back mid day.

School was canceled- finally- and for today too- no power!

WE all slept in the family room with the gas fireplace on. It was cold- but around 1-2:00 AM came on. It was quite an adventure. We are truly blessed. There are still people tonight without power- we just hope ours stays on for the night!? All & all we are blessed- and remembering that truly things are just that-- things. Family, friends, the gospel- our relationships. Those are truly the important things in life. 

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