PIctures from Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike Update

Well, we made it thru our first disaster. Although we had mandatory evacuation orders for both Hurricane Gustav and Ike it was Ike that really came thru and wrecked havoc for the area. We live just 80 miles as the crow flies north east of Galveston. Basically a straight shot north from Port Arthur. Strange, because we were just in Port Arthur for stake conference a few weeks ago. In fact Roman just received the Melchizedek Priesthood at the Conference. The very next week we had to evacuate because of Hurricane Gustav and come to find out it barely drizzled here and there was little or no wind. We had evacuated with Liz and Devin to San Angelo where we stayed at the Goodfellow Air Force Base for two days and then went down to San Antonio to visit our friends Donna and Patrick Elliott. Wonderful people with wonderful hearts.
No such luck with Hurricane Ike. Ike came thru with a vengeance. Orange County which is the county just south of us on Highway 87 was devastated. As was Bridge City. From what I have heard from a friend whose daughter is married to a Marshall in Bridge City they have found many bodies in the aftermath of the storm. They are also having major problems with all the alligators and snakes. Now those two alone would keep me from ever going into Orange again. Much less the destruction from the Hurricane. Beaumont, which is where we have to go for anything really like Best Buy and any bookstores, sporting goods, movies, restaurants and such has also been hit very hard. This weekend Paul and Dylan are going down at 5am with the Church to do service in Beaumont.
We were fortunate although we had no power for 4 days and the HUGE pecan tree in the front yard fell on the house it did no major damage. We had a small generator and that helped tremendously. Totally blew out the freezer. We had trouble with the Refrigerator/Freezer but got that fixed.
The best part was that for some reason I had a very calm feeling through both Hurricanes that all would be well. I was at peace and knew the Lord would protect us. Was true too because the tree didn’t hit the ground until 5 minutes after we pulled out of the driveway. Otherwise it would have hit the car with all our stuff packed in it. And that was after the Major part of the hurricane had come thru when the ground was water logged.
We have been truly blessed, we are safe, no major damage, and we were together thru it all. We also had the opportunity to use what the church has urged us to do and that is the food storage. We found what we were lacking and what we had plenty of. Great learning experience. Hope you all got that email I sent on what I had learned from it.
Love you all and God Bless!!

My baby Roman has moved on...

Well, Roman has moved on with his life and is now at the Naval base in the Great Lakes area. He is in the Navy Nuclear Program and as of Sunday September 7th has shipped out to boot camp. We love him lots and wish him well and I know our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ will be with him always and have guardian angels to watch over him. We are so proud of his decisions for his life and look forward to his accomplishments. At the same time with having Nathaniel get married and join the Air Force and move to California having Roman gone the same year is hard. Dylan asked me today when I told him to take care of the trash why I didn't ask either Nathaniel or Roman to do it. Little pipsqueak he knows cuz he is the only one left at home still. Oh my I love all my sons so very much and miss Roman alot at this moment as he just left. I miss having Nathaniel around to talk to all the time as he was my buddlies most of his life. I have always had a wonderful love and respect for my children and I know that will continue for the rest of time and eternity. It is hard to let go and deal with them growing up even though you know it has to happen and you are so proud of them and the life choices they have made. I respect their decisions and agree with them however; it does not mean that I don't miss them or wish that I could turn back the clock and just have a bit more time with them. They are all three such wonderful young men and I am honored and privileged to have had the time with them all that I have...Dylan your still stuck with me for two more years at least buddy and I am gonna hold on tight. Funny how you cry when they each go to Kindergarten and then you cry when they graduate from High School and when they get married and then when they go off on an adventure called Life...and I know I will cry again with love and joy when they have their families. I miss Brandon so much too. I get to call him every week but he is such a wonderful young man and so loving. I miss him so, and have such wonderful memories of him as a child for the time I was able to have him also. Oh and by the way the picture of him is with him holding Liz and Devin's baby Matthew who reminds me so much of Roman when he was a baby...such a munch a bunch they both are.

Baby News Flash...YEAH!

Okay so Ruthie and Joel are having a baby boy around the first of December. Nathaniel and Ashley are having a baby girl just before Christmas. I got to go with Ashley to the Hospital at Fort Polk in Louisiana, for her appointment today. I had the wonderful opportunity to be there when they did the ultra sound. It was so awesome to see that little baby girl that is developing. What a blessing it is to have grandchildren. Two babies on the way for special delivery at Christmas time. Oh my Thank you Heavenly Father for such wonderful blessings! In Jesus name we thank thee with all our hearts!

One of my favorite quotes...

"Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known. Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes."

Our Son Brandon...

Brandon and his cute baby girl. Brandon we love you lots and miss you more. So glad we were able to get in touch with you and be a part of your life if only via email and the phone for now. We are looking forward to seeing you and your family this Christmas of "08".

Pappa and Baby Matthew

This was way too funny watching Pappa teach Matthew to make noises...LOL

Nathaniel Graduates!

We traveled to San Antonio to watch Nathaniel Graduate on July 4th! He graduated with honors! It was soooo awesome to see him after so long without him. We are all very proud of his accomplishments. He looked soooo good! Fit and trim. And now, he is off to the Presidio at Monterey for linguistics school.

Testing this out...

Okay so I think we have finally arrived...with a little push from Liz!