Tropical Update

Tropical Storm Fay just absolutely refuses to go away. We are now in day 3, but she hasn't affected us that much yet. Which is a good thing. When the first track came in, the forecasters had her coming in straight through our happy little town. Thankfully for us, but not for those on the East coast, it shifted and shifted. All we've really gotten up until now is wind and rain.

Now that she is stalled on the East coast, she is just unloading all the rain she can. In some places she has dropped over 20" of rain. That is alot in a 24 hour period. She is supposed to shift to the west again and come back across today. She is such a big storm, we will still be affected by the shift. But once again, all we should get is wind and rain, but not badly.

The kids are about to go crazy. They want to go outside and play. We finally let them yesterday evening. It was still raining, but the wind had calmed down significantly. So we let them put on bathing suits and jump on the trampoline. Do you remember playing in the rain?

I do. Mom would let us go outside as long as there wasn't any lightning. I don't think she necessarily thought about us getting struck by lightning, just the fact that when it's there, the storm is a lot worse. That's the good thing about a tropical system- no lightning. And since we live in the lightning capital of the US, not the world, it's pretty prevalent when we have rain.

Did you know that we used to be the lightning capital of the world? Now it's Katmandu, I think. Anyway, we don't get many chances to play in the rain. So we let the kids take full advantage. They laughed and played and jumped. Sometimes when it's hot, we attach the sprinkler to the trampoline, but we didn't have to yesterday.

The kids were soaking wet when they came in. I sent them straight to the bathroom to strip off wet suits and get a towel. Then they all cuddled up in their robes. Our trampoline usually leaves big black marks on you when you jump. When it's wet, though, it doesn't do that. So the kids didn't need to get a shower last night (YEA!). While we were eating dinner, the kids were begging to go back outside. But with the clouds, it got dark really quick. And then the wind picked up. So we told them no. But we did watch a movie together last night.

Hubby is supposed to go with his brothers and their dad to New Smyrna Beach and go metal detecting. I think he is out of his ever loving mind, but I knew that before I married him. He said his oldest brother's wife will probably be mad at him for even suggesting the trip. I told him his brother was a big boy and if his wife got mad at my hubby for planning she needed to get over it. But that is such a long story for another time and my other blog.

Have you ever been metal detecting? It is actually alot of fun. Specially when the beeper goes off that you found something. Hubby found a pendant the other day that was gold and silver and had twenty four stones around it. He was so excited. He took it to a jeweler and found out it was gold plated and the stones were zirconias. Poor baby.

There have been several ship wrecks off the East Coast from the 1700's and the 1800's. When we have a big storm, it washes up gold coins, gem stones, and all kinds of artifacts. They are ususally worth several thousand dollars, if not more. People are constantly losing things on the beach from vacations and Spring Break. Watches and rings and all kinds of things are always found. I hope this time it's found by hubby. I think it would make him feel better.

Lord, hear my prayer that Hubby will find beautiful treasures that will help us out of our financial situation. And keep him and his family safe as they search. Please bring them home safely to us.

Basically in a nut shell, we all have a little cabin fever. But I think we'll get over it. We are warm and safe and dry. The temperature today should only be in the middle to upper 70's. That's fantastic for Florida in August. We will definitely take the break from the heat. Our lakes, which have been suffering from a two year drought, are starting to fill up. Things are glorious in our little corner of the world.

I will ask that you pray for the people that have been affected by this storm in a worse way than we have. There was a tornado that affected about 50 residences. Shelters have opened for people being displaced by the storm. Sewer systems have backed up, forcing people out of their homes. And flooding has caused millions of dollars of damage, and people have lost all of their belongings. I will also ask for prayers of thanksgiving that this part of your family is safe. Thank you.

Have a great day!