Tuesday, October 30, 2012

.....Sandy's surge.....

....we relished in the coziness of an apartment that was pounded by rain and shaken by wind as Sandy blew through here last night.....we had our candles lit, our bath tubs full and our windows taped.....we cooked, baked, prayed, played dress up, prayed some more, cleaned, snuggled and waited.....

.....an inside day that was truly a treat for a Momma who has two girls who love to be girly.....








.....Callie pulled out my wedding gown that has moved from closet to closet over the years and begged me to wear it so she could be a flower girl......I obliged and for the first time since my wedding day, I slipped on the most beautiful gown I have ever worn and you would have thought from the girls' responses that I was a true princess......


....and then it was their turn to try it on before we actually had our own family wedding.....

....our long hallway served as a great aisle.....I had two flower girls who carried my train and a hubby waiting for me at the end of the hall in lounge pants and a soft cotton tee; holding a happy toddler boy who was rolling two trains over my groom's head as we said our vows......the girls giggled with excitement and each claimed it was their turn to marry Daddy next.....



....we painted, we crafted, we colored, we baked cookies.....all while we were glued to the TV, expecting to lose power any minute.....





.....when the wind began to scare us from its howling off the Long Island Sound just several feet away, we prepared for what we thought would be a long night.....




.....but the worst never happened......we didn't even lose power, although I would claim that we are the only ones within several miles who do have working power......there are thousands without and will be without for a long time....

.....we drove around Stamford and Darien, just 30-35 miles north of NYC first thing this morning and there were generators running everywhere.....

....there were several streets that we could not get to due to the flooding......yet there were other streets that were driveable to a certain extent before fallen trees blocked the roads.....many areas still need help, but their assistance hadn't arrived yet.....





....the streets were bustling with neighbors.....friends wanting to talk to friends about the storm and the damage that ensued.....and we drove around wanting to yell out to anyone, "we have power! follow us for a hot shower and a warm meal!".....





.....the beach that has welcomed us so gracefully has been eroded....


.....steps are gone, wooden walkways have been washed away, mountains of rocks we used to climb have been submerged several feet under the angry waves.....




....and this isn't even the worst of it.....the Jersey shore, Coney Island, Staten Island, the coast of Queens, parts of Long Island, the financial distict in Manhattan......there is so much damage and there are so many people who are suffering........they need our thoughts, our prayers, our help and our support....the damage done certainly rivals the extent from which I have seen from past Florida hurricanes.....we are grateful that our apartment complex has generators, staff that is cleaning up leaves, branches, and debris from rising water.....but many are not as fortunate....many will be waiting and working for weeks, if not months to come just to have their basic necessities......

....our role as a family will be to open our arms and our home to as many people who need the help.......shelter, water, warm baths for babies, hot meals for families who will live without power for several days, if not over a week.....and the power of prayer.....

.....the northeast is resilient.....we will prevail......

She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
Proverbs 31:20