Hello from the other side of Irma!
As you would assume from the fact that I’m writing, we did not die.
Living in Florida means dealing with hurricanes on a semi-regular basis but the majority of storms bypass us or end up being weakened before they reach us. Hurricane Irma, however, was growing in intensity and kept shifting her projected path closer and closer to us. She was initially supposed to hit as a category 5 directly on Miami and then skirt around the east coast and make landfall again in the Treasure Coast area. She changed her mind though and with only a couple day’s notice, she was shifted over towards the center of the state and then eventually moved all the way across to the west coast.
The enormity of the storm meant that the entire state would be enveloped in its wake but the outer bands are much less menacing than the inner eye wall.
So we bought extra water, canned goods, tuna, and (gulp) spam.
I think the spam actually ended up being one of the most traumatizing parts of the experience. It’s amazing how something that was so good as a kid can gross you out as an adult.
Anyways, we put our covers on our windows and recruited Papa to come stay with us and then ended up also hosting a dear couple that are more like family than friends.
I have to say, it was an overwhelmingly warm feeling to come full circle and be able to offer a safe place to others instead of asking for a place to go. Growing up in a mobile home, we didn’t evacuate often, but there were a few times when we had to, and it was frightening. To leave your home not knowing what you would come back to is a strange, surreal feeling.
The realization that I now am privileged enough to live in a beautiful, strong, safe home that I can share with others was one of the best feelings. Of all the reasons why I love being in my own house instead of a rental, this was the best one yet. My heart is unspeakably full of gratitude.
We weathered the storm well; no damage or issues in the yard, but we did lose power. Normally that would’ve just been an inconvenience but baby Laelynn had spiked a high fever the night of the storm and needed to be in the AC. Talk about scary, when your toddler spikes a 104 fever out of the blue in the middle of a hurricane with the roads closed and the local hospital on lock down…let’s just say that mama was slightly terrified.
Thankfully, the same sweet friends that stayed with us during the storm didn’t sustain any damage to their own house and still had power so we packed up and headed over there for a couple days. Once Laelynn was feeling better, we were able to check out a new park and play and just enjoy being in good company.
We are happily back home now and back to work getting walls painted and decor up and the last of the boxes out. I think I have a new, deeper appreciation for these walls I call my own. We have weathered our first storm and built some deep roots already, and it’s only been ours less than 2 months.
Thank you, LORD.
