No worries. The storm will be bad when it gets here but we are not expecting it to be more than a category one over Lakeland. This doesn’t mean there is no danger, the possibility of tornadoes still exists and it is possible that the power will go out. Not a pleasant thought in the heat. I think most people here are concerned about flooding. The storm is moving very slowly and will be given opportunity to drop 10 to 20 inches of rain. We are boarding up the patio doors but that is all. Not so much in concern of wind beating them down, but objects are known to become airborne in such storms and we don’t want something flying into the Kelso living room through glass doors.
We went to Publix yesterday and stocked up on snacky foods. I’m going to make homemade chocolate chip cookies per Kris’ request and there’s lots of chips and drinks. Kris’ brother Kevin and his wife Ursula as well as dog…Brody will be joining us at some point.
The eye of the storm is very large right now and is expected to run right over Lakeland around 8AM tomorrow. We are anticipating a lot of activity before then because the storm is so spread out and slow. We are already getting a lot of wind gusts but it is actually pleasant right now as the sky is still very clear.
Of course this could all be a dud of a hurricane, you really can’t predict where a hurricane will go or how strong it will be. The best guess is right over top of us, but who can really tell. It has weakened a lot but it could pick up again. We are praying for a dud, by the way, we are under the umbrella of a big God and we trust that He’s got all this under control. I like these verses from Psalm 18:
1 I love you, O LORD , my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn [1] of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call to the LORD , who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave [2] coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the LORD ;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him-
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded. [3]
14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies ,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD ,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
No matter how strong the wind…He can tame it.