Irene

This summer has just simply flown by. Work seems like it doubled from the volume of patients we saw this time last year. The grandkids have happily kept me quite busy. We have had adventures that will be talked about for a long time. I love activities that make memories which will be repeated long after I'm gone!! (well I hope so anyway!)
But I wanted to talk about Irene. Not my 2nd cousin, although she is a wonderful lady. I'm talking about the hurricane that just pounded us with her presence. She got everyone's attention. I live in Maryland. About 11 miles from Baltimore City. We watched as Irene showed her fury south of us. We braced and prayed for the Lord to keep us safe, along with the millions of others that were being affected by the powerful winds and flooding. And we watched Irene head north.
My granddaughter Spinner was so terrified we were going to not make it out alive(she's 5) wouldn't even say the word hurricane. I'm not sure if the fear comes from the fact we just felt the ground shake and rumble under us a week ago, but natural disasters in her mind is a concept way too big for her 5 year old mind to comprehend. I even tried singing the song from Veggie Tales,"God is bigger than the Boggie Man." Nope, she would have none of that. Maybe if she was facing a scarey creature she might have a little more courage and faith that she would be safe, but not this big wind that could knock down her family.
God did spare us major problems. We never lost our power. For that alone I am so grateful. The tree  damage is minimal. We will be picking up and raking for a week I'm sure, but that is surely doable over what could have happened. The roof has a few shingles gone. And the oak will need some branches cut where they are just hanging, far too high up for us to reach.
My prayers continue to go out to the thousands who suffered damage and/or loss. God keep your hand on the 1st responders as they are on the streets.
Thank you God for your protection, mercy and love.