One Year...

So I intended to post something yesterday, but couldn't come up with the words. It's been a year since Katrina tore through the MS Gulf Coast. In some ways it feels like it was yesterday and in others it feels like it was a life time ago. We continue to be amazed by God's grace and mercy in the midst of the changes and trials. We have been blessed in ways we could never have imagined, and we are eternally grateful to the many who have given us so much over the last year. Please know that we do remember each and every one of you and praise the Lord for your help to us.

I thought of putting links to posts from this time last year, but decided instead to just encourage you to go back and read them on your own. I don't think separating them and picking out one or 2 would do them justice. People say that memories fade over time, but I can tell you that sitting here today, a year later, typing this post, I still remember vivid details of our beach house- and I'm grateful for that. We have lots of great memories of the almost 2 years we lived there- many holidays surrounded by friends and family. We'll treasure those and remember that just because the structure and pictures are gone doesn't mean we will forget. Our treasures are not to be stored up here on Earth, but with our Father in Heaven. Ok, I get it Lord, and when I forget it again, please use a little more subtle reminder!

Curb Appeal

There really is a lot to be said for a little landscaping. Here is a current picture of the house and our weekend landscaping project. (Yes, that's my mom putting the screens back in the kitchen windows- thanks Mom!) We elected to sod the front yard and seed the back yard. Given it's August in Mississippi, we are running the sprinklers 2-3 hours a day until the sod "takes." Thankfully, Batch and Tim installed a sprinkler system so watering the lawn is not such a chore. There are a few more plants to add to the garden and some mulching to be done next weekend, but all in all, this will be the new appearance of our house!

In the backyard, Batch and Bishop are building this great deck for outdoor entertaining. In addition to the table shown in the picture, we will have some seating along the railings of the deck. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and Batch and Bishop will finish that up on Friday. Here's a picture of the deck in process:

On the Road Again

Well, it's official, Batch is on the road again!

This weekend it's for pleasure. He's off to Vegas with 15 other guys for Skip's bachelor party. Yes, I'm slightly insane to send my husband off to sin city alone, but I trust him.

After spending next week at home trying to finish the house, he will return to TSG on August 28th. He will once again become a road warrior splitting his time between Houston, TX and Cleveland, OH. He's looking forward to the project although adjusting back to life on the road will be a HUGE challenge for both of us (and for Luke, our dog).

A few tidbits...

First of all, BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Steve D and Dad B who've had birthdays this month. I've been off my game this year and basically missed everyone's birthday so I wanted to give them some much deserved and delayed attention! WE LOVE YOU!

We are still enjoying the house although it's still a work in process. We get little things done each day so that's nice. Batch and a friend, Tim, have been working on the sprinkler system off and on this week. On Wednesday, Jerry came by and he and Batch decided to replace the old (rotted and rusted) main drainline to the house. About halfway through the process, we got the biggest rainstorm we've had in almost a year so we spent the evening with no running water, but we survived with no permanent scars.

We cashed in some of the American Express points we've been racking up during this process and got a new vacuum cleaner. I think we're also going to use the points for a lawnmower as soon as we finish the sprinkler system and lay some sod!

Seems like there should be something more interesting to mention that all that, but I can't think of it right now...TGIF!!

Hurricanes and warm Gulf waters...

don't typically mix well so please pray nothing substantial comes of the 3rd named storm of the 2006 Hurricane season, Chris. As of today, Chris is still a tropical storm, but as you can see the projected path leads it straight into the Gulf of Mexico early next week. The latest Gulf temperatures are around 90 degrees which could mean rapid intensification for the storm. Check out this link to our tracking site of choice.