Good morning, Linda. I just wanted to check to see if your area has been part of the devastating storms that have hit the northeast this week. Praying you have power and are safe and warm and that others will be safe also.
Thank you to those who reached out during the recent storm. We are safe and well.
Heading off to bed in a house that was only 49 degrees was a bit of a bummer, but the ever present flannel in the form of sheets and nightgown, multiple layers of quilts, long underwear, wool knee socks, and fuzzy slippers kept me toasty. A pomegranate scented candle burned nearby and one of those little clamp-on lights shone dimly so I could read myself to sleep while my husband snored quietly, burrowed and still.
And I realized how blessed I was to be warm and safe when so many are experiencing the opposite. At times like this I wonder why me, why all this grace has been extended my way.
It was a busy long weekend with celebrations, travel, child care, and storm-angst. But even though the winds blew hard, the trees that fell did their business in the woods and spared our house. And we weren't even home during the height of the storm and power outage.
But the biggest surprise was the sheer relief I felt when my husband informed me early yesterday morning that the internet was down. I sighed deep with peace and smiled. No weird self-imposed obligation to blog, to run around online, to tend to the emails stacking up dozens deep. I felt free as a bird.
Instead of being held hostage to the laptop, I finished up the book of Judges and then put on a pot of beef veggie soup, rolled up my sleeves and did some heavy duty spring cleaning, ran the washer and the dryer ragged, puttered here and there. Everything is now fresh and clean and uncluttered. I couldn't be happier.
So here's hoping that you are well and safe from whatever storms are surrounding you, whether they be literal ... or those emotional ones that would wreck havoc with your soul.
I'm finding God to be faithful right in the midst of both.
Even when it was 49 degrees and I was buried alive under the weight of all the bed covers stacked high while the wind whistled loud and the windows shook with the sheer drama of it all.
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Wednesdays
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photos are from the aftermath of the
last storm that swept on through
That sounds so wonderful. As I get ready for another hit of snow tomorrow I think I'm going to pray for my internet to go down too! It makes it easier to rally the boys around the fireplace to play games...............or I could sneak in and silently pull a router cord out of the wall...............
ReplyDeleteThere's a time and place for moms to be sneaky. This would be one of them!
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There's nothing better than a powerful storm outside when you are safe and snug inside. Glad you got your electricity back on, there are thousands still without it. Getting ready for the next storm tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteYep, the NY friends are talking about it, for sure. We don't get the snow like you do inland, but boy does the rain come down. And the wind?
DeleteShe just loves roaring up a storm around here ...
A steady heart in the midst of a storm. That's what God provides for us, doesn't He? I think I may have read Psalms instead of Judges though! :) Glad you had a peaceful day in God's faithfulness.
ReplyDeleteIt was a relief to finish the book of Judges {I'm reading through the Bible chronologically}. It was a faith stretcher for sure ...
DeleteBut yes, yes, Lynn, I'm with you ... I love the Psalms, especially during any kind of storm.
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So glad you got through the storms OK and could enjoy a bit of well-earned peace in the midst! We'd been praying for you, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd how are you guys doing?
DeleteOh my, Linda, I love these stormy photos you shared! And what a delicious day you had without internet, with the freedom to read and not attend to online obligations, although I'm not sure I could have functioned in 49 degrees, as you did! Your ability to appreciate the benefits of a tense situation is lovely and I hope all the cleaning was cathartic! :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteYes, there is beauty in a storm's aftermath, isn't there, Valerie ...
DeleteAnd yes it WAS a delicious, cathartic, and lovely day! Your intuitive words hit the nail on the head ...
And seeing you here this afternoon is the icing on the cake.
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I'm glad you're ok! I heard about the storms and wondered if that was somewhere near you! I'm glad you were able to see the positives even in the challenges of having normal life disrupted. Everything was on hold here for 3 or 4 days because of the snow and, while I'm glad things are getting back to normal, there was freedom in it being like that for a couple of days.
ReplyDeleteI always did love a snow day or two ...
DeleteAnd when you're a grown up, you don't have to go outside and play in the frigid air unless you really want to!
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So glad you made it safely through that recent storm, and here comes another! Yes, it's wonderful to be "free" of the internet from time to time. It is so distracting, isn't it? Even though we really want to keep up with blogs we subscribe to and with friends, once in a while, it's healthy for us to unplug.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and stay warm!
I so agree, Martha! It's healthy for us to unplug ... and healthy for us to encourage each other to take regular breaks from all things social media.
DeleteI'm thinking our expectations of how often we bloggers connect tend to be too high sometimes ...
Grace, grace.
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Yeah for you!! Sounds like another might be headed your way by week's end so keep all th cozy stuff handy and brew another pot of tea, my friend!
ReplyDeleteThe cozy stuff handy.
DeleteYes, I can do that! I hope you are safe and warm as well ...
Brrr.
Internet down. Hmmm sounds like a good thing. Amazing isn't it the ton of stuff we get done when some things (we think are) vital are missing. Glad you survived the storm. Sounds like your hubby had the right idea though. Can't change it might as well sleep on it and let the ONE who can calm to storm keep me calm.
ReplyDeleteAnd interesting that not long after it revs up we're back to our old habits, huh?
DeleteI'm so glad God gave you safety through the storm, Linda. And even gave you some relief when the internet was down. :) We first had freezing rain here before we got snow, so we were grateful we didn't lose power. 49 degrees in the house is cold! And yes, what a blessing to have warm clothing and blankets to cuddle into. I love your photos, especially the last one showing the power of the waves. Love and hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteThose waves are always awesome in their might.
DeleteI realize how small I am in light of their power ...
This reminds me of myself. I have had such a great time away from all the tech I don't want hardly come back lol. I love the pictures and am glad you are safe. Great writing, Linda. I was wrapped in every word!
ReplyDeleteYou said this and I'm wholeheartedly agreeing, Meg -->'I have had such a great time away from all the tech I don't want hardly come back lol.'
DeleteBut yet here we are anyway ...
Your words conveyed a cozy warmth too, Linda. Thankful your home and family are safe and most thankful for the peace that keeps company with you.
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love how the fruit of the Spirit don't vanish based on our outward situations?
DeleteOh how very lost we'd be ...
Happy to hear you were safe and warm. God is so good and gives us what we need before we know we need it!
ReplyDeleteAmen!
DeleteI'm keeping gratitude front and center.
Praise the Lord you are all safe and warm and Internet free. What did we do before the internet was invented? I used to send my daily posts by pigeon. Expensive. Because the pigeons were eaten as soon as they arrived at their destination. My posts provided food for thoughts.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Pigeons!
Deletehahaha!
;-O
I have to admit I love my creature comforts and central heat and electricity and Internet, but every now and then a break from it all helps bring back perspective. People have lived without all those things a lot longer than they've lived with them. But I am still glad when they're back. :-) Glad you all were safe in the storm.
ReplyDeleteFor sure, I'm with you, Barbara ... I do love my creature comforts. I don't need alot to keep me happy, but heat in the winter is one of those luxuries I'd be hard pressed to live without.
DeleteI think it's ok for us to say that, don't you?
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Wow, didn’t know you lost power. For how long? We are lucky in our complex...all power lines are underground (again, God’s grace in answering our prayers many years ago). I can’t remember when we ever lost power. I am glad cause I HATE being here alone with no lights, no heat or no one to play cards with. Loved power outages when my family was young...great times together.
ReplyDeleteWe are in the midst of another nor’easter with high predictions and the 3 puppies get these huge snowballs attached to their feet (all 12 of them...feet that is). Hopefully their need to go out will be minimal. Glad I like snow!
Love the winter pics and glad you got lots and lots of blankets
3 puppies! A torrential snow storm! Oh my, you're a brave one ...
DeleteI hope you're all surviving ...
And I know you're crazy about your granddogs, but do they play cards, too?
So advanced!
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So glad you are safe, dear one!
ReplyDeleteYou're sweet ...
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Awwww, Linda. I'm so glad you and your hubs are safe and stayed warm during the power outage. I understand the freedom that comes when the internet is down. Ours hasn't gone down recently, but on the days when I choose not to blog and scurry around the internet, I feel like I have a chance to breathe. I don't do it often, but there are seasons when having the mental and emotional space to breathe is more important than connecting with online friends, isn't there? It sounds like you used your time to free up the clutter of your mind and home as well as your heart. How wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI hope the next Nor'easter doesn't hit you hard like this past one did!
Jeanne - I think this is such an important statement -->'on the days when I choose not to blog and scurry around the internet, I feel like I have a chance to breathe.'
DeleteYes, yes, yes!
And then this is oh so true, too -->' there are seasons when having the mental and emotional space to breathe is more important than connecting with online friends'
I've been thinking along those lines recently ... you've added more food for thought.
Let's talk about this. I feel a blog post coming on ...
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Grinning. :) "Breathe" was my one word a few years ago. Every now and then I have to remind myself to take deep breaths, and give myself breathing space in my days . :) I look forward to reading your take on Breathe! :)
DeleteI think we're on to something here, Jeanne ...
DeleteI am visiting you from June's blog. I too am so glad you are safe. The storms this winter have been brutal but thank goodness God provides for our shelter even if chilly sometime. Stay warm and I look forward to visiting you again...
ReplyDeleteHow very kind of you, Hannah! Please come again and often ...
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You brought back memories of spending the night at my grandmother's. There was only gas space heaters and for safety they were turned out every night. I have memories of those heavy covers burying me in a nest for a restful night's sleep. THANK GOODNESS she got up and turned the heaters on before I had to put my feet on that cold wood floor!
ReplyDeleteGlad you are safe!
Blessings!
Brrrr ...
DeleteLet's hear it for a stack of those wonderful old quilts! Do you have any of your grandmother's?
It's good to unplug and step away from it all, and sometimes God puts us in positions where it isn't a choice! haha. Glad to see you are keeping life in perspective and have the proper priorities! AND that you are safe in the storms! - www.domesticgeekgirl.com
ReplyDeleteAnd your storm / prayer story is certainly worth reading, friend
Deletehttp://domesticgeekgirl.com/lifestyle/falling-trees-faith-and-things-to-have-on-hand-for-an-emergency-power-outage/
Linda,
ReplyDeleteGlad you came through the storms safely. Sometimes, it's sheer bliss to be completely unplugged (can't find the cell phone and the internet is down). Takes me back to the "good ole days" lol.
Blessings,
Bev xx
'Sheer bliss to be completely unplugged.'
DeleteAbsolutely.
Stay tuned 'cause we're going there, Bev ...
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Loved your post!
ReplyDelete{via email}
Love you!
Deletexo
I love how you titled this post, Linda ... it says something about the power our electronic habits can have over us when we experience relief when we can't engage in them! I know the feeling, and I also see it in my girls when I impose a "phone-free" day on them. :-) I'm glad you stayed safe and warm in the storm, but I'm also glad the storm gave you a break from the Internet!
ReplyDeleteI'm becoming more unsettled at the way our screens are holding us hostage ... it's like we're allowing them to keep us from what we're really yearning for.
DeletePeace. Tranquility. Rest in our spirits.
I'm feeling like many of us are in that same boat, looking for a safe harbor, ya' know?
Glad to know you survived the storm. I love your positivity through it all. And there is something freeing about having your internet go down, right?? God is faithful. Your story makes me think of the Casting Crowns song, "praise you in the storm".
ReplyDeleteFreedom indeed. I think I didn't realize how much I was craving that space. We're going to be talking about that healthy yearning in the days ahead.
DeleteCan't wait to get your insight, Mary!
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