Monday, September 28, 2009

Flood 2009

We made history here in Georgia last week! We experienced the worst flooding that Georgia has had in 100 years. For about eight days it just rained and rained and rained. The creeks and rivers were filled to capacity and began to breach their banks. Some counties experienced severe damage: homes under water, people dieing in creeks, no electricity, roads washed out, basements flooded, freeways closed. It was just craziness!

Last Monday I took the boys to seminary. They called me around 7:10 to say that school had been delayed by 90 minutes. I picked them up and we gathered around the TV to watch the news. I had no idea how bad the flooding had gotten during the night. The rain never really stopped throughout the day and night before. One news station announced a 90 minute delay of school and another one announced a 2 hour delay. I checked the school website and it posted a 90 minute delay. As the time arrived for the high school to start we loaded into the Expedition and headed off to the school. It was just buzzing with activity. When we reached the drop off driveway there was a teacher standing under a large umbrella telling people that school was officially canceled for the day. What? Who has ever heard of a rain day? The boys were elated, but sad that they hadn't been able to sleep in.

Landon had gone to a friends' home Monday afternoon to hang out. As I went to pick him up around 5:30 pm the water in the creek in our neighborhood had risen and was just coming over the road. I plowed through in the truck, knowing that I must go get my son! By the time we arrived back home the river had turned into a large lake and the water was just rushing through the street. There was no way I could get through! We decided to turn around and park in the vacant, unfinished neighborhood located directly behind our home. We trudged through our wet, muddy backyard. Many neighbors were forced to do the same thing so they could get home after work. Later in the evening, around 10pm the waters had gone down and we were able to pick up the truck and drive through the neighborhood. It was a crazy, neighbor-bonding event.

The news that evening announced the schools being closed again for the next day. Wow. Tuesday morning the roads were still very bad in Georgia with more flooding and road closings. We were fine in our neck of the woods because our home is on a hill. I did have friends who had flooded basements because there was just so much water. Yesterday (Sunday) the Stake sent a huge crew of men to work in some of the worst hit flood areas. They helped removed debris and cleanup. They were spotlighted on the evening news. There is still so much to be done to help these people that were hit so hard last week. I am grateful that we were protected on our end and that our home was safe.

Easton had a great time walking through the knee-high water. This was the shallow part!
The lighter colored water was moving very swiftly.

What an event to remember.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

It's Rainin' Runners, Hallelujah!

Bright and early this morning we headed to Rivergreen Park for another Cross Country meet with Dallin. It was calm and a little cloudy. We dropped Dallin off and then went to park. Because it was an hour before the race was to begin, Stephen and I just sat in the car. Slowly raindrops started, pitter pat. Drops became larger until the sky was falling at an incredible rate. As the time drew closer to the start of the race, the rain fell harder. It was a phenomenal downpour. With umbrellas as our only protection from the wetness we headed out to show our support for our son. The starting gun went off and the Varsity boys began to push through the storm. It was the most amazing thing to watch. From where we stood, a huge river began to form. By the time the boy reached us it was a raging creek about a foot and a half deep. We watched anxiously as each runner plowed through the running water. I have to admit that it was quite entertaining. Boys getting stuck, slowing down, some falling face first, and some even lost shoes as they sunk deeper than they expected. Each handled the problem differently and the looks on their faces were priceless. One boy came out of the creek with one shoe on and had to chase his shoe as it went floating down the quickly moving stream. Pure craziness! Dallin ran about a minute slower than his normal time. He said, It wasn't a race, it was just a joke." Stephen and I and other parents certainly enjoyed the early morning chuckle.Dallin cheers on the girls' team. The rain had lessened during their race and the creek had slowed quite a bit.

Painted Up

Ah, the joys of being young! Friday night high school football games in the Fall are full of great, obnoxious, spirited youth. Dallin "paints up" with a whole crew of classmates in the high school parking lot before the game. Each week a theme or color is chosen and the kids get after it. This was last weeks photo, September 11. They painted in red, blue, and white in honor of 9/11. The week before it was all black. The painted up crew walks into the stadium just as the game starts and really causes a scene! Rowdy. Cool. We've got spirit, we've got spirit, we've got spirit, how 'bout YOU!

Monday, September 7, 2009

Chik-Fil-A Part II

We spent three hours in the yard after breakfast clipping numerous hedges and overgrown bushes and weed wacking our crazy landscape. We were tired and hungry! After a wonderful shower we headed off to Chik-Fil-A for a late lunch/supper. Yep, that's twice in one day. When we were at Chik-Fil-A for breakfast we found out that it was collegiate day. Everyone who wore their favorite collegiate shirt or hat to the restaurant got a free chik-fil-a sandwich. Who can beat that?


We ran into Santa at Chik-Fil-A. He was dressed all in red, right down to his red shorts! He was so cute and just sparkly. We couldn't resist asking for a picture. He obliged, asked Easton if he was being good, and then pulled a candy cane out of his red pouch to share. We think it was the real Santa!!!!!

Biking

With pumped up bike tires and filled water bottles, we headed out this morning on a ten mile bike ride to eat breakfast at Chik-Fil-A. This was the first time that Easton had ever ridden that far. I have to admit that I was a little concerned about him, knowing that there were a lot of steep hills and his bike didn't have gears.
We took quite a few water breaks along the way.
Look at my cute boys!
We made it, hooray!!!!
We ordered a breakfast of chicken minis, juice and fruit and enjoyed the beautiful cool morning at a table outside.
What an awesome couple!
We found a really unusual tree along the path and the boys just had to climb.
Mom even got up there!
Can Stephen do it?
He's gonna make it!
And he is triumphant.
Two little monkeys swinging in a tree.......we had a great time spending a morning together with the family.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Diversity

I love the contrast of all the beautiful colors of Heavenly Father's children.