Where did it End??

NOT HERE!! Praise the Lord!

The good news is: Hurricane Rita did her dirty work (like predicted) to both port and starboard sides of the Sabine River. Ravaging Sabine Pass and Johnson's Bayou upon making landfall; she continued up the river taking ruthless aim at Pt. Arthur, Orange, Lake Charles and then periphery damage to: New Orleans (again), Beaumont, Galveston, the Houston metro-area, and the Big Piney Woods. The Big Thicket as we call it (and it IS BIG and THICK and full of trees of the same description) took a hard blow from the hurricane force winds all the way past San Augustine TX including: Hemphill, Jasper, Buna, Silsbee, Kirbyville, Woodville and more.

She was projected to sit (for several very long days) and dump 20-30 inches of rain accompanied by high winds further up the Texas-Louisiana border in the Arkla-Tex region. Here in SW Ark, we had been told to expect Century-flood type weather. As it turns out- she did dump some much needed rain on us (maybe about 4 inches locally) and got a move on and somehow or another (God's Divine Plan- I'd imagine!) kept moving and today- we have SUNSHINE and next to no winds! Yesteray, there were several tornadoes over the state and wind damage all over; but, for the most part- we ALL dodged a great BIG bullet!

Now, the "other side of the coin" of the good news. There is much damage to my former communities and plenty of logs for the sawmills. Sabine County is literally in the heart of the Sabine National Forest and is for the most part, impassable. Downed trees and power lines will have to be cleared before many of the folks that evacuated the coastal counties can get out and back down the road. Many of them were riding out the evacuation in their RV's and they have some horror stories to share. My sis's home has a hole in the roof; but, their large trees fell without damaging her house, vehicles or boats that dbil uses for his fishing/hunting guide business. The neighbors weren't so lucky. Dbil is leaving the Gulfport/Biloxi area today for Port Arthur and Beaumont (St. Elizabeth's hospital) to do first-responder construction repairs. One of the fellow guides has this business for the "off-season" of guiding. The schedule works pretty good- you have more hurricanes in the months with not such good fishing. He will check on his parent's and sister's home (in Jefferson County) and give damage reports before they try to make it back home from Sabine County.

Today, my sister will be picked up by our Dad because the fishing tournament she was working is finally over! She will join her sons and the three evacu-dogs here until it's safe to re-enter the county. My hope and prayers are for all their peace of minds, grace of spirit and a clear definite direction for them to follow in this situation of so many unknowns.

I can hardly WAIT to hug her neck! I just wish our baby sister and brother (and his fiance) were here to hug, too-- seems like in a time when you watch tv and literally see the neighborhoods of your childhood memories disintegrate photo by photo; you just need a hug. A big ole family group hug. Nan, if you're reading this- DON'T CRY-- unless it's just for the sheer joy that we can celebrate that we are alive and SAFE! As are our family's peripheral members (in-laws families) and our former neighbors.

Thank YOU, GOD that it's over!