The Mississippi Squall

Well, last night was eventful, but, then again, it was also incredibly peaceful and just what our little family needed. In case you can’t tell from the drought of blog posts, we have been pretty busy these days. I saw a notepad that I need; it said, “someone stop me before I volunteer for something else.” With Jonathan being in the midst of harvest season and the kids being back in school after a really fun and wonderful summer we have been doing our best to keep our heads above water. I have a to do list a mile long and several items on that list seem rather urgent with the newest Fortner’s arrival a mere four weeks away. I have on more than one occasion during the past month lying in bed at the end of the day feeling like everything was a blur and that neither Jonathan or the kids were getting the best of me. I’ve been praying for peace and patience. Who knew my prayers would be answered in the midst of a tornado, yes the literal kind, with the winds and rain and purple skies.

Last night, dinner done and dishes soaking, kids gearing up for the winding down, I was trying to figure out what kind of homework Holt had left to do and what chores were going to have to be done before I could crawl into bed. I could feel my blood-pressure climbing with each whine from the kids rooms and text message beep from Jonathan’s phone. It was in the midst of this storm that Jonathan called us all to our bedroom to watch the actual storm line making its way toward Cleveland (Jonathan is a bit of a weather freaker-outer, which is good since I tend to be a little too mellow about weather). Not two minutes later we heard the sirens and headed to our “safespot” - an interior hall with no windows. We piled a beanbag two armfuls of pillow and four and 3/4 of Fortners into the little hallway and waited for the storm to pass. We had a flashlight a portable dvd player that was conveniently out of power and two cell phones in there as well. Holt and Harper Ann immediately began giggling and talking about camping in the hallway. When the lights flickered and then went dark the giggling only increased and Harper Ann kept saying “Oooh, its dark.” Holt had the flashlight on a string around his neck and in a scene that was repeated one to many times throughout the night Harper Ann would try to grab the flashlight followed shortly by a gag and cough from Holt. Sadly, Jonathan was responsible for this move a time or three as well. Neither of them ever freaked out, and when we were sure the worst was past us we crept out of our little bunker to assess any damage.

Aside from a little water in the floor of the kitchen all seemed just fine. It was really dark since the majority of power on our street was out, but in our living room you could see some lights on at the corner, so we made our way in there and opened the windows. After Harper Ann ran into her fifth piece of furniture I decided to pull out some candles and we sat in the candlelight and talked about the rain and all the trees that were down. It was about that time that we started getting texts from friends around Cleveland with storm damage updates. Turns out we got off lucky. A subdivision not far from us saw heavy damage and a friend not two blocks from us had a tree through his house. Our neighbors had a tree down on their fence and about fifty yards from our front door the episcopal church barely missed having a tree through the sanctuary (who says the episcopals aren’t right with God? - This is clearly a joke). Several businesses were damaged along 61. Jonathan took the kids riding and they came back telling me about driving through the river, so it’s fair to say there was a bit of flooding too.

Harper Ann kept singing happy birthday and wasn’t very happy that she didn’t get to blow the candles out. Other than that little issue, we had no drama, no whining, no urgency to our night. Harper Ann and I cuddled on the loveseat while Jonathan and Holt stretched out on the couch. With a few candles flickering and cuddled with kids we talked and laughed and enjoyed being unplugged and unstressed. I sang a few RUF numbers that I’ve never had trouble remembering the words to, throwing twinkle twinkle little star in every few songs to pacify Harper Ann. We moved the kids to their beds and we went to ours. It was really quiet and nice, until about 3 this morning when the power came back on and the silence was interrupted by a blaring weather channel and bright lights. Neither child woke up and we dashed around the house turning all the lights off. I was glad to have my fan going again and the air-conditioner cooling things off, but I thoroughly enjoyed the night of no power. I pray all our friends with damage recover quickly, but I’m very thankful for a break in the storm that has been our lives lately.

Houston's Dedication

This is long overdue (like everything I suppose), but on March 6, 2011, Shane and Anjanette dedicated Houston Scott Powers to Christ at Sumner Baptist Church. I know its been over 6 months since then, but it is too special an event not to make a note of it.

But the loving kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children. - Psalm 103:17

For I have chosen him in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord. - Genesis 18:19

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift - not from works, so that none can boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9

Jonathan and I have prayed for this sweet child since we first knew he was being carried in Anjanette’s womb. We pray that God uses us in his life to draw Houston closer to Christ and that we will encourage his faith as he grows physically.

Well, someone was not happy

Sweet cousins and their Aunt Nana.

I thought of one of my favorite Hymns while writing this post, "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go"

O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.