I Look for the Light in the Pouring Rain

A little over a week ago on October 29th, Hurricane Sandy made landfall along the Jersey Shore and devastated millions of homes in the tri-state area. I am blessed enough to be among those whose homes were not utterly destroyed or damaged in some way, but also among those who were without power for over a week. It is amazing what we take for granted in our daily lives. Just being able to walk into a room and flip on the light switch is miraculous, and don't get me started on having hot water for washing dishes and taking showers!

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2012/11/pseg_hopeful_to_see_power_rest.html

In the Country Village neighborhood of Jersey City, the water from Newark Bay came in waves and covered Route 440, streaming in through these streets like a river. Some of the folks who were keeping vigil all night from their second floor apartments told us that the water was so high that it came over the top of this MINI Cooper.  http://photos.nj.com/jersey-journal/2012/11/hurricane_sandy_aftermath_in_c_25.html

Our first dinner by candlelight in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy (Tuesday, October 30th) - my ingenious and industrious mother made creamy potato soup, cheesy potato soup and wedge salads with balsamic glaze as she organized everything we had in the refrigerators and freezer. Thank God, we were able to make wonderful meals each day and share with family, friends and neighbors. We got to use much of the food we had and only threw a small portion away.

Necessity is the mother of invention. Without an oven, we relied on our grill for a lot of things such as reheating slices of pizza, making bagel pizzas and grilling up bacon-wrapped filet! One of our successful endeavors were these grilled nachos with salsa and cheese and served with spicy guacamole. Mmmm! Delicious smoky flavor.

By Thursday and Friday evenings we were hosting upwards of 20 people for dinner each night at our home. This feast from Saturday night looked like a Thanksgiving dinner! One family member had an oven that could be lit, we utilized our stove top and the grill and everyone brought food that was rapidly defrosting in the powerless freezers. Despite the cold (50 degrees indoors) and discomfort, we enjoyed wonderful fellowship being together every evening, often keeping the night alive until 11pm!

The spread of desserts so generously brought by many guests for our Sunday dinner. We had closer to 30 people for dinner that day! Games of Dutch Blitz and Taboo commenced by candlelight and were aided with flashlights as the sun went down. We ended up playing Taboo for 5 hours and it's now a family-favorite.

Thank God, we had our power restored around midnight yesterday after being without heat, hot water and power for 7 days and 4 hours and we were able to crank the heat on and up and take hot showers today before exercising our right to vote.

We had friends who joined us and worked together for several hours cleaning out one of our family member's homes in Jersey City. They had 7 feet of water in the basement so everything inside was destroyed (thank God, it did not come into the first floor of the house) and her 3-week new car in the driveway was also ruined. One friend out of town had power restored when she arrived home Wednesday morning and she immediately began bringing hot pizzas, coffee, bagels, donuts, milk and ice as could be found back into our town to help feed and warm members of our family without heat and power. She opened up her home to several of us, allowing me to stay there one night so I could work remotely and complete time sensitive reviews, and taking in another relative of ours who was suffering from an infection and the severe cold inside her home. Folks in our church checked in on us and others and made shopping trips, bringing food items to people who were in need, offered to bring people to their homes for some warmth and were willing to share extra blankets and supplies as some had power last Friday evening and others waited until the late hours of Monday night and early Tuesday morning to receive power.

Many many thanks to the PSEG workers who pushed through and restored our power, to the PSEG man who came to our house at 11pm after we arrived home to find the carbon monoxide alarm going off (you leave home for one night in a blackout and look what happens...), the National Guard members who descended on NJ to evacuate, rescue and bring supplies to those in need, Team Rubicon for being amazing and Rangering Up to help the people of NJ, and to my mom who made every day as comfortable as physically possible for our family, extended family and friends who took refuge in this little outpost while the storm raged on in various ways. It was incredible to have people rise to the occasion and put themselves completely out there to help and bless others as folks struggled in different ways and with multiple needs.
Sandy may have kept us down for a bit, but while we were all down there we banded together, and for that we are much stronger and better as Christians and a family. I cannot even begin to recap all of the fun moments we had together in this last week, or the tough ones. But it was a true delight to have so much time spent with people praising the Lord for His goodness by protecting each of us, preserving our properties and blessing us with so much in Him and the company of one another.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go readjust to using the bathroom without a flashlight and remembering to turn on the lights when I enter a room!

"When my mind is free
You know a melody can move me
When I'm feeling blue
The guitar is coming through to soothe me...
Thanks for the joy that you're giving me
I want you to know I believe in your song
Rhythm and Rhyme and Harmony
You've helped me along
Making me strong"

("Drift Away", Dobie Gray)

Until They All Come Home

I am breaking my blog-silence for a really good cause!

On Saturday, September 8th I will be participating in the USO 9/11 Remembrance Walk in lower Manhattan as the Team Captain for JPMorgan Chase. This special event is being held in honor of those we lost on September 11th and in support of the troops that sacrifice so much to protect our freedom every day.

Two of my brothers are in the Army, one as an officer currently serving in Afghanistan, and the support of our troops, financially and otherwise, is very important to me!

The USO is a not-for-profit whose mission is to support the well being of our troops and their families. All proceeds from this event will be used to fund important USO programs that help wounded warriors and families of the fallen, make it possible for deployed service members to connect with their loved ones, and provide a “home-away-from-home” at USO locations around the world.

I invite you to join my team and walk with me in support of the USO and our troops! This link takes you to the Team JPMorgan Chase page. If you want to donate to a specific walker, click on their name. If you want to join the team and walk with us that day, click the 'Join Our Team' link and complete the registration which is free.

The details are as follows:

WHEN: Saturday, September 8, 2012

WHERE: Hudson River Park at Pier 46

HOW: Let me know if you are interested and I will send you all of the information and materials you need to begin fundraising. My goal is for each team member to raise at least $250.

Thank you for your consideration! I look forward to the opportunity to participate in this exciting and patriotic event and to having you as part of the team.


"From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to LA
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and it's time we stand and say

That I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA."

Lee Greenwood, "God Bless the USA"

Alleluia

Day 25. A picture of your day.





My sisters have scolded me for being delinquent in my blog entries. Apparently having a full-time job, helping around the house upon arriving home in the evening and exercising regularly is inconsequential when compared to maintaining a blog!

Anyhow - here is a picture of my Resurrection Sunday which was yesterday. My beautiful sisters and handsome, sweet youngest brother. We missed our other two brothers and darling sister-in-law but had a great day with our family and friends.

Thank You, Lord, for sending Your Son to die on the cross for our sins and be raised from the dead so we might have salvation and an eternity in heaven by believing on Him!

He is risen, indeed!

"Raise your joys and triumphs high
Alleluia
Sing ye heavens and earth reply
Alleluia"
-Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Ever, Ever After

Day 17. A picture of something that has made a huge impact in your life recently.

My brother and sister-in-law. Their relationship over the last few years has been a true example of a couple waiting on God's timing, loving one another whole-heartedly and keeping God the center of their relationship and decisions. Their marriage is such as beautiful picture of how a husband should love, adore, protect and provide for his wife and how a wife should love, adore, take care of and show respect in every way for her husband. They are too cute together and God has really used them to bless the family and friends around them. I miss them tons but am so proud of them both and thankful for the love God has given them!

Storybook endings, fairy tales coming true

Deep down inside we want to believe they still do

And a secret is taught, it's our favorite part of the story

Let's just admit we all want to make it, too

Ever ever after

If we just don't get it our own way

Ever ever after

It may only be a wish away"

("Ever Ever After", Carrie Underwood)

Young and Sweet, Only Seventeen

Day 10. A picture of the person you do the most crazy/strange things with.

Honestly, this one took a great deal of pondering because while I may act like a total goofball, I generally reign myself in before I do something over-the-top crazy or strange. Don't get me wrong: I'm always up for adventure and I like to spray my coworkers with air cans, conduct covert operations and belly crawl through the brush just as much as the next person. I usually stop myself before doing something too out of control such as purchasing a train ticket to Baltimore, calling out of work and traveling to MD for a specific, 5 minute task and then heading back home (on the day of a major ice storm...). Hey, I plotted it out the day before and stopped just before clicking the "Buy" botton on the Amtrak website - don't judge!

All that being said, the strangest things I've done usually involved an idea formulated with or by my cousin. Even though we don't spend much time together at this point in our lives, growing up she was definitely my companion in doing crazy and strange things!

The picture above is from our 30s-40s decade costume party during the summer of 2009. My cousin and I are 2nd and 3rd from the left in the front row.

The picture to the left is us outside of the State House in Boston, MA (right at the start of the Freedom Trail!) on our day trip from summer 2009.

The picture below was taken on our church Youth Group Retreat in PA during the fall of 2005.

Some of our strange and crazy escapades during the years have included celebrating Christmas in July, complete with caroling to several friends and family members from church (and boy was it stuffy caroling in such hot weather with scarves and hats while wearing flannel pjs!), making daily anonymous phone calls one summer when we were much younger in order to get our friend to come swimming with us (he always knew it was us calling, but we tried anyhow), gathering to watch the "sunset" over Newark Bay...great view of the oil refineries and cranes...and somehow getting too caught up in a game of Dutch Blitz to realize that the sun was setting until we completely missed it lol, and getting Sarah to go on her first roller coaster, Rolling Thunder, at Great Adventure and watching her scream like a maniac even though it was a small, wooden coaster with maybe a 30 ft. drop at it's most intense moment.

Just a couple of silly cousins enjoying their status as peculiar treasures and looking for joy and humor in the most mundane of circumstances! H's for life...<3

"You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen

Dancing queen, feel the beat from the tambourine - oh yeah!

You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life

See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen"

("Dancing Queen", ABBA)

It's Something Unpredictable, but in the End It's Right

Day 9. A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

Definitely both of my parents. I've given them plenty of ups and downs, particularly after graduating high school (and probably giving them more downs than reasons to be proud), but they do their very best to encourage me in walking with the Lord, making wise choices and living in a way that does not result in many future regrets.

This picture is actually from my high school graduation party in 2005. God has blessed me so much by giving me the family I have and allowing them to be such wonderful parents and spiritual leaders. They have taught me most of what I know about God, the Bible and our Christian faith and I am so very thankful that they are not just my parents but the ones I can confide in about my concerns and thoughts. I love them so much (even when I'm being petulant and bratty lol)!

"Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road

Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go

So make the best of this test and don't ask why

It's not a question but a lesson learned in time"

("Time of Your Life", Green Day)

Leave Behind Your Diamond Bracelet

Day 7. A picture of your most treasured item.

I understand that there are two different rings in this picture but so what. My blog, my rules.

The ring on the left (my right hand) is from my baby brother (the youngest of my three brothers). He gave that to me for Christmas when he was probably three years old. As our family expanded (and we were all two little to have jobs and a plethora of spending money), our parents began a tradition of picking each other's names out of a hat and buying that family member a nice gift for Christmas. The first year we tried out this plan, Jonathan got my name in the hat and even though he was pretty young, wanted to get this ring for me when him and Mommy split up from us in the department store to find a nice present. : ) It's one of my prized possessions and I only take it off when getting my hands in batter and sometimes when I'm playing the piano.

The ring on the right of the picture (my left hand) is a purity ring from my parents. I had one prior to this but after losing about 30lbs in high school, the ring grew way too big for my finger and kept falling off. After one particularly epic snowball fight down the park, I could not find the ring anywhere and despite my friends' and my best efforts, we just could not find it again. There were trips made down to the location throughout that winter and spring but to no avail. My parents got me a new one for Christmas the next year and, as with the ring from my brother, I only take it off for baking and piano playing.

Today was a lot of fun: 50th birthday celebrations, fire alarms going off in the restaurant and watching the firemen go in and out of the kitchen as we attempted to enjoy our meals (the people who had received their food already), owning that E minor chord on the guitar again and discovering Mumford & Sons (um, how did I make it this long without hearing any of their music??). Being with the family and close friends is always a good time, despite the normal peculiarities and quirks! We love each other with all the faults and idiosyncrasies =) "That one's p...."

"When winter comes

Along these shores

Old Hollywood

We're knocking down

We're sifting through

We are the actual tigers

When winter comes

They leave behind us"

("Ice Age", Pete Yorn)

What's With These Homies, Dissin' My Girl???

Day 4. A picture of your favorite night.

I have so many special memories: walking through a torchlight, 1,000 year-old abbey in the Italian countryside, listening to an orchestra at night in St. Mark's Square in Venice, numerous bonfires on autumnal youth group retreats, running through Disney World at night on a scavenger hunt with my family (minus Jack! What horrible parents haha), clapping to Spanish folk song tunes played by La Tuna at midnight in Santiago de Compostela...God has richly blessed me! And I've just realized that many of my favorite memories are at night hehe!

But this night stands out for so many fun reasons. First off: March 17, 2007 ended up being a blizzard. Kelly lives about 40 minutes away and had invited us to her 18th birthday party. Also invited were her family and friends, some of whom live just a few minutes away from her. This crazy crew (me, my two brothers and our two pals - the ones on the extreme right and left in the back row of the picture) were the only ones who showed up...that's how bad this weather was!

On our drive out to the party (which took twice as long as usual because we needed to drive extra slow), we passed a car that got buried before our eyes for trying to drive in the shoulder to pass a snow plow. I don't recall laughing so hard in a car. EVER.

Once we actually got to Kel's (and found out that we were the only people who braved the weather despite the fact that we lived the furthest away lol), we started the night off with some Balderdash and a brief snowball fight. We quickly realized that the weather was not getting better, just worse, and there was a big chance that we would not be going home that night.

Time-out here: you have to know that the weather report mentioned a small possibility of snow and Kelly and I had joked to each other about possibly getting snowed-in and having a sleepover. In fact, as an act of faith I brought a pair of undies in my purse just in case! Talk about God answering some silly prayers that we don't actually need and that are not truly important in anyone else's estimation =)

Back to the awesomest night of the decade: there was reading from How to be a Lady in which we discovered that not only does "A lady not dither over paying the check" but a proper lady does not "provoke a dog to bark". Ooops. At some point Kelly did Joey's make-up, Josh's hair and Tommy's nails. There was throwing of swedish fish candies, my first win in a game of chess (granted, it was at 5am and it has yet to happen again), Mr. L walking into the living room and shaking his head in resigned disturbance over Tommy's nails and then walking out, Josh having nappy-hair, Joey looking like a transvestite with that scary eyeliner and mascara and Josh having swedish fish grills in his teeth while wearing shades. We attempted to stay up the entire night and mostly succeeded...Dave was a party pooper and didn't join in our fun. Somehow he fell asleep before 1am and slept through everything (in fact, he was still sleeping when we departed between 7 and 9am the next morning). Joey gave up the ghost in the later hours of Saturday morning and Jackie fell asleep on the car ride home claiming he thought the contest was only going on while we were at Kelly's house. I like to think I won as I stayed up even after getting home until I was convinced Tommy, Josh and Kelly were probably napping but I guess we'll never know.

One of my favorite memories and best nights ever!

"Woo-ee-oo I look just like Buddy Holly

Oh oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore

I don't care what they say about us anyway

I don't care 'bout that!"

("Buddy Holly", Weezer)

We've Got to Love Each Other, at Any Cost, Unselfishly

Thus continues my quest for consistent bloggerdom!

Day 2. A picture of you and someone you have been closest with the longest.

I'm going to go with all five of my siblings. I know they've all been around for varying lengths of time, but I love them so so much and I cannot imagine life without each and every one of us together! God has blessed me incredibly by allowing us to all be born into a Christian and God-honoring household of faith.

(I'm putting up a picture of my entire immediate family because I am very close to my amazing parents and my beautiful and wonderful sister-in-law!)

"We'll build a household of faith

That together we can make

And when the strong winds blow it won't fall down

As one in Him we'll grow and the whole world will know

We are a household of faith"

("Household of Faith", Steve Green)