Monday, September 15, 2008

Now I know what HELL looks like

Just to let y'all know we are alive and ok. We won't have power for maybe months... even when the city is back on we won't be since most of our transformers are under water and it'll take so long to remove all the debris. First off, thank you for all the prayers, I know that is the only thing that kept me and all of my loved ones here, it was hell friends, I was beyond terrified and wasn't sure if we'd make it, seriously. We started getting wind around 8:30 pm, not bad just blowing and by 10:30 it was on... and it didn't stop until 8:30 am. It was coming thru like nothing I have heard before and imagine it is what hell sounds like. Nick has stayed at home to put more things up and decided at 11:30 to get a nap and slept thru his phone ringing, thank God the dog, our hero, licked him in the face until he woke up and when he swung his feet off the couch they were under water to his calves. He grabbed the dog and took off, he looked out the front door and my truck was up to the tailpipe in water. He decided to try to start it and it did and he got the heck outta there. But.. this was in the midst of the storm at 3:30 am. He called me and I listened to him drive to my parents and I never want to do that ever again. I was physically ill the whole time. I taked him into the driveway and I could see & feel the rain and wind finally and it stung like a thousand bees, but he had made it. We just collapsed into each others arms and cried. Thank you Jesus. He managed to get some sleep finally, but I could not. I thought the house was going to come apart and I was terrified. I had been thru Hurricane Alicia in 1983 and this was 10X worse. We never got he eye wall so it was 10 hours of 80 mph wind steady and gusting to 100. Thank God my son slept thru it, if he was awake and scared too, I wouldn't have made it. We had TV until midnight and could see what was going on by the news cast. Then when it went it was really scary. We could hear things hitting the house but not see it since all the windows were boarded up. It was the longest night of my life and I have never prayed so hard. When we were able to come out the next morning there was hardly a tree with leaves. Limbs were everywhere, trees uprooted, just trashed, but the roof was fine and all the vehicles made it. Then we went home. I'll keep this short and you can look at the pics, it is undescribable....you wouldn't believe it unless you saw it. We were lucky, we had only 10 inches after all, and all of our "stuff" most of it was already upstairs and all the boards held. But our new wood floors are ruined, furniture desks, kitchen, my drawer in my stove was full of water...I could go on, but the valuable scrapbooks and all my scrapping stuff were fine. ;) Our parking lot is supposed to be for cars, but now it is full of boats. Just go take a look at my Shutterfly and see for yourself. These are the places I could get to, I will get more today. The pavilion that sits waterfront was totally underwater and it is harly recognizable and I didn't have my camera yesterday to get pics. We have had news crews from all the local national and even Italy and the UK. I believe NBC Nightly News will be broadcasting from our place sometime, maybe tonight. They were scouting for a dry place to set up yesterday, so keep an eye out. I'm going to go for now, not sure when I can check in again, so keep praying for those we haven't heard from yet. Thanks again friends, I can't stress enough how grateful I am for all the thoughts and prayers.
Go check out the pics, there are lots (157)so beware! I'm a scrapbooker after all! Love from Texas!

Hurricane Ike 1
sorry, you have to sign in, I don't have time to jack with it, so sign in w/my stuff:
sign in txkris at comcast dot net
password 1432

26 comments:

Gina de Jong said...

AWWWWW Kris, I am soooooo sorry you have to be right in the mess of Ike!!!!! I am so thankful you are all okay!!!! I will be praying the rebuilding of your community and home will be easy!!!!!!

D... said...

I agree, that was the scariest night of my life. I think it was so much worse because we couldn't see anything, only hear. I'm glad your son slept through it. My children did too. I'm not sure how tho! I got no sleep that night.

I am so thankful that your house is relatively ok. I'm like you, as long as the family treasures are ok, the house is ok. Thanks for checking in. I've been praying and worrying.

Nicole said...

Aww girl I could just cry reading your blog post and here I am worried about a few holes in my roof. I'm so glad you all are safe!!

Cracker Scraps said...

dernit! Can't sign into your account! Guess you can't tell me how! Thanks for the update! Prayers and love and hugs!

Cracker Scraps said...

dernit! Can't sign into your account! Guess you can't tell me how! Thanks for the update! Prayers and love and hugs!

Cracker Scraps said...

See, I'm really on the techno loosiing streak again! I double posted! I did click on the link and get into your account to view the pictures! My heart breaks for you. I feel so helpless I don't know what I can do for you NOW and in the long run! You're welcome to come stay with me for a while if you like! You can put DS in school here! I know you don't want to leave Nick or your family! The invitation is open for any of you who want to get away!

Bibi said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Bibi said...

Oh no, Kris, I'm so sorry you're having to deal with all this drama. I'm so happy you guys are all safe, though, that's what really matters. ((HUGS)) I'll still be praying for you guys. Hoping things get back to some kind of normalcy soon.

Lyn said...

(((((HUGS)))) Kris. I couldn't see your pictures, but I know it must be horrible. Praying for you....

Rachel V. said...

(((Hugs))) Kris! I can't wait to get home from work so I can look at all the pics. I'm sure you're having a hard time knowing where to start! But very happy you're checking in. Many prayers and hugs to all of you.

Karen said...

Kris - ((((hugs)))) to you! praying for you guys!

Christie said...

Kris I'm so sorry. I'm glad that you all are good. Wish I could help you out. My thoughts are with you.

jamie said...

man oh man...you have been through it...not sure where to access your pics...would be way interesting to see...thanks for sharing your experience.

Lisa said...

Kris glad you are all safe and so sorry to hear about your home. if there is anything I can do please don't hesitate to ask. prayers and strong thoughts are coming your way.

D... said...

Kris, I'm just checking in with you to see how ya'll are doing. I was able to look at your pictures just now, thanks for the sign in info. It's just unbelievable.

If there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to let me know. Still praying for everyone involved. Hugs to you!

JoesGirl said...

Kris, I'm so sorry. :( Know I'll keep you all in my prayers through the months ahead. You are all alive and I'll praise God right now that you all made it. And give that dog a special treat for waking his master. :)

Hugs Kris, very big hugs....

Forgetfulone said...

Kris,
I'm so sorry for all the damage. I didn't realize you lived right on the water. How did you boat survivie, if it did? I'm so glad you saved your scrapbooks. I had moved mine upstairs just in case.

I'm thankful we have minor damage, a few pieces of siding, maybe a few shingles, and the entire fence down, not to mention no cable service or clean tap water. But your home! What can I do? Really. I'd give you my number, but I don't trust the Internet so much. If I email it to you will you call me? Whatever I can do to help! Diana

Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis) said...

We can help, too. I figured that's where you lived from what you've told me. I'm so so sorry you have that much damage, but thank God your family is safe and alive! We will recover from this - it's just gonna take a while! Only minor damage here, and a lot of mess. I am not far from you at all. We drove over by you yesterday and saw all the destruction, then to Hubby's grandmother's house in Kemah which is destroyed. The water level inside the house was over my head - furniture is just strewn everywhere. The floor is covered with sludge. It's horrible and tragic.

I'm praying for you and all the Ike victims! Again, I'll help you however I can. I at least got power back!

Tracy P. said...

Oh my goodness, Kris! I checked back today thanks to Cracker Scraps. You've got some good friends. I'm so sorry for all you've lost--so glad for the protection you had. And grateful your scrapbooks are intact. May they bring you much comfort! God's blessings to your family--may you know his love and grace and provision as never before in this valley.

Forgetfulone said...

I left a comment on the wrong post! I'm so "duh" sometimes. I looked at your photos again and realize now where you are/were. Which condos?

I left my email address in the other comment. Please let me know if there is anything I can do.

Linda F. said...

Oh, Kris! I'm so sorry you've had to go through this, but so glad you are all okay! Please let me know if there's anything I can do. I don't know what it would be, but I'm here if you need me!

Unknown said...

Wow I am so sorry to see this devestation to your home and pray for your return home asap.

Reverb said...

I just looked through all the pictures and prayed for you all. That's so much damage!

I can't even imagine! I'm so sorry for all of your losses, but how thankful that you're all okay. Please keep us updated if you can.

Blessings,
Ryan

Lisa said...

I just checked out all your pictures. {{{{{{{{{BIG HUGS}}}}}}}}}}

Unknown said...

I am so glad everyone made it thru! My sis was in Mo. City and grandmother in the Jersey Village area, both did ok... y'all got it so much worse! I grew up going to camp Casa Mare, and it broke my heart to see Toddville Rd under so much water.

Hope the recovery time is short for you and your family!!!

Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis) said...

Just checking in with you, Kris - you've been on my mind!! Let me know if I can do anything - just post on my blog!