Tamsey's World: February 2010

It has been a while since my last blog post because we lost power in Altus on Thursday morning. On Wednesday it was close to 70 degrees, which I think made it difficult to comprehend losing power in freezing temps for a long time. The ice storm and wind and plummeting temps hit early Thursday morning. We woke up to icicles hitting the window because the wind was blowing them off of the roof. The windows were covered with a layer of ice so we couldn't look outside unless we opened the door to our room to the outside and got blasted with icy cold air. Back to our warm cozy bed - I heard the beeping of something that indicated that there was no power getting to it. Max tested the bedside light and said "yep, the power's out. Better start the house warming up." At this point he broke out the generator that we had for 6 years and never used, just moved it from house to house. He also built a fire in the fireplace that would burn and smolder for another four days and is probably still burning as Max is in a forty something degree home by himself with Zephyr while the kids and I stay warm in Colorado. Never thought I would head to Colorado from Oklahoma to keep warm.

The first two days felt like an adventure as Max kept the fire going, we cooked on the propane grill and burner right outside the living room sliding door, and listened (sadly) to branch after branch of the trees around our house break off in loud cracks and crashes. The layers of ice from the freezing rain covering the branches got thicker and thicker and the wind finished them off, ripping them from the trees. We did get some amazing winter pictures, which capture the cold and wind and also show the destruction of the trees.

I gained an appreciation for cast iron, which we used on the grill and in the fireplace to cook things. We did not have hot water to wash the dishes since we do not have any gas in our house, only electricity. It may be nice not getting a gas bill, but having hot water to take showers, baths, wash dishes, and the like would have been heavenly. I just had to wash my hair eventually and decided to brave the ice cold water of the kitchen sink. We actually had some hot water left in the tank but were trying to conserve it since that was the last hot water we had for God knows how long. The icy cold water hurt my scalp, but it was worth it to have clean hair...somehow having clean hair, even if by body hasn't been washed too, makes a huge difference. It think it was too cold in the house to get stinky bodies. The first night I had a huge amount if dishes to do because I had not run the dishwasher the night before when we DID have power. I took everything out of the dishwasher and turned on the Rival hot pot powered by the generator and boiled water. I poured pot after pot into the sink and used this water to wash the piles of dirty dishes.

Although we were cold (and Max still is, braving it in our power-less house) and dirty and without much light at night, many good things came out of our three days at home without power. We played a lot of games in front of the fire as a family. We got some beautiful pictures of the ice that make me feel cold again just looking at them. I got a new appreciation for cast iron cookware, which Max likes. I learned how to use the propane grill, which probably would not have happened otherwise because i usually leave that to Max. I learned some extra survival skills and thinking from Max. The kids didn't rely on electronics for entertainment and the computer didn't always "call my name." Max got the opportunity to go around on the 4-wheeler checking on neighbors, some we already knew and some we didn't.

To keep warm, of course we had the fire, I also put extra comforters on the beds, Evelyn slept in our bed, we covered the windows of the kids' rooms with blankets and quilts, we had a couple of space heaters which took the edge off a little bit, we heated up liquids to drink and had hot venison stew everyday, and lastly, snuggled to keep warm. Max's paranoia of cataclysmic (is that the right word?) events definitely paid off with the generator, the stored up food and firewood, and stocking up on gas and propane before the storm. Also, having plenty of lanterns, flashlights, batteries, and candles to provide light at night and in dark corners of the house, including closets.

Well, Benny is sick and I think might have a sinus infection, so I am going to try to get him an appt at the Pediatric Clinic here in Colorado. I'm so thankful to have such a loving and prepared husband, and also to have family nearby to crash at their house during times like this. Coming here, we drove through lots of fog through Oklahoma and Texas, which left the trees and bushes blanketed in white hoar frost. The drive also provided a chance to see the extent of the damage on the trees and power lines/poles. It seemed like about half of the country road power lines were down, if not more. We saw trucks bringing poles into the effected areas and also saw the machines and men putting new poles up. Soooo, progress is being made, but in our area, in the outskirts of Altus, it could be at least another week until we have power.

Max drove with us to Amarillo to pick up another generator and other supplies, which was three hours of the nine-ten hour trip. Then in Raton, NM I met up with Michele, who drive to meet us so that she could help in getting 4 kids in and out of the car. The kids did not watch DVDs the whole time because the trip was less torturous for them being broken up by having different people with us along the way. I also know that the Holy Spirit was with us along the way, protecting us on the trip, and keeping up good attitudes, as well as providing loving helpers. Now we just wait for power to come on in Altus as we rely on a Power much much greater and thank the Lord for provision.