storm trouble.

There are three gals that I have met through church whom I love: Carolyn, Liz, and Steph.  With our busy schedules we have discovered that it is difficult to meet weekly, so the four of us have decided to get together for a family night dinner once a month.  The four of us are a very interesting group - we are all very different from one another, but it's amazing how we click.  We are each funny in our way, all hold different jobs, and each have a different style, yet our personalities mesh so well.  Our love of Christ binds us together.

I volunteered to host the very first family night dinner at my house in my freshly painted, purple dining room.  I made lasagna, set the table (I even used Christmas themed plates and napkins), lit some candles, and cracked open a bottle of wine - everything was going according to plan.  I finished setting up and the lasagna had thirty more minutes in the oven, so I took off my cute apron, and smiled at how I managed to complete everything in time.  This is a big deal as I typically don't host or cook (ever).  

Carolyn came over twenty minutes early, so we poured four glasses of wine on the table and waited patiently for 7pm to come, the time when Liz and Steph would arrive, as well as when the lasagna would be finished.  It had been raining that entire afternoon - nothing crazy but enough to wear rain boots.  Out of no where the wind picked up and was roaring ferociously and then the rain just down poured.  You could hear the rain beat on the windows as well as the leaves brushing against my house.  We kept commenting on how bad it was, then Carolyn and I both heard something and the power immediately went out.  Carolyn thought a tree had fallen, and I simply said, "Oh, I bet it was nothing."  After we lit more candles, we both peered outside and thought we saw something near my detached garage.

I panicked, threw on Carolyn's rain boots and took a flash light outside.  Carolyn shouted out to me to be careful as I ran in the rain into my backyard.  Sure enough, my neighbor's tree had fallen into the back alley.  Did it hit my detached garage?  It was too dark to tell, but it didn't look good.  Then I realized that my lasagna was still in the oven - when my power turned back on, would my oven turn on?  What if my power came back on when I was at work, and then the oven turned on?  And then it happened - my eyes watered up, and I looked at Carolyn and told her how I couldn't believe I thought I could own a house on my own; that if I was renting, I wouldn't have to worry about things like this.  I thought I was in over my head, and truly felt like I needed a man in my life in order to own a home.  But the truth is, this stuff happens to anyone and everyone.  So once I got a grip, Carolyn and I made a game plan - we would move family night to Steph's since she lives in the same neighborhood, take my refrigerated food to Steph's house, and I would pack a bag to sleep at my aunt's house who still had power.  

The first thing Carolyn packed was the wine, then all my refrigerated items.   I packed my bag to stay at my aunt's.  As we were about to walk out, I noticed the four glasses of wine on the table.  I looked at Carolyn, she looked at me.

Cheers.

Two glasses each later, in record time, we each loaded our cars with my refrigerated items, wine, my packed bag, and the lasagna.  Driving to Steph's was like an obstacle course - I followed Carolyn down a one way street, and right at the end of it, Carolyn's reverse lights came on.  I thought... what in the world is she doing.  I roll my window down, rain pouring in, and I hear her shout that a tree was down blocking the road.  We both reverse out of the street, nearly hitting the parked cars.  We arrive to Steph's drenched.  Liz was already there, and her and Steph listened to me and Carolyn tell our crazy story.

In the end, it all worked out - we still had a great meal and lots of laughs (and lots of wine).  I'm so grateful for these girls.  

Here is the damage to my detached garage:

Tree down in the alley

The tree leaning on the corner of my detached garage

Completely took down the power lines

It took two bucket trucks to restore my power

Thank you DVP!!!

The damage (and firewood for days!)

Dominion Virginia Power restored my electricity in two days - I was really impressed!  So what did I learn from all this?  No matter what happens, everything is going to be ok.  I have amazing friends, good taste in wine... and home owner's insurance.

xo-Anna