But the Sun is Still Shining........

Top Five!!!!!!

Ok people, get ready for this one....

1. Thankful I have electricity at my apt. It's rare around these parts to have power and I almost feel guilty for having it while others around me are miserable.

2. I am thankful that no electricity is only a temporary thing. I stayed at my mom's house last night and they have a generator which means limited power. It's sooooo dark even in the city. So....

A. Thankful that on normal days I don't have to get ready in the dark with a flashlight.

B. Thankful that I had a flashlight.

C. Thankful that my parents were able to buy a generator so it not completely like they're camping.

3. Thankful that I was able to get them groceries while I was still in College Station.

A. Thankful I didn't have to wait in line for 3 hours at the grocery store like they do in Texas City right now.

4. Thankful that the damage to our house is not as bad as some others.

A. Thankful we have a house to return to.

5. So thankful we decided not to 'ride it out'

A. Thankful my family was able to get hotel rooms

B. Thankful that Chelsea treats the 'guest room' like it is really 'my room'

6. Thankful my boss helped me at the grocery store yesterday. Piling up the packs of water in the basket and then helping me load it in the car.

7. Thankful for all of my parents friends that have come together to help out. The love is amazing.

8. Thankful for all of the electricity people who have come from other cities to help out our area. They are working crazy long shifts to get things back to normal.

9. Thankful Jacob has work and is not freaking out anymore.

10. Thankful for the Hancock family who had us over for dinner on their back patio lastnight and offering their showers and hot water for my parents.

11. Thankful that the weather has been sooo nice! Especially since there has been no electricity.

12. Thankful for a 'bright side' it could have been worse. Our house could have been filled with water or the house could have not existed all together. Regardless of the trying time (and believe me it is a trying time!) we are getting back to normal slowly but surely.

People are frustrated, upset, and worried but these things we must remember: It could have been worse.

We live everyday with luxeries like running water, being able to charge a cell phone, have regulated temperature and we take it all for granted- and that's natural. We assume that since those things have always been there that they always will be there and that's not neccessarily the case. Even though we feel like we are in a bad situation- think of the the people in Ethiopia- we are living like kings in these conditions compare to their daily lives! And our situation is only temporary.

I never thought that just running to the grocery store for a loaf of bread would ever be a problem. But now my sister and mom will wait in line at HEB for 3 hours to get a loaf of bread that may not even be on the shelf once they finally get into the store.

BUT we are alive and we are well! We have the health and energy to work together and get the mess cleaned up. God will take care of us and everything will eventually be better than it is today.
Take this time to help someone who needs it and to spend time with people that you care about. Appreciate them and love them. Realize that even if you feel you don't have much you really have the world. Don't complain about what you don't have, be thankful for what you do have.

And go outside- it's the perfect day to be alive.