Well its looking like Hurricane Ian is heading to Florida especially towards the gulf side so daughter Amy and Family are leaving out for the cabin. Son Bobby is more inland so he and his family are riding it out once he gets back home from a business trip this morning. Lots of prayers are needed for them and the folks in harms way of the storm.
Monday started out much the usual with a 6'ish roll out for me as we were excited about seeing old friends in over 5 years who were coming for the day. I did my usual routines of posting this ramble and some quiet moments to give thanks and lift up several for comfort and healing as well as my solo hike to the top of the mountain finishing up my talk with GOD. I got the smoker ready for 2 slabs of St.Louis ribs after getting back and got them on by 8 AM. Bruce, Norma, Sandy and Bob were arriving around 10:30 after they stopped at Cracker Barrel for breakfast down in Hickory.
We had a grand time renewing friendships that we have had for decades. I had several years of friendship with them before meeting Nancy as we were once in laws and I helped raise his son while he was in Viet Nam back in '74. We of course caught up on all the family members, their where about's and what they were doing as well as sharing our story as well with them. We soon got into playing games which started around noon with Sequence before eating around 3'ish and then afterwards playing again until 7:30 with chicken foot domino's; both games were new to them and they seemed to really enjoy playing them. We had ribs, baked beans, collard greens, tater salad, corn bread and they surprised us with a delicious store bought cake for dessert which was decadent to say the least. They left the cake and kiddos will really enjoy it when they come today as well as the leftover ribs. What a grand time we had with them and now its my turn next year to visit them next summer.
Well we are praying the storm doesn't destroy our houses and cause any loss of life to our friends and neighbors in Seminole or any where in Florida but we know there will be loss of power and of course some flooding around the beaches. Our house is about 8 miles from the gulf or less so we know if its a direct it there will be damage from the wind and water. Let's hope and pray it stays off shore and blows itself out. We may get some of the effect here in the mountains as well as we have before with the wind and rain from other named storms but nothing major. It will be good to see the Ross Family but not under these conditions. Keeping PRAYING for those in harms way and for traveling mercies for them as they left around 3 AM this morning, LATER
