Friday

It's Nearly Time to Hunker-Down

We are in hunkering down mode. 


This is an official and technical Texas hurricane term for hiding your entire family in the laundry room with a mattress over your head.

Because we are prepared like that.

We are in the path of Hurricane Ike (although not in a mandatory evacuation area and were told to stay put, so Galveston residents could get out) and the weatherpeople are predicting some very fierce winds, tornadoes and all matters of scary weather.  They are also saying possible power outages for up to two weeks. 

And, sad to say, I thought of my blog. 

But only after I panicked and stood in line for an hour at the packed grocery store with my toddler. I got lots of chocolate, a new book to read and nail polish. I'm all about survival.  We made it through the long lines by eating halloween candy from an unpaid for bag.

Because we are prepared like that.

I spent yesterday making some homemade ice cubes because the store was out. 



And people think I can't cook.  Ha!

My hubby worked on tying things down outside.


And my son? He helped.


Yes, that is a vine he is tying to our overturned patio table.

After I explained the reality of Hurricane Ike, this is where I found him:

Perhaps, I should have left out the google search.

So, I have a few posts on auto-schedule, but if you don't hear from me after Monday, send your prayers and electrical currents this way.  We're going to need them.

I'll be twittering until we lose power.  

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Be safe.

56 comments:

Dawn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Kristen - I'll be saying a few prayers up here in the North that you are spared by this storm. Stay safe and enjoy the chocolate. I hope you have a flashlight so you can see your nails to paint them!
Stay safe! and dry!

Dawn said...

Hi Kristen!

We've battened down the hatches over here, too - but, I think your area in more in the line of it than anything we'll receive. It's not too late to head this way - we have a guest room if you need it! (Seriously!)

We're praying for everyone near the TX coast. Galveston is our second "home" and our heart is already aching for that community.

Blessings!
Dawn

Threeundertwo said...

Thoughts are with you today, but now that I see you have chocolate and nail polish, I'm not so worried.

Anonymous said...

I'll be praying! I still have lots of family and friends living in harms way since I grew up in SE Texas. We'll probably get lots of rain here, but it shouldn't be too bad. Hang in there!!

Claire said...

Good luck... sending prayers and energy your way!!! Some old friends of mine are staying in Houston... I wish you all the best and hope that you are back up blogging soon! Thank GOD we already had all of the energy trucks and stuff over here in Louisiana to send your way the second the storm clears! They got power back up quickly even to the hardest hit areas.. praying they can do the same for you!!!
XXXXOOOO

Musings of a Homeschooling Mom said...

I'll be praying y'all stay safe! I know I don't know you, but I do love reading your blog every day! We are hoping we don't get too much weather over here in Louisiana. I hope your power stays on! We had lots of flooding here from Gustav, but our power managed to stay on. Thank goodness! I am a wreck without it.

Christie said...

Praying for y'all. We survived Hugo in '89, and went a couple weeks w/o electricity. No fun at all. Praying you fare better than that in Ike! :)

Heidi said...

We will absolutely pray for you that you are safe and the chocolate holds out. I have family in Texas City that decided to wait it out, so there will be lots of prayers coming down your way.

Lori said...

Praying that you guys are safe and never loose power! Your pictures were hilarious. It's good to have a sense of humor during these trying times!

Amanda-The Family News! said...

My sister is in TX too - in Killeen. I told her to hunker down too! I just love that term!

D... said...

We are hunkering down too. My mom came over with my brother & their dog. At first, I was sort of put out that they came over so early. But, she's been cooking up a storm so food will go to waste cooked rather than unused. I like food that I don't have to prepare!

Here in Houston, the winds have started but they aren't fierce yet.

Be safe! May God have mercy on us. And if you get some electrical currents sent your way, be nice & share with us too, k? ;) I don't do well without a/c.

Rachel@just another day in paradise said...

I'll be praying for all y'all down that way, but it is so nice to know you are prepared.

Hyperactive Lu said...

I hope the storm passes and does NO damage! Good luck with the losing of no power!

Marni's Organized Mess said...

You and yours are in my thoughts.

Juanita said...

Kristen,
You and your family will be in my prayers.May God be with each and everyone of you in Texas.Hope to hear from you soon.

Takin' time to smell the flowers! said...

You'll be in our prayers as well. Can't wait to hear from you soon:) God Bless. ~April.

Lori said...

We'll be praying for you guys. Hopefully Ike will be kind and just give you a chance to get cozy with your family and curl up with a book!

jOni lAnE said...

Praying for you and your community.

Tammy said...

I'll be praying for you Kristen. Oh my, can you please explain to your power company that you MUST have power on by Thursday for 'Fro me to you?! I'm sure they will understand and put you at the top of the list.
:-)

Be safe.

Joanna said...

I will be saying a prayer! Good Luck and hunker down! : )

Anonymous said...

Got Texas on our prayer list!

Happy Mommy said...

Two weeks!>!?@?>@ No way!

I am praying for your safety! And that no harm comes to any through this storm. Be safe and of course paint those nails you never know when a news crew might show up!

Judy said...

We've got my grandmother there (Memorial Drive and Chimney Rock) and my in-laws up in Conroe...will be thinking of all of you from over here - we're going tubing tomorrow (not to rub it in or anything - hey! You guys might be able to do that, too!).

Stef Layton said...

we live in FL - on the east coast for numerous years, so I'm right there with ya on being prepared!

Best of luck and I'll be praying for you!
Stef

love that you got nailpolish - hilarious!

Anonymous said...

Remember that Elijah spoke to the weather and was able to change it by prayer! We'll be speaking against Ike in faith too. Keep your chin up and your head bowed; can't wait to hear you're safe on the other side of the storm. Blessings, Whitney

Simply Shannon said...

Stay safe! You will be in my thoughts until the nightmare has passed.

Anonymous said...

Keep twittering so I know what to expect when we head home. Stay safe!

Jodi said...

Chocolate, nail polish, and a good book, what else does a girl need?! My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family!

Sarah@Life in the Parsonage said...

Praying for you guys! The picture of your boy on the couch is priceless :)

And if it makes you feel better...we eat unpaid for candy in the grocery store all the time ;)

Phyllis@Aimless Conversation said...

We lived in FL several years ago when all those hurricanes hit within a couple weeks of each other. My heart and prayers are with you all for sure.

I will miss your blog if you lose power. Can you keep tweeting from your phone?

Debbie said...

If you want to track your Twitter entries related to Ike, start them with #ike That will allow all references to Ike to be combined.

My prayers are with you, your family and the entire region. It looks very scary on the news.

Lilypad Mom said...

Stay safe. I hope that this just turns into a chance to spend with your family eating chocolate and painting your nails without any damage.

Anonymous said...

Every prayer I have is headed your way. Well-with God as the middle man of course. Seriously, I am going to be worried until I know you are safe. Twitter when/if you can okay?

Alicia said...

Keeping your family in my prayers!!!

Anonymous said...

I have family in th Houston area, too. Praying for you all!

Anonymous said...

Been there. We live in Central Florida and Charley was scary, expensive and inconvenient. I put some photos of the aftermath on a Wordless Wednesday post a few weeks back.

We're praying for everyone in the path.

Anonymous said...

Oh, please stay safe! Your family is in my prayers.

Unknown said...

Only one book???? That's surely not enough!

adymommy said...

stay safe!

Kate said...

My thoughts & prayers are with you and your family! I hope you have a smooth night and can get some rest. Please check in as soon as you can!

Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

Praying for you. We once lived in Texas and our hearts are with our friends there...the ones we know personally and new bloggy friends like you

Anonymous said...

We live in Houston and are "hunkered down", too. You're entire story sounded so similar to ours the last couple of days. My 9 year old daughter is terrified, but cheered up when we told her we'd put mattresses down in the hallway and sleep there for the night - she thinks it's a camp out now. Stay safe!

The Fritz Facts said...

Books...what more does a person need.

I will keep you in my prayers. Stay safe!!

Anonymous said...

You are so thoughtful to have posts to be published while you may be without power. Thank you! We'll be praying for you and hoping you're not even inconvenienced by the weather.

Anonymous said...

Hunkering down here in East Texas too. Best wishes to you. All of my online friends that live in the path of Ike will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Be sure to keep us posted as soon as possible.

Valarie Lea said...

I am praying that things don't turn out as badly as they are thinking.

Unknown said...

We'll be praying for you and hope that all goes well through the storm.

But you have chocolate, so I know you'll do just fine! :)

gina said...

You'll be in my prayers- YOU stay safe. :)

gina said...

HA! I just saw your back to school pic- cute! My Shaye has that same dress and she wears it with those knee socks! Between that and the chocolate stash some might think we were sisters seperated at birth. :) lol. Ok- stay safe!!

Shannon said...

Watching the the hurricane coverage on Fox News (courtesy of AFN Europe) and just heard a reporter in Galveston say that "the had crew hunkered down" in some resort on the island to "ride out the storm."

For some reason that made me think of THAT family. Checked your site and found y'all "hunkered down" in the laundry room. LOL!

Seriously I Hope all is well there and not too much damage. Take care.

Joy said...

BE SAFE!!!!!!!! I know it's already happened (the hurricane) and I'm hoping to see you again Monday!

Llama Momma said...

Praying for you and all those in the path of Ike...be safe.

edie said...

HI! I pray you guys are safe. I wrote a post yesterday on the term "hunker down" so your use of the word made me LOL! Your son looks like he's hunkered down well.

Muthering Heights said...

We will be praying for you!

Anonymous said...

OK, so I figured out you are in Texas. We are in the DFW area. Next hurricane, come through here and we can go to a Ranger Game, Cowboy Game, Six Flags or Hurricane Harbor (all within 30 minutes of my house!).
Kathy at Joyful Journey Journal (http://pianokat61.wordpress.com)