The Oklahoma Update

 
Can't sleep.

Allow me a moment to share about Elizabeth, my sister-in-law who lives just west of Tulsa.

First of all, for those who may not remember, Elizabeth married one of Loren's younger brothers and they had 26 years of marriage together (please correct me if that is wrong) before Galen fell over and died quite suddenly of a heart attack back in 2003. He was 48 years old.

Elizabeth has been raising the two boys left at home these past years: one who is now in college in Oklahoma City (Andrew) and Samuel, who is a junior (I think) at a local Christian high school.

Finally able to get to a computer, Elizabeth sent an email update last evening (10:22 pm) of which I'll share parts:

I have just a bit of time to let you all know that we are all fine. I wish I could report that everything is okay at home.

We lost power last Saturday night around 3 am. It was restored around 7am. Then we lost it at 10:30am. I wish I could tell you that it is back on but it isn't and probably won't be for days.

All day Sunday we had freezing rain that added up to around an inch of ice on everything. Sunday night was one of the longest nights of my life.

I'm not exaggerating here. Samuel and I went to bed around 9 and it all started around midnight.

I first bolted out of bed to what sounded like a gunshot in my bedroom followed by the sound of a falling iced tree limb right on the roof over my bed. I haven't been back in that bed!

There was enough ice on the roof that the limb slid onto the deck and as far as I can tell did no damage to the roof. But the sounds continued all night and into Monday afternoon. The limbs just kept cracking and falling at times every minute until all the trees have lost most of the tops.

It was too dangerous to go outside until Tuesday (when) Samuel ventured out with an axe and was able to clear just enough room to drive the car out.

We drove up to the highway in shock at what we saw and were able to reach a place where we could make a few calls with our cell phones.

What I saw told me that we would be at least a week before power would be restored to our area.

The news on TV is not exaggerating....it is bad.

I then determined to come to Henryetta {where her folks live} to get some laundry done and just escape...if even for a little while.

One in three homes in the state are without power.

You are just numb when something like this happens and really do just stumble around trying to survive.

I have lost a week of pay (so far), all the food that I could not salvage in my freezer and most of the food in my fridge. I had just bought my month's food and holiday food.

There are lines to buy gasoline as no one has had power.

The people in charge seem to be doing a good job getting emergency things set up.

I don't want to forget to mention the hundreds of power crews from all over the country that are here trying to help.

I have found myself just crying it is all so overwhelming.

Yes, we are cold, but we are managing. Tomorrow we need to go home. I dread it.

David and Amy {oldest son and wife} have somehow managed to have power and are helping her mom. David came out to check on us and was just speechless. They call me everyday....that helps more that they know.

This may sound silly, but I don't know what I will find out when we get home in regards to our dog. That night of crashing limbs had him so scared, he is an old dog and we love him. I hated leaving him yesterday, but we will see tomorrow. {Thursday}

Please pray that the days won't be long until we get some power restored.

Everyone I know is in similar circumstances.

There have been a few times over the life of this blog that Ma has requested special prayer, and this is one of those times.

Please pray for Elizabeth and Samuel, David and Amy, and Andrew--of whom I haven't heard details.

{9:35AM update: Andrew will be heading home from OBU (Oklahoma Baptist University) tomorrow about 5:00 p.m. with snow--maybe instead of ice?--expected and he doesn't have experience driving in that weather. Aunt Becky says, "Go slow, bro."}

Oh, and getta load of this
The purple stuff means ice storm warning...
 

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