Weathering the Storm

Ok, well, we've been home for a month now. There hasn't been much word on our permit...no new news actually. And we were beginning to get a little frustrated...actually, a lot frustrated. Here we sit, visiting family in Ohio and Pennsylvania, with little to nothing to do. Kinda boring. Our kids homeschool curriculum has finally arrived, so they start tomorrow...Hallelujah! But in the midst of it all, we are hit (in Ohio) with the remnants of Hurrican Ike. We had gusts of winds up to 80 mph! Trees down, power gone, no water (well pump won't work without power!) and no phone. (we have no US cell phone and my mom's died...no car charger!) Luckily, Dulcie and the kids were in PA thru it all. After 3 days of no power or water...losing all our food, taking showers at the neighbors who had water and electric (?), we are finally getting back to normal. Dulcie and the kids return today! Yes!
But, as I was walking down the driveway today, I began to take notice of the trees. Just 2 days ago, we were cleaning up mass amounts of fallen limbs and debris. Things did not look that great, but today...today the trees were beautiful! The sun was shining with a light breeze and they seemed to dance gently. I was amazed. What a difference a few days make.
Then, it was if God spoke to me, "Sometimes it takes a storm to get rid of the dead weight." Wow. You know that's true. Those trees looked healthier and more beautiful than a few days before...the "dead weight" was gone. Now they could really flourish.
Last weekend I went to a men's Encounter weekend, and God removed some of my "dead weight"...things I'd been carrying around for years and didnt' even realize. This "storm" of being home has been hard, but thru it God has done a work in my life. Dulcie goes to her Encounter this weekend. It'll be cool to see what "dead weight" she leaves behind! Maybe this is why we are home. Maybe we needed to be freed up from some things to be able to do a better work in Jamaica. Only God knows, but I tell you what...I'm grateful for this storm.