The aftermath of Sandy

It has taken me 3 weeks to write this.  I would start, stop and cry.  First of all, we have an awesome Governor in NJ that prepared us for it and after it.  God Blessed us with Governor Christie. As I sit here I am preparing the house for Christmas, a Christmas  I thought we would never see. I am so grateful for so much, most of all that God spared our lives. The first week after Sandy I was numb.  The day after the storm driving through town was surreal. School buses blocked intersections, military vehicles, utility vehicles, police, firemen everywhere.  The ambulances rushing to the hospital brought me to tears.  It was not one or two but 5-6 at a time.  I pray that those people recovered.  I always liked the fact I lived 5 minutes from Mantoloking and Brick Beach.  The kids love the beach.  They grew up here.  The pictures that emerged from the shoreline made me cry.  I saw places that my children grew up with.  I loved sharing their childhood in those places.  People living more inland don't get the full view of what is happening until you visit a shore town. People who I thought were just friends I saw now and then became so much more during this storm, from bringing me boxes to crying with me. We became so much stronger as a family.  We endured and are strong, we will survive.  Those first few days the damage all over was so much too much not to cry.  I had a good friend tell me, thanks Nan, that I am strong and it was okay to cry.  Coming home I didn't know if we would have a house, we still do. I am so thankful to everyone who has helped our state, donated items, given free meals to people.  Our town has banded together like I never saw it ever in my 9 years.  Strangers became friends.  We are now truly neighbors not just passing by.

Praising Him always,
Noelle