Holly's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 8/25/04 -------------------- 8/13/04 8/2/04 7/25/04 7/8/04 6/25/04 6/21/04 6/13/04 6/7/04 5/31/04 5/24/04 5/15/04 5/12/04 5/11/04 -------------------- Holly's Introduction

August 13, 2004

I want to start by thanking everyone for your kind words regarding my entry about my Dad. It means a lot to me to have people come out of the woodwork with nice comments about an entry that was very personal to me. I will be working on replying to everyone on my TTM board, please be patient.

Well, I spent a few days in Florida again visiting my family. We wanted to let the girls visit with Adam's parents since they were gone while we were there in July. It was a nice visit, but as always, much too short. I feel, this time, that our timing could not have been any different considering there is a hurricane bearing down on our hometown as I write this diary entry.

There are a couple very weird things regarding the timing of this hurricane: My father-in-law has said each year during hurricane season (for 15 years) that he needs to cut plywood to the window sizes in case there is a hurricane hit in Tampa. He has said this each year and never actually gotten it done - this year, their new handyman did it - 10 days ago. My step-dad told my mom that he didn't want to get a pool because he knew as soon as they got it, Tampa would be hit by a hurricane - the pool and screen enclosure were finished last Thursday - 8 days ago. Okay... I know these things are coincidences, but how weird is that?!

Charley is gaining windspeed and heading straight for Tampa Bay. This is bizarre... Since I moved to Florida in 1995, there have been several threats of hurricanes, but all were tropical storms by the time they actually reached Tampa - and only 2 actually reached Tampa as a storm. This is going to be a major storm - they are saying the worst to hit Florida in more than 50 years. That means they are expecting the devastation to be worse than Andrew hitting Homestead back in the early 90s. I can't imagine. All we can do is pray that our family and friends are safe and that the destruction will be minimal. I am on my knees now, asking God for a miracle.

I pray that my friends are safe and that their homes be protected, especially those with children. I pray that our parents be calm and protected. I pray that my husband's grandparents find comfort in each other's arms as they ride out the worst natural disaster they have witnessed first-hand in their 85+ years. I pray that my beloved hometown be held intact and recover quickly from the affects of this storm. I mostly pray for my wonderful family and extended family of friends to be safe and protected during this day and into the night. I pray the winds and flood waters keep away from the homes of everyone and that God would place a protecting hand around the people, protecting them from harm.

I am babbling and repeating myself... I am concerned and on the ready to swoop in and save everyone I can when this thing blows over. Lord, protect the people of Florida on this day and especially comfort those people who have noone to pray for them today.

May God Bless You All,
Holly