Hurrican Irene and a lot to be thankful for.....................

It was a change from what normally happens at my house when a hurrican is threatening to hit the U.S.  Usually it threatens Florida, where my mom and sister live. I usually call down there to make sure they're ready for it and they check in after it has hit and gone by. This time, it was threatening the East Coast and my mom and sister called me to make sure we were ready and had everything we needed to "hunker down". 

We did survive the storm with minimal damage, although some towns around us were not as fortunate.  Rivers flooded, roads washed out, houses flooded and cars were swept away by the water.  The number of people lost by this storm is not yet known, as I'm sure the number will rise for a few more days. That is definitely the worst part of any tragedy. You can survive with the loss of your house or things but the loss of life is a hard thing to overcome.

It makes you even more aware that you should be grateful for everyone in your life, even if you aren't on the best of terms with some people, you should still be grateful for them. You never know when these people might step up and help you out unexpectantly. You should be grateful for the little ones in your house, even if they wake you up multiple times overnight. Your husband's annoying habits should make you smile (after all they did at one time or you wouldn't have married him).

Don't let things be a major part of what you love. People should be the most loved in your life and everyone should learn to live with less of everything else.