Oh Sandy!

Oh where to begin.....

I left NYC last Wednesday for what was supposed to be a 4 day trip to Birmingham to celebrate Mary Blake's 1 year old birthday!  On Wednesday night when I arrived I laughed when my brother-in-law told me a hurricane was headed for the northeast.  What? a Hurricane?  Not possible. I mean Irene already happened and how could another hurricane hit 1 year later in a place that never gets hurricanes?   I laughed and went on with the celebratory weekend.  

And it was a celebratory weekend indeed!  Don't worry I only had 3 photo shoots with Mary Blake plus the 2 birthday parties to capture and ended up with a measely 800 photos.  

Here are 2 of the ones I captured in one of her party outfits!  

I'll post more later!  

 As the weekend was coming to a close the storm was looking a little more serious.  I debated with what to do, because we all know that me and travel do not get along. Seriously I could make money off a book with all the craziness that I've experienced in the travel department.  

So Sunday morning came and I really thought I would make it home on my flight that day....until Delta sent me that friendly little e-mail that my flight was indeed cancelled.  SO I re-scheduled for Wednesday.  Until the storm happened and Laguardia Aiport was flooded.  So once again my flight was cancelled for Wednesday and I re-booked.  This time for Thursday! I'll be honest I was doubtful it was going to happen, but thankfully all went smoothly and I finally made it home tonight!  Who knew when I left NYC that my 4 day trip would turn in to a 9 day trip!  

In many ways it was hard to be away.  It's hard to see your home on the news and know that terrible castraphe is going on all around you.  It was hard to know my friends were in the middle of it.  I seriously became a news junkie while I was away.  BUT all that said it was good to be in a safe place out of the storm and I did very much enjoy my extra days with family!  Whenever I go south I go for an event. Part of living far away is that I miss out on everyday activities.  These extra 4 days were a blessing in a disguise.  I got such sweet time with Mary Blake and my sister and I were able to hang out a lot. It was very chill and routine, which I liked.  I got lots of time to play with MB on the floor, chase her around the house, help my sis with baby-sitting, eat at some good restaurants, rock MB to sleep, and bond with her in a way that I really haven't been able too.  

I think she got a little spoiled by my being there.  She pretty much had a constant playmate and I'll be honest everytime she pulled up on my leg and reached her chubby little hands up to me...I picked her up.  I mean how could I not?:-)  

The best part was that I got to be there for her "gotcha day", which was yesterday.  I can't believe that it's been 1 year since she came home to her family.  You can read what I wrote on this day one year ago HERE.  It's amazing how much difference a year makes!  I was able to go with my sis and bro-in-law to take breakfast to the ladies at the adoption agency where they got Mary Blake.  It was so fun to see their amazing social worker get to see MB again and for Cat and G to once again tell the ladies thank you!  

I also got to celebrate Halloween with them.  

I mean is this not the cutest pumpkin you've ever seen?  

 Thank you Catherine and Gary for hosting me for so many days!!!  

While in Alabama I was pretty sheltered from what was happening in my home and the surrounding areas.  I mean I watched the weather channel and national news channels, but even with those you get a lot of surface information.  I knew it was bad, but it wasn't until I watched the NYC local news on the airplane ride home that I realized what a devastation this storm really was.  I felt nausious while watching. So many people are suffering.  I pray that I will be of help where I can.  Downtown Manhattan is still without power and water and subways are still pretty much shut down, but it is really the outer areas and New Jersey that were hit worse.  I live in the upper west side of Manhattan so my apt is totally fine!  The city is definitely a mess.  This is going to be a really long recovery. The thing we know is that God is bigger.  He is in Control.  Nothing happens out of his hand.  I loved what my roommate Perryn put on her blog. Such a good reminder of the God we serve.  

Please be in prayer for all those who were deeply affected by this disaster of a storm.  

I'm sure i'll update more on here as recovery continues to take place.  

For tonight I have a heavy heart for all those around me who are suffering and feel a little more thankful for my little home that is warm, safe and has light!