After several dry weeks, we finally got a good, soaking rain. But now, with the hurricane coming in, we’ve had even more. High wind and flood warnings have been sounded, even as far inland as we are.
As we wait to see what happens with the weather, I’m pausing with Susanne and friends at Living to Tell the Story to reflect on the blessings of the week. One encouragement for God’s care in the future is remembrances of His care in the past.
1. Watching Timothy while his parents went on a date. He had a project in school to make a replica of a cell, so he and his granddad looked through the microscope at some slides of cells that Jim had on hand and then got water from a nearby pond to look at single-celled organisms through the microscope. (Timothy called Jim’s office the “science lab.” 🙂 ) Then his parents brought home Salsarita’s for dinner.
2. A new car battery. Sunday, we hopped in my car to go to church, and the car made a clicking sound. The screen over the steering wheel said “System check.” It’s never done that before. Jim tried it a few more times, then we gave up and climbed into his car. He thought my car’s problem was probably the battery. He had another one installed the next day, and now it’s working fine. I am thankful it happened at home and not while we were out somewhere and not while I was out alone. I am grateful, too, that we had a second car to use and that Jim took care of the battery for me.
3. Refrigerator issues fixed. Our refrigerator was not cooling well, so Jim investigated and found some water had collected in the panel between the freezer and refrigerator and frozen. He took everything out of the lower shelves and put it in a cooler, then turned the refrigerator off and used a hair dryer to melt the ice. I couldn’t be of much help, with there not being room for more than one person. But I washed out some of the refrigerator drawers and shelves while Jim was working on the rest of it. Thankfully, it’s all working like it’s supposed to again.
4. Another Connect Four lunch. I mentioned last month that our church had a Connect Four program, where ladies who sign up are divided into groups of four who then meet once a month over the next four months. This was our group’s second get-together. We met at the bakery of a lady who goes to our church. We enjoyed both the food and the fellowship.
5. Finally, a haircut and a coupon. I’d been putting my haircut off for several weeks and finally took care of it this week. I tried a new place since the prices of our old place had gone up. I had a coupon for almost half-off.
Bonus: Food poisoning is no fun! I got chicken strips and chicken noodle soup at Chick-Fil-A last night. We’ve never had a problem there, but thirty-forty minutes afterward, my body started reacting violently. Let’s just say I spent the next several hours in the bathroom. Jim had one of their sandwiches and wasn’t affected. I was thinking last night I should be thankful our bodies are created to expel harmful things. But I’m especially thankful that everything seems to be all right this morning, and this was a short-lived experience rather than a longer-lasting stomach bug. I hope this hasn’t ruined my taste for their soup–it’s one of my favorite fast-food items. But I don’t think I can eat it again for a while.
Jim read one prediction that our area might be without power three days or more with the hurricane coming in. I sure hope that doesn’t happen. I’m sure all in the path of Hurricane Helene would appreciate your prayers, especially those in Florida who will take the brunt of it.
Stray Thoughts 
Glad you are feeling better. Tummy sickness is awful. Praying you all are safe in the storm.
Thank you. We’re doing well so far. I hope you all are doing ok as well–I saw friends from SC on Facebook with trees down and power outages.
All is good here in Mount Pleasant. We’re praying for everyone and every animal affected by this hurricane.
I’m so sorry about the food poisoning! 😦 Glad it seems to have passed. Yes, a haircut is one of life’s little pleasures! I’m glad the Connect 4 is going well. Years ago our church at the time tried getting small groups together here and there. I was in a group of 4 ladies but it dwindled to the point where once I was the only one showing up …:( I hope you keep power this weekend.
I’m hoping this group stays with it til the end. I think that’s one reason they only do it once a year–it’s hard to coordinate everyone’s schedules.
So sorry to hear of you getting sick with the chicken strips (or was it the soup)? That’s no fun.
So far, it’s just breeze here but I expect it will get worse by noon and later. I sure hope the prediction that Jim read doesn’t come true. I’ve been in that situation in Florida and it’s no fun. I hurt for those in Florida right now who were hit so badly. My family and friends down there are all doing okay.
I’m glad that Timothy was able to spend time in Grandpa’s ‘science lab’. Those will be treasured memories for both of them.
I’m glad you found a new place for your hair cuts. And a coupon too!
Have a restful weekend.
We think ii was the soup–hard to know for sure. I am hoping that prediction about power outages doesn’t come true, either. Our lights have dimmed a couple of times, but thankfully have stayed on.
I’m so sorry to hear about your CFA food making you so ill, Barbara, but I am very thankful that you are feeling well this morning.
I will continue to pray for your area concerning the weather. My heart goes out to all of those who have been affected by it.
Loved Timothy’s name for his grandad’s office…that’s what I call my kitchen! 🙂
Praying you have a safe weekend and that you don’t lose power.
Thank you, Dianna. The power is still on so far, though it has dimmed a couple of times. Two of my sisters in SC are without power. How fun that you call your kitchen a science lab. 🙂
Hi Barbara, I just wanted to suggest that it might not be the Chick-fil-A that made you sick. Usually food poisoning takes 8 to 12 hours to set in. I’ve never really heard of anyone reacting from food poisoning that quickly. But I don’t know everything!
We pondered that. It’s hard to really know what food was the problem. One source I read said symptoms could start anywhere between 30 minutes and 3 days—which makes it even harder to pin down.
Hello Barbara,
I’ve read your blog for awhile now and appreciate what you share, especially being I’m in the thick of raising children. It’s encouraging to glean from your life and wisdom.
So sorry to hear about the food poisoning. I’ve had bad experiences like yours before and as you probably know, medical cases throughout the world shoe that people can end up with symptoms within 30 minutes, although 2-12 hr after exposure is common.
Thanks so much for your kind words and for stopping to comment. My husband’s experience with food poisoning (while out of town, poor guy) several years ago ran much the same course, starting up withing an hour after eating. One source I looked up said symptoms of food poisoning could start anywhere from 30 minutes to three days later. That makes it hard to pin down. But I am just glad it’s over. My stomach feels a little iffy today, so I am just eating mild foods to be safe.
Hi Barbara, I am glad your stomach issue was short lived. I had food poisoning once and the doctor has asked if I was out of the country. I told him I was 5 days before. He said it can take that long because it takes time for the food to go through the system and the bad bacteria to grow. Then our body responds in every way possible to get rid of the poison. I was really sick. for few days. I do think that it can happen sooner. Every situation is different. A haircut always makes us feel better. I have a coupon to use too. Nice that you can be in a small group fellowship. Enjoy your weekend.
Thanks, Susan. Though it was a horrible night, thankfully everything seems to have settled down now. I’m still eating light–my stomach feels a little unsettled, but thankfully no other symptoms remain. I’m glad it didn’t last days.
I’ll bet anything it WAS food poisoning. Sometimes it does begin shortly after consuming an item. It happened to me after eating Chipotle chicken burrito and no one else had the same thing as me. It happend about a half hour after I ate the food. Dave and Courtney had beef and they were fine. I’ve not eaten from there since and that was about 2012!! hahah.
I’m glad yours was short lived.
WOW….refrigerator issues and car battery all in one week. Glad all is fine now.
I love that Timothy called the office, “Science lab”. LOVE It. I hope he got a good grade!! 🙂
Praying for you as Helene dumps rain across so many states. I have friends in Florida and roomie has family in NC, so we are certainly praying.
That is so cool that you have a science lab right in your home 🙂
So wonderful your husband was able to fix the refrigerator and you got to clean out some drawers and shelves.
That Connect Four sounds like a fun way to meet up and fellowship together.
Refrigerator and car issues in the same week! Having a husband who knows how to fix all those things is a blessing. I create a science lab for cell discovery, too.
I hope you are still safe and haven’t experienced any outages. As I wrote on my post, we were out for about 4 hours–in Ohio.
I’m glad you are feeling better now. Food poisoning is no fun.
Happy Autumn and Happy Weekend to you! Willow
You had quite some misfortunes this week ! the car, the fridge and the indigestion ! It’s said one misfortune never comes alone ! I also had troubles with my car, fortunately it was only the starter but you were lucky that it happened at home ! Next week will be better !
So glad you got the car and the fridge figured out and it wasn’t anything too major. Glad you are feeling better, Food poisoning is awful. Hope the outages never happened and you are all safe and sound