Vacation Day 5

And the Heat Goes On!

July 3, 2012


Every morning I wake up expecting a return to power and find instead darkness. I had another restless night, the heat climbs. I can smell Mark making the coffee, nectar for my veins. It’s a painstaking task, but I love the man for doing it. Stumbling into the semi dark bathroom wishing I could turn on water to brush my teeth, I improvise with a bottle of water to rinse.

It’s really not bad. I have memories of Grandma Goldie and Grandpa Ray taking us down to a camp they rented for the summer in Southern Ohio. The small cottage lay close to the Ohio River and we spent two wonderful weeks there. We lit the cottage with kerosene lamps, pumped water from the well and trudged warily to the Outhouse. We “roughed” it and loved it all, a childhood adventure. I am looking on this adventure as a challenge to treasure. What stories we will tell when we get home!

I think the thing we miss most is showering and flushing. Such a disgusting topic, but bathroom habits are a normal problem without running water. Mark, my marvelous and very inventive husband has solved my bathroom issues by pulling water from the sump pump overflow. The boys, well, have roughed it quite comically. The outdoors is after all, where our native ancestors and true to life campers have found ways to eliminate. Dan says the trick is to make sure the ground is sloping the right way. I leave all with that thought.

Mark and I sip our coffee and sit quietly in the midst of birdsong. What a delightful sound early in the morning. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all wake up as cheerful as our feathered friends lifting sounds of praise high above? The lilting sound makes me smile as I search the trees for my serenading birds.

We decide to head to Freeport and pick up some Ice, juice and bait. Water supply is running low, so we need to store up on this precious commodity. Half-way back to camp, we find we forgot the bait. Go figure. So, trip 2 will be the guys venture while I pack up items for the boat. Dan and Mark return to Freeport for the bait and bring back words that today (maybe) we will have power. We can only hope and Pray.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…God saw all that He made, and behold, it was very good…” Genesis 1:1, 31

I decide to let the men go fishing alone as I set out to clean the kitchen and work on scrapbooking. My skin is a little sunburned from yesterday’s boating, so going to take it easy and try not to bake anymore. I enjoy the surroundings and am content in the beauty of the woods. I love sitting on the “tree house” deck and create. It has been a good time all in all for me. I find no stress here, only my creative juices flowing.

One of my best friends, Jackie, bought me a beautiful journal that I am journaling our adventure in. I enjoy clipping photos and glue them inside the pages. I use stickers and sketch trees; it has become more than a journal, but a moving scrapbook. I do not know why I have never done one this way before. I enjoy jotting down words about our trip and then highlighting the pages in colors, quotes and photos of past times here. I am creating memories with our family and documenting our history here. I hope to continue journaling this way onward.

The sun beats down on me and I am aching for a swim and bath. The lake shimmering through the trees invites me down and I gather my items for a refreshing bath in the lake. The water is cool against my skin at first and then warms quickly. I view the lake, the trees and the sky and marvel at how peaceful it is here. Oh how I wish to bring this home with me, this feeling of relaxation and happiness. The soap lathers well in the water and I rinse off and swim a few laps back and forth stretching my muscles and cooling my skin. I so love the feel of water.

My eyes move from my cool spot in the water to the climb up the hill, not looking forward to that at all. Hunger forces me out of the water and my slow trek through the forest. I make a quick sandwich and a cold glass of pop with ice from the cooler and return to the deck noticing the outdoor thermometer registering mid eighties.

The guys return from fishing and tell me all about the catches they made, a fish fry is sure to come this trip. The guys grab some food and decide to rest before we make yet another trip into Freeport. The air is a little cooler from yesterday’s threat of a storm, but still the air does not stir. I am beginning to think my too hot husband is inventing trips into town on the pretense of forgetting items so he can cool off in the air conditioning of the car.

As we return, we pass by neighbor Ted, our camp Ambassador who informs us of some very unhappy news. It seems the campgrounds down the road which holds the key to our power was never reported out. I am in shock! No one has had power anywhere near us, how could the power company miss this? Don’t they have some sort of grids or something they watch? I mean the storm hit three counties and we are on day four without power. Feeling a bit dejected we drive on.

So now, like the Israelites wandering in the heat of the desert-we wait. I recall the story in the bible about the Israelites who wandered for forty years in a hot desert. Having been in Israel and seeing how small this country is, the story amazes me. God, are You there? Are you teaching us or testing?

We need a treat, Fish Fry tonight.

Teresa Gale

Vacation 2012 Day Four

July 2, 2012

Powerless in Stifling Heat Wave

Another hot night left me tossing and turning. The nights’ here seem to drag on forever or is it just due to the super dark forest that surrounds us? The boys stay on the dock till late at night and then with flashlights climb “Heart Attack Hill”, oh to be young again! I often wake when I hear them come up, flashlights glowing on the deck and causing havoc with our dogs that sense more than just the boys in the woods. Last night the dogs woke me to bark, growl and run around my bed. It seems a critter or a few critters thought it funny we novice campers would leave trash for them. So they rummaged through the trash while our dogs were itching to attack them.

The thrashing on the deck sounded pretty loud and Mark rose to shut the glass door. We have no idea if it is small or large, but we do not want to invite the creature inside. Of course, closing the door made our cabin hotter and created more tossing and turning for me all night.

The next morning, yes, still without electric, we rose to find teeth marked paper plates and trash strew all over deck and on the ground. The boys shared they thought it was big, maybe a bear, but I think it was most likely a raccoon who are famously known for trash hunts. Time for coffee making and clean up before we head to the boat.

Yesterday we boated only once trying to conserve the gas, word has it may be several days before we see power restored. This storm hit hard and knocked out several counties. Yesterday, we had a threat of a storm which drove the boys off the dock around nine o’clock. Trees rustled with a strong breeze which had me cautiously eyeing the sky. The good thing, it never hit and it brought cooler temperatures for several hours.

Mark started the coffee while I straighten up our make shift beds, wash a few dishes and gather my bible and journal to sit on deck. While I read, Mark goes down under the deck to begin the critter clean up. As he exists the door, I hear him moan. Cobwebs like the one pictured on my page seem to materialize every night and no matter how often we knock them down, happy spiders rebuild quickly at night. Mark gets tangled every morning in the clingy webs.

Day Four of our primitive adventure is starting a little cooler. Mark had a bad health day yesterday and the heat really took its toll on him. I convinced him to keep a washcloth in the cooler of ice and apply to his face to cool off. For me, swimming works and I try to dip in the waters a few times a day, but Mark is reluctant to travel the hill with his joints hurting. He loaded up with water most of the afternoon, in this heat we are all dehydrating and keeping water on ice.

After clean up and coffee, we need to do an ice run. We buy food as we need it so it won’t go bad as the ice melts too quickly. My back hurts from the couch sleeping, but with the cooler temperatures slept a tad better than the previous couple of nights.

I keep my time occupied with reading and scrapbooking. I almost did not bring my stuff as I felt I might just be wasting the space, but so glad I did. Each day I spread out on the picnic table and work on a few pages. It helps pass the time and feeds the creative side of me. So far I think I have finished about seven pages in the last couple of days, I am even scraping in my journal. I find I like doing that. I find I am getting more creative things done here, except for writing. The only writing I am doing in my journal which details our trip and the cards and letters I send the kids. We will make a trip to town soon and I can mail them. I have no real distractions here and am getting more “me” time.

If only I could create time once home to continue with my creative side. This time with no power has stirred something inside me. I found we have many more resources when we really pay attention. We have learned to survive despite the irritation we have invented ways to make ourselves more comfortable and stuck it out for four days. This time of quiet without distractions is really what I have craved for a long time. So today, I give thanks to God for showing us what we are made of. Sometimes we are forced to become stronger and allow our creative sides to emerge.

Later, we decide to venture out to Cadiz which lies 13 miles away. Why does such a short distance stretch on forever when we travel on country roads? We do get to see the AE Power linemen at work, more trees down, fences pushed down from the thrust of the storm. Finally! Civilization!

You know you are in civilization when the golden arches of a McDonalds come into sight. Phone service! Limited for sure, but at least we can receive and send a few texts to family to let them know we are safe. We pull into the comfort of the golden arches and grab some late breakfast. Yes, fast food can really taste good after a few days without.

The town folk seem curious over us and a table set with several “elderly” gentlemen make small talk with us. Mark asks directions and we all discuss the storm. Dan states he thinks these same men were here last year and gave us directions. This place must be a social gathering for some folks.

We eat, check phones, use the running water facility and head out for our main excitement, The Dollar General Store. It seems funny that when you are from a bigger city and thrust into small town living how exciting an outing like this can really perk you up quickly. We all roamed the aisles looking for things we may need, a new ice chest as two didn’t hold all we needed, plastic bowls to put meat into, and other needed supplies. Seventy-two dollars later we left the store satisfied with our bargains. We took a quick tour of the town to find the grocery store and post office.

I am spending days not just scrapbooking and journaling but also to write the old fashioned cards and letters that I single handedly brought back to life a year or two ago. The post office was close the grocer and we quickly ran inside as the heat again was climbing into the upper nineties.

The grocery store is ok. Meat looks a little “iffy” to say the least. Another seventy dollars later for fruit, meat, drinks and veggies, finishes off our food needs. Our next stop is the hardware store to replace the basket we lost for fishing. Cha Ching! Our trip to civilization was an expensive venture for sure.

Now we head back to the cabin and our fishing time.

The rest of the day is spent fishing, boating, bathing and swimming. I catch another Blue Gill and enjoy the refreshing waters to cool off. However, when I bring out the shampoo and soap back at the dock, my little Blue Gills family start nipping at my legs while I try and bathe. Ouch! It does not hurt as much as surprise me and I jump each time one nibbles at me.

Dinner tonight is London broil, Fried potatoes and vegetables that Daniel Son cooks. The dinner was wonderful. Dan did a great job. The night heat is uncomfortable and even my dip in the lake is not enough to keep my skin from boiling. After dinner, dishes and clean up, I grab a cool rag from the ice chest and lie as motionless as I can with the rag on my head. It’s only 9:00 pm and I am miserable from the heat with no break in sight.

This is going to be a long, hot night and I am not looking forward to it. Up until now, I have weathered the heat pretty good, but tonight is my turn to pray for a rescue and a cool fan. Lying for several hours barely moving, I finally doze off as the air shifts and degree or two downward. The dog rouse me from sleep once again as “Rocky” raccoon visits us again. It’s 3 am according to my cell phone and I moan with aggravation. Heat, dogs, critters have kept me awake for several nights.

Grabbing a flashlight I pull myself off of the sagging couch better known as my bed and shine it out on the deck. Oliver our little fierce Yorkie, growls meanly while I scan the light around looking for our night critter. Sure enough, to my right, sitting next to the dog food we forgot again the bring in the cabin two beady eyes stare back and chop away unworried about me. I watch him for a moment and decide he or she is not worth my effort to scare him off and get bit. I crawl over the dogs shushing them and fall back onto the couch. Oliver gives one final forceful bark and growl before curling up by my legs miffed he was not allowed to get the critter. I almost believe our little Ollie could take the raccoon!

I struggle back asleep remembering the words for the local gossip line our favorite Ambassador Ted, that the electric company is edging closer to us and we should have power soon. Day four closes with those thoughts stirring me back to sleep.

We stink! Is my last thought as I drift into dreams of the hum of air conditioning and coolness.

Teresa Gale

Vacation Day 3

The Boat! The Boat!

Saturday afternoon we are finally able to get to the Marina and rent our boat. The Marina is also without power and warns us the tank is full, but they can not guarantee when power will be up and we can refill. As discouraging as this seemed, it was at least a bright spot in our vacation. A boat means swimming, fishing and at least trolling the lake!



Excited, we pick the boat up and the boys and I take it back to the cabin while Mark drives the car back. I actually get to drive, rare occasion. Dan however will dock it. We load up with cooler, ice, dogs and fishing gear and take off for the rest of Saturday, not returning until late afternoon. Boys were happy to fish and the dogs love the boat. I took pictures of the water, trees, men and dogs. The sun was hot and the water cool.



The rest of the day was spent cooking, cleaning up and talking. Mark and I exhaustlessly headed to bed as soon as the sky turned a soft gray. Dan and Mike settled in for the night on the dock to fish. They were having a grand time away from us parents with the water, fishing poles and stars that lit the sky.



Sunday July 1, 2012



We woke early again to find still no electric. I smelled the coffee rifting in the open door. Coffee was good, strong and I loved it. I suggested to Mark instead of the mug as he did the first day, he poured it through the coffee maker and straight into a pot. It worked! Not as hot and of course would not keep it hot, so he made enough for a couple of cups at a time. We are learning to be campers in a strange sense. Tedious, but oh so good to me. However, he and Dan found it way too strong and they ended up with the jitters.



I felt like I had slept way too long for me. Normally, I am a very light sleeper who wakes several times in the night and is usually up by 4 am to read. We had gone to bed much to early for this lady and my body ached from the couch.



The sun is out and the boys are still sleeping. Our boat lies waiting. The day stretches ahead of us and that makes me happy. It was going to be another hot day. Sounds drift around of others clearing up from the storm, chain saws, blowers and generators hum loudly. Despite the man made noises, the chirping of birdsong lifts in the air.



We decide to run and get ice and pick up some refreshments before we head out on the boat again. We look forward to a nice day of boating and fishing. The boys stock up on snacks and chatter about the day ahead.



The hard part about where the cabin sits is the hill you have to climb up and down to get to the lake. It is steep and only has a few scattered steps here and there. If the ground gets wet it is slippery mud and you slide. I brought a cane this time. We of course had to enlist the boys to carry items and take the hyper dogs down. Mark and I would then make a slow decline after them. This year I found it easier, not sure why, maybe it was my mind-set to make the best of it and I also chose not to rush. I took my time going down and climbing back up. The owner nicknamed the hill “Heart Attack Hill.”



We were all pretty happy to be able to take the boat out and I prepared sandwiches to eat on board. Sammy, our Golden Retriever must have remembered his last trip on the boat as he was super excited. He rode up front most of the time, sticking his head through the gate and sniffing the air. Oliver our small Yorkie lay down beside me, Dan called him a vacation dog because he knew the value of relaxation.



Yesterday we lost eight fish, one I had caught when we forgot to haul in the net before we took off. Not only did we lose the fish which was a shame, but the metal basket to keep them in. Dan felt bad and promised his dad to buy another. Of course now I had no proof of the lone fish I had caught. Darn it all!



A few hours of fishing, swimming and allowing the dogs to get wet and run along the bank was refreshing. The hot sun beat down upon us and the fish were a little more shy today but the boys had faith their night fishing would bring us more as the evening cooled.



I had taken a bath in the lake yesterday which felt great. I had small shampoo, conditioner, a bar of soap and liquid gel. Lake water would do for me and it cooled me off for at least a few hours after climbing back up the hill. I finally convinced the guys after two days and hot weather to try a bath in the lake I knew the stink would force them to go in or me to push them in. Let me tell you, sweat, worm guts and fish smell is not very appealing in temperatures of 98 plus. We stank!



Later, I spotted a beautiful red-headed woodpecker in the tree to the right of the cabin. A hummingbird feeder hung empty and I felt sad I would not see my little friend from last year. Birds are so lovely here and I wish I knew names of the several types I saw. We did spot a Crane or two on the lake. Lovely as it took flight as we edged closer, gliding through the air.



Our meal tonight will be hamburgers on the grill and some fried potatoes cooked by Dan our son. I think I shall sit and watch him cook while enjoying the sight of tall trees and sounds of laughter from my family. Even without electric, I find I am very much enjoying this time together. Who could ask for more? Thank you Lord.



Teresa Gale

Vacation Journal 2012 Day Two

Aftermath of the Storm

I had a fitful night of sleep. Every so often I would wake to check the coffee pot to see if electric came back on by watching for the little red light. I was met each time with darkness. I was just sure the electric would come back on in a few hours and was disappointed each time.


The cabin sits on the hill and it is surrounded by age old trees, so darkness envelopes us like a blanket. My eyes strain to look for any sign of light while my ears listen for the boys who are night fishing off the dock. Through the lace like leaves, I see glimmers of light from the pearl size moon.

In the wee hours of morning, Mark and I rose early as we normally do. My inventive husband figures out a way to make coffee. Lighting the charcoal grill, filling our iron skillet (Ha! again I brought something useful) with a bit of water to boil, filling a pot with water and centering it in the iron skillet he waits somewhat impatiently for water to grow hot and boil. He then takes a huge mug (Yes another treat I brought to make instant oats with) and a rubber band, fitting a coffee filter over top with the grounds. He pours water over top and there we have a small mug of coffee. Tedious for sure, strong most definitely, but well worth the wait as I take my first sip I thank my husband.

After coffee and a quick clean up, we decide to trek up the road and see if we can make it to the marina and pick up our boat for the week. We get part way up and find lots of limbs lying on the road and one big branch. I climb out and move the branch off the road, a few more feet and the same thing, another little bit and we have to move a larger branch off the road. We round the corner of the hill and carefully drive surveying the damage of broken trees and leaves lying all over the road. At the top we come to a complete stop and marvel at four large pine trees lying in across the road. There would be no way we can move these on our own. Here we were, stuck with no way out and no way for anyone to come in.

We call the friend whose cabin we borrowed and let them know what has happened. Our friend suggests we back down the hill and head to the first cabin where his neighbor Ted lives. Mark woke the poor fellow up and explained about the downed trees. Ted has a phone and said he would make a few calls. Nothing more we could do, so we head back to our cabin to wait.

So far, our vacation was turning into a little more than frustration. I begin trying to organize our items while Mark clears off the many limbs from fallen trees on our deck. It isn’t long before Ted rides up in a John Deer four wheeler letting us know the road is clear. We cheer and thank him. It seems the summer residents are very used to this stuff and have their own chain saws to handle Mother Nature when they can. While we novice campers found it troublesome, the residents shrugged it off like it was nothing.

We were now free to head to the Marina and check out the rest of our surroundings. Waking the boys with a promise of breakfast, we head back out. The road out is a steep one lane road in normal conditions, but today it is more of an obstacle course and we zig and zag up the road carefully till we reach the main road. The view is spectacular once out, set on what can best be described as rolling hills and farm land. Wild flowers dot the horizon making it very picturesque normally. However, today we find many downed trees, broken limbs and strewn debris everywhere we drive. Telephone and power lines are down, broken trees lying on top of them. The more damage I se, the more thankful I am for God’s protection. We have lived through a most scary wind storm.

Getting to the marina proved to be impossible with a closed road, instead we head to a little town called Freeport with the boys in tow. We figure we needed food and possibly ice. Three miles down the road, we found much of the same damage and to make matters worse, the only grocery store in town was permanently closed down. This vacation should have been a comedy show. We have to laugh, what else could happen at this point. Note to reader: Never jinx yourself by thinking the previous statement for you will surely find out just what else might happen.

We drive another block and notice lights on at a Marathon gas station and people lined up for gas. We venture inside the station slash small store to find they were running on a huge generator. This little place would become not only our life saver in the days to come, but it seemed the whole communities.

We had met the owner before on our last trip and found he was a man with a big heart. In the days that came on this trip we find he was honest and very helpful. The place became a source of information and supplies. He never hiked prices to take advantage of the situation and this in itself is amazing. It was a sure sign again from God there really are some good people in the world.

The owner tells us the news he hears from the authorities. Drum roll please….it could very well be days before electric is restored. The storm hit three counties hard in our area and may well have also done damage state wide. We moan at the thought of no electric fans in the heat that is promised. There lay my wish before our trip to be far from technology. God does have a sense of humor.

I have also bemoaned the fact that in our techno world, we have lost touch with the human factor. I am a believer in real written letters, less texting and game playing. Although I admit I succumb to both in my life, I find it really bogs me down. So here we are in the midst of a small town without those things plus the luxury of electric.

Until you lose power, you don’t always realize how much you rely on it. Simple things like water, for our system at the cabin is run on a pump for the well, will be surely missed in this heat. From the newspaper we read temperatures are climbing to record breaking numbers.

We head back to the cabin laden with ice and some food supplies to get us through the day. We have two coolers with us and load up on water, refreshing drinks and food. The boys trek down the steep hill to the dock and we hear excited cheers, they have snagged a big catfish on the line and continue to fish for more.

Dogs sit happily at our feet, Mark fillets the fish the boys bring up and I cheerfully sit back in the shade and take it all in. Here we are on a vacation with the most unusual circumstances, but I feel light and carefree. Birdsong lifts in the air and butterflies circle our camp. All feels right.

I remember the storm from the night before and how frightened I had become. How do you describe the fear at seeing giant trees bent double and what sounds like giants’ throwing rocks on a wooden roof? The image stays with me as well as the fact God sent his Holy Spirit to me as I prayed. “Trust me”. Indeed! God is with me. In Him I put my Trust.

I sit back watching my family move about chores on the deck and smile. We are safe, together and working on solutions. What could be better than this?



Teresa Gale

Vacation Journal 2012 Day One

Survival

June 29th, 2012


The day has finally arrived, our vacation. After much date crunching and switching events around we have made the decision to just go and enjoy. We are borrowing a cabin from a friend of Mark’s down on Piedmont Lake; it will be our third time we have stayed in Hidden Ledges.

I love the huge deck that has a “tree house” feel to it. The cabin itself has only one room, one bath and a small bunk house with four bunk beds. Daniel and his friend Mike will stay in the bunk house while Mark, myself and the two dogs will take on the “master cabin.”

As usual, I have packed a lot. I get laughed at every year. However, this year the stress of the months before had me a little fuddled and I ended up not bringing several items I normally would. Still, we had garbage bags full of pillows, blankets, towels (even bath rugs) and supplies. Mark shakes his head as I carry bag after bag of items out to our small car. Luckily our son was able to take a huge load as well. Fans are much needed as there is no a/c in the cabin, so that also has to be lugged. Our family jokes I bring everything except the kitchen sink and if I could, I probably would. Spices, potatoes, coffee, filters, salt, pepper, all the things I know we have that will come in handy on our nine day stay.

Sometimes I wonder if it would just be easier to check into a hotel and order room service, but we enjoy the grilling out after a day on the boat fishing. We had reserved a boat but had no confirmation. It seemed every detail of our trip was a little more stressful this year, so we decided to just go with it and get away.

We set out around 12:30 P.M, after Dan got off work, gassed up; we watched the temperature rise higher and higher on our three hour drive finally reaching 100 degrees by the time we arrived. Air conditioner in the car can be very deceiving. Once we opened the door to start unloading we were hit with the stifling air, much like opening a hot over door. As we opened the door to the cabin, it had to be even higher inside after being shut tight. So unloading was slow moving, taking our time putting things right and taking breaks to water up. It was most unbearable heat.

I went about opening the windows in the cabin and as I reached over the sink my eye caught sight of one of the biggest spiders I have laid eyes on since the one who took a shower last year back home. Screaming, (yes I am a terrified of the eight legged creatures) I ran out to the deck and screamed for someone to kill it. To the rescue came Mike who loves all things insects and as I would later find out snakes. He studies them and is a world book of knowledge on types. Laughing at me, he says he “took care of it.” To me taking care of it means squashing it, he instead set it free into the “wilderness.”

As we lugged bag after bag onto the deck and into the hot cabin, I worked feverishly to try and put the necessary items away, taking frequent, and I do mean frequent breaks to sit and refresh with cold water. The men teased me over all the supplies I took but by the end of the trip, they would be grateful over several items they had first thought unnecessary.

After taking another break to wipe the sweat from my organizing, I sat down on a lawn chair and asked Mark to turn on some music. We were so glad to finally be there, I wanted to celebrate while we worked. The music soon turned into a siren blaring and a weather watch warning. Having been through a few storms, I wasn’t much worried until Mike said he got an alert on his phone that stated, “Take shelter immediately.” Mark looked worriedly up in the sky and mouthed something about high winds. Again I shook it off, told him not to worry and he stated they were talking about winds coming in over 70 miles an hour.

No sooner than the words were out of his mouth and the sun dipped behind some angry looking clouds darkening the sky. The wind started as a small breeze and just as I stepped back outside to sit down and enjoy the coolness, a sound like a train caught my attention. I looked to our right and trees started bending before my eyes. The boys sitting on deck chairs laughing at Mark soon turned into scurrying feet to run inside just as a huge tree branch fell on the deck taking out a chunk of wood with it.

The roof sounded as if someone were on top with a jack hammer. I jumped, moved inside quickly as Mark slid the sliding glass door shut. Rivets of rain pelting down hard and we watched in horror as the trees looked as if they were breaking like thin sticks. I sat down on the sofa and prayed. I prayed hard for protection and for the storm to pass. Mike kept his phone on and informed us the storm warning stated it would pass in an hour.

I didn’t think my heart could take an hour of the pounding the little cabin was taking. My thoughts turned to all the trees surrounding us and the tall ones on the slanted hill above the cabin. I had visions of them all crashing down upon us and several whacks against the roof and walls had me thinking this was true. My hero of a son put his arm around me and kept reassuring me it was okay. I kept talking to God, feeling his peace flow over me. Lightening lit the sky, thunder roared and the wind would momentarily die down only to pick back up at full speed. Everything we thought it was passing, it started again hurling branches, rocks, walnuts and debris towards us.

The storm lasted over an hour with me shaking, praying and Mark looking quite worried for our safety. The lights dimmed, the radio went off and then all power went out leaving us in a dimly lit room. Fans that were keeping us cool went silent. At last it stopped. We stepped out on the deck to survey the damage of downed trees and limbs. The deck was strewn with leaves, branches and walnuts. The one good thing this storm did was drop the temperature 20 degrees bringing us a bit of refreshment from the heat.

I stared in amazement that as best we could tell, we had little damage to the cabin and praised God we were protected and safe. Taking a big sigh of relief, we set about finding candles, (yes, laugh at me now) and flashlights to clean up what we could. I had yet to finish unpacking and now the sky was much darker and not allowing much light to work with, I left it for the next day.

The boys, now feeling safer decided to trek down the steep hill to set up a line to snag a fish. Mike loves to fish and could hardly wait to try his hand on the lake after the storm and cool air. We talked about the storm, lack of electric and how we would handle the night. I pulled blankets out as the temperature dropped even more and the breeze chilled us. (Yes, laugh at me now men, blankets to keep you warm). Who would have thought 100 degree temperatures would drop so fast we would need blankets for the night? I guess only a mother who tends to over pack. Turning in for the night, snuggled under a blanket, I thanked God again for His protection. Tomorrow we would finish cleaning up, put things away and pick up our boat. Those were the thoughts I had before shutting my eyes to sleep. Tomorrow, for sure would be another day.

Teresa Gale

Trust Me

“Trust Me”

“I pour out my complaint before Him; before Him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me it is you who know my way.”

Psalm 142:2-3

The other day I had a heart opening moment for me in many ways. I am one of those people who play that nasty old game of “worst case scenario.” You may know the game also, maybe even played it a time or two.

When I am especially worried about something or someone one, I run scenario’s through my mind. I am a big worrier, family trait I believe, so this game happens a lot. I know in my heart I should take it all to God, but sometimes I just can’t help my human self.

Last Monday we had our bible study on David, an awesome study with some real heart sharing. Trust is always something I struggle with. Past hurts, fear of failure, insecurities, self worth, all of it keeps me from complete trust, even in my God.

It’s not that I do not believe it is more of an “I should do it myself” kind of thing. I have spent my whole life doing just that, so trust is hard for me. It means letting go of control and allowing God or other’s to not hurt me.

I pray, I pray a lot. Sometimes it is an off and on prayer all day long. And I believe in God and in miracles. However, I think sometimes God likes to give me a little wake up call, or test. He wants me to trust in Him more in fact He wants me to trust Him in all things.

After our lesson last night we shared about trusting and listening to God’s voice when He leads us. It was a touching time that opened my heart even more. To be truthful last night I especially needed this sharing and study in God’s word. What I really needed was a lesson in trusting God with everything.

My wake-up call started about a week ago. I had some tests my doctor ordered, just routine tests, but one I had been putting off for a while. I had faced a health scare two years ago with a blood clot that had fearful me to the bone and was finally starting to relax and rest in the Lord. So the tests were needed and went pretty well.


Then two days later I get a call from the hospital asking me to return and re-take my mammogram. The kind voice on the phone said something about “Density” and might require an ultra-sound. I scheduled the appointment, felt a twinge of worry, but mostly felt a sense of peace.
I didn’t allow the “worst case scenario” thing to play any recordings in my head. When the thoughts did escape a time or two, I brushed them away with a short prayer. This for me was strange in itself. I actually felt as if God were telling me all was okay.

Then two days after the phone call, I get the form letter, only this was worded in a not so comforting way. It stated that “something was found on my film and you need to return”. Well, the enemy of worry threatened to shake me into that “worst case” thought mode, but again I shook it off. My first immediate thought was to reach out to a good prayer warrior and I did request prayer from my friend Beth and let it go.


So on Tuesday, I trudge off to the testing. The staff at the local hospital is amazing, compassionate and so kind that they put me at ease. The technician reassured me during the second procedure she did not see anything more and that I would most likely not need an ultra-sound. So I felt relaxed. I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving and chatted with another woman going through the same thing.


As I sat with this stranger in a small room trying to make small talk through her worries, I silently prayed for her. The technician came to take this kind lady off to her ultra sound and I told her I would pray for her and good luck. I sat alone only a moment before my tech returned and to my surprise told me I would also be scheduled for an ultra sound but again reassured me it was routine.

Waiting is the hardest sometimes. I had thought when I left work I would only be gone an hour tops and be able to attend a women’s health lunch. Little did I know what the real “test” laid ahead of me this day.
I was met with some truly amazing women health care givers and I cannot praise them enough for their kindness, compassion and care of me. I felt at ease as the technician who would be giving me the ultra sound explained the procedure and how she also felt all was well.

Two hours later, still lying in a position that made me think of a contortionist, arm over head, half lying on my side, a wedge supporting my side on a table surely designed for someone super tiny, upper anatomy exposed embarrassingly to young girls; I was prodded.

The frown upon the young technicians face as she searched for the spot the radiologist wanted her to concentrate on was only slightly unnerving. She gently told me she needed another tech to assist.

Don’t worry.” She explained, “I really do not see anything which is good, but the radiologist will want us to be accurate.”

She left me, lying in this uncomfortable position for I am not sure how long, but long enough for worry to set in, and my body to cramp. Finally, I slowly sat up, feeling like a “bad little girl” for not lying still and stretched. I listened for what surely was forever in my mind but in actual time only several extremely long minutes. At long last, she returned with a cheerful technician and they had me get back into my “circus contortionist” position. The prodding continued on for what seemed like forever, in fact long enough for the dreaded fear to shake me and the “worst case” scene playing in my mind as I strained to look at the screen and hear the whispers they two techs were speaking.

First off, hospitals should have more relaxing atmospheres for us fearful patients. I would have peaceful scenes painted on walls and ceilings, soft music piped in and please, return a clock to the wall so we can see how long we have been stuck in a boring room with our fear.

There was no place to look but an all white ceiling. There was nothing to hear but the concerned techs trying to pinpoint something unseen inside my body, making me more nervous by the second.
By now, the mind was like a speeding train with thoughts of disaster around the bend. There just was nothing to distract myself. I started thinking of treatment, of life, and about how to tell my family. I mean the “worst case” became planning the funeral. That is what waiting and the unknown can do to my mind. I caught myself in this shameful act and stopped a moment, took a deep breath and called out to God.

“God, please let this go okay, send protection to surround me.” Then I started quoting in my head the bible verses I had memorized.

Psalm 6:2

“Have mercy upon me Lord for I am weak. O’ Lord heal my tired bones are troubled.”
Psalm 18:32

“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”
1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxieties upon Him, for He cares for you.”

On and on, over and over I would repeat and cling to His word.

A voice spoke two words in my head. “Trust me.”
Two simple words I felt in my head and heart several times. Peace enveloped me and raged a battle with the fear.
I grew uncomfortable in my position and frustrated. I wanted to shout please stop. Instead, I rested in the Lord who is my fortress. When I thought I could stand it no more, He would still me. The technicians after about an hour and half, decided to film what they did see and with serious faces told me they would confer with the radiologist who would most likely come in to repeat the ultra-sound.

This was not what I wanted to hear. I was allowed to sit up and rest a moment. Alone in the darkened room, God spoke again. “Trust me.”

After several moments, the technician entered and with a smile told me I had no cancer. I did have a nice sized cyst in an elongated duct. That might explain some tenderness I was experiencing. She told me all was well and repeat the mammogram in a year.

I will tell you without shame, I cried. I burst into tears of thanksgiving and let them fall. Relief set through me as my body shook with the emotion. I had a reprieve. I had a flash of the women who shared the waiting room with me and felt a surge to pray again for her.

I learned a lesson, one I hope to cling to this; Listen to that small voice that comes from God and wait. No matter what the news, I was in His hands. I was not in control and no matter what the outcome, He had me covered. I am so thankful I did not hold cancer that took my Grandmother and her sister.

I have a few other health battles to conquer right now, but I have the hand of God upon me, in that I trust.

Praising God!

Teresa Gale

Single Special Moments-Treasure Hunts

Single Special Moments

Special moments in life come every single moment of the day, often we miss them. Life is busy, life is full, things happen and the rush of life passes us by.

I am in my fifties, almost half way to sixty. I feel the pressure of life just as well as the next person. Some days I look at my life and wonder how in the world I did it all when I was in my twenties, thirties and forties. A mom of six, grandma of 8, a wife of a wonderful husband, I lead a very hectic life. I work full time in a job that consumes too many hours of the day. I have poor health and cannot do the things I so wish I could do, but I try.

My children have always been my world and they are most precious to me. I believe God destined me to have the family I was meant to have. Yet I struggle, I juggle and I end up with much guilt every moment of each day. I worry over them and about them each. I wonder if I have given enough, spent enough time with this one or the other and it is a battle I wage constantly.

My biggest fear is that I will let a moment pass me by that might be my “last chance.” I fret over the fact that time is precious and I want to soak up every single precious moment God blesses me with. So when I can, as much as I can, I grab them. Those precious single special moments are mine to claim.

This past weekend was just that for me. For the past several years I have attended an annual yard sale in Columbus with my brother. My second oldest daughter, Suzanne and her two small boys were my companions again this year; this makes their third or maybe fourth time. This year as an extra special treat, my best friend Jackie joined us. For me, this trip down south is not so much about the bargains I will find, but the time I get to spend with my brother and those I love.

It is an adventure for sure. We arrive at my brother’s lovely home the night before to visit and prepare for the bargains the next day. We set out as early as we can with small kids in tow. We walk streets in heat, in rain and against a tidal wave of people in search of that something “special” they cannot live without year after year. We trudge with strollers, canes, swollen and tired feet. We search for treasures that we know will be fun to take home and place in that certain space just waiting for it.


I often come home with stuff I later look at and think; really? However later, when I pass them on a table or glance at them on a wall, or flip through the pages of a well worn book I just had to read, I find it is not the item that enhances my life. What enhances my life if the memory of the find, the hunt and the time, that single, special moment spent with the ones I love.

So this weekend for me was just that, trying to capture that single moment to remember, to hold on to tightly. In a couple of weeks, my daughter, my Suzanne will move across the country to Nevada and begin a new chapter in her life. Our annual hunt for treasures may end. I grabbed this moment knowing that our time is limited.

Although in other’s eyes, it may not have been a perfect weekend. We struggled with my painful legs that had me moving slowly, we struggled with two little ones who were not always patient with our hunt and with the heat. We stumbled along paths and through crowds that would turn others away, yet we trudged onward. I pushed myself, not willing to give up, not wanting the day to end. Reluctantly I gave up the chase.

The little guys had enough and so did Suzanne, Jackie and I were okay to finally call it quits, for we knew where the true value of the hunt lie. We rested a bit and waited for my parents who arrived a couple of hours later for dinner. As we sat around a long table at a “Fifties” diner, I surveyed those in attendance and missed those of us who for one reason or another could not join us.

Flashes went off as I snapped one photo after another trying to capture images for memory pages later. My dad’s health is failing so time is truly precious to me. I watch my mom’s smiling face and just wish to still this moment and chat awhile longer. I want to hold tightly to those I love so dearly and not let them go.

We chatted, dined, and with sorrow hugged each other as we parted. Another full evening of “deck” sitting at my brother Mike’s awaited. Back at his home, we showered to get the city dust off and gathered together out on his large deck where we shared my famous sausage balls. I sat back as the sun set, viewing the candle light and bonfire reflecting off sweet faces. I rocked little Parker sound to sleep as I listened to the chatter and laughter of my good friend Jackie. It was to those sounds that I drifted off to sleep in my chair. The day had been fulfilling, the company sweet. The hunt had not been a success in “things”, but in the people I adore.

Back at home, tired from the talking, walking, driving and whatnot, I loaded up photos to my computer of my weekend. I stopped at the one I am sharing here today and found myself choked up with emotion. My daughters blue eyes shine back to me and her grandpa’s smile lit up my heart. My daughter is soon off to the Wild West like a pioneer of old seeking her own treasures. My father who is aging and ill struggles to stay with us and keep active in his life.

I see the two loved ones faces and know as I always have, where real treasures lie. It is in my heart, full of love for family, for friends and for our lives. This past weekend’s memories will be stored in the treasure trunk of my mind, in scrapbooks and in my heart.


Teresa Gale