08.29.21 August 22 to August 28, 2021 Hurricane Ida, Dentist Aggravation, Donny Willoughby, Praising God in the Storm

Today is the 16th anniversary of Katrina destroying the New Orleans Area in 2005. We are facing being hit very shortly by Hurricane Ida which will be close to a Category 5. I know we will lose electricity here so I am posting this even if it isn’t as complete and without photos, as I usually like it to be. Want to hit that PUBLISH button before the lights go out! Since I still have electricity at 9am I went back and added some photos. You know me it was making me crazy without those!!!

This week I started sharing my church’s Worship Service video in a separate weekly post. Here’s a link to that post so you don’t miss a great Biblical sermon. https://rosalynchauvin.com/2021/08/23/08-22-21-the-healing-power-of-jesus-semon-at-trinity-baptist-church/

After church I stopped by my friend Cindy LeBlanc’s to pick up some Pioneer Woman napkins I’m going to use in making a few glass things for a present I’ll be giving her daughter Kaylie who is getting in September.

My friend Cindy Vernon came to visit me at my new home on Monday and as always we had a great visit. I enjoyed showing her my new home and Buddy enjoyed seeing his friend Cindy again!

I spent most of the rest of the day on the phone with my new cell phone company and the bank that had Dora’s mortgage. I’m almost ready to share a post I am writing about all that’s happened with Dora’s fire.

This week turned out to be the pits. So many not good happenings all throughout the week. And it ends with Hurricane Ida hitting our Louisiana coastline. God gets us through the good and the bad and I am so thankful for that. I needed Him a lot this week.

Tuesday morning I went to the dentist to have my top four front teeth crowns put back in. My dentist was not there and the dentist I saw would not put them in. She said my dentist would need to do it. Can’t tell you how much that infuriated me after having had two not-great experiences with her not being able to help me in the past. My regular dentist will be at his office in Metairie on Wednesday so I’ll see him there.

I also learned on Tuesday that the young man I recently asked for prayers for passed away from COVID. Donny Willoughby left behind his wife Rebecca and three daughters Raylea, Kaylon and Gracyn. His funeral will be Friday. Such a great loss, I was in shock and my heart shattered for his dear family.

I drove back to my home in Amite for the first time since I moved to clean the house and the sofa before the renters move in. Three hours of cleaning later I left for my dentist appointment in Metairie.

I could write a book about how awful the experience was going to Metairie. I’ll try to keep it to one paragraph. I knew I could make it there going down I-55 to I-10. However, a combination of my GPS taking me on a very confusing very unexpected route, rain storms causing even more confusion, winding up at the 24 mile Lake Ponchartrain Causeway Bridge (none of that route was the way I thought I’d be going, never ever thinking I’d cross the lake that way) not knowing I needed cash to pay the toll where I started to cry, not having any cash so I was sent to the ATM inside the building to the right in the picture above (I was in the far left lane so I had to cross all the lanes to get there), couldn’t use the ATM because I lost my PIN number on my card and have to use it as credit which you can’t get cash back on. Sobbing got worse knowing all this was making me later and later for the dentist appointment, a very kind woman saw me out of control crying and paid my toll (I was ready to give up and go home but God sent this dear lady to help me), the sun came out on the way across the Causeway so I calmed down a little. Got to the dentist and when he came in I started crying all over again trying to talk to him. Poor man listened to everything I’d been through and took care of my teeth so kindly. Didn’t charge me anything and I went home. Took the route back that I knew where I’d be and it went well.

Thursday I don’t even remember what went on!

Friday was Donny’s funeral, one of the most beautiful God-centered funerals I’ve ever been to. They must have chosen to allow it to be broadcast on Facebook and this is a link to the service. Between the words God put on our Pastor’s heart to share, Donny’s girls speaking, singing, and playing the guitar, the message of Salvation was shared with everyone so beautifully. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/trinitychurchla/videos/363264555351846

So now it is Saturday and all day the progress of Hurricane Ida coming towards us was shown on television. It should be here tomorrow during the middle of the day. I cooked a dozen eggs with shrimp for shrimp/egg salad sandwiches, some veggies on skewers and a pot of crawfish/shrimp and corn soup for eating after we lose electricity which we definitely will in a Category 4 Hurricane. I was born and raised in New Orleans so my whole life I have experienced Hurricane after Hurricane and lived through the worst one, Katrina. Chip wants me to go to Amite to be with him I am staying home for Ida as I’m not in a really dangerous area for this one. I don’t take this lightly at all, I just know not to panic, just be prepared.

We will have no Worship Service or Sunday School at our church. I don’t remember this ever happening. For Katrina the timing was a little different as it didn’t start hitting us until Sunday evening so we met for prayer that morning. Katrina was so memorable that I remember who I saw at church that morning. Really odd with my brain issues but I am sure I’ll remember not being at church in some form for Hurricane Ida.

I pray everyone stays safe during this Hurricane. Even though the Casting Crown’s song is about the storms of life I thought that Praising God in this storm we are facing today was an appropriate way to end today’s blog. My God is Mighty. He will not stop this storm but as a Christian I know He will be right next to me every minute of the storm so I will truly Praise Him though this storm. Here are the beautiful words of this song:

I was sure by now
God, You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
And once again
I say, “A-men” and it’s still rainin’

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I’ll raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry, You raised me up again
But my strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You?

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I’ll raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth
(I lift my eyes unto the hills)
(Where does my help come from?)

And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
Though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

And though my heart is torn
I’ll praise You in this storm