8 Months Later...

It's crazy that Hurricane Ian hit Sanibel & Fort Myers 8 months ago on May 28. And now, 8 months post-Ian, we're preparing to move back to Sanibel. Much of the island is coming back together. It's starting to green up. More and more friends are moving home. So much progress has been made. And yet there's still such a very long way to go. Many are still waiting on insurance checks in order to move forward. Our house mid-island that flooded should be torn down any time now. It's like the island is trying to swallow the house...the grasses and vines and native flowers are all taking over. That whole part of the island is still so derelict and feels so much like the wild west. So different than other parts of the island.

Now, as we prepare to head back to Sanibel, we just entered the 2023 hurricane season. Sigh. I look at the thunderstorm raging outside right now and it has a name. Tropical Depression Arlene is moving through the Gulf over two hundred miles west of Fort Myers. It's not anticipated to become a hurricane as it heads to Cuba. But I can't help but sit here and wonder, "Will a storm ever just be a storm again?" I pray we become braver, stronger, and smarter as we enter hurricane season again. I'm working on making documents for all of us for what steps we need to take should we need to evacuate again. What did we do right last time? What do we need to do differently? Who's in charge of what? 

And so it is as we march into our summer break. Time doesn't stop and life goes on. We are all tired from this past year. Major things have happened for good and for bad. The kids are growing. L just graduated 8th grade and is now a high school freshmen. H is in 7th grade. And R is in 3rd grade. They've grown so much and have come so far in this last year. We are so proud of them, such beautiful human beings. 

Thanks to all of you for walking this journey with us both near and far. We are thankful for you! I'll post some photos here soon.