la vida en Puerto Rico: A Hurricane The Weekend We Arrive! Seriously?!!!

Because we had been here in June, it was nice to arrive back to a familiar place. The first 2 days were beautiful. Friday was a full day of meeting realtors to view apartments. FUN! I love the cable program House Hunters International! Now I was living it. We viewed properties in the tourist area just outside of Old San Juan (where all the cruise ships dock...cobblestone streets, shops and cafe's). After viewing 4 places in Ocean Park/Condado area we had lunch and traveled to the other side of San Juan to the more family oriented, remote area of Dorado. All of these areas are along the Northern Coast of PR. Dorado is a golf course, resort type area on the beach with nice, separate subdivision/developments away from the ocean. There were pros and cons to both areas we searched; however, being without a vehicle we settled on a place in Condado which is a fast-paced tourist area where we are walking distance to all the essentials: supermarket, restaurants, Walgreens, hospital, and BEACH! Our wonderful friends, Keli and Brian, have loaned us their extra vehicle for the interim. (GOD STUFF!)
So the first 2 days were postcard weather. I got David off to the airport amid tears (which began the night before) and rain...lots of rain. We knew nothing about the impending hurricane, Irene, that was headed our way until we arrived at church Sunday morning. Orders were given out at church for everyone to beware and begin taking precautions for the worst tropical storm/hurricane to hit the island in 12 years! I simply spoke to my Lord with a bless-ed assurance that He had already prepared me for what may lie ahead among all the unknowns set before us. After our accident last year, and His saving grace toward me and the three kids, I knew we had been spared for such a time as this, whatever the outcome would be. Brian and Keli were well prepared for the storm and we woke up at 2 a.m. to the raging winds, but very little rain. They say this is common for being in the "eye", which was directly over us. Generators kicked on as electricity remained out into the rest of the day. Many parts of the island are still without electricity, but things are back to normal for the most part, except for Hunter and his school. We had taken him to the school Monday morning after the storm had passed only to go back and get him on Wednesday due to school closings in the mountain area where his is located. This has turned out to be a blessing, having him with us as we all live together at Keli and Brians, getting to know one another. Brian likes having a teenage boy around, and good for Hunt :) Moving in to apartment this weekend!!! Continue to pray for our safety. A little more "heads-up" is required in the tourist area where we will be living and walking everywhere. Praying for all of you back home...the daily rains we get and all the green we see everywhere, to come your way. We are literally surrounded by lush, tropical greenery. Also praying for those along the North Carolina Coast. Our friends, Keli and Brian, are from Carolina with family in the "bulls-eye" of the storm. Please pray for them as well. 'til later.....