Even though we live three or four hours from the coast, the hurricanes that hit the gulf have some impact on Austin. The schools in our district are closing two hours early tomorrow, and the grocery stores have been packed today. Everyone is stocking up and getting ready. I'm going out to lunch with friends tomorrow--and am not too worried. But I've got all kinds of food and necessities, just in case. The kids are psyched that they get to have their Friday weekend fun start a bit early. I'm not expecting things to go badly from Hurricane Ike, but if so, we'll be ready. Keep your fingers crossed! Christopher thought it would be interesting if there was also a Hurricane Mike, so it could be Mike & Ike. Edited to add: I just uploaded this picture of the roses I bought for myself at HEB for $10. I didn't want to make a new post just for that.
This picture was taken at church a few days ago while Kelly was on his way to the US for work this week. We have some wonderful news to share. We are adopting 7-year-old Yeh Min Yu, who has been in our home off and on the last couple of months. There's a lot that goes into making this official, dealing with US Homeland Security to arrange for her immigration visa, Taiwan courts and Chinese documents, getting a home study done by a licensed, qualified person, applying for a passport. You have no idea. I'll be glad when it's all done, but I couldn't wait to share this bit of joy with everyone. We will name her Hannah to go on her new US birth certificate. She's excited and nervous to go to America with us. She can say more than 100 words in English so far. Some of her favorite things to say are "small dog, butterfly, apple, pig." She says it more like pig-uh. We love her and feel this is one of the reasons we came to Taiwan....
Comments
that's funny about "mike and ike" :)
I'm not worried, either. I've lived in Austin for how long without memories of a catastrophic hurricane? Let's see...28 years? I just happened to stock up on bottled water the other day without any thought of this weekend's weather and I am just glad that we do have some food storage. It might not be tasty, but we're prepared!
Stake youth events are canceled tomorrow and the UT football game was canceled too. Austin is opening up our public schools to allow for places of refuge for those coming in from Houston and Galveston areas. It looks like it's going to be a massive hurricane.
We seem to be just fine in Austin, fortunately. Cross your fingers, say your prayers, etc., for those on the gulf coast tonight.
It's so good to see your blog again. I love the new kitchenaid and only wish that I had an older one with less umph in it so I could replace my sturdy white one. Ah well.