Thankful – Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography

Out of Hardship

Comes Blessings

For the past few months, we have been in unrest. I live with my daughter and grandson whom I take care of while she works. Up until recently (like three months ago) her husband (who never liked my being there) was also in the home. He moved out leaving my daughter with a whole heap of debt and a rental amount she could not afford without his assistance. He really didn’t think he should contribute to the financial obligations before he moved out and definitely didn’t think so afterwards even though his name was also on the lease. this made it difficult for my daughter to find another place to live; one in which she would be able to afford. Thus, creating extreme hardship and high levels of stress and anxiety.

***A Pile of Pumpkins***
***Ready for Children’s Pickin’***

After much searching and reaching out to anyone and everyone she finally found another place for us to move to. Just one catch, the landlord was still working on the house, and she didn’t have the financial resources to move in immediately. Therefore, we had additional expenses of staying in a motel for a week until everything could be completed to satisfaction. during this transitional period my grandson was missing several days of kindergarten and speech class.

So, what do you think I did? Since we couldn’t provide transportation to his school, I took him to enjoy one of his favorite pastimes, hiking. Coleman and I went hiking three days in a row to his delight. In the mist of trials, it was a blessing to enjoy being out in nature spending quality time with him. Our motel for the week was a short distance from his favorite hiking place, Anne Springs Close Greenway. Therefore, where else would I take him but to the Greenway, of course. These Pumpkins were seen on our fourth day of hiking. They were situated at the Lake Haigler entrance to the Anne Springs Close Greenway. The Greenway also had other fun Fall/Autumn activities set up for the children to enjoy. During this week we visited three of the five entrances to the Greenway. Each entrance offers different trails and activities for visitors to utilize and enjoy.

I am extremely grateful for my daughter and her strength and persistence in searching and locating a place for us to live and feel at peace. Home is the nicest word in our vocabulary right now. We are all thankful for having a home to live in. Thankful to be out of the motel. Thankful to be out of turmoil. Thankful to be relieved of a heavy load of stress and worry. I know, all our troubles and worries should be laid in the hands of God, our Heavenly Father. It is difficult sometimes to lay everything at his feet and not continue to worry.

We (mostly me) still have a tremendous amount of unpacking to do but alas, it will all get done in due time. I am still processing the fact that we have a home to live in. Understanding that we are all safe and can relax and enjoy our home (it is a rental, but it is our home for now). Coleman has his own little room, with his own bed (he had been having to share mine). He has a fairly good size yard to play in and we don’t have to worry about him not having enough space to run and pay. This home is a blessing, and I am truly thankful for being allowed to share it with my daughter and grandson.

Ragtag Daily Prompt-Saturday_Pumpkin

Ragtag Daily Prompt-Friday_Thankful

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Pumpkins) Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA; Home) Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting with us. Thank you for sharing your time ana thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

I am so very thankful, incredibly grateful, and unbelievably blessed. Hurricane Helene has passed by causing tremendous havoc and damage to surrounding areas within two hours or less from our current location. It saddens me to see the many online postings of the damage and destruction caused by Hurricane Helene.

Even though Hurricane Helene was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone while it continued moving northward after landing in Florida, the National Hurricane Center called it’s effects as “catastrophic, historic flooding.” The “catastrophic historic flooding coverage occurred over parts of the southern Appalachians. The flooding within my surrounding communities is devastating affecting many friends and families across the areas.

It saddens me to hear about the deaths and injuries caused by Hurricane Helene. Last count I read was approximately 44 deaths have been reported across the Southeast as a result of this storm. In my opinion, even one death is too many. I do know that God is in control and everything is going to be fine.

We were just a small group of the greater than 3.8 million Americans which had the unfortunate experience of dealing without power for several hours all across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Illinois.

Our local dams are overflowing, many streets have been flooded, others have collapsed leaving thousands stranded and unable to return to their homes or jobs until alternative routes can be provided or roads can become assessable once again.

I am very thankful our immediate area had minimal flooding and damage. I am incredibly grateful we were not without power for more than ten hours yesterday. I am unbelievably and abundantly blessed to have a Heavenly Father who watches over us and understands our needs, our anxieties, and our sorrows before we even acknowledge them ourselves.

I am sharing photos from public websites showing the flooding and damage to surrounding areas within a short distance from us.