Cyclone and sad news...

Good morning my friends,

If you watch the news in Australia, you've probably heard of another cyclone about to hit the east coast in my part of the tropics. Well, as of this morning the Bureau of Meteorology have the cyclone track model hitting Townsville where I live. 

(below, updated on January 25th...)

It could drift a bit north or south, but not much apparently. As a very slow moving system it's collecting loads of water along the way and as it heads closer to us, and apart from the wind, is expected to dump an extreme amount of rain on us with flash flooding, and possible loss of electricity according to our power provider.

As most of you know we went through a flood in 2019, just after we bought our home, and have fought a few heavy wet season deluges since then. We have four electric pump wells in our front and back yards which have kept water out of the house during heavy storms, but a cyclone is different, with an enormous amount of rain hammering the land below in a short period of time. We aren't sure our pump wells will cope this time, as even last month they struggled with a very heavy storm system. 

If we lose power, the pumps won't work at all, so we have that concern weighing on our minds as well. Anyhow, there's a lot of people facing this along our coastline and further inland as well, so please keep them in your prayers. The cyclone is expected to hit late Thursday night (Queensland, Australia time) so between then and now it's all about getting prepared, moving things to safe places, tying stuff down, checking off our essential supplies list, and being mindful that we could be without electricity for days so I'm putting together a pantry of non-perishables to get us through. We are to expect ten days of rain after the cyclone, which may mean highways cut off, rivers breaching their banks, and people isolated as the water will take over. 

No matter if the cyclone hits you or not, the most important thing is to prepare as though it will, because if you don't you could be in a dire situation should the worst happen. 

So I'm delaying sharing the beginnings of a year-long recipe book project, and further blog posts, until the situation has passed. I know you'll be praying - thank you. 

BUT far more important than a cyclone...

I received some sad news last night from a very dear friend. Her husband had passed away suddenly on Monday. It's such a shock, and she is understandably deeply shattered. They were such a close couple, and I know this will be turning her life upside down. Please hold her and her family in prayer, dear ones. 

My friend's sorrowful loss has caused me to remember just how fragile life is, yet how too often we take it, and the people we love, for granted. Don't hold back from saying "I love you", and make a choice to focus on the people in your life, and the joys our simple ordinary days have to offer if we just take the time to look. This life is a precious gift which we should unwrap it every day and offer thanks for as we do not know what tomorrow will bring.

God bless you dear ones...and God willing I will be back to chat again soon.

Hugs

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