When You’ve Done Everything You Can Do…

The time comes when you have done everything you can do. Every single thing. You have made the hard decisions, you have prepared accordingly, you have faith and you pray, you are in constant contact with your loved ones, and then… then, you wait.

Hour by hour the predictions shift. When the hurricane might land, how its course is shifting. The predictions get worse, and then slightly better. Everyone has, based on everything the media is putting out which can be so widely differing as to leave you more confused than anything else, a different opinion as to what you should or shouldn’t do. My decision to stay has been made very carefully and with much thought and consideration. I have gone to lengthy measures to prepare in the best and wisest possible way. I did a live broadcast on Facebook about this this morning and I will stay in touch with Facebook friends via a Live Video each morning until I no longer have power or until, I ardently pray, the threat has passed and danger is no longer imminent.

When you have done everything you can possibly do — and each day I have done so and continue, daily, to do more — there is nothing to do but wait and pray. I ask two things from my deepest heart and if you care about me you will do these two things…

#1) Pray, please pray. If you don’t believe in the power of prayer I certainly respect your right to your own beliefs but please do not tell me that prayer is a moot point and get the hell out of town. I believe, with my whole heart, in the power of prayer, and I am staying right here.

#2) In these kind of times, as always, and no matter what the circumstances (What popped right into mind, as a childbirth educator and midwife of a couple of decades, are the people that as soon as someone is happily and healthily pregnant come at them with the worst possible horror stories that you can imagine. Anything might happen to any of us under myriad circumstances. Your need to present horror stories is not helpful or appreciated.) people will come forward to warn you about all of the things that might and probably, in their mind, will go wrong. Frightening you into doing what they feel you should do, in an attempt to be helpful, and in their minds the only right way to see things, is neither helpful or appropriate. I am talking about those of us who have considered every possible scenario, and taken our own very specific and personal needs into account, as well as the limitations and protections of our dwellings, and have made the best and most informed decisions that we can under the circumstances. There are those who, no matter how intelligent, informed, and caring we might be will batter us with their opinions to try to see things their way. Knowing, of course, that in the end we each must make the best possible decisions that we can, informed, and caring, and with extreme attention to preparedness on many levels, we must then face what comes, having done our due diligence, and ask for prayers along the way. If you are not a praying person, no worries, and know that I love you for caring, and please do not try to force your opinions on me.

You all, if you are out there, know what we might need from a practical point of view. Donations from people if we sustain the worst are practical considerations that might be needed and certainly appreciated. Most of us, even those without the financial means to easily do so, have spent a lot of money, for us, getting in what we need. This is life. I am not asking anyone for anything. But I always have information on my site for how to make donations to help. Only for those who can without stress to them, and it is always much appreciated. But prayers are what I am asking for. I have seen prayer move mountains. I have seen people come through things there was no way they could or should have come through be healed. Yes, prayer is not a guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen but at the same time I believe, having been wise and intelligent and having done all we can do, prayer is our first, last, and best defense. That is what I believe. You may feel differently and I would never try to tell you that you are wrong. I appreciate you having the decency and caring not to tell me that I am wrong for my own beliefs.

My daughter was just here. The hurricane may be delayed until as late as Saturday. She went to Costco and bought more supplies. I shared some of what I had with her. We talked for awhile. We hugged and kissed. We will be in constant touch. We are each doing what we can as we will continue to do. And so we carry on.

Everyone has made their decisions, whether to go or stay. Whatever decisions any of us have made have not been made easily, and once decisions are made we have done everything within our power to prepare. And having prepared we wait and we pray. Those of us who are praying people. I am a praying person. I am going through my days now praying and taking care of life, as best I can, as I always do. I appreciate those of you who are praying with me, or who have sent donations, or who have written to me on Facebook, via email, or otherwise contacted me. You are all so dear to me. I am taking care of business as best I can, and I will continue doing so.

May all beings be safe, may all beings be blessed. I love you all.