Nicole’s e-Pistle

October 9, 2024

Greetings, Friends!

By the time you read this, my family will (hopefully) be on the road headed south to Florida… just in time for Hurricane Milton. Our original plan was to spend two nights at St. Augustine Beach, then head southwest toward my parents’ house in Arcadia on Friday, then an hour north to Bartow on Sunday after church, then back on the road for the long haul back to Dalton on Tuesday.

However, depending on what Milton decides to do in the next couple of days, that could put us driving through the worst of a category 4 or 5 hurricane, so we now have a back-up plan. We will be heading south sometime early Wednesday afternoon, giving us enough time before we hit the I-10 corridor in North Florida to decide whether it is best to turn left toward St. Augustine, or right towards the panhandle. We have been able to arrange to spend a couple of nights on the Gulf if needed, providing Milton doesn’t follow Helene’s path instead.

As for our parents, both of our families live in well-built cement block homes that have withstood every hurricane since the 1970s. We pray for their continued safety during this storm, as neither of their inland counties have ordered evacuations. The biggest threats are downed trees and power lines, as well as loss of power. Both families have generators and are well stocked with supplies, and my parents have a well that allows them to continue to get water.

I will be away from my email during our vacation, but I will check in with Erin to let you all know we are safe (and which side of the state we wind up on). I appreciate your continued prayers, not just for my family, but for all who are still in the rescue and recovery efforts from Helene and for those who are about to “weather through” Milton. Remember, not only do we worship a God who can calm the storm with the simple words “Peace, be still,” but he also chooses to stay by our sides in times of trouble.

God be with you all, till we meet again!