The Gift of Family and Friends

I always cherish our Christmas Eve gatherings. Foodie decided to stay home after a tough week, battling strong winds on his bike commute and helping at a care facility during Sunday's flooding. We all understood his need for rest, and I respect his dedication and commitment to serving others.

He just wanted to go to bed, and instead, he came over on Christmas Day for leftovers, with just the three of us. We watched Home Alone. We had a nice time. 

I think the BIG Christmas Gift for 2025 was these! 

My friend Brenda and her family were putting in a lot of effort on the 23rd. Her husband, Wayne, couldn't do anything because he was still healing from a significant back surgery. They had some members of our church there, digging French drains away from their home and preparing for the upcoming storm. I wanted to be there to assist in any way I could, and I felt selfish for prioritizing my own family's preparations. I was really grateful that the younger folks stepped up to help them with the digging and clean-up. I still felt like a bad person for not being able to show up and lend a hand. That's part of what Christmas is about, too. Helping our fellow man. And there I was, too occupied with my Christmas Eve dinner. 

I ordered five large pepperoni pizzas for them and those who were working hard in the rain, and that was my contribution. Frustrating when you reach a point where you can no longer physically assist others as you once did.

An Hour up the Mountains -

 It's snow. 

I can't wait to get up there! 

At this writing, it is pouring rain - 

Earlier, we had some strong winds. 

Our sump pump works well, installed in a hole below ground. It stays in place year-round because of the runoff from uphill homes irrigation. A functional pump is crucial to keep from having a marshy area in our yard. We also have a backup pump if needed.

We noticed moisture in the drywall of our garage ceiling, likely caused by the strong winds. However, since Sunday, there haven't been any new water stains. We will have our roofers take a look. It may take a while, as some clients may require their services more urgently than we do, and that's perfectly okay. We do have a warranty with them, though I have a feeling it might not cover natural disasters. I'm not going to stress over it.

It's time for dinner, and we're returning to our usual selection of ordinary meals. I prepared a large pot of chili. We truly enjoyed our deli spread, which included a variety of cheeses, prawns, chicken wings, pasta salad, mini bagel dogs, and other treats.

I want to remove the tree before New Year's Eve. I'm someone who prefers to move on once Christmas is over, embracing a fresh start. I really enjoy welcoming a new year.

Until Next Time, 

Debby

 

Welcome to the Rainy Season, Shasta Style

 

I just want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who offered their prayers. Your prayer support means a lot to me, and I genuinely believe it makes a difference.

This storm brought heavy rain due to a stationary convergence line that lasted about twelve hours. Our region, influenced by nearby mountains, is susceptible to such storms. Although we've seen these convergence lines before, this one was significant, resulting in nearly eight inches of rain, varying by location due to local microclimates.

Another Atmospheric River storm will be here tomorrow, adding a minimum of 3-4 more inches - 

Oh well. 

We faced quite an adventure when our sump pump failed, and the rapidly rising floodwaters in our backyard submerged the electrical components, blowing the circuit  for our outdoor lights (which could have caused a fire had he not figured it out)  Thankfully, my husband replaced it today, and everything is now working perfectly! It's such a blessing to have a handy husband who knows how to get things done, all in a calm manner. 

As the floodwater crept over our patio and began to move toward the sliding glass door, I realized we needed sandbags. Unfortunately, we didn't have any, as this situation is quite rare for us. Today, we purchased innovative sandless bags that expand and divert water effectively. Given his back, we opted for this hassle-free solution over the traditional method of shoveling sand into bags in the pouring rain, then hoisting the heavy bags into the van. Though more costly, they prioritized his well-being without sacrificing his back. We couldn't ask our sons for help; they were facing their own flooding challenges, just trying to get home from work. Sara was at the hospital. 

One funny thing that had us splitting a gut was how we had decorated the patio for Christmas. It's now a muddy mess, and it will stay that way. 

 Funny how your perspective changes. 

I was in an adrenaline rush from all the excitement, and I never got stressed - I had a hard time getting to sleep. Thanks to a calm husband who knows how to get things done and isn't afraid to get out in the pouring rain and get his hands muddy!   We were both clear-headed, and we had to stop a few times, belly laughing at our situation, which is the best stress reliever, and it felt good. 

Since I'm not on social media, my son let me use his Facebook to access important information, which irritates me because I didn't want to join in the first place. However, it does offer the best, most up-to-date emergency information. Then, I remembered I do have an account that I used a few times during some past fire seasons, so I had to find it and make a new password - UGH! I need to get a new emergency scanner. 

Here are some photos I copped off Facebook.

The interstate, before it was closed, was like a river in full flow, almost like rapids. Now that would have me concerned. 

My son's area

It was evening when we began hearing reports of people stranded across the area, with rescues underway. One man drove his vehicle through a flooded section, and the floodwaters overtook him, where he drowned. 

Brenda texted me at midnight and said, A flash flood came through their master bedroom, the sunroom, and the garage. I talked with her this morning, and they are understandably distraught; however, they have a close-knit family support, which is good. 

We were supposed to go to the last candlelighting, but, obviously, we couldn't. You don't want to leave your home only to be unable to get back. 

It's funny because I had everything ready for over a month, and I was on top of it. I left the deli meat and the fresh produce for purchase tomorrow, but since another storm is moving in, I went out today to pick up the last of our Christmas Eve dinner. 

Many prayers for all those less fortunate than we were, especially for the family of the man who drowned, and my heart goes out to the many dogs that escaped during the storm, and the farm animals that needed rescue last night. They had to rescue a horse stuck in the mud. One thing I love about this area, from all the fires we’ve all faced together, is that it’s a strong community, and everyone helps in their own way. 

Until next time - 

Debby