Florida, Hurricanes and being a 12 Step Catholic

We made it!!! Two Hurricanes this year and we're grateful. 
In our meeting last night we shared how grateful we were to all have electricity and be largely unscathed due to Hurricane Milton. 
Many aren't so blessed and we prayed for them..

Our Background is:
My husband has lived in Florida 57 years, and he's second generation Floridian. I have lived here 30 years from Michigan. He's seen more than most people, I've seen a lot. Hurricanes are a way of life. Hurricane Season is a way of life. We do what we can, and get out of the way if it comes close. 
We currently live in a condo on the river (we don't face the river) and Aren't in a Flood Zone! We have weathered the last two years of hurricanes at this spot and had no damage on the first floor. Our complex has had some damage but minimal. Mostly losing power for three days. This time ten hours. 
What can we do to Prepare?
We recommend to find out if your in a Flood zone! And prepare ahead of time. 
We keep flashlights, candles, lighters, batteries, power packs for phones, crank radio that takes batteries, in same area in a bag. 
Then we also have bags of ice in the freezer and large coolers to house food, and have dry good foods, wood for windows, generator if allowed where you live. 
We also do laundry, dishes, clean house beforehand and have a bag packed in case you have to leave unexpectedly.
But....
We realize you can only do so much. Then we pray, The Rosary and to the Holy Family. 
We feel that living here makes us more resilient and grateful for what we normally take for granted!

As a 12 Step Catholic I understand that everything is temporal. And the only forever is Heaven. Our condo is great but it's not getting us into Heaven. None of our material possessions are or will. 

I pray Hail Marys over and over during the worst of the storm. We do a Rosary, and put it into God's hands to protect us. I also ask the Holy Family for help.
Our weekly CRM Zoom Rosary we dedicated to everyone who had been affected by Helene and will be by Milton. 

Unfortunately our Addiction can kick in. We take it very seriously, and can become obsessed with watching the weather til it comes, ruminating on it, becoming focused on it exclusively and to put it mildly start to freak out and want to control our surroundings. 

Our solution as 12 Step Catholicals is we turn to the Lord, our Blessed Mother and St Joseph for comfort. 
We reach out to other 12 Step Catholics. We share where we are, and pray together. 
We check in with each other. And pray. 
Then it hits and passes. We again check in with each other and continue to pray and do the Rosary for everyone affected. We give up our suffering and ask to help those in Purgatory with it. 
We go to Mass and we give thanks. We help where we can, and continue praying. 
We give gratitude for our situation and suffering. 
We know this is temporary.
And we see the blue clear skies and sunny days and realize we're right where we're supposed to be!  
We must take the bad to enjoy the good. 
God Bless us All 

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