Hi Everyone, I'm back and thank God alive; there by the grace of God go I.

The power to our house went down on Sat, it was freezing, at one time it was minus 18 below Celsius. In some places it looked like a war zone. After sitting in a freezing cold house without heat for almost 3 days, because my husband is so materialist, afraid someone might break in and rob us, we finally left. Our Son offered to come and get us to stay in his home and city, on the very first day but my stubborn husband refused, and I ended up with a terrible cold. Our Son finally picked us up, after my mule headed husband finally, couldn't feel his hands or feet, I was frozen and so was the poor dog.
We have a car however, he has an automatic garage opener, which doesn't work in a power failure, and worse, he block off the side door entrance to the garage with some heavy machinery tool inside, and he could get in to get the car.

Afterwards, We were fine as far as a bed to sleep in and warm house as well as food, however, my cold just got worse by the moment. The dog, was very tired as well. However I was most thankful my Son came to get us out of that deep freeze.

Strange that someone you love, is more concerned about material things, then your well being. Christmas Eve we spent with our Son and daughter in law, and around 8 o'clock that evening, they left to visited her parents and to stop by at our home to see if we had power and to get our vehicle out of the garage if that was the case. Our daughter in law called and said, the lights to our house were back on so was the heat, and the garage opener worked. Thanks be to God our power came back on late on Christmas Eve and all was restored once again, the heat, lights, and power. Besides being with family,on Christmas, which was my first favorite present, the second was knowing our power was restored back to our home. Thanks be to God!!!

We decided to stayed over,and the next day we all drove to spend Christmas Day with our Daughter, Son -in law and Granddaughters, along with our Son & Daughter in law.

It was very difficult to enjoy myself, as the sneezing, stuffiness, etc., just made me feel so down and out of sorts, but I made the best of it any ways. Besides having a great Christmas dinner, our granddaughters, put on a Christmas show for us, reading in unison, singing and dancing, about Christmas. The were actually very good, they said they were practicing since November.

We just got home from our daughter's place not too long ago, and I'm literally, sick and tired. This has been a very unique, and different Christmas for me. I have come to appreciate, and take nothing for granted anymore, especially electrical power.

Take a look at the website url below, and you can read about it and see pictures to show you, what our counselors and Major have called a catastrophe which should have been a state of emergency. over 400,000 people were affected, along with this several deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning trying to stay warm, with generators, and barbecues emitting it, because of ignorance of people using them inside their homes.

Here's the url on the news story about the Ice Storm that hit so many people that some spent Christmas in the dark or by candle light. Yes even now some people still don't have their power restored. Please Pray for them.

Read the article and scroll down for pictures.


‘Catastrophic ice storm’ slams into Toronto, strands travellers across the province
Canadian Press, National Post Staff and Jake Ed

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/12/22/canada-ice-storm-travel-chaos-power-outages-as-massive-storm-hits-ontario-quebec-and-maritimes/

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Valerie

I'm pretty sure all electric garage door openers have a manual release , it's the red handle you pull on, usually near the front of the track, then you can open it by hand.

We went 50 hours without power, and I thought the house at 45 degrees was bad enough. It's scary how dependent we are on electricity

Steve, Unfortunately, the release lever for the garage is inside the garage doors and you have to step on a ladder and get a wire coat hanger and try to unhook it. The ladder also in the garage, and trust me, it was impossible to be outside without any moister on face turning to icicles...it was freezing...impossible.

I'm just grateful we didn't have our huge tree in the front yard fall through our front window, or through the roof. Many homes, had trees downed, some on their houses, at least the good Lord spared us of this event, thank God.

It got so cold, that every few minutes I was falling asleep, I couldn't stay awake, and just gave in.

Valerie, it is so good to know that you came thru that disaster and are doing okay. What a harrowing experience! I know angels were watching over you and keeping you alive thru all that. So glad that your son came to get you and take you to his home. Glad you are back online and hope that none of us get any more of this terribly cold and icy weather again. Praying that the rapture happens quickly and we are all together soon, safe, warm and happy!

Steve you had quite an experience too. So sorry that you got the brunt of that ice storm. Yes, it is a little scary that we are so dependent on electricity for our very lives.

I am so glad, Valerie, that your husband finally saw reason, and allowed the two of you to be evacuated before you froze to death! I'm even more glad that you've got your power back on, and that you're back!

Valerie,

Like I said up in Pastor J.D. Faraq's M-E Prophecy Update (which up in the **STICKY** section)...

It's wonderful having you back onboard RFTH...for you were greatly missed around here.

I'm also glad that your son came to rescue you, your husband, & your dog from your freezing cold house...and that you're heat is back again warming your house.

I too, with my computer, b/c I was on it too long...scared me by shutting off, for which the monitor showed a blue page w/white uppercase lettered message. I had to unplug it from the electrical outlet for a while, so it could reboot itself. Latter on, after having breakfast & washing my dishes...I plugged back on, and then turned it back on, to see if everything was where it should be. Yep, it was. Then I logged out, giving it an all day rest. Thank God that I can come back online too.

Maranatha!
Tammy

Valerie, I'm so glad that you have power and heat back on! You have been through a miserable experience.
Will ask God to heal you from this sickness.

I've been gone for days with family, the first Christmas in two years that we were able to be with all the children (grown now). It was wonderful to see them. though icy in the mornings, we didn't get snow on the west coast.

Valerie, stay cozy now, rest up sister. May the Lord come soon.

Regina,

I'm glad to hear you have a wonderful, Christmas gathering with all your children. I had a very unique Christmas this year, had to abandon our home,
and stay with our Son & Daughter in law. We all spend Christmas day gathered in our Daughter's large home. Thank God they only had a couple of hours of no power on Sunday when it first happened, and their power was up in no time.
Our Son's home had power and never lost any, however, the street looked like a war zone, with toppled tree branches heavy laden with ice bending the trees to their limit, crashing to the ground. The ice on the roof cracking sounded
like someone pounding every now and then.

Not only did we get the ice storm, but on Christmas day, it snowed on top of all the ice. I spent Christmas with our children & grandchildren too, however, I caught a bad head cold, which made me feel somewhat out of it, especially on Christmas Day; however, I was grateful to God to be in a warm, dry homes,of our children, with loved ones, which was the most important thing.

The sad part is many people spent Christmas by candlelight in the dark and cold, and even sadder, that to this very day there a still people without power to their homes, in these frigid temperatures, over 30,000 I heard today on the news report. This evening the ice is starting to melt and large icicles are falling. I wouldn't dare step outside without a hard hat, I'm serious.

Thank God I'm starting to feel better today, and don't feel as depressed as I have been feeling since it all took place.

Finally got out this afternoon to buy fresh food, as most of the food without electricity was spoiled. We dumped 99 percent of it, not taking a chance of getting food poisoning on top of it all.


I'm grateful that we spent Christmas Eve, in our Son's home, & Christmas Day
in our Daughter's home. God is good, He took care of these two old people and our little dog too. Thanks be to God!

Please continue to pray for those people whom are still sitting in the cold & dark.

This has been a really rough winter and its only started. Valerie, I am sorry that you got that cold but I am very glad that you didn't have worse happen to you staying in that cold for as long as you did. Praying for a quick thaw and help for those stuck without power.

Thanks Texas Sue,

I feel blessed that the Lord has spared us from even worse. Many people have been without power for up to 9 days later, and a small amount are still waiting today to get their lights back.

A few days ago is started thawing out and huge icicles, were crashing from roof tops, eavesthroughs, and many falling from bent trees with these hanging projectiles. A few people were hurt and were taken to hospital, with injuries.

I really feel bad for so many that had no family or friends to go to; many spent their times in shelters, which had popped up all over the city. Many more spend the time at home, with no where to go. This one woman,
lost her mother to cancer, then two weeks ago her Sister died, and her son had a major car accident, and was hurt. Her home was without power, and on top of it all, the foundation of her house was cracked and water was sipping in.

What a way to end a year Sue; looking forward to a fresh start, and hopefully, we won't have any major disasters in the near future, as people aren't over this one as yet.

I'm much better now, and hope to stay that way. Let's hope this year will bring more good things into our lives and less pain & sorrow.

Looking forward to better times ahead!

Maranatha!

Valerie

Here's an update on the outage...there are still people without lights or heat to their homes. It's freezing here today. It hit so hard, that even though we spent Christmas Eve, & Christmas Day with family, it feels like we missed Christmas altogether this year, due to the power outage, and getting sick.
My husband feels the same way, more sadness, than joy in so many lives this year. I feel so sorry for the families with babies, and small children, and the very elderly, as many had to suffer so many days of frigid weather.

Here's a snippet of update as of today.

"Fair Use for Information & Discussion Purposes"

Toronto Hydro says all power outages restored as new reports of blackouts emerge

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/toronto-hydro-says-all-power-outages-restored-as-new-reports-of-blackouts-emerge/article16166663/

"Ms. Bruckmueller estimated about 300 storm-related calls remained as of 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. The utility hopes to resolve these power issues by the end of Thursday.

The temperature in Toronto has turned frigid. Environment Canada issued an extreme weather alert for the city, forecasting the temperature to dip to minus 16 C and remain there through Thursday.

At the height of the ice storm, about 600,000 customers were without power in Ontario, half of whom lived in Toronto. In many cases, ice-coated trees broke apart, tearing down power lines. Electricity was also knocked out to residents in Quebec and New Brunswick."



Please continue to remember those whom are still suffering in your prayers.

God Bless!

Valerie