Catching up...

I re-read my last post before the one I wrote yesterday and did not remember writing it April 26th..and it was about at tornado at that. I had the day off April 27th and was running some errands when Matthew called me to say school would be dismissed early. I was a bit peaved, because that seemed to be the trend since January...I have a whole day off, school is either canceled due to snow, or they get out early for some reason. And at that time, it was not even raining yet. I got over my sour attitude, headed home, and turned on the news to watch the weather reports.

I finally decided to pick them up earlier than the dismissal time, to be on the safe side. The girls said they'd had two warnings already, crouching in the hallways at school. I know that must have been scary. I remember doing that as a student, and then as a teacher several years ago...and when my family is all spread out, I don't like it. I want to gather all my little 'chicks' and have them under my wings for protection...a mother's instinct, I suppose.

After we left Julian Harris on our way to Cedar Ridge to get DanNi, it began pouring, raining sideways, the wind picked up, and the hail began to pelt the car. I was a little panicked and prayed that the car would not be blown off the road. Although I tried to keep my composure, I'm sure Meredith and JJ knew I was scared. I looked in the backseat as JJ was crying, and Meredith stretched out her arm to hold her hand and reassured her, "God is with us.It's okay." How could I ask for a more mature, sweet, 9 year-old?! My little Meredith...I often wonder what big plans God has for her.

We finally made it to Cedar Ridge and there were parents everywhere picking up their kids. I just wanted to get inside, get DanNi and get home...like everyone else. I did something I never do...I blocked the traffic; we all got out, ran inside, getting drenched. I had umbrellas, but at that intensity, it was pointless to even open one up. We eventually made it home, as I drove as fast as I could. The weather calmed down and they ate lunch and played like normal.

Matthew came home later and we were actually outside about 4pm and saw a wall cloud pass by, a few miles north of our house. It did get windier, but I was never really afraid. We finally lost power and made it through the night, with candles, flashlights, batteries and a radio. Because we had no access to TV we had NO IDEA how bad it was. We listened to the radio and finally decided Thursday morning to head to TN, in a car with barely any gas.....which became a real problem later.

Long story short...we headed up 31N and had to turn around because it was like a parking lot. We got a glimpse of a little devastation, which was good for the girls to see, so now when we talk about people who need our help, they understand.

Everything in Decatur was out....no gas, food, power, nothing throughout the city. I have never seen anything like it. We heard there was gas on 565, so we headed East to learn that they had run out. We had to drive home to avoid being stranded. Matthew's parents were getting in their car when we got to their house, and they let us use their other vehicle to leave town...a true blessing, because we would have been stuck otherwise.