The same path...

I'm sure many of you have heard that the tornadoes that came through on Friday, March 2, followed much the same path as the April, 2011 storm did - it did hit our old neighborhood - but in a MUCH more minor way - probably an EF3, and not a direct hit on that particular neighborhood.  At that location it went a tiny bit south of last year's path, but people who were hit last time (on a street just south of ours) are 'digging out' again - it sort of overlapped on them. Poor souls. One manufactured home was picked up and moved 30-40 feet. Several people who had 'just moved back in' are back out into other housing, awaiting more repairs now. One fellow on our street who is re-building, but had more minor damage than most, (he is the southern-most house to be torn down - those south of him were 'just repaired') -- anyway, he had his new garage, that is still very much in construction phase, torn apart, but the house seemed mostly fine. And no one was hurt.  No one was there!  They have not moved back in yet!!

Our new place is about three miles south of the 'path' for this storm, it went a bit further north of the old path at this particular location - we are about 8 miles southwest now, of where we used to live.

If you heard about it hitting a prison  as the crow flies the prison is just about in the middle, between the two houses - last year it tracked just a few hundred feet south of the prison (there is footage of it going by, on youtube, shot from the prison), and it just clipped Mayahna's school, they are about half a mile apart, on the same road, with nothing but crops between them. Last year, it apparently just knocked down some awning, etc. at the school. But, of course, she was not IN school last year. This year, it went a tiny bit further NORTH at that particular spot also, and actually hit the prison, but apparently things are still secure there.  You can see the prison guard towers and fencing from Mayahna's school parking lot  - I remember looking up there, when I picked her up, and thinking about how last time people shot footage from there - I didn't hear the report that the prison had actually been hit till well AFTER I had picked her up, fortunately. Scary stuff.

We were in our shelter for about 30-40 minutes Friday morning, at about 10:00. Usually stuff goes over much faster than that, typically we are in there for no more than 15-20 minutes, but we were just ready to come out and they tacked another warning, right on to the end of the first one. It's a LOT more cramped in there, than it was in the basement at the old house. But we were happy to have it, and happy to come out!!

The other thing that was odd was the progression of the warnings. Usually the first notice is "Severe Thunderstorm Warning" - that means, there will be storms, and you might need to move in stuff that might fly around, (lawn chairs and garbage cans, etc), and then STRAY inSIDE if you hear thunder. If there is going to be HIGH wind, I usually have the girls stay out of their bedroom, as it is at the back of the house and we have alot of tall trees in the back yard. Then comes "Tornado Watch" - that means this storm has the potential to develop into something more dangerous and we usually have the kids put on shoes, have jackets ready, put the small-animal pets' cages into the shelter, and the musical instruments into their cases and into the closet under the stairs. And I don't typically leave the house, the kids do NOT like to be home alone when we are on 'watch' (understandably!) Then comes "Tornado Warning" - usually, that means you are in the path of what appears to be an actual tornado, and at that point, we go into the shelter. This one went directly from 'Thunderstorm warning', straight to "Tornado WARNING" so that was a tad un-nerving.

There were supposed to be a series of storms that day (again, eerily familiar), but we only ended up on 'warning' the one time, thankfully.  So only one trip into the storm shelter.

The power was out for about 8 hours, but we have a generator, so we were able to power the necessary things (like the incubator with our new flock of chickens inside of it!)(and the modem, so we could track the weather and stay in touch)(and the fridge) it was nice that Lon was home to deal with that. He had been supposed to leave on a backpack trip early Friday morning, but it got cancelled, Thankfully.

Anyway, nerves were on edge, and no one slept real well Friday night, because when we went to bed there was still the potential for more, but, it's all past now, and nothing on the horizon for at least 8-10 days, which is about the furthest they ever predict stuff, so -- whew.

Thanks for checking on us! Please pray for those who were hit - we sure felt the prayers of those who prayed for us last year, it might seem like the 'least you can do' but really - it's the "BEST you can do"!!  It makes a difference, a BIG one!!!

So my mom is making me blog to so mine will probably be as random as Annie's.   I just finished the third Dahveed book by Terri Fivash, for those of you who don't know who she is, she is the author of some of my favorite books. 
I have a job two days  a week, I babysit for a friend who has to work, it's a lot of fun.  
I miss my old room it was nice to have a place that I could be alone. 
I wish that I could  go swimming more, maybe I can when I get my drivers license in April. 
My little brother is showing me pictures he took of some flowers out in the front yard.  
I had to leave in the middle of writing this, my dad, Annie, and I just got back from a driving lesson.  We practiced parallel parking.  My mom is in the process of making dinner, we are having frog-leg patties, they are one of my favorite meals.  My music lessons are going well and my teacher is happy with my progress.   I have to go now, my mom just called us for supper.

Random Happenings in My Life Right Now

My mom is making me blog again, so this post may be a little random. As some of you may know, I read a lot of books, and while some people will read maybe two or three books at a time, I am currently reading about eight or nine, which is a lot even for me.  I am currently in algebra 1, and lets just say that math isn't my favorite subject, but I am doing well enough to keep my mom satisfied. We are learning about Columbus and the early explorers in history right now. It's ok, but I can't wait  until we get to the mid to late 16th century and the revolutionary war. I hope to be starting Latin by the end of the semester, and if not by then, then definitely by the end of the school year.  I am hoping to go out and work at Camp Mivoden again this summer, I'd like to go out for the whole summer if I get hired on as payed staff,  but if I don't I 'll probably try to volunteer for about 6 weeks if I can. Well I better be going, I have other home work to catch up on, and Castle is on tonight, and I want to be done by then so that I can watch it.

debris

One of our neighbors took down a tree recently and had all the branches and trunk sitting out in the street, waiting to be hauled away.  I drove by there twice today, and both times I got a knot in my stomach.  The branches/etc are gone, but what is left is alot of tiny pieces of tree debris laying in the street.  I'm amazed how the sight of that debris on the road brings up such feelings.  We are all healing, but there are still 'things' to deal with.  I'm sure they will increase as we get closer to the anniversary, and as storm season ramps up.  Please continue to keep us all in your prayers.

Sharon

A reply I wrote on Facebook that I thought I should share here...

A friend posted this as his status on Facebook:

Trust your Shepherd. He'll do anything for His sheep, especially if you're the one who ran away.

One of his friends, Roxie, replied:

How I wish I could be so sure and trusting as you are! I really need some guidance and self assurance!

Here is what I wrote: (I felt God helping me find the right words - praise goes to HIM!)

I don't know you Roxie - but I have felt the same way in the past (as recently as last March/early April) I've struggled with it ALOT through the years. But it is DEAD now. I prayed for God to remove it from my life, and He DID - in a powerful way - and EF5 Tornado hit our house on April 27 of last year. I will never again doubt His love and care for longer than what it takes me to remember how we felt Him walking with us through that day and the weeks and months to follow. He BLESSED us in the storm and protected us, and many of our friends and even our stuff. He used the tornado to remove debt and distractions from our lives and provide us with gifts and a clear understanding of the infinite love He has for us. 

My recommendation would be that if you wish for that - turn that wish into a prayer - if you ask God for something that is within His will HE WILL GIVE IT TO YOU - there is no if's, and's or but's about it. And having a closer relationship with Him is definitely within His will. BUT (and this is the tough part) beware- He might use a shocking method to draw you closer to Him!! Before you pray that prayer - brace yourself - the ride might get a bit crazy - but in the end - it will be worth it!!!


--  just thought I should share this here too, for some reason - hope it touches someone who needs to hear it.   And lest anyone think >> I <<  'have it all together' - please know that I am facing this next storm season with a fair bit of apprehension.  It seems to have gotten an early start with two 'storms' in January!  But I am exercising those 'trust Him' muscles and getting stronger and stronger.  Please continue to hold our family in your prayers!!