Riding Out the Storm...

Storms... I used to not be that freaked out by them.  It always seemed that the weathermen were overreacting, but lately there has been so much devastation caused by tornadoes that when they came through our area on Tuesday, I was pretty nervous.

Tornadoes now always remind me of when I was pregnant with Finley.  I was still in my first trimester and had left right after school that day because everyone was reporting that it was going to get bad.  My cell phone had died and by the time I got home it was time to take cover.  I grabbed my cell phone charger and hid out in the bathroom.  I plugged my phone in and had 2 missed calls from my nurse which completely freaked me out.  My signal was going in and out and when I finally got through to my doctor's office, it was closed for the day.  My signal went out again, but when I finally had reception I called the nurse on duty and was thankful that my doctor was on call that night.  Dr. W said that she had been in a rush to leave and couldn't remember my chart off the top of her head, but thought it was just a UTI.  I was so relieved, but will never forget those two hours stuck in the bathroom crying out to God for my little unborn child!

This storm was just as emotional with two kids to protect and without knowing where Devin was.  I was so thankful when I finally got a hold of him and found out that it was fine and watching the storm.  So for a couple of hours, Finley, Jude, and I cuddled together in the bathroom downstairs.  Finley thought this was great fun for a little while and thankfully, we still had electricity when she got bored and I was able to put Mickey Mouse on the laptop for her to watch.

Jude was a dream.  I really couldn't tell how bad it was outside so I told Devin to call me when we could leave.  Apparently, he said at one point there was a hook echo right over us.  So scary!  I was so thankful when we were able to leave our hideout and when Devin made it home safely.

Unfortunately, not everyone was as blessed as we were.  One of the ladies in my Bible Study lost her home and her barns.  They had JUST had a cellar installed a few days before the storm so thankfully they were safe!  The story though that is just killing me is of the family whose mom is in fair condition, daughter is in critical condition, 3 year old son died (he was missing for a day and a half after the storm), and whose youngest son also died.  That poor husband!  They are facing losing all three of their children in this storm and the dad is possibly looking at losing his entire family.  I can't even imagine the grief they are experiencing right now.  It hits even closer to home because this family is related to one of Devin's coworkers.

Thank you, God, for your protection!