There's no place like home!

We had fair warning on Monday. The weather for Tuesday was expected to carry the potential of producing tornadoes. Tuesday morning was beautiful, so I didn't rush to go do my grocery shopping. The big storm they promised didn't seem to be coming. The noon news said the storm would hit around three, so despite the fact that our sky looked good, Gracie and I decided to rush into Walmart. When three rolled around, it was still pretty nice.

When Justin came home we flipped on the tv. That's when we saw the line of storms that was cutting through the nations. It was probably around five when they showed live footage of tornadoes hitting around Oklahoma City. The National Weather Service station had to evacuate their building, (yes, the guys who monitor the tornadoes.)

We watched the skies turn a little darker, but nothing extreme. The storm seemed to be heading northeast, missing us, so I went into volleyball as planned. While listening to the radio on the way in, they said the storm had turned so severe that it actually turned in on itself and was now heading southeast, right for our town. I went into volleyball, and let them know the storm was coming. We stayed long enough to put the net away and then we headed back home.

It was such a terrible feeling watching the weatherman circle a small area on a very large map and say, "this is the highest potential for a tornado," and that circle maybe two-three miles wide included your home. It would be complete different if the circle included a whole town, but when it includes just a portion of the county line, you start to panic.

With all the recent deadly tornadoes, it was easy to stay relaxed. I could feel it and I saw it on Justin's face, "we better be ready." We moved Gracie, who was sleeping, to the bathtub. We let Coda, who was scared of the lightening, fall asleep on the couch, then we moved him to the bathroom floor next to the tub. We had flashlights, water, and blankets along with both their mattresses waiting in the bathroom. If a tornado was coming, this was about all we could do about it.

It was so creepy watching these strange clouds form and then turn dark. Watching the lightening hit, but no rain. Once the rain came it came at a slant. It didn't help once it got dark and you felt blind to what was headed your way. I really wanted my red slippers. Three clicks of the heel and I'd be back in Idaho because there is no place like home.

Justin and I was glued to the tv. When you watch the radar, the storms just pop up in a matter of minutes and then they just erupt. We took our porch swing down, but there was nothing we could do about the trampoline and grill. This morning, everything was still in it's place except for the grill. It was blow over sitting in about six inches of water that had accumulated inside the grill cover. When I went out I could hear a clicking. It had fallen right on the button that sends a little flame. We're lucky Justin makes it a point to turn off the propane, otherwise we might have had a fire out there.

Tornadoes did touch down, but we were blessed that they didn't hit within that small circle on the map. Again, Justin and I are reminded that we are at His mercy.