Tornado's, Touchdowns, & Teaching Faith

On April 27, 2011 the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, & Georgia all were attacked by a vicious storm that had many tornadoes within it.  (These storms also attacked TX, LA, & AR)

Our state, Alabama, was warm that day due to an earlier storm that havacked our state in many areas.  It was a gorgeous day, in fact, after the early storm and there were those of us, including me, that questioned the metorologists about the soon to be upcoming storms.  In fact, it was so pretty I thought about taking our boys to the local park so that they could play!  The kids got out early so that they would not be out within the horrible weather, which resulted in me not working.  Which was okay and it wasn't because we need the money at the same time. 

The first storm hit Marion County not too long after the children got out of school and after that I think all of Alabamians were glued to their favorite meteorologist!!  My children went out to play while they could around our home.  They knew why they were out of school but I don't think they knew the extent - until later.  They even played in the rain during a rain storm that hit before the big ones did!!  Once the sirens started to go off I could see in their little faces that they knew it wasn't good.  For some odd reason, my kids are very fearful  nervous during the sirens and bad storms (I am not scared of any type of storm so I guess this is why I find it odd).  They hurried inside and started in what seemed like would be an endless "Mommy can you check the weather?" or "Mommy, are you sure everything is ok?" and the list goes on.  I went outside to my car to get my poor bible and ran into my neighbor.  She (the sweetest person you can ever meet!) was running around trying to get things done "before it hit" & "the power going out".  I told her and the kids that the now feveriously ever growing rotations were not going to hit us and our power was not going to go out at all.  She nervously agreed and went back to work, while I went inside and read the protection prayer in Psalms (as well as reading more protection prayers) to the family. 

When we realized that the storms could come over us, and because we really do not have a "safe place" to go to, add in two very not so frightened children; Mom and I decided that we'd head to Springville for shelter!  Of course, what we didn't realize until we were already on the road and all is that one of the tornado's had turned & was following us!  We went to Springville because very rarely do these types of storms head towards that way! We went to Wal-Mart, got in the middle of the store, sat down and prayed as hail pounded on the tin roof and lightening clashed all around us.  We weren't allowed to leave our places until the Weather Service released that area even when it started to lighten back up, but then it got hard again & the hail pounded once again...we thought "did the storm turn again"? "Is it coming back?"  We found out that it was following the hwy behind the Wal-Mart store and that it hit neighboring Oneonta.  We felt so blessed that God protected us while driving to Springville and while in the Springville Wal-Mart.  We gladly Praised Him during this storm and we will do it again too. 

We got home and found out that our house did NOT loose power and that the tornado did NOT hit our townhomes (remember I claimed this earlier in the day & my neighbor & mom agreed with me).  In fact, we have no damage from this tornado at all nor do we have any debris on our yard!!  This is amazing because friends all around have debris in their yard!  Wow, I cannot tell you how amazed I am, but yet also how humbled that my family was spared in this horrific storm.  Thank you Jesus for your continual protection!!

Please pray for all those affected by these storms...the states, the counties, the people that lost belongings, loved ones..everything.  The towns that have to rebuild, the schools that have been out & their students.  Pray that people continue to help these victums even when the media gets tired of reporting about the status of these places (some smaller towns & cities have not even been mentioned much!), also pray for those in China & all over the world who has recently been affected by weather/"mother nature" tradegies!