So thankful

Goodness I don't even know where to start. I know everyone is aware of the damage that the tornados did to the Higdon/Flat Rock/Ider area. Different ones have blogged about it already. And my blog isn't to take away from any of those - it's just my story :) And just to give you a heads up - it's probably going to be a long one :)

First - let me say THANK YOU to each and every person who have sent clothes, food, cleaning supplies, anything and everything is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you to those who came to help fold clothes - THANKS DREA and LINDSEY! Those that came by to help cut trees, pile limbs, cook food, etc....the list just goes on and on and each and every person was appreciated. It has been truly amazing to me how everyone in our community has just pulled together and tried to help - people I don't know, people from other churches, people from other STATES who drove hundreds of miles just to help people they don't even know clean up the mess in their yard - to help find things that were blown away that might be salvagable. Thank you for all the prayers that I know have been sent up in the last couple of weeks. Thank you to the Power Board guys for working day and night trying to get power restored :) Thank you Salvation Army, all the churches and those that volunteered at Flat Rock Ruritan Club, for feeding all of us....and thank you for all the help you are still giving today and will be in the coming days.

That wednesday morning I didn't realize how bad of storms were headed our way. I knew we were going to have thunder storms, but that was it - I was at work doing my normal thing when a tornado ripped through my community and headed straight for my parents house - where my mother/father, brother and sister, and my 2 children were sleeping. My grandmother called and told Dad that the storm would be there in 7 minutes. By the time Mom and Dad were running down the stairs to get everyone into the bathroom, she said she heard everything breaking. Minutes after this I was at work away from my desk when over the intercom they advised a tornado was in the area and everyone was to get in the stairwell. I grabbed my cell and noticed I had a voice mail on my work phone. I called to check it while standing in the stairwell and it was from mom saying that the kids were fine - everyone was ok but that a tornado had hit and it was bad outside. Of course I went into a panic mode...after the storm passed here at work - and I got to my desk I was getting all kinds of calls and txt msgs from ppl saying their area had been hit...then a picture of a tree on my house. Clint headed out to see how bad the damage was and once he got to the top of the mtn from trenton - it took him almost 3 hours to get home, when normally it would have taken less than 10 minutes. He found a rode that ppl were trying to clear with chainsaws and get home so he helped...and he said once he stopped and looked around and thought "Where am I? Am I even on the right road to get home?" He said nothing was recognizable.

After speaking to my mother finally and realizing just how bad it was - I decided to head home before the next storm hit. When I got to my mom's house it was unreal at the trees and power lines that were down. As mom said many times, it was like a warzone down there. If you have ever been to their house, you know their house sits in front of woods, which most of those woods are no longer standing, just a straggler here and there. They were all twisted, uprooted, snapped off, and piled on top of each other. I grabbed the kids and went home to check the house and see what Clint wanted to do. Of course he wanted that tree off of our house to see what needed to be done before the next storm hit and made it worse. He asked me to go and help him do this and I was like, "What in the world am I going to do!" But I went out there with him anyways and stood there looking at the tree and then knowing another tornado was headed that way and I was just kind of frozen. Then I heard a vehicle pull in my drive - and turned to see our neighbor jump out and bring his chain saw - and then another neighbor walked across the road with his chainsaw - and together with Clint they cut the tree of off our house...I was so thankful that the lord sent them to help. Then to tear my nerves up even more - once Clint almost fell off the roof!

By then the next storm was there and we all got in our bathroom/closet. The kids of course did not understand the danger, they had flashlights and kept saying "We are hiding from the tornado!" We heard the hail hit and Clint tried to watch from the bedroom window...he kept yelling that I should see this but I was trying to keep from having a nervous breakdown and praying with every breath. I heard a horrible sound for a few seconds and knew that had to be what everyone describes as a train or moaning sound and then it was over. After that storm Clint and his dad decided to go up on the roof and patch the shingles before the next storm....they were on the roof when it started pouring rain again and I was hollering for them to hurry....we were told it was less than 10 min away and we all jumped in vehicles and headed for my in-laws basement in Bryant...it began hailing before we got there and I was so afraid it would hit us while in the truck but we ran for the basement and in a few mintues it was clear again. That storm was the worst one that destroyed so much. I have heard so many stories that are really testimonies of how God sent His Angels to watch over them...and then it almost makes you feel guilty that you weren't hit that badly....that you still have a house, that you are still alive...but we can't dwell on that. We have to be thankful for what we have, and help those that are in need. We have to keep telling ourselves that God knows all - He sees all...and have faith that those that went on are in a better place.

We've been working every day since that Wednesday - clearing the mess, helping people get the things they need, and just a few days ago while we were taking a break at my mom's house, my dad noticed something. We had finally cleared enough mess in the back that we were sitting behind the house about 50-75 feet...what we saw was the path of the tornado, in a direct line it was headed straight for their house...it snapped trees and knocked them down all the way up to the house where there were multiple trees on it and then it picked up...and left the house with my family inside still standing. It dropped down again just a few yards or so away and went on it's way...every time I think about that...well I'm just so thankful that for some reason my family was spared. And though I don't know why one family was and another wasn't, I just want to make sure I praise Him for it - that I don't take that for granted... and that I do something to help others that were hit...

I hope to put some pictures on here later....if you know me at all it'll probably be more like next week before it happens but we'll see ;)