started out as any other day. It was my last day to babysit Blake and since he had been so delightful the day before I expected that Friday would be the same-eat, diaper change, sleep. Chloe woke up with a bit of a fever so she was lying on the couch watching TV for most of the morning. I noticed that it was overcast but I didn't think much of it and made plans for dinner that evening with Todd and Christina and their boys which was supposed to be celebrating Christinas last day at work. Blake was really fussy and since I didn't think I could get everything cleaned and ready for company Christina offered to host at her house. I should add here that her last day at work was supposed to be the Friday before but they decided to extend it by a week- it's funny how things work out. Anyway, Christina called me around 1:45 and asked if I'd been watching the weather because there were some urgent storm warnings, I said "no" and turned the channel despite Chloes protest. At first I didn't even see any warnings for Sumner county and didn't think anything of it because the weather wasn't bad outside. It was overcast-period- no wind, no rain, no lightning, no thunder-nothing. I prayed because I always do in situations like that. I asked the Lord to protect us and to protect those that were in the bad areas and I had peace in my spirit about everything so again I though it was no big deal. The only thing you could see on the radar were small cells that were passing through different areas and the weather people were freaking out about them. Then a larger cell started to come up in the Sumner county area. The worst part looked like it was pretty far to the north of where we are but there was a small part at the bottom that the meteorologist called a "hook". They said it was very dangerous and it was headed for Goodlettsville, Centerpoint road in Hendersonville, and Beech schools. Centerpoint runs on one side of us and Amanda was at Beech. I took all the kids and put them in the hallway (the only part of our apartment that isn't on an outside wall) and covered them with pillows and blankets and put Blake in his carseat. The lights flickered and the cable went out and that was it for us. After quite a while I called Christina to see if she would check her computer for the weather so I could see if it was safe to bring them out and told her about the warning for Centerpoint since that road runs right past their neighborhood. I didn't think about their house except that maybe I should take the kids there because it would be safer than to stay in the apartment. Again I had peace and didn't think that it was necessary to move them- I'm so thankful for God's faithfulness. About 20 minutes later Christina called me to tell me that their house had been hit and that they wouldn't be able to live there for a while.
Amanda called me a few minutes after that to tell me that she'd gotten the lead in a school play (yay!) which was completely overshadowed by the news of T & C's house. She then called a friend that lives two doors down from them and found out that their subdivision had sustained a lot of damage. Amanda's friend Elise's house was hit while she was their and she was quite freaked out. Thankfully everybody we knew that was hit were safe, had a place to stay, had clothing and probably most importantly- insurance. I watched the devastation on the news for the next several hours, concerned that perhaps there were more cells coming but thankfully that was it.
From what I can tell, the path of the tornado came through Goodlettsville, through Mansker Farms, down Hunt(s) lane in Hendersonville, skipped over Glen Brook shopping center to the Stop 30 Road area (where Josh and Melissa live- we checked and they are fine) and down New Shackle Island Road and stopped about a half a mile from hitting Beech High School where Amanda was. I pray for her everyday and I never take it for granted that she's going to be ok, I'm very thankful. From there I'm not sure where it picked up again but it headed to Gallatin and really devastated things.
I am thankful for so many things- my families safety, my friends safety, that it wasn't as bad as it could have been, and so much more. You never know what is in store for you or your family but I know that God does and I'm thankful for His faithfulness.
5 comments:
Whew. I kept thinking sbout you guys and figured that I would hear from Eric via Trav if you were in rubble or something, so I didn't call. But I didn't realize how close it was. We've never had to truly hunker down like that. There really aren't any words that say it well, but I am glad you're safe.
I wondered about T and C's house...I had heard on CNN that Mansker Farms had been hit pretty bad. It was weird watching it from far away...even though it was close it was like watching one hit KS or MO not like home. So glad you were safe and that you didn't get freaked out. I love that God gives us peace when we need it like that. Thank God for that extra week at work for Christina too.
I couldn't watch the news channels except FOX 17 because when Mansker Farms was hit our cable went out. Fox came in very blurry but I was thankful for it.
I talked to C a little while ago and the roof is already back on their house. Workers were on it on Saturday morning and it looks like they'll only be out 6 weeks. Their neighbors have tarps on their roofs and are living with busted out windows with no crews coming until next week. God has really given them favor.
I am sooo glad you guys are safe! When I saw it on the news over you guys I thought of you all and my Aunt and Uncle. I said prayers for both families. The weather hit us hard with bad rain and wind but nothing compared to what you all sustained. God is good! Tell Amanda congrats on the play for me. Smooches! ~Tracy~ ps. Kris said that once we got back from our cruise that if I wanted to fly out and visit with you I could.
Tracy, that would be so cool- I would love that!
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