When the Tornados hit

The Monday after Easter Sunday, we drove to Murfreesboro, Tn for a conference which Stephen was attending.  We were supposed to stay there from Monday afternoon and leave Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday morning at 5am, while we all slept comfortably in our beds, a loud alarm sounded followed by a ladies voice asking everyone to please evacuate to the lobby to be directed to a safe location as a tornado was in our area.  We made sure everyone was decently covered and carried our frightened children down the stairs (I was not ABOUT to ride the elevator).  As we were escorted into the kitchen where they had lined up rows of chairs, everyone looked at our kids and said "oh, poor things, they're so scared", which of course made the kids snuggle up closer to us.  We waited here for awhile before they released us.  The girls were terrified.

After this we went back to our room, watched the news, scavenged for any info we could on our hometown area and waited.  We soon realized we were NOT going home.  So we went ahead and booked another night at the hotel.

Thursday morning as we were driving home, we spent the time calling to check on friends and family or listening to the news on the radio.  It was horrifying  to find out how much damage had been done and wonder if everyone we knew was okay.

I had to drop Stephen off at work.  The kids and I came  home and found there was no power.  Most of my family was accounted for by this point.  I drove by to check on a friend I couldn't get a hold of. Together, we called some more friends and got good reports.  Then the kids and I went to Barnes&Noble where I found out that I was not the only person there wanting to charge up my phone in any available outlet, but I found a vacant one :)  Then we went home. 

Here's where it gets a little complicated.  Before we knew that there were going to be any storms or that we were going to be in Murfreesboro one extra night, we had already scheduled a camping trip with my uncle for the weekend.  Now we didn't have power, clean clothes or anything and we couldn't get a hold of him.  I found out that there were tornados in his area and started to panic.  I started thinking, what do we do if we get up there and he's not there?  Search hospitals?

At this point, we haven't slept much...the hotel bed was not the best.  And since our house didn't have power, Stephen couldn't sleep with his CPAP machine and therefore I didn't sleep either.  Friday morning I drove to Sherry and David's and took a shower, did laundry, and let everyone know on facebook that we were alive and well.  We went home, packed for a camping trip, prayed this was indeed going to be a camping trip and that all was well with my uncle.  Stephen got home and  we took off. 

Well, he was fine! He just was not able to get a hold of us. Thank you to everyone who prayed for us.  We had a really great time with him in Cade's Cove.  We saw over 100 dear, 5 black bear and lots of turkey and other birds.  The kids enjoyed their camping experience VERY much.

But I have to say that after the tornado devastation, the strong winds that shook our tent and bent the huge trees and moaned loudly were NOT welcome.  Sounds that I would normally find a little thrilling, completely terrified me.  The second night we were there, the wind was INSANE.  Stephen moved our 3 sleeping kids into the back of the van and he and I crawled into the front.  That's where we "camped" the second night.  And just so you know that I wasn't just being a fraidy cat, my uncle got into his car too, and he always sleeps outside. 

We came back home Sunday, grateful that all of our friends and family were safe.  We had some friends with house damage, but praise God, they were safe!  But it was a sober ride home as we wondered if things were as bad as rumored.

We got home to a house still without power.  Our friends that we do school with once a week, invited us to stay in their house, which we eagerly accepted.  We immediately packed back up, drove over to their house, and took showers.  That night we plugged in Stephen's CPAP machine and slept like babies!

That's OUR story of a time we will all remember.  Yesterday, our power came back on....I'm very grateful.   For EVERYTHING.  I pray that God will grant comfort and help to those who lost homes and most especially, to those who lost loved ones.

Hunting Eggs at the Farm

The day before Easter, we went to my Aunt Sissy's house (um...her name isn't actually Sissy).  She always has family, church family and friends over, makes baskets for ALL THE KIDS.  (this is a BIG deal)  They have food for everyone, do a presentation of ressurection eggs, have the hunt and just hang out.

Nina and Lu going on a hayride :)

Daddy's girl...at least for the moment.

Sissy's incredible buffet...

Stephen and Clyde on the 4-wheeler...

Family and friends singing to my cousin's little girl, Taryn.  Haven't seen her in YEARS!

Papa and Clyde.

All the kids listening to the Resurrection Egg story...

Lu opening her basket and hugging her new bunny :)  She's decided it's a boy...no name yet.

Iris eagerly opening her basket...

Couldn't resist this extra one of Lu just because she's so lovely in it :)

Good times!

Resurrection Sunday

We spent Sat night and Resurrection Sunday with Grandad and Grandmom :)  We had a wonderful time!!  They stuffed us full of good food and the kids played til their hearts content.

We woke up Sunday morning to go to worship service...here are the kids in their Easter outfits.  They are VERY proud that they picked them out themselves.  Especially Iris who asked several adults....

"Do you think I look beautiful in my Easter dress?"
"Yes, you look very beautiful."
"But do you think I did a wonderful job picking it out?"
"Yes, you did a wonderful job."
"And did you see my sweater that matches?"

They had an egg hunt after worship....

We went back to Grandad's and I tortured every one by taking more pictures :)  (these are all with Grandmom's camera....as mine is still sick)

Then, after lunch, Grandad put together a kid-sized "train" and drove them down to where Grandmom's eggs were hidden....so they could get MORE eggs!

here they are taking off over the creek

picking up eggs in unison...

It was a lovely day!  Good fellowship with family :)

HE IS RISEN!!!

Soulea

I wanted to give Soulea his own post.  There are so many friends and family who remember him, love him and ask about him.  He has grown so much since he was here with us!!!  Sorry, I don't have better pictures...these were taken with a disposable...I'll try and do better next time.

And for those of you who have lost track of time....he turned 11 on March 5!

Pictures from NC

Sooo....

I've just now been able to put some pictures up, readers may remember, my camera is broken.  Some of these, Stephen's Aunt Paula took and have been loaded on Stephen's work laptop and some I took with disposables.  I MISS my camera!!!

First, this is Nana, with half of her grandkids.  These would be all of the offspring from her twins (Stephen and Charity)  Soulea, Nana and Clyde in back.  Devonne, Mirzanna and Lucy in the middle.  Then, Makayla and Iris up front.  Sweet kids, all of them!  And they just adore being together :)

Here are Stephen and Charity,

a bunch of the men folk, out with the grill.  Stephen's cousin, Joey, Stephen, his Dad (Brice) cousin Steve and uncle, Milton.

Charity and her fiance, Kevin, helping Mirzanna with a pogo stick.

A bunch of family eating.  Stephen's cousin Joey and his wife Tammy were precious to let us invite ourselves and everyone else over :) 

Stephen's dad (aka Papa) with Devonne :)

bunches of cousins.

Lucy and Courtney swinging across the creek.

Clyde with his VERY favorite cousin EVER, Summer.

Soulea and Dawson, playing what boys play ;)

 

We had such a great time!  Thanks everybody! Especially Bobbi, Brice, Joey and Tammy!!!  It was awesome seeing everybody!!

I'm sick of projects that HATE me.

So is it okay with everybody if I just burn down my house and live in a tent?

The Wise Old Manchild

Clyde and Iris stand on a chair to hover over me and watch the fascinating act of me boiling eggs.

Iris-* sniffle*  *sniffle*  *cough* *cough*  *clears throat for LONG time*  "I do not like spring!"

Clyde- "I understand, Iris, I do that a lot too."  He gives her a profound and knowing look.

She looks at him pitifully with watery eyes and buries her face in his chest.  He wraps his arm around her bitty shoulders, sympathetically pats her shoulder, then leans over and gently kisses the top of her head.  She pulls her head up to give him a woeful look, drawing from her wiser and older brother, an encouraging smile and assuring nod of the head....for this, too, will pass.