INLAND HURRICANE?

Our area was hit with an inland hurricane yesterday. You've never heard of an inland hurricane? Well, me neither... till yesterday. Probably one of the scariest things I have ever lived through. Praise God we're all safe. Drew was safe at work. Me, Emma, my mom, my sisters and their children (except Aden who was safe at school) were all at our church setting up for a banquet we were giving yesterday evening (which by the way never happened). We were all safe in the dark basement with flashlights. Over 100 mph winds were recorded. Thousands are without power in Southern Illinois. Luckily, we have power so our house has been a hotel and a shower house for our family and friends.

Below are some pictures from yesterday.

This is our church right after the storm. Lots of roof damage, some missing siding and other "small" things but other than that the church was fine.

While we were at church we got word that a tree fell on my parents' house. So we loaded my mom's car and headed to her house. That was not as easy as it sounded. There were 10 trees blocking the roadway in just 2 short miles to her house. We had to wait while my uncles cut the trees with their chainsaws and pushed them off the road to get through. Here are a few pictures while on the way to my parents' house.

This is one of my uncle's barns.

This is a trailer we drove by turned over on it's side. Glad I wasn't in that!

Below is my parents' front yard. A tree did indeed fall on their house but it did not do any damage to the roof. Thank God!

Miss Priss doing some investigating of her own.

Me, Emma, my sister (Jenni) and her daughter (Morrison) (who by the way live in Tennessee and just happened to be visiting during this glorious day) loaded up on my dad's Kawasaki Mule and took a drive around my parent's neighborhood. All roads leading to anywhere were blocked by trees. See attempt #1.

Road block # 2

I'll end this post with one of my favorite songs that sums up yesterday.

Blessed

I may never climb a mountain,

So I could see the word from there.

I may never ride the waves,

And taste the salty ocean air.

Or build a bridge,

That would last a hundred years.

But no matter where the road leads,

One thing is always clear....

I am blessed,

I am blessed,

From when I rise up in the morning,

'Till I lay my head to rest,

And I feel you near me,

You sooth me when I'm weary.

Oh, Lord,

For all the worst and all the best,

I am blessed.

All along the road less traveled,

I have crawled and I have run.

I have wandered through the winds and rains,

Until I found the sun.

But watching eyes,

Asked me why,

I walk this narrow way,

There may never be a reason,

For the hope I have today....

I am blessed,
I am blessed,
From when I rise up in the morning,
'Till I lay my head to rest,
And I feel you near me,
You sooth me when I'm weary.
Oh, Lord,
For all the worst and all the best,
I am blessed.