Reflections....

It is hard to believe it's been one year ago today that the massive tornado outbreak happened across the southeast. I will say, that I have lived through so many bad storms from growing up in the south but April 28th is a day I will never forget.  I remember thinking as I was heading to my mom's with the girls for spring break week that there won't be any bad weather.  The weather looked fine when I checked before we left.  I remember hearing the forecast on Monday morning at mom's and thinking, "why didn't I stay in Boone?"  They were predicting a perfect alignment of air masses to create super cell storms.  It was the highest risk number that the weather channel could predict.  When we went to bed on Wednesday night, I was praying and hoping that all of the predictions would be wrong.  Next thing, mom was waking me and the girls up at 5 am (4 am ET mind you) telling us we need to go downstairs.  These storms bypassed my mom's area but hit south of Bham and where my dad lived out at the lake in Pell City really bad. After that first round of storms came through, things had settled down a bit.  I had wanted to spend some more time with Dad and take the girls out to see him.  I loaded up the girls and drove the 45 minutes out to see him and Jo Ann that morning, not realizing how bad it had actually been.  There were power lines down all over his neighborhood.  I was sitting under one that was leaning over the road asking myself if I could make it under.  Another girl drives up (she has kids in the back too) and says she thinks it's fine and that I could follow her.  By the time I get in at dad's, mom's already calling me saying I should get back to her house or stay put but do something fast.  There was a 2nd round of storms that were coming though and they were expected to be much worse.  Not really sure what to do, I figured all of our things are at mom's.  I will go back there.  So, we load up again, drive the 45 minutes back to mom's...and wait.  I put the girls down for a nap and laid down to rest a bit myself.  I think I dozed off for a minute but I woke up to James Spann on the TV.  He's a meteorologist who has been in Alabama and has experienced tornadoes his whole career.  He's saying a massive tornado is on the ground in Cullman.  As we are watching that storm move through, he's talking about another.  It's coming up from the south west and moving toward Tuscaloosa.  By this time, the girls are up and mom's trying to work on supper for everyone.  We see the storm on TV, moving through Tuscaloosa and virtually destroying everything in it's path.  I can't recall all of the things he was specifically talking about in regards to the storms but I do remember one.  He says that this particular storm is moving right toward downtown Birmingham and you should find a safe place immediately.  Just the shock and awe in his voice were scary enough for me.  I was trying to hold it together for the girls but it was really hard.  All I could think about at that point is keeping them safe.  I knew that mom didn't have a basement and I wasn't sure that I wanted to stay there.  I called my Uncle who lived about 5 minutes away to see if I could come over with the girls.  He had an underground basement and I felt a lot better about being there.  Again, loading up the girls, I remember SC saying, mommy, you are going to fast.  I was praying in my head for God would keep us safe and that He would watch over mom and Ray since they were staying.   I could see the dark clouds off in the distance.  As I am pulling up in their driveway, my aunt and uncle are are coming out the door to help me with the girls.  We make it in and off to the basement we went.  I recall thinking how quiet it was for a while and then really heavy rain and wind.  It was hard to tell because the windows were low and really small.   I just keep talking to my Aunt and praying in my head  that God would provide me with calm for my girls.  My uncle goes up to check the radar and the news and tells us everything is ok.  As we head outside, we see pieces of debris everywhere.   There's bark shredded from trees, insulation, paper and it's everywhere.  I already knew that God was watching over us because based on the track of the storm, it should have gone right over us. I watched it tear through Tuscaloosa on tv.  Fortunately, it had moved to the north, but closer to where my mom's home.  There was very bad damage only a mile from where my mom lived.  We were all blessed to have walked away from those storms that day.  There were many that didn't.  I hope that I never have to go through another day like that.  I can share with my girls one day that they were in the middle of one of the worst storm outbreaks in history.  Not sure that I would want them to remember that or not!

Spring Break Week

Well, unfortunately it's over but we had lots of time spent together as a family.   And I got to spend some fun quality time with Syd.  She went on a play date with an "old" friend and we also spent some time on her bicycle at the park.  We had so much fun that day together.  Some of her quotes were, "Mama, Iyla is my best friend."  After blowing a wish flower, "I wished I could be a princess and a butterfly."  After telling me how she felt about making bad choices at school, "Sad, mad, frustrated!"  Oh how I love that girl!

Friday we went to opening day at Tweetsie Railroad.  Just the girls because Daddy had to work.  That place is like their "Magic Kingdom" for now.  Syd wanted to go back the next day but we didn't make it.  We figure we have all summer to get lots of time in!  Special thanks to Papaw and Jo Ann for Sydney Cate's birthday present!

Easter 2012

Well, hopefully we will survive the eating of the colored egg, shell and all and after being out of the refrigerator for more than 24 hours.  As well as the face plant on the asphalt with blood out of the mouth and everything.  We had a great day celebrating the resurrection of Jesus! 

Proof!

Now that Daddy's back in town we made another trip out to the bridge on the Greenway.   I was able to remember the camera and actually take pictures this time.  Here's the proof she's riding her bike and loving it!

2nd Bridge!

Well, nothing like taking full advantage of a beautiful day.  I decided to take the girls out on the Greenway this afternoon (by myself ) and I so wish I would have had my camera with me!  Sydney Cate decided she wanted to ride her bike (with training wheels of course) and she probably rode a total of 2 miles!  The 1 mile mark is about where the 2nd bridge is on the Greenway.  The last time we took her bike out there, she didn't even want to get on it.  She rode really slow on the way out.  She was kind of afraid. But on the way back, she was cooking.  She was having so much fun. I was so proud of her and excited at the same time. The really funny thing is, she sang almost the entire way.  You name it, she sung it.  And loud too.  Mulberry Bush, Wheels on the Bus.  She even made up her own song called Up and Down.  It was amazing the laughs and comments from the passersby.  Needless to say, a lot of people were unexpectedly entertained today.  During all the action, Cali is enjoying a "quiet" ride in the stroller.  Definitely one of those "I wish I could freeze time" moments.  Note to self...bring camera next time!