Monday, January 23, 2012

Tornado season 2012 already?!?!?!?

January 23, 2012...tornadoes damaged homes and killed 2 people in Alabama.

I'm so not ready for this tornado season.

A 16-year-old girl died this morning.

My children could have died...perhaps I will never know how close they really were to death, but it seemed that they were just inches (literal inches) from being crushed.  Maggie and Bear were trapped under the house debris.  Ian's lower half was cut to the bone in 2 places, Prewitt has his own story to share as God leads him but I know Prewitt's life to have been saved by God (I know because I saw with my physical eyes what he experienced).

I will never be able to erase the images of my children trapped and so deeply wounded.  Flashes of lightening revealed their bodies intermingled with the broken wood and brick of our home.  Chuck said that with one flash of lightening he saw lots of limbs and thought our kids were in pieces.  I'll never forget Maggie locking eyes with me as she gasped for breath and said over and over again, "Mommy, I'm dying.  Mommy, help me."  I'll never forget the blood dripping from Bear's head into Maggie's matted hair.  I'll never forget the blank stare of shock on Ian's face as I scooped him up and wrapped him in the Strawberry Shortcake blanket my mom made for me when I was a babe.  I'll never forget not being able to get up because my pelvis was broken.  I couldn't help them with my body.

I have never prayed harder and with purer faith than in that storm...and never have I felt God's strength and felt His direction more powerfully than in that storm.  I'll never forget what happened to my children...I'll never forget how God showed Himself to me and spared me from the agony the family in Alabama is experiencing now.

2 comments:

  1. I am so glad that God spared you and that you are able to share your story. God will do amazing things through you, and I am sure that he already is!

    Praying for the families that lost loved ones. We live in Tennessee and had severe storms. After hearing about the tornado in Joplin and just hearing second hand through you, I am terrified. But God is in control, and he is our only hope in the storm!

    God bless you!

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  2. ugg.
    deep sigh.

    I can not imagine.

    I love you friend. I love your little ones and not little ones. I'm so thankful you made it and are making it.

    Praying for His peace in the midst of memories and blowing winds.

    sandy

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