Spring storms

We were at church and about to enter the sanctuary, but I realized that I had forgotten to finish putting on my makeup at home.  Just as I was telling Allen we should go home, we heard the sirens.  "Let's go home!" he yelled.  We headed to the parking lot and saw 7 tornadoes barrelling down on us!  We took off sprinting to the car!  I had not seen Al run that fast since high school!  These old people - 69 this year - running as fast as we could!

(photo found on-line)

Then I woke up.  My heart was racing.  Luckily that was a dream; no, a nightmare.

But no wonder I had that dream.  We have had lots of storms this spring!  Even last night our daughter and her family in Wisconsin were in the basement as sirens were blaring.  They were right in the path of a tornado.  Luckily after a couple of hours, the all clear was given.  Grateful!

We have had some pretty clouds lately.  Clouds make for the best sunrises and sunsets!  

"The world owes much of its beauty to cloudland...Earth would become a wilderness apart from their ministry...There are clouds in human life, shadowing, refreshing, and sometimes draping it in the blackness of night; but there is never a cloud without its bright light." - Streams in the Desert, May 15

The wheat is looking good this year and we hope it doesn't get hailed out with all the storms we've been having!

For several years, we have not seen tornadic weather as in the past it seems.  Before we moved to this home 19 years ago, we had to go to the basement so often!  Several times each year.  But here not hardly at all.  Maybe once in 19 years?  It is like the line shifted to the east of Kansas, to Missouri, Mississippi, etc.  But this year, we have seen much stormy weather and we are again one of the top states in the nation for tornadic activity.  2nd or 3rd in the US, depending on which study you see.  

I've had to go to the basement twice so far this year.  This is where we go when we get tornado sirens.  Under the stairs.  I take my "treasures" down there too, those things I don't want to blow away if our house gets a direct hit.  My Bible, journal, a few of the things from ancestors, my expensive cameras.  

Maybe I'm lying.  I do take those things down, but I am like most Kansans - I go outside to see if I can SEE a tornado!  We have gone driving to watch them before.  We know that isn't what you're supposed to do, but we are careful.

This warning was confusing, because the hospital is clearly in that red path and it says 0 hospitals.  Allen said they had to move patients into the hallways, away from windows.  Our home is in this path too.

Birdies taking cover under our deck.

This cloud formation appeared after one tornadic storm passed.  Wow!!

We had overnight guests from Hawaii this past week when another storm came.  A nice Kansas welcome!  A tornado warning was issued.  Sirens went off.

We went out onto the covered deck to show them the fury of a Kansas storm.

He took the video below (which didn't translate to my phone very well, but gives you the idea).  He sent it to his mama in Hawaii and she freaked out!

We heard later that our town got hit by a severe straight-line wind event that they call a Derecho.  Not a tornado, although a town close to us had a tornado.   (Hit that word "derecho" to see the link to ABC News with David Muir who reported on the storms. He said we had 100mph winds, but elsewhere said 86.)   

We know several friends who had damage on their place.  Our pastor's home lost part of their roof and water leaked into their home.  Friends went over to put tarp on it.

Another one of our friend's house.

There was a lot of power outage and some have yet to have it turned back on (it is 3 days later now) as it was so widespread.  Evidently Walmart and Dillons lost their refrigerated food.

This cool shot was from Pretty Prairie.

There were many communities elsewhere -Nebraska, Iowa - where homes were totally destroyed.  Having sheds blown down, or roofs and shingles blown off or being without power for a few days doesn't seem like much compared to what they went through.  May the Lord help them as they recover from such devastation.   

The day after the storm, I was heading to Colorado.  The gas station I use was closed due to power outage.  Took 1st street to go to another gas station.  There were trees down at the cemetary.

When I got to Russell, I stopped to see my friend.  A tornado had come through that town and we went to see the damage.

She had just played with her grandchildren at this very park a couple of days earlier.  A new playground will be needed.

When we got back to her house, she showed me her solar powered phone charger,

battery operated fan,

and battery lantern.  

(That would be safer than one that uses a flame.)

We may need to get these things to be more prepared for a next storm?

"In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials" (like storms!), "so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  1 Peter 1:6,7

Isn't it good to know that the Lord Jesus is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for [us]!  Hebrews 7:25