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

Spring flowers

 "See! The winter is past;

        the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;

     the season of singing has come,

            the cooing of doves

                is heard in the land.

The fig tree forms its early fruit;

        the blossoming vines spread their fragrance."

                             Song of Solomon 2:11-13a

Spring means flowers in Kansas!  I had these geraniums in my planter on the front porch over-wintered in the window well in the basement.  I have a plastic lid over the window well so it becomes a "greenhouse".   (When the temperatures got into single digits, I brought them in and put them in the shower.)  

My daylillies have not begun to flower yet.

I enjoy putting flowers on my back deck.  We had hail this past week and I had to put them under the eaves to protect them.

These will hopefully fill out more as they grow.

In my backyard, I planted some dahlias - they were my mother's favorite flower!  She loved this colour! 

There were lots of weeds in my flower beds.  I was waiting for the baby robins to grow and fly so I wouldn't disturb them in their nest while weeding.  See my last post  to see what happened.

The very last snowball.  This bush was FULL!

Why didn't I get a photo?

The Awana director at church gave us some posies as a thanks for serving this year!  How sweet!

I found a place for those too.

I'll have to pray for the little Cubbies as I water these!

One of my neighbors had poppies!   I would love to plant those!

My daughter-in-law, Staci (far right in the picture below) has a dear friend, Carrie, who recently painted this floral painting that she named "A Hopeful Waiting".  Sort of looks like some are poppies. It was a year ago now that Staci had serious health complications that put her in the hospital.  She had to learn how to re-walk and still has many struggles that neurologists have no idea how to help.  They don't really know what is going on. She is now in a clinic that works with brain inflammation and she is recovering slowly.  A huge answer to prayer, yet Spero Clinic is outside insurance so is very costly.  

Carrie has made prints, cards and posters of this print to support Staci's medical costs!  All proceeds for "A Hopeful Waiting" go directly to her medical fund.  Thank you so much Carrie!  If you would like to help, you can contact Carrie with Sparrow Lettering at sparrowlettering@gmail.com.

"The road is too rough," I said;
    "It is uphill all the way;
No flowers, but thorns instead;
    And the skies overhead are gray."
But One took my hand at the entrance dim,
    And sweet is the road that I walk with Him.