I want to reflect on the tornadoes from Good Friday. That Friday started out as a great beautiful Friday morning. It was my friend Kelsey's Birthday. We went and got a pedicure and then I headed home. I got home around 11:30am. We had family coming in town that day. It was cloudy but nothing alarming. We turned the weather on and watched and hung out. I watched the weather rather closely because I despise storms. I cleaned out our hall closet and put pillows in it, not thinking we would actually need to take cover. I was terribly wrong. About 10-15min. after I cleaned out the closet, my dad and my mom's cousin Jeff we watching the clouds from our sun room. We heard on the tv that the storm was headed to the Avenue and I-24. My dad said, We have a few min til it reaches us. About a min. later he looked out the window and said, "look, look, there it is." I paused, I was thinking what? what? what is he talking about????
Yes My dad said tornado! I started yelling at my sisters to get downstairs. I jumped in the closet with my two sisters, my mom, my dad, my mom's cousin jeff and his wife and their 2 kids. yes you counted right, 9 people in our hall closet. it was pretty amazing. as soon as we all got in the closet. I said very panicked "can someone please pray????" Jeff said yes. so he prayed. i heard the most horrible sound i have ever heard. i could hear a rumble on the ground. so many things were going through my head. oh my goodness what if this storm actually hits. it wont it. yes it will. Lord I love you. it wont actually hit. I was trying to trust the Lord will keep us safe but it was a bit challenging as i heard a tornado coming straight for my house.
He did keep us safe. Not a single shingle came off of our home. We were blessed. I am learning to have more faith in my Powerful God! I had no idea the extent of the damage until later that afternoon. I walked about some neighborhoods near tyler's house. it was devastating.my heart was broken. i drove by these homes everyday and now they were a pile of rubble. some still are. there are homes that are split in half still standing. it is a constant reminder. selfishly i do not want to look at it anymore. i am tired of being sad every time i drive by. i am so thankful to my Lord for protecting everyone that i love. God is good. Please continue to be in prayer for Murfreesboro. I got to go out and help with tornado relief with my college ministry last Saturday. I saw more devastation than i ever wanted to but i am so thankful that i got to help several families clean up their homes. i hope that the love of the Jesus Christ was shown through our words and our actions.
I didnt want to forget that horrible day. I have never been so thankful and blessed. as storm season continues i will learn to trust my Jesus more.
Have a great weekend everyone!
-Ashly
