Tornado

Thank you to all who have had us in your prayers and thoughts. We have been so blessed! What an amazing experience it has been this past week. Wednesday night around 5:30pm my friend Krystal called and asked if her and her family could come over and stay in our basement if they needed, I said sure, and didn't think much of it, the weather radio started to go crazy, we had just finished up with dinner and I told the boys to hurry and bathe, while they were in the tub the weather radio had said a tornado had hit Novinger a town about 8 miles away and was headed our way, so I go the boys out and dressed, by that time the Shuldbergs had come and Chris was going to leave for scouts, to which I protested and said not yet!!! It started to rain and the sky was really dark and the humidity was incredible, it was about 82 degrees in our house and really sticky, then all the sudden our neighbor said its coming and the worst of it is headed for us, so we yelled for the Cluff's to come and the it was pouring rain like you wouldn't believe by that time. In our basement all the kids were jumping in the bounce house and having a good old time as the tornado hit about a mile from our home. Then after about 10 minutes or so we came up to look out and heard these sirens, like they were heading North of us, I called my friend Melinda, just to see if it was up that way, but she didn't answer, Chris took off for Scouts and everyone went home. About an hour later I got a call from Chris and the scouts were headed down to Bobwhite where the tornado hit, lots of ward members and Medical students live on that street and my heart sunk. They are our friends and I felt so helpless sitting here not being there to hug them and help!
Later that night we were so lucky to have the Flanigans come and stay with us, they are a wonderful family, so positive and optimistic! They were a joy to have and we miss them already! Their duplex was destroyed. I didn't take pictures, but the Warner's have some great one's on their blog, you can click on the right of mine to see it. Many more will soon, so you can see it soon. The pictures are bad, but being their and seeing it first hand it is even worse!
All that were hit by the tornado have been so happy and positive, they are amazing, caring people, that we love and are so sorry this has happened to. Our hearts go out to them as they try to piece back their lives. They said over and over again, how they are just so grateful to be alive and that they were safe. The Lord has truly been mindful of them and blessed them so much through all of this. We love you guys and care so much about you!
I have been so impressed with the out pour of love and support from all the Medical Students and their families, its too bad I can't say the Red Cross or any of those National organizations that are supposed to help, because they have been no where around or their to help at all. It has been Home Depot out handing out flashlights, gloves, water anything they needed! Wal-Mart with truck fulls of water and boxes, packing supplies, food! Hy-Vee with supplies, Ruby Tuesdays, the pizza places like Papa johns and Domino's with food for the victims and helpers. The students were not excused from school and had to finish their finals, but still went out and helped regardless that Dean Laird and Dean Slocum (who lost his house as well) said they should be home studying, we are all disappointed in them. But Lori Haxton and Dean Gaber and have been helping the students as much as they could in their power.
The SAA girls have been amazing and have jumped in and helped in so many ways! I just love them and am going to miss them all so much! They helped me to help the Flanigan's so much!
Here is the sweet family that stayed with us, we loved it! They had a little girl Riley that isn't pictured.

View all

Get your own

Krystal helped me put together the crib, for their kids, gather clothes for the girls, etc... I hadn't gone grocery shopping like I had planned Wednesday, so Angel and Tamara dropped off a bunch of food. Angel also had her husband get the awards for Senior Banquet that was Thursday night from Melinda's home (yes your awards survived the tornado!) Stephanie and Kristine came over and helped sort through all the clothes that Alana, Melissa, Stephanie, Tamra, Mandi, and Angel washed and folded of the Flanigan's clothes that they saved. I can't even name all the people I observed helping everyone, their was just SO much service being rendered it was incredible! This week was crazy, because the class of 2009 was graduating and the second years had finals. Chris was such an amazing support and help. He helped watch all the kids and keep our house running! I just love him and am so grateful for all he does! He is the best! I was out delivering money from SAA with Mandi and Lori to the victims last night and I came home and Chris had cleaned all the downstairs and did all the dishes, what a man! I am so thankful to him!