The Power of a Storm

Along with probably every other person living in the northern Hemisphere, I love spring. I love the new green leaves, the dogwood trees, bare legs, and breezy days. But ever since our experience with a tree falling on our house two springs ago, the season also reignites my fear that I've held since growing up in Texas: storms and the tornadoes they bring. Rome has had a tough spring storm-wise, losing power several times, having countless trees fall around town, and even having rows of utility poles snapped in half as high-force winds have caused havoc.

As we were heading out the door on Wednesday morning, a storm bringing nearly 70 mph winds made a quick entrance and exit through our city leaving trees down all over and much of town without power. As schools let out early, evening church was canceled, and helicopters buzzed overhead, the town prepared for a storm that was promised to be much worse. Huddled down in the basement were the 5 of us, our family friends from down the street, along with a couple guys from the team and their girlfriends. After the first big storm passed, we ventured back up to track the storms that were following. Although the earlier prediction was spot-on for much of our region, Rome had little more damage than we'd already received from that early-morning storm. After waking up Thursday morning and seeing the destruction that changed the face of areas just a short drive from here, it's hard to believe the power of nature, along with the blessing that we received in avoiding it.

Virtually oblivious to the danger were these four. Although I won't ever forget the imagine of the four of them in the baby pool in our dark, damp basement (with Jack bouncing up and down in his neighboring pack-n-play), here is a shot of them waiting for the adults to decide our next move. Nothing better to little kids than a midnight storm party!

What a wild night; what an unbelievable reality to wake up to.