Moving Forward

I was going to title this post "Tornado" since that's what hit us here last Wednesday. I have not had any power or water since than. Thank God it's on now!! Anyways, I am really tired of dwelling on all the negative. I really want to move forward and get into a routine & accomplish some goals. But first, I have to share what happened to us on Wednesday.

I got up at 5:54 am on Wednesday morning to pee. I always have to pee. Anyways, as I laid back in bed I got a text from my sister, who lives in Alabama, her husband is stationed at Fort Benning. She said we were under a Tornado warning. I text my neighbor because we don't have cable (which will hopefully be changing soon because of this), and she turned on her radio and said we were okay. We went about our day, then around 3:00 pm my neighbor called and said we needed to get in our basement. So we did. We stayed there for about an hour. Our friend that lives in town was watching the news and he told us we were clear to come out, but that another was suppose to hit in a few hours. We called around and asked if we should go ahead and go to church and everyone said yes. Earlier that morning our dogs ran away when we tried to bring them inside. They were spooked or something. We couldn't find them, and we were so worried.

We just bought a new (used) washer & dryer a couple weeks ago and the dryer wasn't working, so we decided to bring it back before church. When we were just about done at these folks house, we saw a funnel cloud hit the ground not too far from us. They didn't have a basement, so we Californian's didn't know what to do. We weren't that far from church and we thought we would be safe there, so we decided to go. The storm looked as though it was going away from us, but as we were driving we must have been wrong, or it shifted, because we ended up in the side of this....
I am not sure where we were in it, obviously not in the funnel otherwise we would be dead, but I know we were hit hard by part of it as we were driving. Davey was driving, I was screaming. It was rain, hail, wind, such strong wind blowing our car, branches hitting the car, bushes, leaves, things flying. Davey pulled in a gas station and the owner ran outside and said, "Get inside! Take shelter!" I don't know why but Davey decided to try to hurry to church, we were so close. We got on the highway and we were out of it, but full, huge trees blocked the whole highway. We had to drive in the median. Finally, made it to church, where we could all see it moving away from town, towards our ranch.

Few people were at church. The power was out, so we lit candles and had prayer. When prayer was over Pastor announced that another was suppose to hit in 30 minuets, and since a lot of peoples family was at home, we would dismiss church. Well it takes us about 35 minuets to get home from church. On our way home we got to a huge tree that fell in the road blocking our way. All the guys tried to move it, as a home owner used his chain saw. About 20 mins into that, we could see two storms coming together, forming a V. The sky went BLACK. Thunder was sooo loud. There was no where for shelter there, and we could see a funnel begin to form. A fire truck came and said we had to get out of there, we turned around and went a long back way home. Near the ranch on the back way, we found Molly (our dog)!! She was all wet and terrified. Bell (the puppy) was no where. We had to go, it was coming!! We made it home, and Davey, our boys, and all the ranch boys got in our basement, and spent the night down there. Mean while, my sister, who is 4 hours away, their sirens went off and were in their bath tub praying because they don't have a basement. Thank God he protected us all.

Morning came and we were all safe, but our water and power were still off. We drove around and saw, a whole mobile home picked up, and thrown in the middle of the street. Totally destructed. That is maybe two miles from our home. Power lines were snapped in half and in the street. Whole houses were GONE. And this is all near our home. We saw one huge barn totally collasped, and on top of a beautiful Red convertible BMW. No one was in it.

We spent the next two days helping people. Davey and all the guys cut up trees that fell on peoples homes, than yesterday we brought bagged lunches to people who lost everything. Here is a picture, this house stands half, but we have seen some totally demolished. Many people died.
Another miracle. On Thursday evening, we were looking for Bell near where we found Molly. We couldn't find her. On our way out a different dog came and got in front of our car, and looked at us, than started running, like it wanted us to follow it. So we did, and it led us right to where Bell was!! No joke. It was crazy. She had found a family that morning, which meant she was in the storm all night, but she was okay!! Molly was so happy to see her.

Thank Jesus, our power came on this morning!! Hallelujah.

So, that is my last few days, and I am ready to move on from all these trials. Really really. I read Daniel 3 this morning. Shadrach, Meshach and Abendnego where about to be thrown in the fiery furnace if they didn't bow to the king and worship his idols, and here is what they said and it so spoke to me during this time.
"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace, and he will deliver us our of thine hand, O King. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." Daniel 3:17-18 Then I love this verse.... (the King speaking), "He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." Daniel 3:25
They said they will serve God whether God deliver them or not. But the awesome part, HE did!! And we moved here for God. I can't let my circumstances determine whether I stay, or my attitude about it. So, I'm done with trials. Booya, see ya later!! ;-)

Some new goals I am excited about.

Goal 1. Not to gain more than 35 pounds with this baby. I wasn't sure if I should really make it a goal, but if I have a number I can watch the scale more closely. With my boys, I wouldn't watch the scale, then I would realize I was gaining 10 pounds a month the last 6 months.

Goal 2. To Walk/Run 3 times a week for at least 30 minuets. (If I get a treadmill I will 4-5 days).

Goal 3. Do Yoga 2 times a week.

Goal 4....Really excited about this one.. Bluecross Riverbend 5K in Chattanooga June 18. Even though it's just a 5k, I think having something on the calendar will keep me walking/running.

Goal 5. Eat healthy! I've been doing well with this since I can't eat, fat, grease, fast food, ect.

Goal 6. This is the main thing... to LIVE LIKE I WANT TO LIVE FOREVER. EATING HEALTHY AND EXERCISING, so after the baby I don't have to start over.

Well thanks for reading my super long dramatic post.
Love, The Curvy Housewife