Fright in the Night

Last night around midnight, I was awoken to the sound of my dad's phone ringing. (I was surprised I heard it over the thunder and rain pouring on the trailer and due to the fact I am a total deep sleeper - to the point if a bomb went off nearby, I'd be lucky if I heard it.) My first thought was "Oh no! Something must have happened at his work. He's gonna have to go to work tonight".

I strained to make out the hushed whispers from my parents room. I peered out from the curtain that I have draped over my lower bunk and saw my dad in his jeans hurriedly putting on his boots and shirt.

"What's wrong?" I whispered.

"Evann, get up and turn on the laptop to the Weather channel," he said without any explanation.

I nodded, slipped on my robe, and decided to ask questions later. Our computer takes a while to turn on so in that time, Jace had awoken and my dad had him turn on the TV to the News. To my shock, I heard from one of the meteorologists these words: "Warning to those in Fannin County - take immediete shelter! Spotted tornado headed straight for Bailey (the town where we live in) and neighboring towns." My eyes bulged and I looked at my dad. I found the website and let my dad get on. (My mom was also up at this time) After scanning over the site for a few seconds, he looked up. "Wake the kids up. We need to get to the storm cellar."

My breath was cut short but I rushed to the bunkbeds. I shook Avery awake as best as I could and tried to the same for Olivian. "Olivian! I need you to wake up. Come on...Daddy needs us..." That was pointless. She was out. I snatched her up and tried to get her to stand. "Come on, we need to go outside." The poor girl was so out of it that she just stood there totally confused and began to cry (adding to the stress). I stuffed her arms through her coat while my mom arose Jammer, wrapped him in a blanket and got her boots on. Then I raced back to my bed in search for my boots.

I couldn't find them! I looked everywhere and finally just grabbed my flip-flops (ugh). My dad was already outside near the storm cellar, taking off the board that worked as a temporary door. Jace grabbed Kane (our pitt-bull) and we all rushed outside into the pouring rain. The wind blew harshly around us, my bed-tossled hair whipped around my face.

"I'll get Bailey," I told my dad and rushed to the "Shack" where she sleeps (she has long hair and Jammer is alergic). Of course, she was all excited and about tackled me, smothering my pajamas with mud. I put her on the leash and took her to the cellar. It was there that Jace was having a hard time getting Kane into the cellar. He was panicked by the storm and didn't like the idea of going into a dark place. I about freaked when he somehow slipped out of his collar.

I practically threw Bailey to Jace and tried to grab Kane (all the way thoughts of animals bolting during storms raced through my mind) and picked him up. (FYI, he's HEAVY!) I stood there as Jace carried Bailey into the Cellar and I cried out, "Dad! I can't get Kane down there! He's too heavy!" (He was! I was like going to topple head-first into the cellar if I tried by myself.) My dad took Kane and I followed him inside. I took the leash and crouched in the far corner. Jace handed me Bailey's leash and hurried to help my dad bring in the folding chairs that were right outside. They were soaked, but we didn't care. My mom sat in one, a half-sleeping Jammer in her arms. Olivian and Avery shared one, and I sat in one with Bailey on my lap (of course, because she wouldn't have it any other way) and Kane by the collar. We prayed for protection.

My dad and brother were outside watching the skies for a sign of the tornado, meanwhile I was underground, trying not to panic and trying not to cry. (By the way, I absolutely hate natural disasters. Somehow it always really scares me. When I was little, I'd wake up screaming in the night from nightmares of fires or tornados. So this was a bit...um, frightening. Actually, I'd rather face twelve armed men than a tornado. Then like Jace said, "Ha, like you've ever faced twelve men with guns. Riiiiight." Well....:P)

Oh, and the phone call...that was our awesome friends the Melers. Miraculously, they had been awake (they normally go to bed earlier) and were watching the news when they saw the newsflash. While Mr. Meler called Daddy, Mrs. Meler said she had literally fallen to her knees and had prayed for us the entire time we were in the cellar.

My mom called them while we waited for the tornado and said we were safe and in the cellar. Then the signal was gone. I really had to control my breathing when my mom mouthed at me, "Listen." Then I heard it... BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, in the distance. "That's it," she mouthed. I was so close to crying. Yet, she looked so calm!

To make a long story short, the tornado (by God's Hand) missed us by a hair. It destroyed many homes in Leonard (a town barely six miles from us) and a few homes in Bailey, but missed us completely. (Boy, was I relieved!) The only damage the storm caused on our land was a lot of the stuff outside had been blown across the yard and there was a lot of mud. Big deal, right?

We eventually went back into the RV (putting the dogs in the "Shack" since they were ridiculously muddy - as was I, but my parents were gracious enough to let me sleep in the trailer :P) and we thanked God for protecting us and our land.

My mom said this experience made her laugh. "It's just God letting us know that he is in control."

I marvel at how calm she is in such situations - along with my dad and brother! I've learned from this situation how I need to really work on trusting in God in all situations - even the scary situations. Sometimes I think I can handle any situation calmly, but now I know I can't. At least, not without the total confidence that I KNOW God is with me and that he'll protect me. So like always, God protected us. He is an awesome God!