Weekly Wrap-Up: The One with the Tornadoes

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Happy Friday! Wow, what a week. If you’ve seen the news, you know that much of the southeast was devastated by tornadoes this past Wednesday. Our area was hit hard. My family was very fortunate; the multiple tornadoes that hit our area went all around us. Many were not so lucky.

My city lost eight lives, with over 30 lost in our general area. My alma mater was heavily damaged and many homes and businesses were completely destroyed. It’s been a very emotional week watching the news footage – on the one channel that we can get with the rabbit ears antenna Brian dug out – of the area where I’ve lived all my life so heavily damaged.

Hundreds are without homes and thousands are still without power. It’s been incredible seeing the community come together. Many areas put out the word that no more volunteers were needed because they had so many showing up to help. It may be days before the roads are open into the city where I went to high school.

This area, which never used to see tornadoes, was hit with at least two confirmed EF-4 tornadoes. An EF-5 has sustained winds of 200 mph; the tornadoes that hit here had sustained winds of 190 mph. There were multiple smaller tornadoes. One city was hit with two – one Wednesday morning and another Wednesday night.

We spent much of the day Wednesday either watching the news, which was on monitoring the weather all day, or sitting in the basement waiting for the storm systems – there were three total – to pass. As I said, we were very fortunate. We were only without power for about 3 hours. We’ve been without cable and Internet service for two days, but that’s a minor inconvenience compared with what many are facing.

If you’re reading this, that means that I’ve finally made my way to Chick-Fil-A for Wi-Fi and sweet tea. This may be the first time I’ve ever been more excited about the Wi-Fi than the tea. 😉

Our county schools are closed all of next week with one nearby school system closed until further notice. We have, for the most part, carried on with school. Brianna’s Switched-on-Schoolhouse, which she is really enjoying, and Josh and Megan’s Teaching Textbooks are on their computers, but not online, so we’ve still been able to do those. With the exception of the Speekee Spanish program, which we’re reviewing, nothing else involves the Internet.

Of course, I’ve been going through a little withdrawal, but not too bad. There’s nothing like an event like this to put things into perspective for you and make you realize how fortunate you are. I would appreciate your prayers for all those who lost loved ones and/or suffered property loss or damage this past week.

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Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.

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28 Comments

  1. Great post!! I'm glad you're okay. We sustained minimal damage. My nephew lost his home 1/2 mile from here. We were fortunate, though, we lost no loved ones. Our prayers and thoughts are with all of those who have lost so much, too.

  2. Now that is a fitting way to celebrate – heading to Chickfila for sweet tea! So thankful you and your family are ok!!! Such a sad few days for the southeast.

  3. I am so glad to hear that you are okay!!!!

    It's so sad. We just keep praying for the people in the southeast!

  4. Very glad to hear that you alright. I've been praying for those affected by these tornadoes. It's very heartbreaking to hear about.
    I hope that next week will be so much better than this.

  5. As someone who has lived through tornado hell and lived to tell about it, my heart goes out to your family and everyone else affected by this horrible disaster. What a blessing that your home is intact and your family safe. I will continue to pray for everyone as they try to rebuild lives, businesses and homes following this terrible event.

  6. So glad to hear that your family is safe. I didn't know you were in an impacted area but our mutual friend Jamie asked for prayers for you. I've been praying and still praying for the less fortunate. Good to see a post from you!

  7. Oh wow – I can't imagine what you've been through. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you, especially those who have suffered such losses. I was tempted to complain about our Minnesota weather today and then felt so silly. We are so blessed to be healthy and safe, with a roof over our heads! Glad to hear your family is ok!

  8. we had several small ones touch down here too ~ very hard to believe! So glad to hear that you are safe and ok!! 🙂

  9. The storms hit us, but not as badly as you. There were several tornadoes here. Lots of material damage, but no lives lost in the immediate area, although statewide that's not the case.

    Glad your family is safe (and mine). Continuing to pray for those who have been forever changed by this crazy weather.

  10. I didn't realize this was so close to you. I have been praying for the area's affected and I will continue to. I have lived in 2 of the area's hit and still have loved ones in both. I have seen photo's of the damage and it's just heart breaking!

  11. I'm so glad to hear that you're okay! We drove by your area today as we headed to Knoxville. We don't have power restored and don't expect it until late Monday at the earliest so we took the opportunity to visit family and see my new great nephew.

    We're thankful that we have a home and each other. We had six tornadoes in our area alone. The sirens began at 6 in the morning and by the time the big storms hit in the afternoon, I was a nervous wreck. I don't normally panic but I nearly hyperventilated when the weather service announced that a tornado a 1/2 mile wide was within 10 minutes of us. What on earth do you do at that point except hit your knees and pray for yourself and all your friends that you know are in its path? Prayers to you and yours! My heart goes out to those that lost loved ones all over the South. (((Hugs)))

  12. So sorry for all the hurt where you are. Hope power comes back soon and everyone can start healing. Thanks for the weekly post and link up even during hard times.

  13. I didnt realize you were so close to the storms. I'm heartbroken for your area. Thank God you are okay!

  14. I'm glad you're okay! The stories I've been hearing about what is going on in the south are so sad.

  15. Friend, I'm so GLAD you and yours are o.k. I'm sure it's been an emotional week. We had them here too, and I woke up praying in the middle of the night. One touched down and took out a home just a few miles away. We're all in His hands.

  16. Glad you escaped the tornadoes….glad you have internet at Chick-Fil-A.

    I really, really tried to get my entry done earlier but I have had some major disasters to deal with here in my world…one involving a septic tank backup and one involving a rusty roofing nail.

    Thanks for hosting.

  17. we were hit also – our house had minor damage but our neighborhood was badly hit. It is so devastating to see this in person. Alabama got hit 100x worse than we did – I could not imagine it being much worse until it happened.

    Glad you and your family are OK.

  18. I never made the connection. So glad God was watching out for you all and you are safe!

  19. Wow, what a devastation! I'm so glad you are OK. We had only a windstorm, but even that was frightening.

    I can't imagine what people in your part of the world have experienced!

    Blessings,

    Annie Kate

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