Alabama Tornado

I check the weather a lot, especially using weather.com on my computer. Mostly looking for snow. A few months ago, the chance of snow was a little exciting! No more folks. Now the chance of snow is almost enough to make me cry. I am done, finished, and if spring doesn't come soon I might go a bit crazier then I already am. Well, more snow expected soon. And the ice rink in front of our house hasn't even melted yet. The rest of the base is pretty much snow free, but the angle our house faces and the fact that it gets NO sun, means our snow doesn't melt! We had some days that reached in the 40's, so the snow turns to slush, then it freezes. Our yard is 2 inches of solid ice. It is AWFUL! Kids are falling all the time, it is dangerous to take out the trash, people actually walk or ride by, and they slow down and point because their own house has been snow free for at least a week! If I had enough money to buy a small Zamboni, I could even it all out, rent the family some skates and we could have Friday night ice skate night in the yard.

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At least March is almost here, so that means only 3 more months of winter, I HOPE!!!!

One thing I do not miss in spring is tornadoes. Being from the south, loud sirens and hiding in the bathtub are a normal part of life.

Sadly, I checked weather.com on Sunday afternoon and watched as a severe storm hit near home in Alabama and an F3 tornado ripped through the main road in Prattville.

I got ahold of my dad on his cell phone, and since his neighborhood was without power, he had no idea a tornado had come through.

Through out the day we reached other close friends. They are all safe, but damage was severe. My aunt and uncle have the only house left that is livable in their neighborhood. Their garage collapsed and there was some roof damage, but no windows broke and the doors can still close, so they are staying with a generator. All the other houses around them could not be lived in. One good friend, who had his family in the bathtub, said it did not sound like the proverbial train, it sounded like thunder at first, but then the thunder never quit, it just got louder and louder as it hit their neighborhood less then 2 blocks away.

Thankfully, there was no loss of life, but here are some pictures of the damage my sister sent me.

This first picture is what is left of the Armed Forces Recruiting Center.

Wal Mart

Sonic.

This one makes me sad. I MISS SONIC SO BAD! There won't be any cranberry lime-aides served here for awhile.

Office Depot

The fire station

I got this link to an amazing picture off of MSN's pictures of the week. The destruction is terrible and I am so sad for the families, but the actual photograph is amazing. The total composition is really good, but the pretty lighting, the orange glow of a beautiful sunset reflecting in the water and surrounding such catastrophe is such a contrast that I really really like this picture.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23279019/displaymode/1107/s/2/framenumber/12/
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Another thought on my mind this morning; the Air Force lost a pilot yesterday. There was a mid-air collision over the gulf, both pilots ejected, but one did not survive.

Being a part of the Air Force world now, it just seems so personal. Though we didn't personally know these men, a lot of people did. We live near, are friends with and we see and hear these jets take off every day as they practice whatever it is they do to keep us, as a country, safe. They put in long hours, they spent a lot of time away from their families and what they do is just so important.

Please pray for the young family of this pilot and for healing for the other pilot.