unbelieveable.

these last couple of days i can hardly think of anything besides the tornado.
the families who are homeless now.
the fear they must have felt as the tornado hit them directly,
not knowing if they were going to survive.
how close it was to our home. it could have been us.
people's lives turned upside down in an instant.

the pictures just don't do justice.

inside what is left of one of todd's class mates home.

it is so humbling to realize the impact of a natural disaster.

it is fierce and violent, leaving a mighty mark on all who cross its path.

i would say there is a somber feeling in town.

i would also say that everyone wants to help and give of what they have.

more prayers for those who have suffered loss.

twister.

calm after the storm.

the kids and i were unsure what to do with ourselves this evening,

so i strapped them in the jogger stroller and we started out on a walk.

we got to the park {about 1 mile from our place}

it wasn't much later when

a city worker came to tell us there was a tornado warning and to get home.

the skies were gray and it was starting to rain a bit, but nothing crazy.

and then things changed.

the lightning felt too close, and the thunder too loud.

then the sky turned gray, a really dark gray, and then i got scared.

i might have started running faster than i have ever ran before.

good thing i did.

people shouting, "hurry!" at me from their car windows didn't bring ease either.

then came the sirens.

"okay, i'm almost home."

my legs were on fire.

our sweet neighbors saw me and called for me to come to their basement.

i scooped up the kids and couldn't have made it to their house any faster.

the tornado hit.

thankfully it missed us by a couple of miles,

but there were many others who weren't so lucky.

prayers for the families who lost their homes today.

i took these pictures tonight, just about 2 miles north of us.

this is the place i love.

a long and cold winter can almost make you forget the things you love about a place.

but now it's all coming back. it is beautiful here. and peaceful. and green. and warm. and now i am falling in love all over again.

my orchestra of crickets is back.

i planted flowers in the front yard today.

gerber daisies.

i love them.

i cooked dinner with the back door open while preslee wandered outside asking the birds in our yard, "you want to come in my house?"

we go walking in the evenings now.

bubby falls asleep the minute we exit the driveway.

i think he finds our walks as soothing as i do.

what i am most excited for now are the fireflies. it shouldn't be much longer until they make their appearance. i love those magic little bugs.

oh, and the farmers market.

i will be going on saturday morning,

make that every saturday morning.

scenes from the midwest.

on our little road trip to nauvoo kaitie rode shotgun
and got these awesome photos.
nothing like the midwestern countryside.

Freezing.

Hence our Hibernation for the Winter.