February 16, 2008 TORNADO!

Well, today has been an other adventure. We woke this morning in Pearl, MS to temperatures of about 55. Wasn't exactly Miami but there was no snow (just rain). We drove through Louisiana with little to speak of. It was generally overcast but was increasingly warm.... At one point we actually had the venting on in the van. We had a nice stop along the boarder of Louisiana and Texas to see the "big muddy" Mississippi River. It was quite impressive! Rumor has it that my Great Great..... (many time Great) Uncle is responsible for the discovery of the source of this great and mighty river. His name is Captain Willard Glazier and I have one of his books (he was quite a charactor). The source of the river is named after him, Lake Glazier.

Anyway, getting back on the road the skys continued to darken and after about an hour David asked me to check the National Weather Service for current weather conditions. (We have the ability to connect to internet while on the road and have GPS) After pulling up the weather service we discovered that we were right in the middle of TORNADO WARNINGS. We immediately headed for cover to a small town called Lindale, TX. We were about 25 miles out and came over the rise of a gentle hill and right into the face of a wall of rain and wind. Everyone came to a stop! We sat still for what seemed to be about 10 minutes. I gave the children instructions that if told they were to run from the van and into the ditch just outside the van... The rain began to ease slightly and David decided to start moving out of a fear that we were sitting ducks... As we progressed on the road we saw many police vehicles going in the other direction but nothing in our direction.... (perhaps that gave me a false sense of security) We weren't down the road very far and here on the median was a police car with a car that had apparently flipped over many times.... no driver visible. (we assume the driver was in the police car and ok.)

We are now in the camp ground in Lindale and the tornado warning will be lifted by 9:00pm. By the time we got here I was so scared I could hardly talk straight. The local weather man says the conditions are now wrong for a tornado to occur as it is only 44 degrees... Praise Jesus!!!! (Hey Laura, remember that dream about the tornado... thought I was going to see it come true.)

We drove 323 miles today.

Please pray for me as I have very little faith and much fear...

Matthew 14:28-31 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Robin