It’s stuff I read about and watch on the news coming out of Oklahoma or Kansas in the spring, not Central Illinois in the fall. Yet today I can’t stop looking at the photos and watching video of  the storms that ripped thru this area yesterday. Tornados destroying neighborhoods only 30 miles to the north.

The winds picked up and our power went out. Nothing to distract us inside, so we got to work cleaning, de-cluttering and hubby hanging new mini blinds on the windows. The winds got stronger and stronger. The rain began to fall and we heard thunder. We watched the sky, but never saw dark clouds so we continued with our tasks.

That evening, as the sun began to set we were still without power. I knew from text message from friends that there were tornados in the area that morning, but had no idea what had happened.   Not until that evening when hubby headed out to find a gas station with power so we could get the generator going. On his drive he turned on the radio and began to text me the news.  I immediately started thinking of the friends living in these areas and had no idea if they were okay.

Today we have power once more.  Our family was spared and for that I’m thankful.  I’m still waiting to hear from some friends, but those I have heard from are okay.  Horrible damage to their homes with a long road of clean-up and rebuilding ahead, but they are okay.