Wednesday morning, I got everything together for my 2 hour drive with Sarabeth to visit her Mimi and PawPaw. Matt was going to stay at the farm and work while we were gone. Right before I drove off, Matt decided since it was raining and he didn't think he'd get much work done, that he would just go with us. I would later be so thankful that he did.
After a fun filled day with cousins and grand parents, we set off to head back to the farm. The weather was getting bad and we even heard the tornado sirens blaring a few times. We flipped on the news before leaving and realized we were in the middle of a huge storm cell that was heading north, the direction we needed to go. We stayed for a few minutes to wait it out then got on the road during a break in the storm. I am not a big fan of rain at all, especially when it's sideways! Matt drove, I watched, Sarabeth slept. Before we knew it, the rain was so bad we couldn't see anything in front of us. We got about an hour outside of Longview and Matt did a U turn and went back to a little corner store we had passed about 1/4 mile back. He wanted to see if they had a television so he could check the weather. Come to find out, we were driving right behind the storm that had just blown through Longview, and right in front of another one coming bringing 60 mile an hour winds, hail and possible tornadoes. We decided to hang at the store for a while. We watched the weather intently while Sarabeth colored in her new Tinkerbell coloring books, compliments of Mimi and Pawpaw.
The news showed countless numbers of photos and footage of tornado damage and flooded highways. One tornado even touched down 20 miles east of us while we were there. We weren't sure if had waited long enough for the storm to be far enough in front of us, but we knew if we didn't leave soon, we would get caught in the next one coming, the worst one!
Back on the road again. We were now on hour 3 of our 2 hour drive back to the farm. Matt's mom was in Texarkana at the hospital with his dad. Our plans to stop there on the way back quickly changed when we realized that most of the major streets there were flooded, and we knew we had to beat the storm behind us. Trekking along, we beat most of the rain to about 30 miles from the farm. In a matter of minutes the wind picked up, the rain was slicing across the sky and the lightning felt like it was inside the car with us! We were past any major town and on the highway that led out to the turn off to the farm. We were the only car for miles. I was staring to get nervous. Matt was glued to the steering wheel with eyes wide open trying to keep us on the road and in our lane! The news on the radio reported tornado touchdowns in the town we were driving through. With no place to pull over and for fear of getting stuck, we moved on. The water was getting higher on the street and the rain was so thick we were driving 20 miles an hour.
Because Matt's parent's live in a mobile home on the farm, everyone had gone down to the barn to seek shelter during the storm. We knew we just had to make it to the barn. Turning off on the dirt road to the farm, we feared the creeks had rose and flooded out the streets as that's what usually happens when it rains. But this was more than just a rain. I was scared, and when Matt said to pray, I knew he was scared too. Each time the lighting came, we skimmed the sky for funnel clouds and flying debris, or a tractor-as Matt told me later! Every mile we drove seemed like an eternity. Matt's aunts and other family and friends were calling and checking on us every few minutes. We told them we were close but had yet to cross the creek where we knew we may not be able to cross. The water was rushing across the road like a river, I knew we were going to float away down the river. I kept running through my head-"how do I get Sarabeth out of her car seat if we start to float" I was tempted to go ahead and unbuckle her and hold her just in case. All of these scenarios were running through my head. I really thought we might die. We had no cell services at this point and were about 5 miles from the barn. We were now 5 hours into our drive. I just wanted out of the car and my feet on dry ground.
I was praying hard, but not crying. I didn't want Sarabeth to see my fear and get scared. I kept telling her everything was going to be just fine and we would be to Ma's house any minute. I really wasn't sure if that was going to happen. We came across where the creek usually floods and there was no water on the road! Of all places not to have water. We made it through, and moved on-only to encounter flooded road after flooded road. But, Matt stayed calm and was careful to make sure we could make it through. I don't know how, but we made it to the cattle guard in front of the house and saw the lights to the barn. Only about 1/2 mile to go. As we turned the corner from the lake we could see Aunt Phyl, Peggy, Billie, and the neighbors waiting for us under the car port at the barn. We hadn't even come to a complete stop when they flew open our doors and grabbed us, Sarabeth and all of our stuff and rushed us into the barn. It all happened so fast, I didn't have time to react. I just did what they said. Once inside, I sat down and just lost it. I had never been so scared, but never so glad to be HOME. We spent the rest of the night in the barn, glued to the TV, while we bunked the kids in the back of the vans on the carport with blankets and pillows for the night. The wind shook the barn and the rain was so loud, you couldn't even hear each other talk. We were still in for a long night. Some found a place to sleep, my sister in law slept on the back seat of their mini van that they took out and put in the barn. Others just paced the floor waiting for it all to end. Whatever the case, I wasn't scared anymore. Something about being welcomed back in the arms of my loved ones, made me feel safe. Just like I feel when I'm at home.
I am realizing this Christmas, with everything going on in our lives, that Home is where we make it. Although it might not be the perfect picture of what Christmas would be at our home, it's Christmas nevertheless and wherever I am, I am home.
Matt and Sarabeth "camping" in the van watching Veggie Tales
The Aunt rescue squad
