2,691 times that I have sat down at the computer to create instead of consume.
2,691 memories that I have organized, recorded, and published.
2,691 details that I might have forgotten otherwise.
2,691 reminders that life is so good.
2,691 opportunities to write out just how much I love this little life of ours.
The trick is always diving back in after a long break. But somehow, after years of watching so many other blogs die, this one lives on. It is my pride and joy! And after the ridiculous drama that was watching the TikTok ban come and, 12 hours later, go, I was reminded just how much having access to this blog where I can express myself and write down my words and share my heart with my family really means to me. I would be devastated if this blog disappeared. So, let's dust off that pile of pictures from the end of 2024 and get back at it!
Another storm drove us to the basement last month. This one was categorized as a derecho, a term that was charming and unfamiliar in 2020, and now just strikes a healthly dose of fear and sorrow in our hearts. There were tornadoes around the state assocated with this storm, but none as close by as the one in April and it was the fast moving thunderstorms and straighline wind that caused the main damage in our yard this time.
To illustrate, this first video is a fairly standard downpour that we expect every spring. This was at 9 AM.
This was at 1:40 PM. The kids got out of school two hours early and the skies were deceptively blue.
We decided to have a luau to celebrate the early out (get our minds off the impending weather).
The second video is three or four minutes of the derecho that we experienced at 4:30 the same afternoon.
Like a true Iowan, I wanted to get a good video of the storm, but the second I opened the door Laney shot out into the yard and went blowing around like a twig. She was safe but my shouts were enough to upset everyone. I had to physically restrain the kids from running out the door while coaxing Laney back in the house. She was thoroughly shooketh.
And then we just waited for it to blow over. The power was out and the storm was over in less than 15 minutes.
We all handle stress in different ways.
As soon as the storm passed, we were outside checking out the damage. It hurts to see but it is also fascinating and unavoidable. We lost 6 trees in less than 15 minutes.
Once the damage was surveyed, we pulled out full stop Iowa mode and grilled up some dinner.
This door is a good 12 feet inside our sunroom. This is the first time I've seen rain on this door.
My kids know how much I love the mushrooms they find in the yard. (NOT!)
The beauty that comes after the storm is almost painful to see. Nature is an unforgiving beast.
There were branch spears sticking straight out all over the yard. It felt like the Sword in the Stone every time we pulled one out.
We lost the other half of the V tree in this storm. I actually like the way it looks better now.
So much work to be done.
Our power was out for eight hours and our washing machine didn't turn on for two more days, but so what? A town just 40 minutes from us suffered the deadliest tornado in the country so far this year with winds of 185 mph.
We lost a few trees. These people lost everything.
Almost a month after the storm, I am still tearing up at the thought of all of the people that came out to help us clean up these massive and heavy trees. The storm was on Tuesday, on Wednesday the trees were cleared by about 30 people from our ward who cancelled other activities and spent the evening with chain saws and fires. Thursday night some of our friends from Ankeny came down to clear up sticks and thorns and burn more, and by Friday we were ready to host a group of young women campers in our backyard.
These storms are a beast, and I absolutely hate them, but they are also and incredible reminder of what- and who matters most.
While Daddy and I were enjoying a great date night at Leah's second performance of Cinderella, these cuties were chilling at home.
There have been all kinds of storms and tornado warnings this spring, but we didn't realize this beast of a storm was heading over from Nebraska and aiming to change our evening plans.
It was not a great night for our family to be split up. Just as Cinderella and Prince Charming started dancing at the ball, the play was stopped and everyone was sent down to the wrestling room in the basement of the high school. It was hot and sweaty down there, but we were reunited with Leah and we were able to talk to the babies back at home and track the storm well enough to know that a tornado was touching down in our neighborhood. And then all we could do was wait.
As is the case with most storms that roll through Iowa, the worst of it happened somewhere else. The babies were brave and huddled up in the exercise room until the storm passed. As soon as we were released from the wrestling room and realized the show would not go on, we headed home. I drove Leah's car and followed Daddy's truck, but all was well. We had to wait on the hill for the power lines to be cleared from the road, but all was well.
This information tells me that the tornado was the lowest possible intensity, was only on the ground for 3 minutes, traveled just over a mile, was about the width from home plate to first base on a baseball field, and traveled at 80 miles per hour, which is faster than we ever drive around here, even on the highway. The map tells me that the tornado was less than 100 yards from our house while my three babies were home alone, tucked into the basement. The blue line path of the tornado cuts right over "Shark Lake" which our house sits right next to. Miraculously, this tornado didn't hurt a single house or person in it's short but destructive path. We can't say the same for the other 23 tornadoes that ripped through the state this night.
The next day, when the sun was out again, we saw some of the damage that this pesky little storm caused. This is the route of my daily walk with Laney.
These trees look like they were just pushed over.
These trees, so lovingly cared for by their owners, are just gone.
And the bittersweet truth is how beautiful the world always looks after the storm. We all just carry on because, really, what else can we do?
