I've never been to Alabama before, and my chosen sister Julie has been there now for almost 4 years. She's been a lot better about visiting than me! ;) So several months ago we planned a girl's weekend trip full of shopping, spa-ing, relaxing and of course eating!!! Little did we know that the timing would bring way more than we expected.
130 confirmed tornados touched down in Alabama alone the day before I flew in. I was on the phone with Julie, talking out our itinerary when the the afternoon sirens began (the first wave had been that morning). "I have to get off the phone, Anj...I may lose you in this storm." Thinking back, those are rather cryptic words considering I could have lost her, like so many others lost their homes and loved ones. Her area where she lives literally looked like the hand of God had cupped over them...not two streets down, trees were shredded and metal power lines bent in half like straws...an open field showed what looked like "crop signs" showing where a tornado had skipped up and down taking everything with it.
When my plane landed, I entered Huntsville airport in the dark...run only on generators because the enitre area was without power...on our way to her house we saw homes leveled and scattered metal debris for miles in fields. It was surreal...almost unreal, like something out of a movie.
Our original plans were to start our weekend off by shopping at the beautiful Huntsville Mall. With no power that was out, and Julie suggested we still go shopping, but not for ourselves. That night we put together bags of hygiene products for women, bags of crayons and coloring books for children, bouncy balls, work gloves for men and women as well as face masks ,diapers and wipes to bring in to the relief effort drives, which were immediately set up everywhere in the area. I think we both agree that that shopping trip was one of the best we've ever made.
What was most impressive to me was that everywhere you turned, someone was buying for someone else, meeting needs, paying it forward with gladness. We also witnessed mayors and the governor as well as people affected all praising the Lord through it. Openly proclaiming that their Faith in God was strong and that they will continue to rely on Him...it was really touching.
I'll have several posts of our weekend...trust me, it was not all doom and gloom. I had a terrific time having a spa day, shopping, seeing the sights, relaxing and walking all over. I miss my Julie. It was along with a very good time spent with my sis, a humbling experience of seeing the fragility of life, the uncertainty of it, the precious reminder of how important it is to be grateful for what you have, not what you don't....I would ask though that anyone reading this would take a moment to pray for those that have suffered so much, and that if God lays it on your heart to give, I thank you, and God Bless you.
First photos are of the lines for gas, downed power lines and damage.
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