Storm Photos

We got our power back about 2AM and got the house cooled down. The aftermath of the storm is much more widespread than might be imagined. The flood waters on the West end went down, but power is still a few days away for some. My brother’s store will be without power for three days. Everyone emerged from their homes Saturday morning to their yards to clean up the mess in the storm’s wake. There were electrical trucks, tree services, and bundles of tree debris lining every street. The dock down the street that had the bench was gone, their boat moved down the lake. That storm was somethin else!

Just 4 minutes

We only got four minutes to save the world!

Recently I saw an episode of Ellen with Justin Timberlake (imagine that) and they talked about how it is impossible to save the world in just four minutes…but I got to thinking…a LOT can happen in 4 minutes! Take our latest storm!!

The Latest Storm Photos

Gallery 1:Storm PHotos

I think my favorite is the canoe on the streets of the West End. I have a few of my own, but I won’t have time until later–

Last night we were going to bed “by candlelight” and there were still over 20,000 in the city without power. Half of Dodge is still without power as of this morning! The winds were CRAZY and took out powerlines and trees and shingles and car windows…my mom’s work lost windows and a flagpole (she works at Mutual oa Omaha) and there was a jack-knifed semi on the I-29/I-80 merge– should have seen the back-up from that!!

My sister and I were going to buy her some clothes for her trip to the christian convention but after seeking shelter at the store, they closed business for the day (she was so mad). [On another note, that’s one of Audrey’s favorite books: “I was so mad” by Mercer Meyer.]

So, back to my point: It only took about 4 minutes for this storm to roll through. AND YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT!!!! It was crazy! The sky was just circling around, the wind was throwing things…Bekah said at one point “looks like a tornado”. And it poured nd the hail came–What do you do?

Anyway, off to the other side of the state, will post our photos later–

The Great Outdoors

Well, summer is roaring– it was nearly 100% humid the other day. Good thing Thayne bought a dehumidifier– it allows us to keep the air on a little higher temp but still feel cool. This summer has been CRAZY rainy here. It seems every time we are going to head to the park, it pours.

Last weekend was very warm. Audrey wanted to go on a walk which she would have gladly stayed on permanently. Instead of walking around for a third hour, we got out her pool, which is in grave need of, well, replacement… She was much more fond of it this time and even though the water was fa-reezing, it was so hot out, she didn’t hardly mind at all.She kept insisting that Aunt Jess stand in the pool with her.

Shoes and All

The hot weather has brought out the best in the dogs. Thayne has been working outside almost every day. He really loves that. Here’s some photos of the dogs getting “groomed”–

The pump seemed to work out well in yesterday’s downpour. And it is really nice to not have standing water around. The mosquitos are TERRIBLE this year. Sometimes I still ask why we live in Iowa?

speaking of Iowa, tomorrow we are headed to the other side of the state for a wedding anniversary celebration– can’t imagine being married 50 years– but they say it goes fast! So, I guess my take-home from this will be treasure every minute.

Not much to update, just keeping busy organizing the home and attempting to keep the pants dry–wish us luck–

Under Water

Well, we’re a little late, but I thought I’d share some of the photos of Iowa City (Coralville) under water. It is crazy, but I went there for four years and we had some crazy rain, lots of large puddles at the end of every sidewalk. We had bomb threats and tornados. Real bombs and wind damage, BUT, since I’ve been there, a tornado tore through downtown where we lived, and now they are FLOODED. Crazy. I can’t imagine! So, anyway, here’s some pics–

Brother Ben Updates

Well, I don’t really remember last I updated on Brother Ben, and since school pretty much took the place of me posting, here’s some attempt to update y’all–

First off, Here’s a pic of Alexander, born last November:

This is Audrey and Ezekiel at Easter time…

Another Alex…

Another Zeke…

Hmm…not much else to know I guess. Ben is working at Omaha #1 as assistant produce manager and he’s crazy about it. He sends pictures of his displays to dad by email…

Sarah (#2) is working at Jennie Ed in the maternity ward. Awesome I think to get to work with the babies. She also is planning to get back to school for her nursing degree…

I think they are done having babies, but maybe not, you never know. They will quickly run out of room if not! They are still updating their home, making it theirs. We don’t see them much with us all being so busy, but I thought maybe I’d update you all in case you saw them even less often–

Olive GArden Rocks my socks!

Thayne and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary (yeah!) this week, so tonight we were both off and went to the Olive Garden– yummy! Ironically, Ben, SArah and the boys were also there to celebrate their 3rd anniversary which was in March…I should put up some photos of them so y’all can see ’em, eh? (muah-ha-ha, Canada-funny)

Tasha watched Missy, which I’m sure wasn’t an easy task. Audrey has unfortunately been crazy and clingy and wanting all of everyone’s attention lately. She also likes to sit on the potty for hours and do absolutely nothing…and to have you put in a movie for five minutes until she picks a different one. Fun times!

We went to the doctor for Audrey’s check-up Tuesday and she said everything looks like its getting better. That is awesome.

So, that’s a quick one for ya– I’ll get some Osborne picks up tomorrow or saomethin–

And…They’re Back

Turns out that a water main broke after that last storm, which is the biggest reason we got so flooded. Thayne bought a pump and put it down in our drain to pump the water to the other side of the driveway where it is “dry”. It actually worked REALLY well.

Anyway, so here’s right out in front of our house today, the same scene as the morning after. Not sure what they are doing now. Audrey loves to stand out there and stare at them. Sure they love it too.

This week we have been trying to get into the routine of summer. Audrey has been stuggling with the potty training. She would sit-sit-sit and then she’d have an indentation from the seat and she wouldn’t sit for a day or so…SO, we went to Walmart yesterday and found her a nice cushy soft one that I love. It is great because it can go on the toilet with or without the bowl, or it can be the little chair, and it has a step stool built in. And, it’s pink, so she LOVES it. She looks so little up there on the seat!

Yesterday we had a little housework to catch up on, so Audrey “helped me” with the laundry. I also have a silly photo of her actually wearing her headband as a headband. I’m sure I’ve mentioned that she likes to wear them as necklaces. She got a new one today as her potty prize! Yeah!

Okay, a couple photos and Audrey’s calling…

Lil Sioux Tears

LITTLE SIOUX, Iowa — Four Boy Scouts — three from Omaha — were killed and 48 people at a wilderness camp were injured when an EF-2 tornado touched down north of Little Sioux at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday.

Weather officials said Thursday the tornado had winds between 111 and 135 mph, rating it an EF-2, or Enhanced Fujita scale 2. That was the initial estimate, though officials said the final rating could be EF-3 if the winds are determined to be stronger.

Josh Fennen, 13; Sam Thomsen, 13; and Ben Petrzilka, 14, all of Omaha were killed, along with Aaron Eilerts, 14, of Eagle Grove, Iowa.

The Whole Story

Do you ever wonder in this world of ours why it is always “unfair”. You grow up thinking everything is, your parents tell you to get used to it. But HONESTLY! I believe in a gracious, loving, wonderful Father in heaven…but nights like last night you really get brought down hard. How is it that four boys at scout camp of all places, fall prey to Mother Nature? Its not like some evil person did anything to them, its not like there was anything malicious going on, just a storm. Here are kids set out to camp to learn survival…and they get put up against a storm that takes their lives??

I guess what I’m saying is, how can my loving, amazing Father let something like that happen? I know, I know…some will say there is a reason for everything. Some will say it was their time and we have to accept it. How comforting that must be to their families and friends. My dad once told me about a guy standing on top of a building to watch a tornado who got hit and a board went straight through him– now THAT I am okay with, if you’re gonna be a dumbass…

Anyway you look at it, things in life that are unfair and things that tug at your heart strings…these things will happen. Maybe its a lesson in humility, in gratefulness…to think we here have only water, water, water to worry about…I still have my child, I still have a home. I don’t know how else to close this but to say pray for them, for their families, for their friends, for the others at the camp and also pray with thankfulness for what you have, for all he’s given you, because someday it may be gone.

Still Swimming

As you can see, our lives and house were spared. I will post later about tragedy and so forth that we were lucky to escape it all. Anyway, hope today finds you all well– and pray the rain stays away for awhile so we can dry out our carpets…

Tornaydo, Tornaa-do

Well, it is stormy again…this one is pretty, uh, gloomy. In fact, there are tornados EVERYWHERE! I don’t remember hearing the sirens for real, just those Saturday morning testings…but man they have been going on and on and on…

Thayne and I really need to get a house with a basement…and a new house that doesn’t flood…

Anyway, here’s some phone photos we took on the way home. It really isn’t raining out yet, but there’s tornado warnings, flash flood warnings, etc, etc…

So, seeking the shelter we do not have…