Life as Mr. and Mrs. Kline...: May 2011

A hundred times I have thought about typing this blog, and a hundred times I have dreaded it....

On Wednesday, April 27th of 2011, our state faced pain, sorrow, and heartache. That morning I woke to the rumbling of thunder and terrifying bolts of lightening as the storm plowed its way through our town. I remember thinking, "How am I going to drive to school in this? Why haven't I received a phone call yet?" Then just as I was about to blow dry my hair I got the call from Tuscaloosa County saying that school had been cancelled. I briefly spoke to Becky, another teacher, and went back to sleep.

My cousin, Whitney, had arrived from California, and we ate lunch that afternoon at Meg's house. We watched as the Cullman tornado pushed its way through the city then to James Span on the news and talked about him rolling up his sleeves getting ready for the storm watch. We were joking with Whitney about having to get into the small bathroom with Grandma and told her it probably wouldn't be THAT bad. Only later would we find out how wrong we actually were...

I was on the phone with Steven as I watched & listened as James Span talked about the tornado heading towards Tuscaloosa. Steven lives (lived) in Forest Lake just off 15th Street. This area also used to be my home. I spent four years of my life in the beautiful Tuscaloosa (as we call T-town). Leah & I would walk our dogs around the lake (Bella hated that she couldn't swim there). We knew Forest Lake as our home- our home away from home. I cannot begin to tell you the stories and memories that my friends & I have created in that town. They will forever stay in my heart. I watched the tornado touch down. The feeling of terror filled my body. I kept telling Steven, "It's coming your way!" His response, "It's going north of us Tess." He was standing in his street when he was saying, "I think it's gonna miss us!" Within 30 seconds his words were, "Oh my God! I gotta go!" Right then... I prayed. I believe in the Power of Prayer. I was watching the massive tornado plow right over his house from an hour & 15 minutes away, and I could literally do nothing. And that was it. Again, I believe in the Power of Prayer.

My heart broke, but yet I prayed. I have never had a feeling of such loss and feeling of helplessness. There was nothing I could do but wait. And pray. I sent text after text with no reply. What seemed like hours was really only minutes. Finally, the phone rang. It was Steven. I believe in the Power of Prayer. "I'm alive. My house is covered in trees, but I'm alive. Around me.. the houses are gone Tess! Forest Lake is gone!" He couldn't talk long. I remember him speaking to another man on the street, and they were going to pull people out of houses. But I knew he was alive. I believe in the Power of Prayer.

Here in Margaret we waited for the deadly tornado to head our way. We watched as the storm came through Pleasant Grove, Pratt City, and on through Birmingham. Then it picked up over Trussville, Argo, and Margaret. We weren't hit. I believe in the Power of Prayer. "It's over..." that was my first thought. Then within 15 minutes the phone rang. All I remember my Dad saying was, "Brooke's been hit! Shoal Creek has been hit!" Again, my heart broke. I frantically gathered my tennis shoes and loaded the truck with Dad. We had no idea where the storm was or if another was on its way. We just knew we had to get to Brooke. She was able to get news to us that they were okay. They got underneath the pool table in the basement with baby Lucy and others surrounding them. They were okay but trapped. I remember that ride to Shoal Creek being the scariest ride I've ever taken. I had no idea how we were going to get there as we kept running into dead end after dead end of the destruction of trees and power lines. We got to one point in the road where lines were down- I remember my Dad looking at me, and I already knew his decision. We were going to chance it. We had to. I believe in the Power of Prayer. Finally, what usually takes 20 minutes had taken over an hour to turn onto Brooke's road. Dead end. Ambulances, firetrucks, volunteers, police officers.... blocked the road. "Ma'am you can't go any farther. The transformer has blown, and there are lines down everywhere!" I knew Brooke and the family were okay so I did not push through. Others behind us were not as fortunate. Some of them had not heard from their families down the road. I still think about the young man who said, "I've been trying to get in touch with my wife and children- no answer." I wonder if they made it- if they're alive. I don't know. I believe in the Power of Prayer. Dad and I headed back home. Brooke & family would have to wait til morning for us to come get them. Their house was damaged, they had no water, but they were alive.

The next morning we headed to Brooke's house. I remember watching tears fill Meg's eyes as she asked, "Where's the driveway?" Cole was in the backseat saying, "This isn't Brooke's house." A feeling of complete devastation took my breath away. Later that day after trying to clear some of the debris and trees we took a drive down Shoal Creek. It was then that we realized just how lucky we are to have Brooke, Josh, Lucy & family with us. Almost every house was gone... demolished. We learned of the large loss of life as we headed farther down the road. They had already started search & rescue for so many.

In the days since the deadly tornadoes passed through our state I have been to Tuscaloosa (my home away from home) - only to find it mangled, destroyed, and unrecognizable. I took one look at Steven's house and the surrounding area- tears filled my eyes. I just kept repeating to him, "I can't believe you're alive." He was one of the fortunate ones. I took a drive through Forest Lake- and just prayed. I prayed for the lost, the missing, the broken hearted, and beaten. Then passing by a house I read on one of the standing walls, "A mighty fortress is our GOD." And again, I believe in the Power of Prayer.

I was also blessed to take a trip to Hackleburg, AL where the F5 destroyed the small town. As we drove towards the small town we almost couldn't believe our eyes. There was no more town. There were no houses, there was no school, and there were no structures standing. Just debris, landmarks from where the houses stood, and piles of never-ending trees. There was an uneasy eerie feeling as we drove through the town. We stopped and spoke to a few locals. That town literally broke my heart. It was disturbing and completely overwelming. 27 were missing. 27 in a small town like Hackleburg... that's a lot. I've seen Tuscaloosa. I have seen Shoal Creek. But I have never seen anything like Hackleburg, Alabama. My heart breaks for those people and that small town. As we drove out of the 1-way road of Hackleburg- we said, "Goodbye" to a little old lady named Martha. And it was then that I realized the Power of Prayer. Martha was raking glass out of the yard with no house behind her. We, who just brought a few boxes of supplies, had our houses & our families. But yet she was the one telling us with a smile on her face, "Have a blessed day & remember that Jesus Saves!"

Today I pray for the great state of Alabama- a state that I will always be proud to call my home. In the past couple of weeks we have come together as a whole no matter what religion, race, ethnicity, or background we come from. One day we will rise from these ashes. I pray for the lost and those still missing beneath the rubble. May they and their families find peace & comfort in you Lord. May You give us strength and courage to carry on and move forward. May we all find the strength to praise You in such a storm. You are a Mighty God and a God that STILL SAVES! Today is a new day, and the sun shines again. I STILL believe in the Power of Prayer!

"I will give you peace when the walls come crashing down. I will give you peace through the night. When you've had all you can take, and you can't face another day I'll give you peace. For such a time as this- I have you here. Chosen for the lost to show I am near. Through your brokeness My glory shines. All through your frailty my strength will rise." -Echoing Angels

Just a few shots Steven & I took...