Yesterday

The kids & I had just gotten home this time yesterday. At 12:15 I heard the sirens @ MTSU go off. Abby & I were in the kitchen getting a bite of lunch. Austin was across town at a baseball hitting/fielding clinic until 12:45. As soon as I heard that siren I knew we had to get to him. That metal building on River Rock by Old Time Pottery was not a good place to be. As I decided which direction to go, I looked at the sky & realized that Haynes, Thompson & even Northfield, Medical ctr pkwy appeared to be getting darker. I chose to cut through Mid TN blvd, & go New Salem & down River Rock at WOC. Anthony was in surgery & had a nurse call to check on us. We were on Cason Ln when the tornado was going over the interstate. I never looked at the sky in fear of what I might see. All I could think of was getting my boy. I raced in, got Austin & his bag & ran like I hadn't in years. We got to Old Fort Pkwy & it started hailing. We quickly retreated to the old Holiday Inn & got as close under their shelter as possible & got the children inside. I talked with a man that had just watched the tornado go over the interstate. As the rain slowed, we jumped back in the Tahoe & hit the road again. We hydroplaned all the way down Old Fort until I got to Quality furniture. The rain & hail had started again. I whipped the car around & drove to the BP where I spied the brick bay car wash. I drove into one which I shared with a compact car full of Hispanic guys. I got out & asked if we could share the space. Finally the rain lightened up again. Driving like a mad woman, we drove down Memorial & I saw the lights out at Northfield. I cut through the parking lot at Hastings & again hydroplaned down Northfield. My adrenaline was flowing because between my mother-in-law & Anthony, I was getting play by plays as to where the tornados were hitting. All I had been thinking about was getting Austin & us all getting home safe & sound. When we arrived to Bradberry drive all I could do was thank my Lord for being my co-pilot & guiding me through the routes not in the tornado's path. He led me the longer but safer route to get my sweet little one. I would have hit it head on if I had taken the other route. I remember telling Abby as we sat at the light at Mercury & MT blvd, I know this is taking longer, but we have to stay where it is lighter. God gives us direction in life. We just have to listen.