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"Our family is extremely blessed" were some of the last words my husband spoke last night before we fell asleep. How true it is. It has been for so long.

Yesterday storms swept across this beautiful city. In these storms formed a few tornadoes. One of which decided it's path was along the back of our house. More specifically starting at the main road a couple miles from our house, cutting across several road and getting to our backyard (and the houses on either side of us' backyards as well), continuing on knocking down trees 3 feet wide across the main road on the other side of our house.

I don't know where it started exactly, or where it ended. Some people asked me if I saw it? No, I was with my daughter in her bedroom closet, holding on to her in hopes that we would be fine. It was the calmest I have ever been, strangely enough. But afterwards as different.

I took me a while to realize what had happened. I have never seen or heard a tornado, until then. My neighbor who came out to see if everyone was okay assured me, that was indeed a tornado.


Storm chasers came up to our house in their cars. One got out to take pics and talk to us to see if we were alright.

The power was out and I had the dogs and Skylah in the house. I didn't want anyone getting out, so I took Sylah next door to play with the kids there while I examined and took pictures of it all.

It occurred to me how close it was. And had it been stronger than the F-0/F-1 they think it may have been, what else would it have done besides tear down some fences, puncture a garage door on the house behind us, and knock down some trees? No one was hurt. A woman was in her car when a tree fell on her while she was driving. Amazingly enough, she is okay, too.

Following the pictures, I was finally able o get in touch with Shawn at work, who had been in the basement there. He had no idea I was trying to contact him on my cell. Or that there had been a tornado at our house.

He rushed home. When he pulled in, walked over our neighbor's fence on the ground to go and embrace him. I was so happy to see him. I think the shock was setting in.

Our house is undamaged. Our family is healthy and unharmed. To top it off, our entire Young Men's group, bishopric and several other Priesthood holders came to our home and brought their chainsaws, gloves, and smiling hardworking souls with them. Eventually some neighbors came to join in as well. They all spent two hours clearing trees. Going back and forth, hauling the heavy limbs and stumps. And all I had in the end for them was some drinks and cookies and several Thank You's.

Words cannot express how we feel right now. I expressed to our children before they left for school this morning that this was not a tragedy. It was a blessing. A blessing I will not soon forget, if ever.

This is what is sitting in front of our homes. And there is much more. But, so much has been done. So much. Thank you to everyone who gave up time with their husbands and sons so they could come work. We are grateful!!