The Whirly Wind

This is a home right up the road from us

that was lifted off its foundation and smashed

Tree in Mom and Dad's yard

One of our big oak trees that fell :(

Same tree, different angle

The playhouse was blown almost to the woods

Well, I don't have any for sure confirmation (as in I didn't see it with my eyes because it was dark), but the damage it left behind makes me feel sure that a small tornado ripped right through our property last night.

It was small enough to take out a very old oak tree by the roots and also small enough to lift a cherished playhouse and toss it around like a tumbleweed.  It was also small enough to snap several other trees around us and sound like a train.

I believe that this little twister probably bounced by us like a basketball, since not everything was wiped out.  We have much to be thankful for, though, because our house is fine except for a few very minor damages.  

The kids were pretty upset when we very urgently took off to the basement, and even more upset to find the damage that had been done to their playhouse.  But what an opportunity that gave us to teach them about being grateful for what didn't happen!  We didn't lose our house, or our pets or each other!  The tree didn't fall on our house or  their playset that Jason built last year.  There are many things that could have been worse, and we praise God that we were safe.