We were at the school putting up bulletin boards in John's room and helping him get ready for the new school year when all the sudden it started downpouring. Not even kidding--total downpour, wind blowing water everywhere, thunder and lightning and the power blinking all at the same time. We decided it would be best to get home. When we got to the front doors, the water was blowing every which direction and you couldn't hardly see the van out the window! The kids were freaking out a bit as the thunder and lightning were right on top of each other, so we knelt down by BC (the stuffed bear and school mascot in the entry) and said a prayer that we would be protected from this storm. We felt much better and the wind did calm down a bit. We were soaked through by the time we got from the school out to the car, and then again going from the car into the house. We told the kids to go change into their pajamas (it was early evening) and as we are checking the house making sure things are battened down, Morgan comes screaming out of her bedroom to "Look at the shed, Dad!!! Go look at your shed!" This is what we saw. CRAZY!!
This carport came across the field from the neighbor's house. We feel very blessed that we: 1) Did not cut down the Elm tree like we wanted to 2) That it didn't take out our little apple tree that we planted earlier this summer--look, it's like 6 inches away from it! 3) That we couldn't budge the dead willow tree to take it out last year (it's no longer standing and must have slowed the progress of the carport 4) that all the sprinkler pipes that are still hooked to the carport didn't come off and impale the shed or our house and 5) That it seemed to land on the rail somewhat gently on the shed as we can not find any damage at this time. (That may change once the neighbor brings in his tow truck to lift it off!) We are feeling very blessed that our house/windows are still in one piece, and that we didn't have any flooding in our home like so many of our neighbors are dealing with at this time. Prayers work! :)
Check out our poor garden plants! John sent some of these pictures into two of the Local News stations. It was fun to see our photos on TV! :) Our two little seconds of fame led to him recieveing many text messages and phone calls after they aired. LOL
This is our backyard. Yes, that is a lot of water! Check out the alley behind our house, or should I say lake!
On another note, (well, sort of) we transplanted some Magic Lilies from a neighbor about 3 years ago in our front flowerbeds. They are green and bushy in the spring, die back and then mid-July are suppose to shoot up a stock with flowers on them. We've been kind of disappointed that they haven't ever bloomed. Well, this year, they did! :) We noticed them coming up a few days ago and this morning they were blooming. I even took these pictures of them. Aren't they pretty? Well, the storm took care of them--broke them all off. :( Maybe they just aren't meant to be in our yard. LOL
His son owns a garage here in town and brought his deisel tow truck to do the job.
They had to cut up the willow tree that was knocked over because it was stuck around the legs of the carport.
They decided the best way would be to just flip it over so, they tied it to the tow truck and pulled it off. Yea!!! The only damage that was done to our shed was a bent shingle. His carport wasn't so lucky. :)
You can see the branch hanging straight down by the neighbor's property. He told us they had the carport anchored down pretty well. The carport was originally sitting over the top of a trailer and this boat. They had a bottom anchored down, and his boat was sitting on top of that bar, so the wind had to move the boat to get the carport out from under it. Crazy! We are glad that it went off without a hitch, and we have our yard back! :)
You can see the damage that was done to the trees--broken limbs. We are glad they were there to stop the carport so there wasn't more damage!
The willow tree that was ripped out of the ground. John's parents planted it when they lived in a trailer there. John told his mom that he was glad they planted it so that 34 years later it could save our shed. What are the odds??
We are glad that this little part of our lives is over and that everything is okay! :) 
