My Daughter's Story- Tornado/Apison

[Buoy-Master]

I thought I'd take a few minutes out of my morning to share what I consider to be a miracle. I still get chocked up over this too...</p>

So many lives taken this week, so much damage, many people stunned by the after math of one of the worst days we've ever seen. I feel a bit selfish to post the miracle that went on where my daughter stays during the week, but I cant help but to share this with you. </p>

We send Olivia to Collegedale Academy and we have a sponsor that helps with the bill and keeps her during the week. (we pick her up on Fridays) Olivia tells the story that her and her best friend were up stairs hanging out texting their other friends under a propane light. The father of the house had just stepped outside when he came running back in screaming for everyone to get to the basement. Olivia and Megan hi tail it downstairs. They get in the basement and all hell breaks loose. She said that no one could hear each other cry and scream due to the freight train noise. After a few minutes, all seemed safe and quiet...they come out of the basement...</p>

Not really being able to see a lot, they felt good that the house was still intact with little to no damage at all. Figured the tornado just clipped by them....But it didn't. </p>

The next morning they got out to see what all happened and to their surprise, houses where down and trees in many to the left, right and sidesof their property. Bushes and trees on their property were GONE! The tornado just seemed to have totally left the house alone. UNREAL. After looking at the destruction path, they are still clueless on how they were missed. Ive seen the pictures on my daughters cell phone and I just thank god that he put his hand over that house. These are good kids that help within their church like no other teen Ive ever seen. We were blessed that night when so many were not. </p>

My mom was able to get to her last night and it took her a little over 3 hours to get back out to run the highway and a decent speed. She was also crying and praising God for the miracle she had just seen. </p>

Sunday we are heading down to help with their clean up. I feel like this is something I need to do for a family that ask for nothing and gives my daughter so much during the week. </p>

The story is a miracle one and Olivia loves to tell it but shes such a great girl that she ends it with how bad she feels for so many and keeps praying for those that need it. </p>

I told her about our CFF friend Josh, and she immediately sent up prayers. I could take a few lessons from her...and my faith has been violated by all this. </p>

GET OUT and help people this weekend. Leave the boats in the driveways!! You don't have to go the the hardest hit to find cleanup and lend a hand. </p>

 

[Dropshot]

Thanks for sharing Billy. I am glad she escaped unscathed. The Bible speaks of the faith of a child, and so many times we as adults think we can influence and change everything. Children on the other hand, are dependent on others for everything (shelter, food, etc.). What I am trying to say was something my dad and I discussed last night as we sat in the pending darkness. No matter who you are, you are totally dependent on the grace of God during something like this. It seems totally random on who lives and dies, but if we believe the Bible God tells us that He knows the number of our days. It makes me believe that God has great things in store for your daughter and that family.

Sorry for rambling. It has been a hard week and I agree that helping people is very important right now.

 

[Hook1]

Thanks so much for sharing Billy. Its so so nice to hear about their protection and the good blessing they received. All that is on the tv and radio is horrible news about death and destruction and this was a nice change of gears. Thanks again.

 

[NRG]

Most of my family lives and work in and around Collegedale and Apison, and close friends in Ringgold , and North AL none of them went without some damage.. but all survived to tell their stories.. as I watched the news last night .. looking at all the damage and hearing people tell about the loss of homes, jobs, and family ... I teared up.. and still tears are forming as I write this .. In Soddy I never saw more than rain and debris falling from the sky pieces of photos.. insulation etc .. I never really knew what had just happed all around me within a few miles of my house .. when I saw the live footage .. it really hit me hard .. the fact that if the path had moved a hair left.. Id be sitting in the dark and homeless and maybe my loved ones or my self dead.. really scared me more after the fact than I was during the warnings .. They said on the news right after the storms left that if you can operate a chain saw come to apison .. I wanted to go so bad .. I didnt know if I could make it over there or not so I stayed home .. This weekend I will be splitting up my time between Collegdale, Apison, and Ringgold helping friends and family .. I bought a case each of AA,D, and C batteries .. and gathered up every flashlight , candles, blankets, bottled water, gloves, 3 chainsaws and 20 gallons of gas and 2 cycle oil ..coleman stove, lanterns, grill and my tent .. filled up my Yukon to the gills I will be out there all weekend doing my best to help anyone I can .. as I know they would do their best to help me if I was in the same situation.. I dont know how much good I can do .. but anything is better than sitting on my butt and wondering if I would have been any help

 

[Gator]

THANKS BB for sharing your story. God is good and when miracles occur in the lives of some at the same time tradgedy hits others it is something we just can't figure out nor understand with our finite minds. I'm very glad your daughter is OK and her life is definitely a good example to other kids.

 

[SpurHunter]

Praise God my friend.

 

[kdxdude]

It was a blessing to read your post BBass. Thanks for sharing & Praise the LORD.

 

[MrWiskers]

Saw the same thing in Trenton. Seems that homes that had a lot of trees close to the house were spared more than homes that were in the open or up high. My guess is the trees absorbed a lot of the wind energy and spared the homes. Either way glad she is ok. Trenton and Sand Mtn have areas that are completely destroyed. Very bad down there.

 

[pathfinder]

Miracles happen everyday. Very rarely are they so obvious. Im glad they were spared and sent up a prayer of thanks.

 

[elwestb]

Thank for your post Billy. Glad to hear your family is all safe. I have other friends that weren't as lucky. I just don't know why some things happen the way they do? I live 3 miles from Ringgold and about 3 miles from Apison at the lower end of Windstone. I'm 150 yards from the Tenn. / Ga. state line. I sat on my back deck and watched the storms and clouds boil up from the Ringgold area moving towards Windstone and then watched as the clouds would split in half?! Half then going toward Brainerd and half over Apison! The wind did blow very hard but we had less than 1/2 half in, of rain and a few leaves in the yard!? Go figure?