Tornado Warning Weekend

 I can't believe that it's Tuesday already. The days are flying by. Completely crazy. As to the title of this post, it has been a rip-roaring Saturday, Sunday and Monday weather wise around here. There were tornado watches all three nights and although there were warnings all around us, the only time we actually had a warning was Sunday night, although there were other ones very close by. We jumped in the truck with Zoey and went to Curt & Barb's basement as they're only about 2 blocks away and Mandy & Brad's house is much farther.  We hung out in their basement for about an hour or so and had a great time visiting while we listened with half an ear to the weather radio. 

This, my friends, was the main reason I was happy to move to Spokane all those years ago. Tornado's. I've lived through a couple of very close calls, including seeing the proverbial cow flying through the air. Yes. I saw that when I was about 13-14 years old and have never forgotten it. Then a BIG one in 1975 that flattened a big part of Omaha when I was 15. Dennis's Mom barely missed being in the middle of that one. I was at work at the nursing home getting people out of beds and into hallways. There is no real warning with tornadoes. Although forecasting is much better than it used to be, one can literally drop out of the clouds right above you with no warning. Although I don't get as scared as I used to, I still do not like them.

A house a few blocks from Mandy's did get struck by lightening and they had hail, otherwise they were fine too. We have a tornado shelter here at the condo, but it's just a building built with bricks instead of wood and it's at the front of the complex. We would have been soaked trying to run there because the rain was pelting down. I think we would be just as safe in our garage as we would be there. But we know how to get into Curt & Barb's even if they aren't home and that's what we'll do if we have enough warning. Today was COLD compared to the last week and no rain forecast for awhile. Thank goodness.

And now onto much nicer things. A lady at church brought two huge bouquets of peonies to church on Sunday. After church we could take some home if we wanted as they would just be left there otherwise. I brought just one and let me tell you, it has made the condo smell SO good. I love peonies and have had them at all of our houses. I do miss them. And do you see the sweet Mother's Day card I got from Miss Piper? I love hedgehogs and it was the most wonderful card. It says I'm one of her favorite people and believe me, she's one of my favorites too.

Dennis went out kayaking with our camping buddies last Thursday before the wild weekend weather hit. This is our two person inflatable kayak and it wasn't the easiest by himself. I really need to try to go with him sometime. I don't swim and with my back I'm not sure I can even climb in, but I know he would love it if I tried. He called me when they were done and I met them at Culver's for some frozen yogurt.

I finished two more prayer shawls for the Med. Center and took them, along with 3 others, to my sister on Sunday and she delivered them when she went to rock babies in the NICU last night.

The first one is a simple granny square shawl. It's 18 x 70 inches and perfect for someone in a hospital bed or wheelchair.

I played a game of yarn chicken as I made it. I had exactly 5 1/2 inches left of white when I finished it. I am completely out of worsted weight white and cream. I have been trying not to buy yarn this year, but I do need to have white and cream on hand so I think I've going to have to break down and buy some. 

This one used the last of my stash of cream. It wasn't even a full skein.

Now I've started another "Grace" baby blanket using Mandela Baby in the Diagon Alley color way.

We leave on Monday for the Black Hills with Piper. Hopefully the internet will work while we're there. It has worked at that campground in the past, but not fast by any stretch of the imagination. We're looking forward to it for sure. It's our favorite place to camp, (in the summer.) In the winter there is waaaay to much snow. :-)

Thank you for asking about the skin biopsies. Although they were both considered pre-cancerous, they were benign and now they're gone. It's weird because both were in places that the sun doesn't ever touch. I'm just glad they are now gone and I have no worries about them anymore.

Take care my friends. I'll be back soon and will be visiting with all of you on your blogs. Continuing to pray for the world and all of those who don't know the love of Jesus. Without Him I would be nothing.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

WITHOUT HIM

By: Mylone R. LeFevre

Without Him, I could do nothing
Without Him, I'd surely fail
Without Him, I would be drifting
Like a ship without a sail

Without Him, I would be dying
Without Him, I'd be enslaved
Without Him, life would be worthless
But with Jesus, thank God I'm saved

Oh Jesus, oh Jesus
Do you know Him today?
Please don't turn Him away
Oh Jesus, my Jesus
Without Him, how lost I would be
Without Him, how lost I would be