Growing up in Oklahoma, you get used to the threat of tornadoes, but no matter how long you have lived in Tornado Ally or how many tornadoes you have been through/seen, nothing prepares you for when a twister is headed your way. You are helpless, you say a prayer and hope for the best.
Yesterday was my year anniversary of my diagnosis and to celebrate, mother nature decided to throw a party, tornadoes and all. Spencer and I were supposed to drive to Kansas last night after the Thunder game, but I was too nervous with storms headed our way and others up north. So we decided to leave early this morning... that would be why I am up before 10 a.m. on a Saturday. So around 2:30 a.m. this morning, I woke up to blaring sirens, which is funny because when I went to bed at 1:30 a.m. we were in the clear. Obviously mother nature was just so excited and wanted to party through the night. I turned on the T.V. and saw we had about 3 minutes until the circulation was going to be in our area. I ran to wake up my roommate, grabbed my purse, grabbed important documents and ran to the garage where we have a "fraidy hole." Let me just say, best peace of mind investment you can make! It was a very odd storm, very quiet. The circulation was on the southern edge of the storm, so there was no thunder, no nothing with it. After about 7 or 8 minutes, after my roommate Katie and I got over our shock, I crawled out and saw on TV that the storm had passed about 5 miles north. Thank you Jesus! Unfortunately, it was headed in the direction of my parent's neighborhood, which since storms ALWAY pass near there, some of the news stations actually mark it on their map. I called my parents to make sure they knew what was going on. They then headed to their shelter. So I can honestly say, we got our money's worth for both shelters last night!
I finally got back to bed around 5 a.m. just in time for my 6 a.m. alarm... remember the whole Kansas drive thing... yeah. It's early. But I am so thankful that it was not worse because so many people posted on Facebook this morning how they slept through the sirens. That is what's so scary about night twisters. You generally aren't prepared and they can be nearly impossible to see on the ground. And when a night twister touches down in a highly populated metro area... that can be very bad new bears!
All of this to say, happy one year anniversary to figuring out what was wrong and for a new beginning. I am not the same person I was a year ago. Like the song from Wicked says "because I knew [RA], I have been changed for good." I would never wish this for myself or on anyone I know but dealing with this disease on a daily basis has helped me to rely on God daily... not just when things aren't going my way. I am more hopeful when things get rough in any situation and I am more determined than ever to take control of my life and my body and not allow it to defeat me or dictate how I live my life. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
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