Did anyone watch Extreme Home Makeover last night? It was about the Hawkins family. Their house was destroyed by a tornado last April. The mom and two boys took cover in the basement. The mom, Amy, was paralyzed from the waist down while protecting her boys.

I watched the episode the first time it was on but didn't watch it again last night. It was too emotional since it was so close to home. We watched in devastation last spring as those tornadoes came through our state for six straight hours on that day.

By Wandilu on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 10:08 pm:

Hi there, this is Wandilu.Boy do I ever remember that tornado!! Our youngest DD lived about 600 yards past Vol. State,which was hit very hard.She and her BF were standing in their back yard watching it come directly toward them, when all of a sudden it just turned around and dropped down on Vol. State !!And she was pregnant.We took every back road that we could to get to her!!I know in my heart that God spared their lives that day.I saw on a christian show one day, this guy was talking about praying specifically about safety for our loved ones.He said he takes his finger and draws an imaginary line around the person he is praying about and prays" I plead The Blood of Jesus around *** for their protection".I started doing that everyday for all of our family,and do it still today.I believe with all my heart that He answered my prayer that day.And many other prayers ,too.

By Hol on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 10:15 pm:

I believe that, too, Wandilu. Although, we have to remember to pray "According to Your will, O Lord" because sometimes our prayers are not answered the way WE think they should be.

Yes, I saw Extreme Makeover last night. My DS Mike and I try never to miss it. I had seen that episode when it was on before, too. VERY emotional!

I have never been in a tornado, or near one, and I hope I never do. DH has. He was on an Army base in Arkansas and the roof blew off his barracks. We have hurricanes to deal with here, but at least you get some warning with them.

By Wandilu on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 10:45 pm:

Yes,you are right about praying that way.Sometimes it's hard to do that,isn't it? I have been in a few to where I wasn't in the direct path, but was in some of the line of wind.It touched down each time not too far from our house. Last tornado season,DH and I were woke up at 4 am from the high winds and the noise .We turned the tv on and it said a tornado was right over our DD's ( different one) house and was due to touch down in 3 mins!!!! I grabbed the phone and called her.She dropped the phone and her and her DH woke the kids and took them to the closet.When they got their 3 yr old DD up, she didn't have any pj's on because she had wet on herself earlier,and took her pj's off.So, when they were walking toward the living room, she thought they were going by-by in the car.So, she said ( now, visualize a tiny 2 yr old red-headed little girl saying this in a very southern accent !) "daddie...I tant go outside...I'm net-ted !( naked) Thank God ,it passed over them.

By Wandilu on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 10:46 pm:

OOPS ! I meant to say , tiny 3 yr old,,,

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 08:32 am:

To cute Wanda... And I watch it every Sunday... I plan my evening around it..

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 03:18 pm:

I think I remember seeing that program. Was it a rerun?

I was in a tornado, when I was 4-1/2. My sister and I were at church, at a wedding, with our mom. I think Dad was at home. I'm not sure why he wasn't with us. When we got home, my dad had to carry us into the house, because we were freaked out. Cheryl would have been 3. I think it was already starting to get windy. We went down in the basement, but didn't stay down there all that long. I remember mostly, standing in the living room, looking out that window, at the funnel cloud, which was now out over Lake Michigan. I remember seeing stuff blowing all over the neighborhood and I remember seeing someone's house, where the house was gone, the basement was still intact and their HUGE 60's style station wagon, had been deposited in the basement.

The couple getting married, were building a house across the street from the church. Their house was ruined. My house wasn't in the path, of the tornado, so it was fine.

Found this, about the tornado:

On 8/22/1964, a category 4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 2.8 miles away from the Port Washington city center injured 30 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.

Yikes! We're lucky we weren't hurt or suffered any property damage.

By Hol on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 10:45 pm:

I'll say, Dawn! And Wanda, that is SO precious!