Tornadoes and Cookouts... not the smartest mix

Wednesday was David's birthday and for weeks I had been planning a surprise cookout for him after work. I made an ice cream cake, had the fridge stocked with meat and dogs, and had a friend on his way from Atlanta to surprise him and spend the night. Only one thing unaccounted for... the weather. The night before I'm watching the 11 o'clock news and the weather forecast: SEVERE WEATHER 4-9pm. I was so sad! The friend headed up from Atlanta regardless and so I welcomed all crazy individuals who wanted to still come over in spite of the weather and I hoped it would just blow over.

It did not blow over. Biggest storm system since the 1970's and it claimed hundreds of lives including many right here in our own city. It stormed about 7 different tim

es during the day and David's loving friends drove over in between storms. He was VERY surprised. As am I in retrospect. The power went out as soon as guests started arriving and we ate by candlelight and enjoyed the sounds of rain and hail as more storms rolled through.

It was probably the stupidest thing anybody has ever done for his birthday, but also probably the greatest act of love. I still am amazed and touched that so many people

made it in the midst of tornadoes to ring in his 28th year.

Here is an image of the devastation just 8 miles down the road from our party: