Counting my blessings

On Sunday, an unexpected storm ripped through my town at approximately 11am.  Minutes before the storm hit, the skies were blue, not a cloud in the sky.  The storm came in fast and furiously. 

And, where was I when this storm hit?  Goodwill.  Though I am an avid thrift store shopper, this was the last place I wanted to be.  Apparently, I must have been alone in feeling this way because, as you can see from the picture below, people continued to shop. 

 
The storm is now being reported as having had heavy winds equivalent to a high-end Category 1 hurricane.  Not your typical Chicagoland area weather, that's for sure.
 

When the storm subsided, the typical 10 minute drive home took over 40 minutes due to flooding, uprooted trees and downed power lines.  

As I frantically tried to return home, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst, my prayers were answered and my family and house survived fully intact {besides for a power outage}.  We were lucky, there were many people that did not fare so well.  

Beyond a doubt, this is one of the most terrifying things I have ever experienced. So, I'll focus on counting my blessings and will be back to blogging again next week.