A Night of Thunder - and it's NOT Chick Hicks!

Peace. Blissful, restful sleep. So warm, so cozy. Nothing can wake you. Its the kind of sleep that one wants after a long day. Its the kind of sleep that you never want to wake up from, and when you do, you will do almost anything to get back to it.

Sleep. Peace.

Flash... "What was that? Must have been just a car driving by." Sleep. Peace.

Flash... "Huh? Again? What time is it? People shouldn't be driving around at this hour." By best estimation it must have been about 30 minutes since the last Flash, when in reality its only been about 3.

*Grumble.*

Roll over, try to get comfortable again, since for some reason, this spot, this glorious sleeping spot, that had been so cozy, warm and inviting is not any longer, with just the assumption that "something" woke you up.

Flash... "Okay, now really, WHAT was that!" Not quite awake enough to see anything, not quite asleep enough to not care. In the far distance, you can hear a slight rumble. Similar to that of an alpha dog telling a pack member not to come any closer.

You ask God, "Really? Tonight? You know what time my alarm is set for right?" A fruitless prayer in vain. Flash... "One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand... (all the way to twelve one thousand)" Ruuuummmmble. *sigh* You raise your head, and peek at your sleeping babes. "At least someone is sleeping."

Flash. Crack! Ruuuummmmble. "Okay God, I guess we are going to do this." You roll over again and replay the 'Tornado watch effective until twelve midnight...' in your head. "Great, just stinkin' peachy."

Tick, tick, tick. The rain drops on the roof of the camper sound like little marbles falling from heaven. In a fleeting moment of humor you think to yourself, "That's it, God's lost his marbles!" You chuckle to yourself just in time to catch the next flash. Flash BA BA BOOOOOM! All in one single split second. It was a boom loud enough to wake the fish at the bottom of the lake it seems. You brace yourself for the sounds of your children crying and prepare your body to fly across your snoring husband and out of bed to come to their rescue... silence. "What?! How on earth did they sleep through THAT!"

Kassssssshhhhhh, the rain drops are making such a loud static type noise that you cant even get your brain to focus. You send up another prayer, "God, please send an angel to protect us, and keep us from harm. Send another angel to cover the ears of my children that they may stay sleeping. And God, if its your will to make me poop my pants from fear, please give my legs swift speed to make it across the park to the shelter in this rain." Flash Boom! Lightening and Thunder are still on top of another meaning you are smack in the middle of the storm.

You look out the window of the camper to see if you can see anything. Knowing full well that the time on the clock means you cant see a thing! You can hear the neighbors flag just flapping its ends into a frayed mess, when the lightening flashes you can see the trees bending under the pressure of the wind. Another prayer, "Father God! Please protect us!" Flash, BABOOM. Rain so loud you couldn't yell to wake up anyone if you tried and yet somehow, both your children are still sleeping.

You turn on your weather radio, but hear nothing. "What does this mean? Is there nothing to be afraid of? or is there a big storm and they didn't get the warning out in time?" You turn off the radio, its no comfort. You contemplate getting your clothes on and being ready to make a dash for it. Then, Flash..."One one-thousand, two, one..." Boooom. "Its getting farther away. Thank you Jesus!" Flash..."One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thou..." Ruuummmble.

"Okay, it seems to be passing." You lay back in bed and attempt to relax. The long muscles in your back and screaming with burning pain. A sure sign that you have been tense for WAY too long. The rain is letting up now. You only catch just a hint of the low alpha dog type rumble, every now and then.

Thinking back. Your prayers were answered. An angel came and covered the ears of your children, they never woke up. Another angel came and protected your camper. While you heard the wind and you saw the wind in the flashes on the trees... the canvas sides on the beds NEVER MOVED! Its like the wind went right up and over. Again, you find sleep.

Sleep. Peace.

There is a lesson to be learned in all this. Even in the worst of times, when you feel like you will be sucked alive from this earth, God's got your back, all you have to is ask.