Wind Storm!

I just came inside the house after spending too long outside picking up sticks, both miniscule and gigantic (actual tree branches). I did this right alongside my German neighbor, who was using brooms of all sizes to also clean up specks of dirt from in between the bricks on her driveway and from the gutter on the sidewalk. I was lucky to just get the branches off of the lawn.

Anyways, what prompted this desire to go outside and clean with the Germans? Don't worry, I wasn't trying to compete. Who can do that with Frau Dirt Pail living next door?

First of all, Jackson and I were pulling into the driveway after going to a music playgroup run by some British ladies (it was fun!), and as my neighbor was out clearing the clutter, I decided I might as well put in an appearance.

You see, we had a MASSIVE wind storm yesterday. It was quite scary. And, that's saying something since this area is known for being windy.

We were leaving Wiesbaden yesterday, and experienced this crazy wind for the entire two-hour trip. Signs were flying off of sign posts, trees were being uprooted, trailers were being overturned. We saw more emergency vehicles during that trip home than we did a few weeks ago when we drove through a snow storm.

The wind and rain were fierce back at our house. Our Sunday School group was cancelled for the evening, and we were just starting to figure out what we would make for dinner, when I heard what sounded like a tornado siren. Chris ran outside, verified that was what he thought it was too, and we bolted down to the basement. Living in Oklahoma will make you nothing if not prepared for a tornado.

Ultimately, we're not entirely sure what the siren was for. It might have just been a severe storm warning. But, we do know that we had lots of wind and lots of sticks in the yard. And, you can bet that the Germans were out early making sure that we Americans felt beyond incompetent in making sure the yard was back to perfect only hours later.