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I Feel The Earth Move

Friday night at about 2am, I was fast asleep in bed when Husby started yelling, "WHAT IS THAT? WHY IS THE BED SHAKING?" I jumped up and screamed, "Is Levi in here?!" .... as if he could shake our bed at the magnitude it was wobbling at. I woke up at the very end of the shaking and the first thought that ran through my mind was "JESUS IS RETURNING!" After a couple of minutes, when I realized that He was not coming at that moment and that I was still in bed here on planet Earth, I dozed back off to sleep.

When we woke up the next morning, we saw on the news that we had experienced an earthquake. In Oklahoma. An earthquake measuring in at a 4.7, no less. A very significant quake for our part of the country - considering tornadoes are our natural disasters of choice. Wow. What a weird night.

Saturday night in the 10 o'clock hour, Husby was in Levi's room putting him to bed and reading him his nightly Bible story. I was in the living room messing around when all of a sudden I heard a loud deep roar from the bowels of the earth. It was hands down the creepiest, strangest noise I'd ever heard - kind of like thunder from below, but different. Seconds after the howling, the house started shaking. Violently. My pictures and plates hanging on our walls started clanging, and all of our furniture was rattling. It sounded and felt like the earth, at that very moment, was meeting it's demise.

This is when I lost all sense of sanity and took off running.

Husby was in Levi's room in the middle of a Bible story about Jesus and the violent storm (Luke 8). The house started shaking and Husby calmly continued with the story saying, "God is always in control, Levi. He controlled the storm and the waves and He is controlling this earthquake right now." Can I just mention that Husby is amazing in panicky situations? Levi was looking all around and looked very uneasy about his room shaking all around, but Husby kept him perfectly calm.

Until, that is, I came BURSTING through the door screaming, "EARTHQUAKE!!!!!!!", like a complete wild woman.

I tend to freak out during calamity.

Levi's eyes were as big as saucers and he burst into a sea of tears. I swept him up out of his bed and took off running. Outside. All while screaming. For whatever reason, in the crazy turn of events the night had taken, yelling, grabbing babies and running outside made perfect sense in my mind. And the Momma Bear in me came out tenfold. I felt like I could fight this earthquake one handed while holding Levi in the other. All while screaming of course.

Clearly, I don't know the rules on handling an earthquake. Nor did I ever think I would need to.

We found a neighbor outside as well as we just kind of stood there waiting for the earth to stop shaking. It lasted for an entire minute, and I am here to tell you, it felt like an eternity. Our neighbor yelled from across the street, "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" Husby yelled something back and I clung on to Levi on the porch. I could see the lady neighbor in her doorway holding her baby, too. Once it stopped our neighbor screamed, "Y'all better pray!!!"

Trust me, I was on it.

We came back inside trying to process what had just happened and tuned in to the news. The earthquake we experienced measured in at a 5.6, breaking the record for the largest quake in Oklahoma history (the last being a 5.5 in the 1950's). Wild. We are about 50 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake, so we were shaken majorly. My armiore was shaken open and my dishes pushed forward several inches. If the shaking would have lasted any longer, they would have fallen out and shattered everywhere. We were thankful nothing fell off the walls - several people we know had pictures and things broken.

{And, I just felt an aftershock. Almost 24 hours later. As I am blogging about it. SCARY! My house just rumbled for about a second and Levi stopped dead in his tracks and said, "WHAT WAS THAT?" Yikes!}

It turns out, 2011 has been a huge year for Oklahoma, breaking all kinds of records in our history: Coldest temperature, most snow in 24 hours, highest wind speed, EF5 tornado, largest hail and now .... the biggest and strongest earthquake.

I'm not sure what's going on in our little part of the world, but it's awfully strange. I feel like we never know what's going to happen from one day to the next! A tornado? A blizzard? An earthquake? It's all possible! We all know one thing for sure though ... regardless of what happens, I'll be here screaming, running in circles, swooping up babies and declaring the Lord's return!

I'm convinced it's soon, friends.

What a wacky, wild weekend.

Oh, and I wouldn't advise ever seeking me out in the midst of chaos. I tend to make things worse.
I am a modern day homemaker with a passion for family, cooking, celebrating, decorating, travel, and memory making! The Lord has blessed me with the desires of my heart in my husband and our two sons. We recently built our dream home and cultivating a loving and happy haven for my family is where I find so much joy.

Comments

  1. They said on the news here that the whole state of Oklahoma averages 50 earthquakes a year, mostly small ones that are hardly felt. For some reason though they've spiked in the last couple years to A THOUSAND!!!

    I'd be freaked out too!!! Honestly, I have no idea how I'd react if one happened. I'm thankful to live in AZ, where, while it's super hot, has no natural disasters like that.

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  2. Since it's all said and done it's fun to laugh at this now.. but growing up with earthquakes all I could think about was everything you shouldn't have done. Yea I know like you're suppose to know what to do! haha. Hopefully y'all don't have to learn what to do.. in hopes you don't have anymore!

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  3. Here in the Netherlands are only sporadic small earthquakes but like your experience, no - never! I'll give you a big hug for the shock. Are you houses strong enough for an earthquake? Special construction requirements, as here, to flooding and snow?

    Kind regards from me out an earthquake-free zone in the world.

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  4. We just moved to Oklahoma about 6 months ago ( my husband is an officer in the army & had field artillery training at ft. sill).
    We moved from Kentucky. And I can say, that in Kentucky I have experienced some seriously wacky weather!! Tornadoes, ice storms, heat waves, flooding, etc. etc.
    BUT OH MY GOSH!!! I have NEVER felt an earthquake before!!
    It really was the CREEPIEST feeling ever.
    Hubby and I were sitting on the couch with our puppy, and the apartment started shaking- and all I knew to do was grab my hubby's arm and SQUEEZE the LIVING DAYLIGHTS out of him.
    Seriously. he has a bruise. HA!

    So- yeah. I didn't know how to act when an earthquake hits either.

    I think the best part of your story was how your husband stayed completely calm and told Levi that God was controlling the earthquake.
    Just precious. :)

    You are one blessed lady!

    (And don't worry. I probably would have took off screaming too if my husband wasn't there!)

    Love your blog!
    much love
    XOXO
    moo.

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  5. That's crazy--earthquakes are very strange to feel!

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  6. Yikes! We live in northwest Missouri and you could feel the aftershocks all the way up here! Some people said they could feel them in St. Louis, too!

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  7. I cannot imagine something like that! I am so glad you are all safe and nothing was broken that can't be replaced!

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  8. I 'grew up' with earthquakes in CA that were bigger than this one, but I totally think the earthquakes on Saturday were by far the scariest I've ever been in, simply because they took place in OKLAHOMA. I expect them on the Ring of Fire, but not in the place where the wind comes sweeping down the plains!

    And two separate earthquakes in one 24 hour period? I NEVER experienced that until Saturday. Craziness.

    (And we always ran outside in CA. I guess it isn't the kosher thing to do, but I was always afraid things would fall on us inside, so we stood under our awning outside!!)

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  9. (Aftershocks, yes, but two separate quakes? Eek.)

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  10. Running outside during an earthquake isn't necessarily the worst thing to do since you live in the suburbs. When you are in the city there is a huge risk of being hit by falling/flying glass and pieces of buildings, but as long as you are away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires you are safe outdoors.

    The greatest danger is directly outside a building, at exits and exterior walls, so if the earthquake has already started they say you should stay inside so you don't pass that dangerous threshold.

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  11. I didn't feel either one of them. Crazy!

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  12. I didn't experience either earthquake. Although they sounded super scary, I kinda wish I knew what one felt like. Call me crazy:)

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  13. I live in Tulsa and I was home alone on Friday night when the first one came and I will be the first to say I thought my house was haunted! I heard rattling and thought maybe a strong wind at first and as I was looking at the wall trying to figure it out, the wall LURCHED at me!! When trying to explain it to my boyfriend who got home and said he didn't feel anything, I was sure something was going on in our home, until 5 minutes later when I checked Facebook :) So strange...but kind of exciting when looking back. However, I can do without another one for as long as possible.

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  14. Wasn't it scary?! I told my husband I was afraid it would send me into labor! (Which may not be such a bad thing at this point) haha

    Oh, and you forgot about the hottest summer on record. At least we're hurricane and tsunami free!

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  15. Being born and raised in San Diego I can help! Duck and cover Missy! Grab that baby and get under a strong piece of furniture, like a sturdy table, that will protect you from things falling. If youre lacking that stand under a sturdy doorway and duck and cover! Going outside = not the best idea. And a rookie mistake ;) Hopefully there will be no more earthquakes! But in case there are remember to DUCK AND COVER!

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  16. This made me both laugh and cry. I'm pretty sure I would act exactly the same way. I'm glad y'all are okay.

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  17. Thank goodness for calm, composed husbands!
    This post had me laughing out loud imagining you running about. I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time though, I can't even imagine that feeling! Glad everyone is okay.

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  18. just found your blog from erin kerns.. this post made me laugh out loud. our reactions were much the same! definitely an unnerving experience!

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  19. Omigosh, that's so scary!!! I heard about the quakes on the radio today and actually thought about you because I remembered you living there. (Been reading your blog for a long time now!) I think I would have the same thought - that Jesus was returning if we got an earthquake in San Antonio. It's crazy! You're not the only one who would scream like that - I would probably do the same.

    SO SO SO glad you are all safe and okay!

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  20. Haha! You are hilarious! I had my bout of mania during the second one as well! We had just put our son to bed and hubby went to the den with our little girl while I stayed in our bedroom to fold some laundry. Then the shaking occurred and I froze...and then ran under the door frame(b/c that's what you're supposed to do in an earthquake right?!) and YELLED "OH GOD HELP US! MAKE IT STOOOPPPPP!!!" I'm embarrassed just typing that out.

    Needless to say our son woke up crying. And my husband was a little bit annoyed at my hysteria (he should be used to it by now). But my thoughts were the same as yours: Jesus is coming back soon!!

    So thankful it was minor compared to what could've been. Praying it stays that way.

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  21. You make me laugh Whitney! At least you had sense enough to move! Dan was in the hallway talking to me as I sat on the bed when it started. I just sat there frozen in place the entire time! I didn't know what to do or how to react. My kiddos slept right through it.

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  22. Don't forget Oklahoma's record breaking heat!! Oh and the drought we are technically in - down 18 inches of rain!

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  23. I think I was in an earthquake as a kid in California, but I don't really have any memory of it other than waking up and my mom saying, "There was an earthquake last night". But, picturing you running around screaming in the midst of calamity is pretty darn funny. =)

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  24. I seriously thought a helicopter was circling and then landing on our house! The noise was LOUD, and I thought the shaking must be from the giant thing landing or somnething. Insane the things we think at such crazy moments!

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  25. The sheer fact that there was a tornado on the ground at the same time as an aftershock today makes me want to throw in the towel! I told my mom on Saturday night that if this was the end of times I'm ready but that I would really appreciate God waiting for me to finish medical school first! :) Hopefully its all over now!

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  26. If you're not used to earthquake, I feel I should warn you. Expect to feel aftershocks for at least a week. They won't be as strong; but, they will happen.

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  27. ok, so I'll admit too that the one on Saturday night freaked me out and I was thinking the same thing, "Jesus is coming!!" lol....I didn't think it would ever stop. I didn't sleep much that night after that one!

    I saw your husby and little Levi the other night at Dick's Sporting Goods. I didn't say a word cause he would probably wonder who is this strange girl saying she knows who I am! ;-)

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May the Lord bless you and keep you safe today! Thanks for the comment, friends! :)