the calm after the storm...

The rain continued to pour and pour most of today.

The bridge over the Harpeth on HWY 96 W... it was closed on and off yesterday and today due to high water. We decided not to cross for fear that it would be closed when we tried to come back home.

This was once Old Charlotte Pike... it is now the Harpeth River.

After almost 48 hours of constant downpours, the rain finally ceased around 4 p.m. today. Our rain gauge recorded a total of 20.6 inches. Wow. For the past two days, we have sat in our house and watched the rain come down. We've watched television ALOT - our eyes glued to it yesterday, last night and this morning as we watched one tornadic system after another roll in without a break in between it seemed. The kids slept in the basement last night and Cayce and I joined them at two different times, as the tv showed rotation headed straight for us. Thankfully, we are all safe and our home is fine.

Most of the severe weather was past by mid-morning today, but the rains kept coming and we stayed glued to the television as we watched the reports of unbelievable flooding happening all around us. Record rainfall. Record flooding. Surreal. That's really the best way to describe it. This is the kind of event that happens elsewhere - not HERE, where we LIVE, affecting US and all of the COMMUNITY that we call HOME.

By this evening, we were ready to get out, stretch our legs and see some of the damage for ourselves. Our walk was so calm and peaceful, it was hard to believe what had just happened. We saw fallen branches and trees, flood waters and debris, mud everywhere... we talked with the kids about power of water and how they were witnessing "history in the making". They marveled at all of this but then were quick to notice a puddle to splash in or some muddy clay to cover themselves in. The kids played in the water - splashing all the while as we walked down the road. This is what they call "the calm after the storm", I suppose.