Our Good Friday actually started early around 4:15 a.m. as storms ripped through our neighborhood, waking Brent and I to crazy-sounding wind and side-ways rain. After turning on the TV, we learned that a major storm front was headed our way and it was only minutes later that the tornado sirens went off. It was one of those times when you turn on the weather, you see the radar pictures and know that it's going to be an eventful weather day.
I spent the first half of the day glued to the TV, listening to the forecasts of the storms heading our way, but the most serious came around 1:00 when quarter-size hail starting raining down in our yard, pounding our windows as if it were to break through the glass at any moment. The wind started to pick up and the weather guys started sounding a little more serious about the intensity of the storm. Their exact words, "we will be surprised if this doesn't result in a tornado..."
Minutes later, I watched the news as they showed video of a funnel cloud moving through Columbia (less than 10 minutes from our house). It was at that moment, that they realized a serious tornado would likely touch down in the Murfreesboro area. Moments later, photographs and pictures came through on the TV of the devastation to one neighborhood. Houses were literally picked up off their foundation and slammed into the ground. Cars were thrown around like small toys. One picture I saw of a 2x4 appeared as a missile into the roof of another house.
It was only hours later that the realization came that entire neighborhoods were destroyed - approximately 750 homes total were damaged, with over 100 being completely demolished. Tractor trailers and cars were reportedly turned over on Interstate 24 heading towards to Chattanooga, creating mass havoc as emergency crews worked to access the people trapped inside their houses.
Sadly, two people lost their lives as they tried to leave their house moments before the storm touched down - supposedly they got scared and thought they could escape the storm.

Thankfully we were ok. No damage in our neighborhood and I think the dogs are getting used to the crazy weather! (not to say that WE are) We've spoken to our neighbors and told them that we are NOT used to tornadoes, but they've all assured us that this has been a particularly violent tornado season. We have until the end of May until we're in the clear, so we're just praying for protection and that it settles down a bit. Of course, I say this after hearing reports this morning that we have yet ANOTHER violent system moving through tonight.
And to end on more of a light-hearted note: here's a video posted on the weather channel by a fine Murfreesboro resident. My favorite line is, "Go get in the tuuuuub."
http://www.weather.com/multimedia/videoplayer.html?clip=14006&from=hp_video_1