Gotta Watch

The main part of the video was taken just to the north of us.  The main part of the video you will see the Air Force Academy on the mid bottom right (the triangular building is the AFA chapel.)  Our home is directly across from AFA for reference.

This is absolutely the best I have seen of our reality of almost the past week.  It is shocking and also confirming as part of me wonders why I was so freaked for the past few days.

This is basically what we saw from our bedroom, our living room, and yard everyday for the last week.

Please continue to pray.

Where's the smores

Just kidding - but living in a giant campfire, I sure wish it was under different circumstances.
The overwhelming smell in and out of the house makes me really wish
I was spending a weekend with the kids and a huge pile of smores. -
ugh but I would have to go to the store
because I gave the graham crackers to Care & Share
ate all the chocolate I could find
and I'm not sure what my little angels have done with marshmallows while they have been cooped up in the house for days on end.

As for Colorado Springs -

This man is in charge and he is AWESOME! 

15% containment today

 THank you!

They had a cattle drive through the fire zone to save 43 cows

some with burns, 2 babies born, all safe

Socks were donated for the firefighters,

Care & Share has been inundated by supplies to make their job a little easier

A community will be forever indebted to these men 

working 16 hour shifts

sleeping on the ground

Saving our city!

We heard from a dear older friend who we have been worried sick about!

(Chapel at the Air Force Academy during firestorm on Tues)

~ Threw the kids outside - my China kids thought they were back in China LOL! (i.e. smog/ bad air)

~ Learned that Cav has enough english to tell me "Momma I broke cast"

~ Realized he also has worn the knee out of the other cast

~ The city held a meeting for those with homes in the burn zone

~ Atleast one fatality was discovered

~ 1/3 to 1/2 of the evacuees have returned home

~ We all continue to watch the hills

~ We mourned for and with members of our community

~ We are becoming tired of tripping over the bags packed in the front hall

~ Thrilled the kids were eating carrots until I realized that the home behind us rescued horses from the Air Force Academy - they are so excited for tomorrow so they can ride them! 

We see and feel the prayers from all over!

(this is the only pic that is mine)

346 Prayers TONIGHT

Please my friends, please will you pray tonight starting at 8 MST for the 346 families who will find out that their home is a complete loss.

We have a very good friend in this group and my heart absolutely breaks for them.

Praise - many of the evacuees are being allowed to return to their homes.

(not my photos)

Reeling

I'm just gonna say it . . . I am tired, my heart hurts for those around us

BUT

I am also so incredibly thrilled to live here.  

For you see there is BEAUTY even in the midst of the most horrific storm.

(taken this after noon of Pikes Peak and all the smoke )

I came to the realization last night that if hour home was going to go - I might as well donate most of our food to Care & Share.  So the kids and I packed up our entire Yukon XL with food including cans, popcorn, drinks, toiletries, paper towels, toilet paper . . . basically all of our extra supplies.

What happens if our home does NOT burn?

There are 32,500 people evacuated from their homes.

This is what last night looked like (I gotta figure out how to photograph at nights)

And this morning we woke up to find a whole neighborhood gone.

(not my photo)

We are still in a holding pattern, and in shock for this city that we love so much.  Please pray for those around us.  We live in an incredible city - care & share had a line of 100 cars dropping of items when I went!!

And as an additional punch in the gut - we found out our LID . . .  you know for the paperwork we sent to China on 5/30 . . . Yeah we found out it was 6/20?!?!  On our Facebook group there were people DTC on 5/20 with a LID of 5/21.  Talk about wanting to just sit down and cry.

Perspective & prayers

Tonight I mourn for a town that has been my home for almost 30 years.  I mourn for the tons of families we know who have been evacuated and MANY, MANY of them have lost their homes.  Homes, parks and even streets we roamed as kids are now all on fire.

AS I went to the Air Force Academy to get my children at 4:30 we saw the fire crest the last set of mountains  - for the rest of the evening we watched in horror as our town began to burn.

We also realized that as the winds continue and the fire ebs north towards the Academy - we better start getting our items packed.

As I video'd the house - I looked around at all of the CRAP!  A family of 7 (ok 8 cuz adoption paperwork was imperative to grab) could put their most important belongings in a few tubs, some backpacks and the rest could be left behind.  In a sad way it was eye opening.  So much stuff that has little TRUE meaning - even the priceless art projects I have kept over the years.  So much money we have spent on stuff that can be left to burn.  Think about it.

One of the blessings (and yes I realize we live in the Bible Belt of the west) has been the media's reference to prayer.  It saddens me that so much bad has to happen for people to remember who really is in charge.  Please continue to pray, tomorrow is supposed to be hot again and more winds.  So far no one has been hurt or died and that is our number one request for you to pray.

Our first view of the fire on Sat

2 hours later

Wildlife escaping to our neighborhood for refuge.

Tiny black dot below is a helicopter still dropping buckets of water.

Just at the corner of the house by the chimney - is the Air Force Academy Stadium

Prayers

Yesterday was tough and yet I feel like I can't even feel sorry for myself - safe in my home.

As I looked out upon the scenes below, I also found there was an earthquake by our sweet little baby.

One family, two "natural" disasters.

such feelings of helplessness.

Luckily, someone messaged me from our little guys region and they didn't even feel anything 

WOOSH - so relieved!!

NOW onto this one -

If you have followed our blog long, you know we live in beautiful Colorado and have the most incredible views of pikes PEak.

Unfortunately, this is our newest views.

winds are pushing the fire towards the Air Force Academy

Not sure if you can see the little dots up against those hills but all of those people have been evacuated.

My heartbreaks and I pray that this was not a purposeful act.

We are extremely blessed to live in a community where people sacrifice their lives to ensure our safety.

Folks, it is over 100 degrees out

The winds can be absolutely crazy

but 450+ firefighters are out digging trenches.

Brave men and women, flying planes 

risking their lives to save our community!

Please pray for their safety.