Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Colorado Springs wildfire



My heart is heavy and my thoughts are uncertain. 

We were in Mexico City over the weekend for my brother-in-law's wedding.

It was a wonderful trip and celebration.

On Sunday as we were on a layover in Dallas we first heard about the fire raging and consuming forest just west of Colorado Springs.  

The pictures were crazy that we saw online but it seemed so surreal and still so far away.

We arrived home to record temps.  It was 100 on Sunday, 99 yesterday and I think 98 today.  It is hot.  

We don't have air conditioning.  We have a whole house fan which is normally really helpful at cooling things off but it is not really nice when you're pulling a bunch of smoke into your house.

Right now it is 89 on the main floor of our house (cooler downstairs by a bit and warmer upstairs where the bedrooms are) and smells like a campfire.  I don't say this to complain, afterall, we are in our house, we have not been evacuated.  We are alive.  I am thankful.  I only describe it to paint a picture.

The fire is growing and spreading closer and closer to the city.  The highway has been shut down.  Many people have been evacuated.  Where before they were reporting that no structures had burned, only forest, now I have heard that a major tourist attraction as well as homes have burned.

It is so very sad to think about.

One of my friends here and her family have been evacuated.  They were emergently evacuated.  I don't know how long they had to get out but what a very unsettling thing!

I am praying and beginning to pack up a few things like our wedding album and some of David's favorite books just in case.  I don't know if it's what I should be doing or not but it feels like doing something.

My perspective has changed.  

A few short hours ago I was trying to think what I could do tomorrow on my birthday to have fun and stay cool.  I was just thinking of myself.  

Now I'm thinking more of others and things feel a lot different.

Please pray for our city, for my friends, for us.  

Just as the clouds of smoke billow overhead, a cloud of stress seems to have settled over the city.  

Please pray for protection and peace and also for faith and willingness to share it and be unselfish with our time, homes, etc.

Thank you! 

Kelly

7 comments:

BR said...

Oh. Thanks for the post, i had no idea. I'm so out of touch. Your house sounds so very warm, i'm sorry friend. I'll call on your birthday to hear more. And I'll pray for everything you mentioned. I'm glad you packed your wedding album. You're allowed to.
love you.

Deborah said...

I woke up thinking about you this morning, even as you were thinking of others. I'm so sorry about your beloved city. I am prayerful that God will take care of you and yours.

Nonetheless...Happy Birthday, my friend.

Vanessa {Bloom Right Here!} said...

Just got on your blog to check on you. I have been and will continue to pray for Colorado.

Sarah B said...

I'm praying for you and your area as well! The pictures are indeed frightening and I hate the smell of smoke (and sweating - which I imagine you're also doing). And it's your birthday!! A memorable one to say the least. I think starting to pack up some of your MANY irreplaceable momentos are NOT a waste of time and will never be regretted should the worst happen. I visited with a young girl last week who forgot her Bible when evacuated from a camp cabin that burned down in NM...
Praying God's mercy on you & yours - and all of Colorado.

Dave and Judy said...

Kelly, We have been traveling and out of good internet range. Just able to send a brief msg to our kiddos. Have been wondering about y'all and praying you are safe. We have good friends who work for NAVIGATORS there and our kids attended Eagle Lake 5 years so that place holds great memories. PRAYING for all involved. Should be in AK tomorrow and Fairbanks by Friday so will have better internet and be able to get some news channels on my computer and read my FB updates from our friends there. JUDY

Christian - Modobject@Home said...

I am praying, Kelly. Jesus has you...

Ashley said...

We are in shock at the news footage...So very sad. This city is known around the state as being a center of Christianity...may God use this to His glory!