The Waldo Canyon Fire

Well, you all must have heard about what is going on in Colorado... the whole state has caught fire. The worst fire in Colorado history has been lit for the past 8 days and it is called the Waldo Canyon Fire. My family has been evacuated from our wonderful mountain home since Sunday morning (we evacuated Saturday but then went back for one last evening before the mandatory evacuation came into effect) and I think it may be time to look back at the worst. 

These pictures are from our own camera unless otherwise listed:

Taken Saturday evening by the north entrance of the Air Force Academy. My flight from Missouri came in and my parents were already packed and out of the house for the day. At this point, we were only on voluntary evacuation. We returned home this night.

The morning of our mandatory evacuation. Photos taken from the back porch of our house.

Last picture of the house before leaving. Look at all of the beautiful flowers.

Starting the drive down the mountain. We have 4 cars at my house so everyone had to drive one filled with belongings down. We had to leave one car behind because there weren't enough drivers.

Driving down what is called "Ute Pass" or Highway 24. Right into the smoke. They closed the highway that evening because it was so close.

The sunrise was blocked by the smoke. A very heartbreaking and scary drive. 

45+ minutes away from the fire. Taken at around 12pm Sunday at Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Colorado Springs.

Driving to our evacuee home.

Taken Sunday or Monday evening at St. Patrick's

My sister Katy was coming in from California so this was on the way to Denver to pick her up.

Pikes Peak is to the left. This video was taken as I was coming up on the Air Force Academy exits so you can see how much it is spreading.

 

Above are the pictures taken on Tuesday (early and late evening). At this time 346 houses were burning. You can see the houses in flames in the last two pictures. The neighborhood most deeply effected is called Mountain Shadows. My dad asked me today if I remember looking at a house up in that neighborhood when we first moved here in 1998. Beautiful houses destroyed.

(Denver Post photo)

This is a 16+ min, 5 day time lapse video from June 23rd- June 28. This was taken by a Colorado Springs resident named Steve Moraco. It will bring you to tears. Seeing those flames come up over the mountain and into that neighborhood was surreal. Hopefully with this video view, you can experience a little bit of the horror.

As we continue to pray for the containment and eventual clearing of this fire, let us not forget the wonderful outpouring of love, kindness, and never-ending support from everyone directly and not directly effected. For the fire fighters who have given all of their time, effort, and energy to extinguish this fire. For the leaders who have responsibility for the safety of thousands of residents and hundreds of fighters, overall containment plans, and the investigation to the source of the fire. For the people who have lost their homes and valuable items from the fire or from people who have broken into their cars and homes after being evacuated. 

⁷ so that the ^[a] proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which ^[b]is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  1 Peter 1:7

For Katy

When she was just a girl she expected the world

But it flew away from her reach 

So she ran away in her sleep and dreamed of

Para-para-paradise, para-para-paradise, para-para-paradise

Every time she closed her eyes

When she was just a girl she expected the world

But it flew away from her reach and the bullets catch in her teeth

Life goes on, it gets so heavy The wheel breaks the butterfly every tear a waterfall

In the night the stormy night she'll close her eyes

In the night the stormy night away she'd fly

And dream of para-para-paradise

Para-para-paradise

Para-para-paradise

(Oh oh oh oh oh, oh-oh-oh)

She'd dream of para-para-paradise

Para-para-paradise

Para-para-paradise

(Oh oh oh oh oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)

La-la-la-la-la-la-la

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

And so lying underneath those stormy skies

She'd say, "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh 

I know the sun must set to rise"

Every time I hear this song, I always think of you. You've done so much with your life, overcome many challenges, and you still have so many dreams and aspirations. You inspire me and I look up to you so so much. Thank you for being my Maid of Honor. I love you and cannot thank you enough for the love you show me. <3

Love Always,

Thing 2

*Photos from various people (Erin [our sister] and friends of Katy)*

Shooting Your Fiance

Have you ever had the urge to just shoot your fiance? Your answer should be No. It's a simple thing, really, to not shoot your fiance. You don't pick up the gun, you don't aim the gun, and you don't shoot the gun. I got to the first step before I saw Paul and before he put his hands up and said, "Mary!"But let's go back a bit:

It all started with Paul taking a trip to California to be in his best friend's wedding (they are a beautiful couple and I wish them all the happiness in the world). Anyways, the day he returned, he was supposed to pack his bags to drive to Colorado the next day so that he could spend my birthday with me. The morning before my birthday, I take my mom to work:

Mom: "So, Paul is on the road now?"
Me: "No, he said he needed to get the oil changed in his car so he won't leave for another few hours. I'm pretty sure he won't leave till later because he's usually late all of the time. I probably won't see him till like 2 or 3am."
Mom: "Oh, okay."

On my way home from dropping my mom off, I get a call from Paul:

Paul: "Hey babe, I'm so sorry, I just woke up. I got in late last night and just conked out. I'm so so sorry, but I'll get dressed really quickly and take the car in. It'll be another two hours. I'm so so sorry!"
Me: "Oh, that's okay. I figured as much."

No surprise there. I was totally prepared. I didn't get my hopes up and didn't get mad. Of course I was bummed but it's not as bad when you get yourself ready for that kind of news. So I get home, get some breakfast, and sit in front of the couch on the floor with my laptop, on Pinterest. I get another call:

Paul: "Hey babe, so I took the car in and they found something wrong with the transmission and when the guy went to take a look, he broke something. Anyways, it'll be at least another 2 hours and if he gets it fixed, I can start right away. If he doesn't, I'll have to stop by your sister's and get your car to drive up."
(My car is still in Texas because my parents didn't feel comfortable with me driving up, and they didn't trust that the car would make it.)

Me: "Ya, okay. That's fine. I really didn't think you'd be here till tomorrow anyways."
Paul: "Mary, you need to stop being a cynic. Have a little faith in me, please!"
Me: 'Paul, I do, but this is what always happens. I'm just glad I didn't get my hopes up!'

Yes, I'm horrible. Anyways, While I was on the phone, I heard people on our front porch. That's normal because we have been getting a lot of packages delivered to the house because of the wedding. So every day to every other day, there have been FedEx or UPS guys on the porch, making commotion.

Well after about 5 minutes, I thought it was strange that they were still there.

I peek around the couch, no cars in the driveway. This. Is. Odd.
I crawl across the opening to behind the piano and grab the air soft rifle. It's time to check things out!
This is another story entirely, that may be blogged later, but I once walked into a robbery at my house and after realizing they fled, I went out looking for them. I was 17. Lesson learned? Hell No.

I grab the rifle, stand up and start walking into the living room towards the kitchen and front door. Then I see him! A man about 6'2" with a blue collared shirt and walking into the kitchen. It's Paul!

Paul (putting his hands up): "MARY!"

Like I wrote before, I only got to step one. I did not aim or shoot, but was getting ready as I walked to the front door.

I dropped the gun and ran to him. I could not believe he was here. Turns out, he was picked up from the airport in Texas by my brother-in-law and nephew, dropped off at his apartment, spent 30 minutes charging his phone and packing a few extra clothes, and started the trip at 11:30pm to Colorado. He drove all night.

sleepy, crazy guy

I have not been so surprised in all of my life. I cannot explain the feeling seeing him after being so bummed out... tricky. We spent a lovely couple of days together in Colorado before driving to Missouri to check out apartments for when we move in 2 weeks.

The funny thing is, however, that Paul had entered the house and had gone all around looking for me (downstairs, upstairs,into my parents' room and outside in the front). During all of that, I thought mail people were out on the porch. That's comforting. At least I had a gun :)