The view from our back yard.

Another Fire

Yes, we've survived our second fire in as many years.  This one was different in that it was not as close to our home. It wasn't like the fire two years ago that barreled down our mountain right towards us, and gave my children nightmares for months after.  That fire only burned a few homes, and no one we knew.  This fire was further to the west, but burned right through the yards of several of my friends from the Arts Council.  One friend was decorating for her daughter's wedding reception when the thirty foot flames blew towards their house. What a blessing, she said on facebook, that so many people were there because of the reception to dig fire lines and douse their home with water. 

My friend Julie's house

So while farther away, this fire was also close to home for us.   Today in church, a policeman told of the fire sweeping across a field towards the subdivision he was evacuating.  He saw the vinyl fence barrier melt as the flames licked closer and ran towards his truck for his life, then the wind suddenly shifted and the fire blew away, sparing all the homes.  He felt in his heart that it was the prayers of the people that saved the homes.

My friend Debra's house is the one in the middle front.

In the end, four homes were lost.  My friends were all safe but three of them lost their yards and outbuildings.  It gave special meaning to us today, in church, when we sang the Star Spangled Banner together - the feeling that, as a community, we are there for each other - that we are in this together.

No More Teachers

This week was Ruth and Jared's final week of school.  For Ruth this was her big graduation from elementary school.  She is looking forward to middle school and the first long summer break of her life.  Thanks to our year-round system, Jared will be going back to school at the end of the month.  He's excited to have a fresh start with a new teacher, as he has struggled with his teacher this year.

Finishing the Float

We had a big push this week to finish our Days of 47 float.  I hadn't worked on it for a few days, so when I went to work on Saturday I was so impressed and happy to see how wonderful it looked! Our float makes it's debut on Tuesday night in the city parade.  We are excited but also trepidatious that the transporting of it will damage it.  There are a couple of weeks between the parade and the preview where our float will be on public display and will be judged that we will have to repair and improve it.

Kaitlin panning for gold with her friend Susan.

Youth Conference

Kaitlin spent several days at a youth conference with her church group.  They went camping and spent a day at This is the Place Pioneer Village, doing service and learning about pioneer life. She got to pan for gold, rake weeds and go on a hike to a waterfall, among other things, and reports that she had a great time.