Thoughts

I don't have any pictures, so...here goes.

I talked to my sister Alice tonight for about 2 hrs. It was soooo great to talk with her again, since the last time I saw her was the day after they had been up to their property and saw their devastation from the fire. My heart just aches for them.
After talking with her for a while I know one of the things that she will miss most are the pictures of her kids when they were little. Some of the other things can one day be replaced when needed. She said the outpouring of love and support, even from people she doesn't know, has been AMAZING! It is fantastic. They have had people volunteer to help go through things, people have offered them tools, saws, $$, whatever they need. Right now though, their immediate needs are being met. They have a furnished apartment in town where they have been living for 4 years while they have been working on their "dream home". As we were talking tonight they realize how fortunate they actually are. Alice & Alan at least have another home to go to, where some people that were living up there, had to find someplace to live. Others LOST EVERYTHING, and only got out with their cloths on their back.
Alice told a story of a newly wed couple that had just finished their home, and were just moving in their furniture and putting up pictures when they had to evacuate. When they returned EVERYTHING was burned. Although, their friend had left his pickup up there. Now listen to this...The pickup was burned inside and out, but...his BIBLE and ID that were left on the seat of the truck were NOT burned. That just gives me chill bumps. They are an amazing witness to the community. He told Alice, that "I guess God just wants me to be a city guy for a while". Their new home they were building was way up in the mountains. Pretty amazing.
Another thing Alice told me was Alan was going to make some sort of a sifter, to take up to their property as soon as they are allowed back in, to sift their stuff to separate the bigger things. The forest dept. is afraid trees could fall or more fires could still start because it is so dry. Anyway, Alan soon realized he doesn't even have a hammer, nails or anything like that. So...he had to take a step back, take a deep breath and rethink the whole process. Whewwww-Needless to say, Alan did NOT have a very good day today.
She says most days are ok, although she will be going through the grieving process for quit some time. It will be VERY interesting to see what the next chapter in their lives has for them. Only God knows and only time will tell.