Thursday, June 28, 2012

Waldo Canyon Fire - Day 2 - Update

Sarah and I are settled in Brandon's apartment.  What a God-send! It was perfect for us to have some space to think, breath, have some quiet, and paint our nails.  I can't tell you how amazing we felt after only taking a shower and painting our nails- a normal, girly, every day task.

So for today... it's been an up and down kind of day. I came in to work late.  I didn't have the energy or the motivation to get up until 9.  Sarah went to a job at 8:30.  All morning we have been texting each other how we feel cloudy, dazed, and can't describe how we feel - if we feel at all  - numbness actually describes it pretty well.
When I got to work, my friend Julie had found a map showing the effected burn areas - my neighborhood was considered gone. Although I had prepared myself for this - seeing it on an official site still made my stomach sink.
Everyone at work has been SO supportive, loving, and caring. It is so amazing to feel such a sense of community and support here.

Later this afternoon, I received an email from my mom... my cousin had found an arial photo from the Denver Post of our neighborhood... I prepared myself for the devastation, which there was plenty of, but miraculously two houses remain standing on Courtney Drive - and one of them is 2210!

In the picture below, the red arrow points to our home on the corner.  Unbelievable! My friends somewhat teased me about running back into the house during the evacuation to turn on the sprinkler system... I can't say that it helped... but I like to think it did. :)

Actual Link to Arial Photos: click here

There is no telling when we will be allowed back into the evacuation area - likely days, maybe weeks. I still feel the need to prepare myself for whatever is there.  Although the structure of the home still stands, with all the burning that went on around it, it's anyone's guess as to what type of smoke and heat damage has been done - or even water damage considering they were fighting these fires all of Tuesday night and into Wednesday.

As more information becomes available - I will certainly keep everyone posted.  Until then please continue to pray for the firefighters as they still battle this growing fire over Blodgett Peak, the Peregrine Neighborhood, and the US Air Force Academy.
Please pray for the families in these neighborhoods that have lost their homes. I have only lived in this neighborhood a short time, but most of the families were residents for up to 20 years. I can't imagine the loss they are suffering.
Pray for our community.  Though this is a tragic and devastating event, the beauty that I've seen in the amount of selfless support, compassion, and generosity has been overwhelming.  It is truly an amazing thing to see a city rally around it's people in every way possible.

Love to you all!

MJ & SJ

PS - My fish, Laredo, was not remembered in the chaos of the evacuation... I'm saying a little prayer the guy is still there! :)





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