Our Homes and the Fire

Here is an email I just sent out to friends and family:

Hello to all,

I just wanted to send out an update. We found out this morning that my parents and grandparents homes have burned to the ground. There is video of it at http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=170532. Our home is still in grave danger. The fire is headed right for it. The good thing for us is that we are so close to downtown Fallbrook. The firefighters are going to do their best to save downtown. My brother is a reporter and he has stayed in Fallbrook at the command center. He said it is concievable that the entire town could burn today. Please pray that our home is spared so that we can help my parents and friends affected by the fire. Also, please pray for his safety and for my parents and grandparents (for peace). My parents have had a great attitude about the whole thing, that it is just stuff and we are all together and safe. (It is sad, though, to lose my great-grandma's china and my other great-grandma's dolls, heirlooms, etc.)

I really can't believe this is happening. So many friends affected. Where is everyone going to go? We love you all and are thankful for all your prayers and calls of support.

Please Pray

We are surrounded by fire. There have been strong Santa Ana winds that are making everything crazy. Two of my aunts and at least one friend have been evacuated. Our whole town may be evacuated. So we are preparing right now just in case. Also, our huge 50+ year old Chinese Elm has had two of the main branches (more like trunk) break off and they are hanging. So please pray that when they fall that they miss our house and the guest house where my brother and his wife live.

This just in...my parents and grandma have been told to evacuate. They live about ten minutes from us. I'll post updates as I can (and hopefully pictures...my camera decided to act up just today) :(

PS The crazy thing is that I met someone yesterday who said there is a white out blizzard going on in CO. Fire and blizzards...all on the same day and in the same country. If you life in CO please comment and let me know about the blizzard. Thanks.

Shoes

Jonny just tied his shoes all by himself for the first time! He got new shoes and they aren't Velcro. They are laced shoes, so we figured it was time to teach him how to tie his shoes. I have to admit I've kinda been dreading and putting off teaching him. I don't know why. It wasn't so bad when we actually did it. Joel's speech therapist was here yesterday and when she heard him ask me to tie his shoes she was surprised he didn't know how. So she taught him. I did join in on the teaching but it made me feel guilty that I hadn't found time to teach my (barely) 7-year-old. Part of the problem is I just got caught up in life and used to the routine of tying his shoes. The other part of the problem is all the shoes with Velcro. He could do that by himself and his play shoes have always had Velcro so I just don't think much about tying shoes. One kid down, two to go. :)

Storybooks

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The heart and soul of a family is in their stories. - Leah Gutierrez
Whether they're happy or sad, old or new, we all have stories. Now we have an easy way to get our photos and stories into books, preserving our memories for future generations. How many people don’t know their grandparents or great-grandparents stories? How did they grow up? What was life like for them when they were young? What were their most treasured memories? Or, how many of you have sat there looking at pictures and wondering who they were of? Don’t let that be your family. You now have an easy way to enjoy, save and share your family’s stories. Make memories last with Heritage Makers. Heritage Makers offers a fast, affordable way to actually do something with your photos and stories. Storybooks are high quality and will last for generations to come. And, I am here to guide and support you. If you have questions or need anything please contact me. I would love to help you start sharing your stories! If you'd like to host a Celebration in Southern California for your friends, family, church, or community group, need help on your own books, or would like more information on the exciting and rewarding opportunity of being a consultant, please e-mail me or give me a call.

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Why?

My oldest son just asked me "Why is Daddy gone two days in a row?" I explained to him, while trying to hold back a chuckle, that Daddy is going to be gone Monday-Friday and home on Saturday and Sunday. To little minds three months was a LONG time ago. Hard to remember what it was like for Daddy to work full-time. ;) Besides, the boys have become really close to Daddy since he's been home a lot. All three of my boys are Daddy's boys now!

We have work!

Isaac started work yesterday! It went well and he likes the people he's working with. Thank you, Lord, for providing for us. Hopefully now we can start to climb out of the hole we fell further and further into with him being out of work for so long. The interesting thing is that I got used to him being around all day long and now I miss him. I am also having to get re-adjusted to parenting all by myself during the day. I am not complaining...I am VERY happy we have work, I just have to get used to him working again. You know how having a man home from work disrupts your schedule. Well, Isaac was home so long that our schedule had changed permanently, now I have to re-adjust it. The kids are going to have to get used to not having daddy around all day too. I am praying for a smooth transition and so far everything has gone well. Thank you for all your prayers that Isaac would get work. God answered with a "Yes."