Holy Smokes!

I was so excited to upload pictures of our trip to San Diego we took this weekend. I sat down at the computer... and poof- the power went off. I thought- Oh great, 95 degree weather, and we have no a/c.
That wasn't the worst of it... John came running in the house to tell me there was a plume of smoke rising from the neighbors... (double knots in my tummy tensed)
He raced in his pick up to the spot... there had been a car that hit a power pole. The pole fell over causing a fire... which is the worst news you can hear in this area.
Within moments the fire trucks and CHP started to arrive. Our road was blocked off... by now the fire was starting to burn out buildings on the neighbors property.

When the power goes out around here, so does the water pump. We got the generator going, and put the sump pump into the boy's pool... I don't know if it would have helped... but it gave us something to do.
When I looked out to see it had already traveled 400+ feet from where it started.. I went into evacuation mode. Here was the problem... I just unpacked our suitcases and was in the middle of doing laundry. The rooms were all dark (the smoke was blacking out some of the sun by now) and I couldn't find a flashlight.
I grabbed my hard-drive w/ picture back up, my keys and wallet... I figured the rest could be replaced. I threw it on the front seat of the van... and then I heard the sweetest sound... CDF airplanes... TWO of them!!!

They were close enough to see the pilot... and I knew it was the best chance we had at keeping the fire under control.

I would see the fire retardant come out of the plane, then they would disappear in the darkness. Which happened to be just on the other side of our fence line.

Even with two planes, it was a relief to hear the helicopter...

There were several out-buildings that had been lost. The fireman drove down a one way access point and parked in front of this house... I watched him get in and out of the firetruck several times- I think it was according to the wind direction as to whether he could defend the house.

This is directly in front of the green house... and just a few hundred feet from our property line.
Each year we have to mow a fire-break, because of the conditions out here. Last year the little town up the road lost 130+ homes from a fire started due to a tossed cigarette.

Thankfully, it wasn't too windy- and the incredible fire departments were able to save all the homes in the fire's path.

We just sat and watched this fire come toward us. I thought about the fact we were going to have to leave with the clothes on our back... maybe this is why Grandma always says to have clean underwear on!

I was so thankful we had mowed... I was thankful for the family who help us keep up this big job every year. I was thankful for the fire department's quick response... and mostly... thankful to Jesus for keeping our home (and everyone else's) out of the fire.