#sandiegofirerelief

[planterwife-blog]

My son took this picture on our way home tonight from my parents house. He was so excited that even through the thick, immense smoke, you could see the sun! We arrived back in SM today, and the fire seems to be calming down. It is now 10% contained, and while there is still obvious fire damage and fire lines, I did not witness the firenados that were there yesterday. As the weather begins to cool, I look forward to our city getting to go home, assess the damage and rebuild. Keep us in your prayers.

[planterwife-blog]

My first thoughts on the fires

The last two days have been raw. They have been difficult. I have cried. I have been terrified. I have felt my heart jump. I am working through the myriad of emotions that are swarming my heart and attempting to sort out everything that is coming in and all the pictures my friends and family have sent. I have agonized over our home and our kids, and not being there.

Monday night Russ and I boarded a plane to Chicago for a church planters training. Wednesday we were notified that our neighboring city, Carlsbad, had a destructive fire that devastated many of its residents (and our friends). Later that day we were notified of a new fire (one of 9 currently burning in our county) that was now literally in our backyard. Our children’s lead, along with many of our friends and church families have been evacuated.

My head swirls about between fear, urgency, and faith. Something remarkable has started to happen though. People who we have been leading took over and have started serving our community. People that we do not even know are spreading our link around facebook to attempt to raise money for the 40,000 people who are currently unable to return to their homes in San Marcos alone.

I have no idea what the next few days are going to look like. My prayer is that this fire is extinguished without the loss of life, and that the people who are left with ashes can find Hope in Jesus. I will keep attempting to process through this on my blog, as well as try to keep you all informed. Just know that much of what we know is from CNN too, the difference being those are our neighbors and friends houses on TV. Please help us in spreading the word about Catalyst’s fire relief fund so that when the flames subside, we can be there to start rebuilding lives immediately. Please pray for our church as we live in this, process through it and do our best to be Jesus to the broken.

Russ and I fly home in the morning-the earliest flight that was available. Our kids went to my parents after school was cancelled so that Bella’s asthma wouldn’t be any more effected. Please keep our family, our friends and neighbors, and our church in your prayers.