Blessings....Counting my many blessings.

As the sun set on a tense day ... I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my many blessing.
We were able to safely travel about 200 miles round trip to pick Spencer up at the evacuation site.
He was safe and sound, as were all the kids, staff, and bus drivers.
Everyone had to leave their stuff at camp, and district sent up a team to pick up everyones belongings; but as of now, they are not being allowed to go back into the area.
Spencer locked up the 'Tin Can Cottage', packed up most of his clothes and left everything else.

I recieved a phone call from one of our dear family friends, and she let me know that Spencer was with her husband.
 Her husband is a principle in the district and was up to Clear Creek for the week.
What a blessing!!
Spencer used Carl's phone the minute that they could get reception, and he let me know where they were being evacuated to.
I called Jenny back and let her know that they were safely out of the canyon, and where they would be going.
Then, I took off.
Brooke and I hit the freeway to go pick Spencer up.
When we got back home, we saw that the "Seely" fire was burning further and faster towards his camp, and towards town.
In the top right picture above, you can see the smoke plume rising on the mountain ridge just above town.

My heart felt thanks goes out to everyone that has offered prayers on our behalf.
No words could adequately describe the level of gratitude I feel for each and every one of you.
Thanks for your prayers, your emails, your comments, your phone calls.
I have felt the comfort of those prayers, and have felt bolstered up by your concern and compassion.
Thank you ....... thank you a million times over.

We are continuing our prayers and concern for everyone that is dealing with these devistating wildfires.
States across the West are suffering tradgedy from wildfires.
We are praying for the firefighters, and for their families in light of the sacrifices they have made, and continue to make to help the victims of wildfires.
Our hearts go out to the citizens in Colorado . Those folks are dealing with incredible loss and tragedy.


On a less tragic note... we are going to continue to work on the barn.
As you can see in the far left picture above.. we have made great progress on the roof.
The roof is about 90% finished.
We still need to repair some of the wood siding , that long ago was neglected and that someone once upon a time let their horses snack on.
Then, we will paint it, get the chicken wire back in the windows... etc.. etc..
Also, quite a few of my little seeds have germinated and are ready to be transplanted into the garden.
I also bought a huge lavender plant.
 I'm looking forward to getting it planted and established in the courtyard.


Attitude of gratitude:
~ On this day,I am most grateful for the blessings of safety.
~I am grateful for the prayers of safety and comfort that have been offered on our behalf.
~I'm grateful for the phone calls from friends, and emails, and offers of help.
~I'm so grateful to know that when everything gets down to the basics.. we really are all just sisters and brothers of a loving Heavenly Father.
Compassionate, and charitable... willing and able to help one another.

Evacuations~ Spencer's camp just ordered to evacuate. The kids camp evacuated.

 Near Mt. Pleasant
Burning just above town.

Not much time to update.
I'm just waiting for a phone call to tell me where I will be able to pick
Spencer up.
He just called and told my that they have been ordered to evacuate the kids camp.
Yes.. Clear Creek Camp is under an evacuation order.
Another fire started yesterday evening on the other side of the mountain from Spencer.
Essentially  trapping the camp..

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your prayers!!
Thank you !! Thank you !! Thank  you!!

Summer Tragedy... Wood Hollow Fire. ** Update... a man has died..

 Tragedy has struck our little county.
Wild fires.
The picture above was taken about 5:30 pm on Saturday night.
My husband and his friend saw the smoke over by Moroni as they were coming home from work.
I snapped this picture and a few more.

 We contacted our local news station and reported the fire burning.... 911 had already been called some 40 minutes earlier.
They ran the story at 10:00 pm, with our pictures, as no one else had sent them pictures yet.
Our state was still reeling from another devastating fire that was burning in Utah County.

 To date.. the fire has burned about 40,000 acres, dozens of homes and structures, and some livestock has been lost.
Tragic way to start the summer.
And to think...just about 3 weeks ago, our county had frost in the mornings!

 Smoke rising above the fire.

 Smoke, blocking out the sun.

Our beautiful mountains are on fire.
This has been a very dry year in Utah, and there have been so many fires in Utah already.
Approximately 400 fires already.
This Wood Hollow Fire is believed to have been started by a faulty electrical transformer.

All over the Western united states.. fires are raging and consuming our lands.
It's so scary, and so very sad.
Devastating.

We've had so many people call and email to see if we are OK...and we are.
The fire started just about 5 miles away, but the winds have continued to push the fire to the North.
Burning towards Utah county.
Pins and needles.... that's how we feel. Worried. Concerned for our fellow county citizens.

The last three pictures are from KSL.COM... link here to read more:

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=960&sid=20974037&title=wood-hollow-fire-burns-39000-acres-25-30-structures-destroyed&s_cid=queue-21&s_cid=article-related-2&s_cid=article-related-2
Our hearts and prayers go out to all that have been affected by the Western wildfires.
Our gratitude and thanks go out to all those fire-fighters, volunteers, and citizens that are trying to put out the fires and providing for the needs of those displaced and livestock losses.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

**** Updated News....Updated at 3:52 pm 6-26-12
Sadly, a man has died in the fire.
The fire is now out of control again.... and has reached the Utah County line.
The fire is also burning back to the south... towards us.
Attitude of gratitude:
~We are so grateful that no human lives here in Utah have been lost due to the fires.
~We are grateful to the local volunteer fire departments, jeep posse, and sheriffs departments, as well as all the brave and charitable community members.

We will be OK.