Effects of the Waldo Canyon Fire

It has been almost a full week since the Waldo Canyon Fire began to burn just a few miles from Eagle Lake Camp. Thinking back on it, we really didn't think it was going to be something that would keep us off of the Eagle Lake property for long. All the families packed a few bags of stuff but now I wish I had stuffed my van full before leaving.

This week had been a bit of a blur. After evacuating from camp we moved back into our townhome thinking we would just hold tight there for as long as we needed. We were preparing ourselves for the worst at camp but we really didn't think our home in Colorado Springs was in danger. Then on Tuesday afternoon everything changed. A storm rolled through the area that had very high winds. The fire exploded into a raging fury, rolling down the hills just a couple miles from our home. In a matter of 30 minutes our neighborhood went from a peaceful area far from danger, to a smoke filled, wind gusting, panic stricken place. It is hard to describe how quickly it changed and how scared we felt, but as we were driving away, stuck in bumper to bumper traffic as over 32,000 people were trying to leave one small area at once, I have never felt so close to my own death. I am truly amazed that there were not deaths reported the following morning.

Once we got to the home of the wonderful family who took us in on very short notice, we all sat around the TV, watching in disbelief as billows of smoke and raging fire ravaged through the neighborhood we just left 2 hours before. We felt fairly certain that the fire must have reached our townhome but then a picture came on the TV that confirmed it had not crossed the street and was indeed being held back from burning everything we owned. It was still incredibly difficult to watch as hundreds of homes less than 1/4 mile from us went up in flames. Lots of Navigator families and families from our church live in the area that was burning so we knew our community would be greatly impacted.

Monday and Tuesday were also days of wondering whether or not Eagle Lake Camp was still standing or if the fire had destroyed that property as well. It was difficult to think too far beyond what was happening in the present because I couldn't really fathom losing the opportunity to minister at Eagle Lake with the rest of the staff. It made me so sad to think that the impact of Eagle Lake could come to an end in a matter of days but I also knew that God calls even good things to come to an end sometimes.

I am happy to report that God performed a miracle this week by preserving Eagle Lake in awesome ways! All of the buildings (with the exception of a few cabins/tents) are still standing and much of the land is still green. The firefighters who are on that property truly did an incredible job of preserving a place that means a great deal to thousands of people. We were all able to see pictures of what the property looks like, and we all see the hand of God at work. He is doing a new thing and we are excited to see what the future holds. As of right now, even next week is still unknown but we trust in a God who knows the past, present, and the future.

This weeks travels

This week Shaun and I will be going our seperate ways as I head to Iowa for a much anticipated family reunion and he embarks on a mountain climbing adventure!

I leave on Wednesday with the girls to drive 12 hours to Orange City, Iowa to have a fun long weekend with my dad's side of the family.  One of my cousins lives in Ft. Collins, CO and she and her husband are going to take the long drive with us. I am so thankful for them because I don't think I could have made it out to Iowa all by myself with 15 month twins! I'm looking forward to seeing all of my relatives, most of whom I haven't seen since before we were married.

Which brings me to my next point....this Saturday marks our 5th Anniversary! It will be the first time Shaun and I have spent our anniversary apart, but such is life I guess. It will also be the first time we haven't celebrated by staying one night in the Glen Eyrie Castle. I think we are just going to postpone that until much later in the summer when things calm down a little bit. It has been a roller coaster ride for the past 5 years, but I have been blessed to ride that coaster with a wonderful Godly man. Life has thrown us things that we did not expect but I'm very happy to say that the trials and the pain, as well as the joy and beauty of marriage have only grown us closer. Here is a little blast from the past to remember that special day :-)

This week Shaun will be finishing up four weeks of Excursions staff training by going on what we call Staff-X. It's a time of reflection, bonding, and fun for the 14 college staff that will soon be leading groups of campers on wilderness adventures. They will be traveling a few hours west to camp at the base of a 14,000 ft mountain. Early on Wednesday morning they will wake up to summit the peak and then be put on a 24 hour SOLO in the wilderness  in order to have a time of rest and reflection. This will be the first summer I have not been able to go on Staff-X with the Excursions staff so I am sad to miss out, but I know they will have a wonderful time in God's magnificent creation. Starting next Sunday we look forward to welcoming the first group of Excursions campers to Eagle Lake for what we pray will be a summer when many lives are changed and molded after Christ.