What an exciting weekend. Fires in Brea Canyon, Yorba Linda and Chino Hills and coming together and putting many friends and family in harms way. Amy, Todd and the kids, had to evacuate their home. Our friends Jeff and Kathryn had to leave get out too. We as well as Diana, were packed and ready to leave. Mom was screaming up the stairs to that she is going to water down the shake roof next door, because they should be doing it and are not...LOL Shortly after they were up on the roof and she felt better.
Jake and Melinda were here Friday night and went home Saturday morning. Only to return when the fires started to get too close for comfort Saturday afternoon. The freeways were closed and they had to come in the back way of of Fullerton Road. It took them 3 hours to drive 12 miles.
Jake took pic of the sky over the house just across the street. This was Saturday morning before it got really bad.
We were packed and ready to go at a moments notice. Everybody north of Lambert & St. College had been evacuated. We are at the corner of Lambert & St. College.
Jake, Melinda, Jared, Katrina, Rob, mom and I all had what we would grab last minute if we needed to go. It is weird to have the boys here just waiting. It reminded me of the big earthquake in the early 90's. We were all in the family room, eating and watching movies and taking turns to go out front to check the progress of things with the neighbors who are all packed hanging out in the street, waiting for the excitement to begin. It was very hot and we had to turn off the air because it seemed to be pulling the smoke into the house through the fireplace. Other than that it felt like a family night at the Mandell's.
I know it sounds odd but we really had a good time. We laughed a lot, ate a lot and took turns watching the progress of the fire outside.
Praise God all is good with us. I have to say now having the time to survey all the personal belongings sitting in the front room, that it made me smile. It is interesting to see what is important to each of my family members. Mom's corner has 2 huge bags of clothes and jewelry, one large bag with photo albums and all our pictures. Robert had a bag of clothes and a large bag of drugs, prescription of course and 3 bikes from his collection ready to throw into the back of Katrina's truck. Mine had a computer, safe with documents, clothes and my purse. Jared has, two very large skate boards, box containing all the info and money for his homeless ministry, his old record collection, DVD collection of One tree Hill and a small bag that Katrina packed of clothes for him. Jacob, not having much left here, had his childhood bedspread quilt I made him and his surfboard. Interesting that your life can be reduced to just a few items that are really important. We discussed the fact that the only thing we all could not live with out is each other.
I've never seen so many fire personnel in one place. I sure did feel safe! God Bless the Firefighters that risked their lives for all of us.
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