Clearing Up

This picture was taken yesterday afternoon out of December's bedroom window...if you compare it to the earlier pictures, you can tell it has really cleared up. This state of clearness is changing constantly: sometimes there is smoke hovering, sometimes it looks really good. It all depends on which way the wind is blowing.

This was taken last night. There's the pretty moon...it was such a wonderful feeling to be able to see the moon again!

Here is December asleep on the floor. Brad took these pictures while Mom and I were shopping and getting some "fresh" air yesterday.

December had woken up from her nap, but she was still tired. She laid down on the floor in the middle of the living room and fell asleep.

Yesterday when Mom and I went to Walmart, the parking lot looked like a campground. There were RVs everywhere, and they had arrayed themselves like they were going to stay for a while! It's kind of Walmart to let them stay there. Having a motorhome when you're evacuated out of your real home is a great thing to have! The air quality has been improving, mostly. There is an air quality index, and the EPA considers over 100 unhealthy. The index considers 0 - 50 GOOD, 51-100 is MODERATE. We are now in the MODERATE category. Our air was considered HAZARDOUS, with the count nearing 300. But now, it's WAY better! We're under 100 ppm right now.

This fire stuff has been a crazy experience. Did you ever have someone ask you, "If there was a fire in your home and you could take only one thing out, what would you take?" It was kind of playing that game, only it wasn't as fun. How strange, packing a suitcase full of your most treasured belongings. How strange to look around your home and ask, "What should I choose to pack? What here is irreplacable?" What a scary thing to be forced to think about. Then, once you've packed, you set your belongings by the door and wait. It almost looks like you're going on some great vacation, only there's no trace of the excited anticipation of the trip. The anticipation is replaced by dread and uncertainty, not knowing where you'll go and really having no place to go to. I'm glad that this experience is almost done. We're not immediately in the path of the fires (though I suppose anything is possible), and I really am thankful for it. Thank you for praying for us. Your prayers were definitely answered!