Chris Rachel Boston Madison: July 2012

I wrote to Mary and Destin (my siblings on missions) this right after we got evacuated so that I could remember how I felt and everything that happened before the memory faded/became less exciting.

Thursday evening a fire started above our neighborhood at the shooting range. It grew quickly but wasn't too bad and crews were working on it so I wasn't too worried. Friday morning we woke up and could barely see the sun there was so much smoke. So I started thinking "I should probably get some stuff together like important docs etc. just in case something happens." but then I realized Maddie was out of formula and diapers so I figured I'd run to the store and do it after I got home. So as we were leaving the neighborhood I looked back and saw the fire line was right there. Super close to the top houses. I went for my phone to take a picture but it wasn't there. I wasn't planning on wanting to take a picture so I left my phone at home. Lame. So I drove in marveling at how dark the sky was.
I picked up the things I needed, plus a few extras like pj's and yogurt and other random things. Then, as I was walking out of the store I overheard a security officer say something about starting the evacuation. My stomach dropped, I bought my stuff and rushed home. As i drove home i turned on the radio to find out that the fire was dangerously close to an explosive plant right behind our neighborhood. When I got close to my neighborhood I saw a barricade of police in front if the entrance and a huge line of cars waiting to get out. So I pull up to get in and they ask me if I need to get medication or children.
Rats. They got me. I had my kids, and didn't really need anything. I asked if I could just get my cell phone do I could call my husband. The cop said unless in getting meds or people he couldn't let me in, but he let me use his phone.
I had time to call Chris and tell hi we're had to be evacuated and he said come to his office and the cop said he needed his phone back.
So I drive away watching a huge plume of smoke rising behind my neighborhood, feeling completely weird about leaving with pretty much nothing but my kids and the clothes on our back. This was just supposed to be a quick trip to the store! I was so close to tears not from fear but nerves. I felt like my house would be ok, but with fires you never know. I started to calm down a little when I realized everything in the house could be replaced and the pics that were priceless to me were online.
I figured since I was supposed to watch Camie's little boy and I didn't have a cellphone I'd drive to her house. She was sweet enough to give me a change of clothes for Boston (he was in flannel pajamas and the temp was already 90 degrees) diapers and wipes. We then left and headed over to Qualtrics. I had a feeling that once my family was all together I would calm down and I was right. As soon as I saw Chris I calmed down. We hung out for a bit, then headed over to Target to get me something to wear other than my flannel pj's.
The rest of the day was kind of a blur. We dropped Maddie if at Chris's parent's house and took Boston to go see the new Disney movie Brave. While we were there we found out that the evacuation would last for 24 hours. Normally, that really wouldn't be a big deal, however Chris was supposed to leave for London the next day at noon. So after the movie we dropped Boston off at a friend's house and decided to at least try to get in to our house. We figured attempting would be better than going out and buying an entire new business wardrobe, which was our only backup plan. In the way we hear that they've completely closed the road. We were so close to throwing in the towel and just going to Khol's but now we are so glad we didn't! There were four cop cara blocking our neighborhood, but we pulled around one of them and as we rolled down the window to explain why we needed in (we were fully prepared with a rebuttal and resorting to begging) but the cop standing right there was in our ward. Chris told him he was leaving for London and they let us through, not even a police escort! We ran home grabbed all the dirty laundry (all of Chris's clothes were in there since I had put off doing it until that day) packed his luggage, grabbed bathroom stuff, stuff for the kids, and anything else we needed/felt was important and threw it in the car and left. We were lucky. Most weren't allowed back in and had only two minutes to grab what they needed during the evacuation.
So our kids were safe, and we had everything we needed to survive if we lost everything. Now we just needed to find a place to stay. We were amazed at the outpouring if support from friends and family. Some called and offered us their house for the weekend others offered any help they could. By the time i grabbed my phone i had 25 calls and several messages fron people checking to see if we were ok. We ended up staying the night at Dan and Kim's house. In the morning we got Chris off to London and then I took the kids to hangout in Cedar Hills. We played I. The river, watched movies and just had fun until we got word that the evacuation was lifted, but with a caution that if we came back we may still have to be evacuated in the middle of the night if anything changes. When we finally got home there was still ash in the air and it's still heavy with smoke, but not like yesterday. There is a fine layer of ash on everything outside and I was going to go outside tonight and spray it down but when I finally got the kids to sleep and went out there the wind is blowing hard from the south and still carrying ash straight toward us. So I'm going to wait until they put out the fire to spray off the outside of my house.
As I drove away from my house on Friday I couldn't help but think about the pioneers who were driven out from so many places without time to pack. Many only had the clothes on their back and sang praises to the Lord every step of the way. It's amazing how when you have the possibility of losing your earthly possessions the only things you care about are that you have your family around you.

*today only sacrament meeting was held because so many decided not to come home until today. The spirit was so strong and I almost started crying when we sang the opening song Count Your Many Blessings. I really am so thankful for Heavenly Father and I know he watches over us! FYI the fire is now 70% contained and not one house was lost!