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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Crafting in the Dark before Evacuation

This is not our house....but it looks like it could be.  We have not needed to evacuate our pets, yet, but we have 6 cat carriers ready for as many as we can stuff inside without them squabbling too much!


Hi, Friends.....

As some of you realize, my granddaughter and I have evacuated our house because of the raging wildfires surrounding us.  I hope the rest of the family will join us tomorrow.  We lost power for 4 days....but that is much better than the projected 2 week outage that we had feared.  Our house is mostly out of danger now, but we have neighbors who are still in very high-risk areas.  This has been extremely scary and we owe an incredible debt of gratitude to the courageous firefighters and to our neighbors who have been on the lines fighting to save our community. Some literally have been very close to losing their lives to the flames.   Our entire community and the town of Kamiah in the valley (besides other areas) would have been totally in ashes without their help.  How can you even begin to thank people for that kind of dedication????

During the power outage before we evacuated, my son, daughter, granddaughter and I made small thank you cards to be placed in the firefighter lunches that were being prepared each day by the community.  Here are some photos of us crafting in the dark, with headlights and flashlights for illumination.  (Sorry the photos are not very good quality...taking pictures in the dark isn't that great!!!)  We big people included handwritten expressions of our gratitude, but Andrea, age 4 (nearly 5 years old), helped with cutting the cardstock to size and stamping the sentiments inside.

My chair is vacant, since I am taking the photos.
  
My daughter, Betsy, and her daughter, Andrea.
 

My son, James, who also has worked like crazy to help secure our property.

Here are our cards all in a pile.  Some of the 4 yr old stamping is a tad bit catty-whompus!  :)
These extremely small tokens of our thanks can never approach expressing our appreciation to these brave people for risking their lives for us.  We are humbled and so grateful to the Lord for His protection.  So far our house has been spared.  We don't know what the next few days will hold.  We appreciate your prayers for the safety of our communities and for that of all firefighters across the West who are giving such dedicated service.  

We can never repay you brave people, but we give you our undying thanks.

<3 
Janis 

Thank you for the honor of entering this project in the following challenges:
1. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Kids Summer Vacation Challenge  

2. DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge #162 - Thank You
3. Little Scrap Pieces - Show it Off Saturday Linky Party

11 comments:

  1. Oh I just love this! What a wonderful way to thank the firefighters, who risk their lives in order to save others. Now this is a REAL crafting family, card-making in the dark assembly-line style. Andrea couldn't be cuter and her cattywampus style is so very appropriate for your houseful of cats!! I'll continue to pray that the fires are controlled soon and that no lives are lost. Stay safe and keep those loved ones close. Thanks for letting us know that you are okay...and still crafting in spite of it all!

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  2. This is scary to be so close to the wildfires. I hope all will be okay with you and your neighbours. Such a nice idea to make tku cards for the firefighters. Wishing you well and praying for your safety.

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  3. Sorry for the stress - wishing you all a quick and safe return!

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  4. Hope you can go back home soon and the work of the firefighters will be done. A terrifying situation and yes those fire fighters are so brave. Lovely gesture to add little thank you notes to their lunch boxes.

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  5. Wishing you are safe from the stress and worry and can relax...............Lis

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  6. What a lovely thing to do, when all around you is in chaos, and even without electricity, you get together as a family to make cards for the firefighters, well, I feel very humbled. You are so thoughtful and I am sure the firefighters, and their families appreciate this token of gratitude.
    I hope your home is spared from the fires and I hope your neighbours are all safe and well too.
    I will be thinking of you all.

    thanks for joining us on the Simon Says Stamp Kids Summer Vacation Challenge
    luv
    Lols x x x

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  7. What an amazing and thoughtful thing to do!! i know they really appreciate your tokens of gratitude!!
    I'm glad you are safe!!
    xxDaniella

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  8. Heartfelt story. The firefighters must of felt appreciated when they opened the beautiful cards you made for them in the dark

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  9. What a lovely way to say Thank you and letting the firefighters how much your appreciate them.
    Thank you for joining Simon Says Stamp Kids Summer Vacation Challenge.
    luv
    Debby

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  10. Oh Janis I can't even begin to imagine how scary that must have been. I hope you are all safe and well and your home was safe too.
    I absolutely love the photos of your family all crafting together, and it's so thoughtful to send cards to these brave men & women.
    Thanks for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Kids Summer Vacation Challenge
    Mandy xx

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  11. I have been praying for you and your family/friends during this time.

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THANK YOU so much for taking the time to leave a comment. Your kind words encourage me so very much!!!

Have a lovely day!
<3
Janis