Surviving the Fires

“I’d like to get a refund on 2020.
So far we are ok, hoping we don’t get evacuated. Praying for those that already have been. ❤️”

Surviving the Fires

Those were the only words I wrote with this photo Saturday night as the fires hit the mountain behind our house. It was only the beginning of a weekend of fires in Utah, and one I’ll never forget, and neither will our children. 

We’d heard the fireworks and rolled our eyes knowing that someone was illegally shooting them off as Utah is too hot and dry which leads to, FIRES. duh. 

We were finishing up the world’s worst movie, Ad Astra (seriously, I still feel like I wasted hours of my life)when we heard the sirens, they were too close to ignore. We ran upstairs and peeked out the window, a small flicker of fire waving back at us. 

I honestly didn’t think it would be too bad. I watched a bit and could see the firetrucks working hard, but then the storm… It was crazy stormy out of nowhere and in an instant huge gusts of wind exploded the fire into a rage as it spread up the mountain. I couldn’t even believe my eyes. 

But that was only the beginning. 

The First Miracle

As the fire raged and evacuation orders were hitting and people were hurrying to get out the craziest thing happened, the wind completely stopped and rain fell. Listen, I’m not talking like it slowed and the storm died out. I’m saying in one instant, like the clap of someone’s hands the wind ceased to be and the rains came down. 

That was a miracle. I witnessed it and will never deny it. The first miracle, but I was about to remember another. 

The Companion Dream

I dreamed about the fires years ago. I spent all day wondering if I should share it.
This dream was significant…

We were going about our day when I started having this feeling that there was a need to warn people.
I started making calls to friends and neighbors; something is coming and we need to gather in families to safe places and be watching, but no one would really listen. 
I’m not sure where cade was but the dream made it that I had to gather my kids on my own. 
I felt exact and purposeful, even strong and mindful of what to do but a feeling of fear and urgency was pounding in me. 
And then it happened. 
Fire erupted on the mountain, right there by a house I knew to be mine even though we didn’t currently live on the side of a mountain in real life.
The wind roared, blasting the flames higher into the skies and people were being evacuated. 

Huddled in the Closet

I ran to gather my children around me but for some reason we were to stay put. And so there I was, huddled in a large closet with my children and praying that the fires would go away and we would be spared. 
The fires were so scary but I had a feeling of awareness. This feeling that I was to take note and that our prayers would be heard but that from that time forward this would be life, one thing after another as the time of Christ’s return was nearing. I was to hold them close and to pray for their protection and to be a witness and comfort to others. 
I knew what was coming and could hold onto my faith. 

Her Dream

I awoke with a start. Heart racing with panic, I couldn’t even sit up yet. 
The door flew open, the handle bouncing back into place with that familiar metal coil sound and the wood banging against the door stop. 
“Mom!!!! I just dreamed fires were coming over the mountain and you grabbed us kids and took us into a closet to hide!”

She broke down shaking, her chubby little arms trembling as I lifted her into bed with me. 
How?!

I wrote it all in my journal that day. 
Last weekend the fires raged on a mountain I now live on. I’m watching and remembering and looking up. I don’t know why I was given the dream, but our family is paying attention. ❤️

Not Stuck at Home, Safe at Home

“We are Not STUCK at home, we are SAFE at home.”
I’ve had this comment from a reader running through my heart over and over again lately. A change in perspective thanks to her and then the lesson was able to be taught to me this morning as my heart was open, ready and prepared to listen.

I was reading this morning and this verse stood out to me, something I’ve read and understood many times before, even what I’m about to say, but today I recognized the reality of it.

“5 Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted.
6 Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them.
7 But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day.”

Sheaves of wheat represent people and garners were the places they were stored, representative of churches or holy temples.

But today I recognized sheaves as my children and the garners being that homes can be sacred temples, a holy place, a safe place where we are literally gathering as families to be protected from the storms of the world right now.

I’ve listened my whole life that one day we would gather to be safe against the last days. I just never recognized fully that our homes truly would be holy places. (Link in stories for a good listen on places like a jail becoming a temple)

Not stuck at home, but safe at home. Kind of changes what you want your home to be and feel like right now, huh.

I do believe COVID will slow and life will get better, but I don’t believe the storms are over. More and more will rage and I am preparing my home to always be a place of refuge for hearts and people.