Repopulating Our Evacuated Town

Home again after another evacuation that has left our mountains charred, our air smoke filled, and our hearts torn. Although, we are grateful for our homes being saved this time and that no one lost their lives, we are heartbroken for our forests and all the critters who were lost in this second fire to devastate our terrain.
Driving into town and witnessing first hand the blackened mountains and the eerie feel to our town that is repopulating after a week of evacuation I prayed. Thanking God for what was not lost and for those who risked their safety to keep us safe. Helicopters have flown over my house all afternoon as they continue to assure this fire will not take even one home unlike our last fire that claimed 500. I can't imagine the added emotions to those who lost everything last time as they sat glued to the tvs in their evacuated locales watching the flames lap ever closer to our town once again. Even though we didn't lose our home it has been traumatic as we thirst for news and information on the internet and as we flip the news channels.
I am grateful for my home and will  appreciate the fact that there are still green trees in my backyard and that the park is still filled with people tonight despite the red glow in the sky. Tonight the scheduled 'Movie In The Park' went on as planned with families laid out on blankets half watching the movie between visiting with each other. The 20 foot inflatable screen was a draw even on a night where this little town is just getting back to normal, as normal as we can with the fire still hanging heavy in our air.

In  Him,
Joyful