May 17, 2022, it is a day that our family will forever remember. It is a day that we (my parents) survived the Mesquite Heat Fire in View, TX. It was a devastating fire which pummeled through Hidden Valley and surrounding ranchland and homes. It subsequently destroyed 27 homes, including my childhood home, my parents’ home, and our friends and neighbors’ homes of nearly 40 years. According to the Texas A &M Forest Service, it burned 10,960 acres. Livestock, wildlife, and family pets that could not be rescued in time were lost. However, through amazing and tireless efforts of the sheriff, volunteer fire departments, fire departments, and forestry services, there was no loss of human life. As we dive deeper into the blog, we also see that several miracles and God’s abundance grace also helped protect the fire victims and all of the workers helping them.
I always thought I was prepared for an emergency. After the past several years, I and many fellow readers have come to understand the common saying, “Expect the unexpected.” The COVID 19 pandemic of 2020, Snowmageddon, horrific shootings, and wildfires have taught us that life doesn’t always go as expected.
Sadly enough, I took an emergency preparedness class for my doctoral program about one year ago. I learned the importance of packing an emergency first aid kit to grab quickly in case you need to leave your house immediately for an emergency. Unfortunately, though, I can’t say that I have it by the door or even that I have that emergency bag prepared for us in case of our own needed departure from the home.
My parents had five minutes to evacuate themselves and six dogs from their country home. It is a miracle that they all got out safely, including their four-legged babies. My mom even managed to grab a cherished heirloom, her own mother’s Bible. It is amazing to think how you would react in the span of 5 minutes. You see, I should have learned my lesson.
Approximately 10 years ago, my husband and two daughters and I were living in the same neighborhood and had to evacuate for impending fire danger. The fire was racing over the mountain, and we certainly had to determine a quick list of things to grab within 5 minutes, which included our daughters, a Basset Hound, and a stack of important documents. At that time, we were spared from major fire damage as the wind shifted, and the fire blew away from Hidden Valley. However, on May 17th, 2022. the fire did not turn but instead came tumbling down the hillside in a fiery inferno.
My encouragement to you today is first not to take your time or people in your life for granted. Secondly, on a practical sense, please pack a getaway bag. You never know when an emergency will occur, and I highly recommend that you pack one bag of clothes, supplies, special documentation, and such to have handy by the door in case you have your own quick exit, God forbid.
When the pandemic reared its ugly head in March of 2020, I started an online (Zoom) support group called, “Koffee with Kristi.” As an extension of our weekly Group therapies, I will continue to focus on what my beloved group and I have enjoyed chatting about over the past two years. We’ve talked about stress management, loss of pets, children, empty nests, relationships, and everything in between.
Over the past several weeks, we have been dealt a great tragedy, the Mesquite Heat Fire. It was wrought with devastation and havoc, but there are many stories of miracles and hope that we will dive deep into. I want to bring you along on the journey of inspiration and resilience as we rebuild. I have been documenting my mother’s story of escape, working together with her friends and family and the community, and the effort to bounce back from a fire. As I have been working with my parents to help clean up, I have noticed a lot of excessive traffic in Hidden Valley. One of the neighbors called it “rubbernecking.” I also see it as the fact that people are really curious about what happened. The pictures of the fire do not do it justice, as the rubble and burned countryside now looks like a post-apocalyptic country. Regardless, I would like to bring you along in the process as we work through the trauma, resilience, and I want to highlight the communities as they rebuild.
As you join us, these posts may make you laugh or even cry, but my hope is that these words will most of all: Bless Your Heart with Dr. K.
Special Encouragement:
“I lift my eyes upon the mountains. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of Heaven and Earth.” (Psalms 121: 1-2)
