A Servant's Heart ~ The Bastrop Fires

Good Morning Friends!! I think back on my growing up years and I realize today how blessed I was to have had such fine examples of "Servant's Hearts" in my grandparents and parents.  A Servant's heart can best be described by these quotes and bible verses I found

Humility and a servant’s heart also define Jesus, who came to give His life for all who are poor and needy. “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,” he said. (Matt 20:26). “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)

http://www.thehighcalling.org/culture/servants-heart

As my daughter Jessica and I were on our way to bring a load of donations to the Smithville/Bastrop fire victims, I thought of my grandmother who had told me several times how vividly she had remembered being one of the first nurses on the scene of the New London School Explosion in 1937.  She never never described what she saw, she only said that she heard there was an immediate need and went and helped. 

298 men, women, and children died that day :(

During my years growing up, both sides of my family were always helping those in need.  Someone who needed a home, some groceries, an ear to listen.....I sure do feel blessed and humbled beyond measure this morning to carry on the tradition. 

I have been very busy the last few days shopping and gathering supplies to carry down to one of the disaster relief centers in Smithville, Texas.  Smithville and  Bastrop are neighboring communities.  They have both been hard hit by the wildfire.  The fire has destroyed over 34,000 acres, and as of this morning is still only 50% contained, and as of yesterday 1,700 homes have burned to the ground. 

Because I have two little ones in my life, my little 5 year old grandson and my granddaughter who is 2 1/2, those were the ages that I wanted to help the most.  I thought to myself of what it would be like for their parents to one day have everything they needed for their precious babies, and then the very next have nothing at all.  No formula, no diapers, no bottles, no sippy cups, no tylenol, and for a lot of them to have their purses, wallets, and cars burn in the fires.  Being reduced to having to rely on others is a really really hard spot to be in. 

Just shopping for these items made me tear up, and I felt kind of silly walking through Wal Mart pushing a giant buggy of formula with tears in my eyes!!

Here are some photos of the items we sent down there...

Lots and Lots of Formula....my grandson required a special very expensive formula as a baby so I had to buy some of that too....for those moms who are wondering how they will pay for it...

To keep their toothies clean

TONS AND TONS OF DIAPERS

Had to buy toddler toothbrushes and toothpaste....my grandson will only brush his teeth with bubblegum toothpaste or any flavor besides mint...and I know there are some other little ones down there just like him!! 

Baby Soap and Adult Deodorants

The car packed up and ready to ROLL!!

Smithville  Water Tower

Some of the trucks parked at their fire station

The building where they are taking and sorting donations

They can be found on Facebook under

Distribution Center for Victims of Bastrop County Fires.  If you are a fire victim, everything they have is free to you. 

Jessica with the guys getting the car unloaded

The teenagers unloading our vehicle....they were so sweet and helpful....and when I told them the box of formula was heavy they showed me their "muscles"...sooo cute LOL

There are fire lanes dug into all of the medians along the highways...it helped keep the fires from crossing the road in some places and not in others

There is literally a Texas Highway Patrol or Sheriff's officer guarding every major road entrance to a subdivision...they are also patrolling up and down all the highways.

The news crews just line the road...they were all standing in a meeting as we went by, I'm guessing they were receiving the latest update

Taco Cabana in Bastrop ~ Feeding the firefighters for free!!

The insurance companies all have tents and places set up...I do believe every major insurance company had a tent out there!!

More Insurance Companies

Firemen from all across the State of Texas and all across the United States have come in to help fight this fire!!

It was heartbreaking to see the devastation first hand.  I really can't imagine what life will be like now for those 1700 familes as they try to rebuild their lives.  They will need all the help they can get for the next year or so!! 

KEEP BASTROP TEXAS AND SMITHVILLE TEXAS IN YOUR PRAYERS

if you want to donate, either donate, there are many Central Texas Fire relief links on Facebook and on the internet.  One of the best places to find current info is on Facebook under

Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management

Info on Texas Fires

I've had so many people GOOGLE Texas Fires yesterday and then be sent to my blog that I feel like I should write another blog updating again today!! 

The best place to get up to date info on all of the fires in Texas is at the Texas Forest Service Wildfire Site

Texas Forest Service Wildfire Link

The fire in Bastrop:  Has currently burned over 34,000 acres and is only 30% contained, and has burned over 1,386 homes.  If all of those homes just for math's sake had a family of 3...that would be 4,158 homeless.  The number will be a little smaller, but that's A LOT of people who need help!!

I just can't fathom a fire this big....I feel so bad for the residents there

Governor Perry speaking with some of the fire victims

This just brings tears to my eyes for this family who has small children and who has now lost everything :(

This article is from NPR

Hillary Polly looks through the family belongings as Thomas Polly tries to pry open a fireproof gun safe with his father Louie Polly in the background amongst the rubble of their burned house near Bastrop, Texas.

Hillary Polly looks through the family belongings as Thomas Polly tries to pry open a fireproof gun safe with his father Louie Polly in the background amongst the rubble of their burned house near Bastrop, Texas.

Texas authorities said today that the wildfires that began Sunday in Bastrop have destroyed 1,386 homes. The Austin American Statesman reports that officials came to that number by going "house by house and driveway by driveway."

NPR member station KUT reports the wildfire in Bastrop County is still raging. The Texas Forest Service told them that fire is 30 percent contained.

Other parts of Texas are facing the same predicament. The Houston Chronicle reports that fires have forced the evacuation of thousands and destroyed dozens of homes in the Houston suburbs. There are two main fires, the paper reports: One in Montgomery County, which is mostly contained, and a new "hot spot" in Waller County, which firefighters lost of control of last night.

The Chronicle sets the scene:

Dozens of residents gathered with their cameras to watch the black smoke boiling into the clouds by the blockade on FM 1488 near the entrance to Remington Forest.

Diana Ballard, a jewelry distributor standing at the blockade, saw videos showing her home in Remington burned to the ground. But she is waiting there to see it for herself.

...

As she fled her home, the last thing Ballard remembers seeing were flames 50 feet high in her neighbor's yard. She was ordered to evacuate so quickly that she was unable to catch two of her frightened cats, though she was able to take her four greyhounds, three parrots and one other cat with her.

"I left the door open, but I'm worried about what happened to the other two," Ballard said.

The Texas Forest Service has a map on its website that shows you just how widespread the fires are. You can see that they spread from the East Texas border with Louisiana, across the Dallas suburbs and into the Texas Hill Country.

The Dallas Morning News says about 180 wildfires are burning across the state.

There are several sites on Facebook to check on the status of what's going on in Bastrop, just put these into your search bar for the links:

Bastrop County Office of  Emergency Management

Convoy to Smithville Texas to Help Central Texas Families

Bastrop Christian Ministerial Alliance is calling for the following items to be donated: ice chests, depends, diapers, tolietries, pillows, towels, blankets, backpacks, school supplies with donations being accepted at Rundell Business Park at 704 Hwy 71 West (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.) Please call 512.332.8661 for more information. Checks and Money Orders to Bastrop Christian Ministerial Alliance PO Box 856 Bastrop TX 78602

In East Texas where I live there are also many large fires, and one almost as big as the one in Bastrop, but without as much damage to homes. 

The fire in Cass/Marion county which is also called the Bear Creek fire has burned over 30,000 acres as well but only six homes have been lost so far, and no lives, the containment is unknown at this time. 

 

There is a large fire in the southern portion of the county I live in as well.  It's on the Nacogdoches/Cherokee County line and is currently burning on both sides of the Angelina River.  It has burned close to 4,000 acres and the containment is unknown again this morning.  Hwy 204 and Hwy 21 have been shut down in that area as well. 

Here's an article from the Jacksonville Daily Progress:

JACKSONVILLE — Firefighters spent another hectic day Wednesday trying to quell a four-day fire that forced evacuations in southern Cherokee County while trying to cope with a late afternoon fire near Troup and smaller fires near Reklaw and another in the southwest of Rusk.

The fire between Atoy community and Angelina River started on Sunday, officials said, and while it had been contained on the Nacogdoches County side, firefighters were still battling several fires in Cherokee County along the Angelina River bank.

“It's gone back and forth across the river probably a dozen times,” Cherokee County Sheriff James Campbell said. "The river is fairly narrow, a lot of vegetation and trees on both sides and so actually many, many times it has jumped back and forth.”

Campbell said as of Tuesday afternoon the fire had destroyed 2,700 acres of land. He estimated that between 400 and 600 additional acres were burning Wednesday. More up-to-date numbers could not be obtained because the Texas Forest Service was kept busy with blazes Wednesday, he said.

Nearby, one abandoned home was lost near Reklaw when a blaze broke out midday Wednesday, Reklaw Volunterr Fire Department Chief Francisco Hernandez said.

Near Troup, four homes were threatened by the wildfire that started along Highway 135 near County Road 4921.

Area resident Michael Brown said he helped a woman evacuate from her home because the fire was near her backyard.

“The flames were 10 feet high,” Brown said.

Seven fire departments — Troup, New Summerfield, Lake Palestine, Whitehouse, Jacksonville, North Cherokee and Earle's Chapel — and the Texas Forest Service were battling the blaze.

The wind changed direction five times, causing the direction of the fire to change, compounding the problem, North Cherokee Volunteer Fire Department Chief Danny Rozell said.

As of press time Wednesday, no homes had been lost in that fire.

Southwest of Rusk, three firefighters and one tanker truck were all that could be spared to fight because most of their resources were helping at the Angelina River fire.

A hunting lease started burning three weeks ago because of lightning, officials said, adding several rekindles have been extinguished. He said it was a second priority to one that put homes in danger.

Earlier Wednesday, Bullard Volunteer Fire Chief Keith Newburn said the fire near Bullard was contained at about 11 p.m. Tuesday.

“Right now, we are confident in our lines, but because of all the extreme fire behavior we have been having recently, we are going to continue to patrol it for three or four days,” he said.

Newburn said 12 homes were saved that were in immediate danger and another 20 homes were in danger of being exposed, but the firefighters were able to keep the blaze contained away from them.  Kiepersol Estates Winery, a cemetary and Faith Missionary Church were saved.

There are several sites on Facebook as well setting up shelters and relief funds for our East Texas friends.  You can search for:

East Texas Wildfire Relief Fund

East Texas Fire Info
and there are several shelters opened up near Marion/Cass County as well that need donations and workers desperately!!

There are several Facebook pages set up for info on all the animals displace by fires as well

Horse Evacuations East

Bastrop Co Fire Large Animal Info

Assistance Information for Animals Displace by Wildfires

Sending out a big
THANK YOU
to those
 FIREFIGHTERS
who are working so tirelessly
to save homes and land.
GOD BLESS YOU
AND
PROTECT YOU!!

Battling the Fires in Texas

Many Many people here in East Texas have been battling wildfires for the past four days.  It seems like they all started at once, and some have spready so rapidly they are consuming everything in their path.  It's heartbreaking. 

My neighbor called me Sunday afternoon to let me know that there was a wildfire less than two miles from our home through the woods.

Because the area in which we live is full of tree farms and pastureland, any fire that close is just plain scary.  Texas is in the worst drought ever.  If a fire were to make it to the woods behind our homes there would be no way to get the fire out, there is just too much dry tinder. 

On Monday the fire crept closer and actually came within less than a mile of our home.  A mile doesn't seem so far when you are looking at wildfires, and especially fires that have consumed over 34,000 acres in Bastrop and over 1,000 people have lost their homes. 

My grandson's father lives there and I am sure he is right in the middle helping to fight the fires since he is a trained firefighter and works at the Buescher State Park which was burned by this fire.  We send our prayers to those in Bastrop affected by this horrible horrible fire.

 Here in East Texas we have a very similar fire in Cass County and there is currently over 17,000 acres burned and I have no idea how many homes lost there.  We have had fires in every county in East Texas including those in my county.  There are several still barely contained as of this morning.  There is one burning here in Cherokee County that has required the evacuation of several hundred.    I do know that a local young mother and her 18 month old daughter lost their lives to this fire when they could not escape their burning home.  She was close to my daughters age and her baby girl was close to my little granddaughters age, it just breaks my heart. 

Because the fire was creeping closer on Monday, we started gathering up all of the items that we could never replace and the documents that would be necessary to continue day to day life and putting them in our cars in case we had to evacuate quickly.

I feel very fortunate that at least we had the time to do that, there are soooo many all across Central Texas who have just lost everything and had no time to get ready to get out. 

I'm just a little bit tickled at the things that I chose to save as

THE MOST IMPORTANT

• Jackie's Wedding Dress
• Jackie's Cheer Jackets and Megaphone
• Letters from my dad to my mom when he was stationed in Japan
• All of the boxes and boxes of photos that I have brought home after all my parents and grandparents have passed away.  There are so many photos of great great grandparents etc in there....I really need to find a way to safeguard them
• Photos from the girls childhood...I have several storage boxes with the photos organized by events..I would hate to lose those
• Our old computer which has over 8,000 photos over the last six years on it!!
• Tax receipts from the 1870's from my family that lived in Freestone County...I love historical stuff so much
• The old books from those same times that have just been passed down through the family
• Our guns
• Last but not least all the birth certificates,S.S. cards,  titles to cars etc....

What is funny to me is I could have cared less about taking any of my clothes, shoes, bedding, hair stuff etc because all of that is replaceable. 

Thankfully our local Volunteer Fire Departments were able to contain the last flare up by our home last night and we are in the clear this morning.  The smoke here today is soo thick and we have "smoke advisories" today, something that we have never had to deal with before.  It's giving me a terrible headache and the stress from worrying about those people and firefighters elsewhere is not helping any :(

If nothing else, if you can, please check our local TV station websites...many of our local volunteer fire departments and even city fire departments are requesting donations of Water, gatorade, snacks, eye lubricant etc and of course monetary donations to help with the fuel costs...most of these departments have used up all of their money budgeted in fighting these fires.  These stations post what the firefighters are asking for

http://www.cbs19tv/

http://www.kltv.com/

http://www.ketknbc.com/

Here are some of the photos I have taken from close to our home the last few days

The smoke plumes we could see from our front yard...the fire was about a mile away then

This is from the "front side" of the fire...we live through the woods on the other side

My nephew doing what he can to help

 

Guys lined up with their trailers to help get livestock out....this property where the fire was closing in on has a lot of cattle.  When we drove up they were really scrambling trying to get the cows out

What it looked like across from our property the next morning.  It looked just the same this morning and the smoke is just sitting in a thick haze

Keep Texas in your prayers

and

PRAY FOR RAIN!!

Halloween Ideas

Good Morning and Happy Saturday!!

I love all Holidays and Halloween is no exception!!  The little ones have sooooo much fun getting dressed up and trick or treating or as we did last year, "trick or trunking" at our local church!! 

I've been collecting ideas on Pinterest and thought I would share a few of my favorites and the links!

If you are having a Halloween Party, how about this cake??

whateveritcakes1.blogspot.com

How about these??  These are Hershey Bars, wrapped in Crepe Paper and then "googly eyes" glued on!!

theidearoom.net

or these??  These are just Milano cookies dipped in melted white chocolate candy melts...super easy!!

bedifferentactnormal.com

These little pails would be cute either for decoration or for the kids to put their candy in!! 

pisforparty.blogspot.com (one of my favorite blot sites EVER)

This is a cute idea for just putting around the house!!

(I just found these on google one day)

and a place for free Halloween printables

yesterdayontuesday.com

or these pumpkins??
goodhousekeeping.com

and last but not least, who can resist a little lion??

My pinterest link is

Link to my Pinterest Page

These are just a few that I have on my Pinterest Board for Halloween!!  Stop by and visit and look at all of my other boards!!  I love all Holidays and Parties, and it's bunches of fun "pinning" all of the super ideas I find!!