What would you take?

I want to start off by saying all is well and thank goodness for the brave and hardworking Orange County firefighters.

The last two days, our neighborhood has been covered by black, acrid smoke. Apparently two different fires broke out (I'm not sure of the how's, where's or when's) in the last two days and both were VERY close to my neighborhood. They were so close today, in fact, that the Orange County Fire Department left a recorded message on our answering machine, telling us that we are on alert and might be evacuated.

Well, I went into high gear. I packed an evacuation bag. I walked through my house, looking around at all my wonderful belongings and realized that although I love my house and my *stuff* very much, in the event of an emergency, the only things that matter to me in the world is my family and my two dogs. Of course, in my evacuation bag, I packed all of our important papers. I packed up my work bags. And then I sort of wandered around a bit, wondering what else I should attempt to pack up. Thank goodness, Travis was calmly eating the lunch I'd just made and convinced me to stop packing and come eat before it got cold. I didn't get to keep wandering around my house and figure out what else to take. As the day wore on, the huge black clouds of billowing smoke petered off to a haze of stinky yellow hanging around and I realized the imminent danger had passed.

But it's funny to realize. I love my books. I love my pictures hanging on the walls. I love Kennedy's toys and clothes (and a few of my own). I love all our gadgets and electronics and comfie furniture. But really, the ONLY thing that matters is us. And that we're all okay. All the other stuff is just that, stuff.

The Power of Prayer

Okay. For starters, anyone that knows me knows I don't often ask favors. But this is a biggie. I don't even have a clue who (if anyone) will read this blog/note. But I beseach you, implore you even, please help. I believe very strongly in the power of prayer, or the power of positive thinking or mind over matter or however you are comfortable terming it.

So here's the favor. Whoever you are, wherever you are, will you please pray for (send positive energy to, etc) my sister for the next two weeks? She's had an IUI done and now it's just two weeks to see if it took. So thank you to anyone in advance who even just spends a minute thinking babymaking thoughts for her. I have just read too many studies about the positive effects of prayer groups to not feel/hope that this will work. And I promise in return to pray for/think of anyone you all ask me to in return!