Up in flames.

Saturday started out as a good day. Farmer's Market, a nap with the kids. I hear Mc in the other room telling me there is smoke outside. I look out and see the neighbors having a party and assume they are BBQing. I walk out front and there are huge black smoke clouds. I can see the flames from a house five houses down the street.

There were SO many people on the street. People from all over. Watching this house and everything in it, burning. What seemed the most odd to me; how this became like a community "event". People I had never seen before flocking to this house, bringing their small children and caravanning from who knows where, to watch. Couples holding hands hopping the fireman's hose to get closer to the action. This human chaos, the "train wreck effect" was something I had never experienced. The he said/she said of what happened and the neighborhood  alive with people wanting to catch a glimpse and Facebook what was happening within walking distance of where we live.

Sierra was one of the girls who lived in the house. She needed shoes so I walked a pair down to talk to her. She seemed noticeably calm. Her dogs and her car were safe- unlike her roommate's truck that was burned in the carport (too dark to really see in the picture). Everything she owned was either ruined by fire or smoke. They were home when the fire started on their back patio and before they knew it, their house, the fence and the tree in their yard were engulfed.Those people woke up today with nothing. A life moving forward that would now be described in terms of "post-fire" and "pre-fire".

Heartbreaking. I couldn't help but think what would happen and how I would feel to watch as everything I owned- baby books, wedding albums, journals, important papers and all those things that have been accumulated over a lifetime, were being washed down the street in ash. Those things can never be replaced or replicated. We got a chance to contribute at church today all after a Sunday School lesson centered on "rescuing" those around us. Poignant and humbling.

I drive by this house multiple times a day. Today, on the way to church it looks like the owners had been there trying to sort through anything that they could save. Piles of wet, charred belongings on the front lawn. It's a good reminder. A good way to re-center and to feel blessed that our strivings to be better, and do better, are usually voluntary and prompted without the destructive flames of house fire hurrying us to make the choice of what we value most.

We're driving Cadillacs in our dreams.

It happened today for the first time in our marriage- our two vehicles paid off. As I drove in my car that I now owned outright, it felt a little weird. We, the Williamsons, have no car payments. What seemed like a day that would never come, has happened and it feels pretty good. Dave Ramsey may be a little coo coo, and puts a serious damper on my Target trips,  but it felt really awesome to make that last payment and to hear the little lady on the other end tell me, "Congrats" like I was welcoming a new member to my family.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to go out and purchase the new Dodge Durango, a Honda Pilot or even a BMW (who wouldn't) but there is something to be said for that glimpse into financial freedom.




Kingston isn't so sure that life can be as fulfilling without an M5 Beamer.



Next stop GQ

This kid. For real. I could eat him up.

 

This was a great way to get his two year old pictures out of the way, score a new tie and get to see my son on the Littlest Prince page. Thanks, Kacey for the hook up!

Not our first Pre-K rodeo.

Our back to school dinner commenced at "that Robin place" (Red Robin) per Mc's request. This is year #2 that a corn dog was your dinner of choice followed by a cupcake from "The Tooth Fairy" (Sweet Tooth Fairy). You were so excited to come home and get a blessing from daddy. He blessed you to make friends and to be nice, especially to your brother, and to remember your Heavenly Father loves you.

Your first day was awesome. You were so excited to see your friends and with Katy Perry's "Roar" in your back pocket, you were ready to be a "champion"- that you were kiddo! Miss Jessica said you did great and it was like you never missed a beat from last year. You were SO ready to go to Kindergarten this year but I am sure you will love this year too.



 

Thanks for the action shot, Alex.

Picked out your shirt and leggings. It's really great that color blocking and "not matching" is in.






Favorite picture of the morning. Kingston was sad to see his sissy go and gave her a sweet hug before she left.

Road Rash- no greater call.

As you may recall, my 2013 resolution was to get back on the Trail 90 and get some "seat time" as to more confidently ride my pink beauty. Well, Mark tuned her up for me a couple weeks ago and I have been cruising around, changing gears and maneuvering (in my mind) WAY better than before.

Friday night, we decided on the usual outing- Mark & Kingston on his Trail 90, me on my Trail 90, Mc on her bicycle. There was a challenge, we had our niece Brynlee who was not about to ride on the trike, so we had to get creative. I decided I would ride with Mc to the church, when we got back Mark could take Brynlee while I watched Mc & K. Mc was a little upset that our routine was ruined and that we could only go to the church. I finally got her to decide that was a good idea and we started off. Not one second after I started going I hear Mc yell, "WAHOOOO" and take off right into the side of my bike. It seemed that her tire was stuck under my front fender and she was now parallel to my bike.  I totally went into panic mode- I was going to run over my kid! I wasn't sure what to do and all I could think was if I ran over her (my weight plus the bike's) we were in major trouble. Being the amazingly stellar mother I am, I sacrificed my body (and my favorite pair of TOMS) to save my child the road rash which would ensue. Pink bike crash #2, dropped the "S" bomb and Mc takes off unscathed from the carnage that just took place. She comes back, I tell her to go tell Mark and I sat to compose myself. Mark pulled up with all kids in the car as I made my way back home- bleeding and the wind stinging my freshly ground beefed elbow, knee and hands.

The best part of the story was Mc sharing what had just happened with Mark. She rides home, he asks, "Where is your mom?", to which she calmly says, "Something happened.... Mom is bleeding at the church.". Cool as a cucumber. Awesome. She has no idea I just saved her life!! Mark got a good laugh at my expense ("you have had more road rashes on one bike than I have had my whole life"- thanks hon) and the Facebook sympathy was epic. Plus, it makes for a great story. Any fall you survive as an adult is a major accomplishment.

Mark said one of the fondest memories he has of his mom is her trying to ride the motorcycle they got as a family gift for Christmas. He so lovingly describes the wheel going into the air and her flying into a fence as the bike veers out of control. I am sure this one rates right up there. At least I am in good company- all about making these amazing memories for our children to cherish.

Day one. It's pretty fresh here. Much more brown and scabbish now.