This time last year...

...was a very scary time for Andrew and me. We were just remembering that its been a year since the Angora Fire started in the Lake Tahoe Basin. This was a very scary time for everyone in the small town we lived in, especially for us; as southerners, we were not accustomed to wildfires! The fire started on a Sunday afternoon and burned through most of the week. It was dangerously close to our apartment, so we spent most of the week living in a hotel. Most people talk about what they would take with them if they had to leave their homes, but until a highway patrol is beating on your door and telling you that you must evacuate immediately, you will never really know the answer to that question. The whole experience really changed my perspective on what really matters in life, and also gave me so much more compassion for those who have lost their homes because of natural disaster. Luckily, we were spared; many were not. The fire burned over 3,100 acres, as well as destroyed 242 homes and damaged 35 others. It was unbelievable to see all the devastation in contrast to the natural beauty of the area. They are still trying to rebuild and rehabilitate the areas destroyed, as I'm sure they will be for many years to come.