...

We traveled to CO last week to see family

and since we've gotten back

I've felt an urgency to record our visit

 in order to not lose the memories and moments.

But every time I begin to tell the story of the fire,

for the telling of our time there would not be complete without it,

I am at a loss for words.

I'm not sure if its because I don't have a grasp on 

what I think and feel yet

or if it is simply because there are no words....

So often I feel a need to voice things

that really cannot be put to words.

I do not want to reduce something so deep 

and personal

to flippant sentences simply

because I don't have the words

or the skill to accurately portray them.

It was so raw.

Driving with my grandparents with nothing

from their home of 30 years but the clothes on their backs.

The hours and days of waiting to hear something, anything hopeful.

The contentment and gratitude expressed over

and over again that God is in control

and stuff is only stuff.

The relief felt when we saw the familiar address on the "unaffected" list.

The hopes and prayers that it would stay on that list

as the fire doubled back.

We will not quickly forget this

and that's as close as I'm going to get

to a put together ending.

xoxo,

lyss