May 5 2016- Reflecting on family and friends today

May 5th, boy here I am sitting with a cup a....(again from my aunt Joan) Tea, thinking about my sisters and their families.  And so many other who are battling something in their lives right now....my sister's battle is the Wild Fires in Fort McMurray.

Both sister have different stories of their families evacuation from Flame Burning Fort McMurray, in Alberta.  They are all safe and sound, one sister is 2 hours away and one is 3 hours away at their trailers, to which they all call home right now. They wait to hear if their homes are still standing.

With the only road heading south closed, both sisters headed north, and didn't see each other in this massive scramble to safety.

My older sister told me: What would normally take a 30 min drive took, I think my sister said 6 hours, so many vehicles on the road trying to evacuate.  Some vehicles running out of gas, stranded vehicles every where.  My sister and I'm sure everyone trying to load their families and keepsakes into their vehicles....hoping to remember the most precious memories/items.

As I write this tear come to my eyes, I can't image what is going to happen to their houses....as of right now they do not know ....but it's not looking good for both of them.  I can't even get my mind around how they and all the people are feeling.

It's very hard to not be close to them, as our lives have separated us.  But thanks to the times, with facetime,  cell phone,  and the internet.  Keeping in touch is easier.

I'm sorry if I'm not making sense, I just need to vent, ramble on at this difficult time.

Here's what I remember my sisters telling me:
Older of the two sisters.....I'm sure she will read this later and say no this is not how it happened, but this is my version in my head.
She said at 1pm ish, she found out she need to evacuate....Her husband was at work (to the North) her daughter was a school and called for a ride home, my sister told her to get the bus because traffic was to busy to go down to pick her up.  She went to pick up her son, normally a 3 min drive, took 20mins.
Then she started packing what they wanted to bring, I'm not even sure what that was at this time, but I know it included 2 kids, 2 dogs and a cat. She said she helped her neighbors around her area, trying to get the more important things.  When a neighbor with her 1yrs son, come to sister, who she barely knows, and says look after my son, I need to go to the store to get milk for the him....my sister said how bad the traffic was.  I didn't hear the end of this story until the next day....but 25 mins later the lady returned.

So she told me she left her house about 5pm, then the 6 hour drive to the North, she was waiting for Hubby who was working to the North.  I'm not sure what went down, but they all got together and ended up staying north by the river .... waiting out the storm so to speak..... then she told me they got told they could go south about 1am, so they drove south, in what looked like a movie, she said just like the movie ....it was just like the movies.....cars abandoned, buses turned over....she said fireballs, from the fire had come flying out, so there was lots of damage......she guessed, it was dark, she said that helped to take away from the devastation.

So 5 hours later, a normal 2 hour drive, they got to their camping trailer.  My sister said she had her "Thumbs up" thumb out the window the whole drive down to their trailer as Firetrucks heading North to Fort McMurray.

As of last night they had friends stopping in to see them, some staying as they had no where to go, or just needed to rest.  My sister says they are doing the best they can....with just the clothes on there backs.

My younger sister's story:
I didn't talk to her as much, we texted more..... but I know they made it North to a site plane camp (CNRL) it's a plant north of Suncor (both brother in laws work for Suncor)
They didn't see my sister and her family, but talked to each other.  She wanted my sister to come to where they were to get on the flight as well.....but my other sister had pets and no kennels for them.  My sister said they are waiting for a flight out ....so I got a text at 12:43am she and family was on flight to Edmonton.  They had to leave their truck and all the things they at packed at the camp......She's thinking this will be okay as the fire was moving in a southern direction, but will have to drive to pick the stuff up, when they are able to return to their homes.

My older sister couldn't take the flights out because they didn't have dog kennels, but knowing my sister she didn't want to leave her things...the not knowing is the worsted.

So they are now at their trailer, my younger sister had to go to pick up supplies and clothes for them as they have nothing but the clothes on their backs.  I could hear my nephew in the back ground....Mommy, your going to buy me a new bed right.....it's just so big of a situation for us as adults to get our heads around, I can't image how this will change so many peoples lives.

Well hugs to you all, thanks for stopping by, it's been a while since I have updated and will update more soon, keep your prayers coming to make the fires stop....Fire is a very powerful thing.
take care of yourself and your family and friends  xoxo