The summer has begun.

indeed. 

Even though the fires keep raging, we decided to have a bonfire while our dear friend visited. What a time to relax, laugh and enjoy! We all have such busy lives, and much going on, but to pause after a much busy week for all, was a pleasant breath of fresh air. I almost would say its been the most carefree we have all been in a while. 

 

Its is indeed only the beginning.

Currently I have a week off. Day one equals: fantastic, as I spent most of it thinking that I needed to be somewhere. I was grateful that I was able to ignore phone calls, and even take a nap in the middle of the day. Gasp! I have not done that in a long time I woke up smiled and thought wow, I think I like being on vacation! Not to mention I was able to watch a movie with my dear friends! Kung Fu Panda. ohh my I laughed much, and enjoyed it much, I doubted the goodness of it, however the tall house mate gave me hope, hope that came through, fantastic. 

We have finished VBA, the college kids are returning, and finally the graduations have finished. What more can I ask for. I suppose if I wanted to I would ask the Northern California would stop burning. Actually our friend Isaac received a call during our bonfire, and he is off fighting them...so I am praying. 

As for the next few days of vacation. I plan to catch up on friends, life, and the pile of book that seem so distant to me. I cannot wait.

Don't Worry I am safe.

Hello friends yes its seems again that the news in your far away cities is report that Santa Cruz is burning Down. However, there is still a fire burning in Bonny Doon CA, which is still very close it is being called the Martin Fire as it started near Martin road. As far as I know the fire is headed south for the most part. My house is East of the Fire, and my work is South East of the Fire. Click on the link above to see the news report from the people that know what they are talking about.

There are many trees and many of my students, as well as people from our church, have been evacuated. Through the tears on through the phone of my student who's home was evacuated  before she even knew about the fire, through tears she said,  "I'm just scared, because I don't know what's going to happen!" And that's the heart of many here. Right now.

 So though I am not worried...there is great Fear in the Bonny Doon to the coast, and the next few days there are graduations all over from UCSC to Santa Cruz High, to Scott's Valley High, to mission hill...point is much is going on and the fires are just in the way. 

This is a picture around 6 ish tonight in the parking lot of my church on high street. Looks cool.

The Earth Quake on a personal Level.

It was a powerful Quake that lasted 30 seconds...

People left reminded of the 89 Quake and its devastation

Even thought it was a 5.6 and to my knowledge no one was hurt, and no property was damaged, people still paused in fear.

I actually sat on my couch and heard a rumble, then I felt it. I held my breath and looked across the room to see our light over the kitchen table swaying. gulp. I closed my computer. and grabbed my phone...then, I sat frozen unable to move. that 30 seconds felt like a life time. I was waiting for it to get worse, I was waiting for something to fall off the wall...I was waiting for certain destruction.

I suppose such is life...in the midst of something that is so powerful in our life we tend to believe that it will soon end in massive and sudden destruction. Its in the midst of the tremor that our fear is at its highest. and only when we pause and think about the tremor can we move on and see that it doesn't always end in destruction. May we live and not be shaken...that is my heart in the last two days. My God will not be shaken, may I rejoice in the morning, may I sing your praises Lord!

Psalm 30:1-12

I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the
depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O Lord my God, I called
to you for help and you healed me. O Lord, you brought me up from the
grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. Sing to the Lord, you
saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing
comes in the morning.
When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be
shaken." O Lord, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. To you, O Lord, I called; to
the Lord I cried for mercy: "What gain is there in my destruction, in my
going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your
faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my help."
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed
me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my
God, I will give you thanks forever.

Earth Quake Oct 30th 2007

BREAKING NEWS: 5.6 quake biggest since Loma Prieta

From the Santa Cruz Sentinel

SANTA CRUZ — A moderate earthquake rattled the region Tuesday night, startling county residents, sending moviegoers from theaters and drinkers from bars, but apparently doing little serious damage.
The 8:04 p.m. quake on the Calaveras Fault had a preliminary magnitude of 5.6, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was centered in the foothills about nine miles east of San Jose City Hall, and originated 5.7 miles below ground.
There were no reports of damage or injuries in Santa Clara County. Acting Santa Cruz Fire Battalion Chief Rob Young said the county checked out clean as well, though cellular and landline phone service was temporarily disrupted.
The temblor, which shook for roughly 30 seconds, was the most powerful quake to hit the San Francisco Bay Area since Loma Prieta on Oct. 17, 1989, according to the USGS. In the 6.9-magnitude quake, six people were killed locally, more than 300 were injured and an estimated 3,000 were left homeless. Damage in Santa Cruz County was estimated at close to $1 billion. Throughout the region it killed 62 people and caused $6 billion in damage.
Tuesday night’s shaker brought the 18-year-old Santa Cruz Mountains earthquake back to life for many Santa Cruz residents.
“There’s something about the month of October,” said Jeff Pappas, a bartender who ran from behind his bar at Clouds Downtown just in case the glass behind him came tumbling down. “This is the biggest one I’ve felt since Loma Prieta.”

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

Recent Earthquakes in California and Nevada== PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE REPORT ==California Integrated Seismic NetUSGS/ Caltech/ CGS/ UCB/ UCSD/ UNR
Version #3: This report supersedes any earlier reports of this event.This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.
A moderate earthquake occurred at 8:04:54 PM (PDT) on Tuesday, October 30, 2007.The magnitude 5.6 event occurred 8 km (5 miles) NNE of Alum Rock, CA.The hypocentral depth is 9 km ( 6 miles).
Magnitude
5.6 - regional moment magnitude (Mw)
Time
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at 8:04:54 PM (PDT)Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at 3:04:54 (UTC)
Distance from
Alum Rock, CA - 8 km (5 miles) NNE (31 degrees)Milpitas, CA - 11 km (7 miles) E (91 degrees)San Jose City Hall, CA - 15 km (9 miles) NE (45 degrees)Sunol-Midtown, CA - 17 km (10 miles) NE (45 degrees)
Coordinates
37 deg. 25.9 min. N (37.432N), 121 deg. 46.5 min. W (121.776W)
Depth
9.2 km (5.7 miles)
Location Quality
Excellent
Location Quality Parameters
Nst=250, Nph=250, Dmin=3 km, Rmss=0.07 sec, Erho=0.1 km, Erzz=0.3 km, Gp=32.4 degrees
Event ID#
nc40204628
Additional Information
2-degree map Google Earth KML (Requires Google Earth.)Topo map centered at earthquake (This link takes you offsite.)ShakeMap shaking intensity maps Did you feel it? Aftershock Warning NCSN First Motion Mechanism 1 Waveforms Waveforms for ShakeMap Berkeley moment tensor solution Tsunami Information Statement from the WC/ATWC

Life has been full of adventure!

10 days of madness ending in fires.

Right now I am sitting between Brian and Todd trying desperately to debrief all that has happened.

Sitting in the San Diego Airport with:

• friends stuck in San Diego (all freeways closed exiting San Diego)
• friends evacuated from their homes at 5:30 Am this morning (home in Poway)
• friends taking pictures of us in the SD airport cuz they think we are cool
• Friends sitting next to me

The Next few days I will begin to unravel what is going on in my head.

But first I'm going to try to fly home...And then I'm going to sleep!