COLORADO STRONG,

First and foremost, the flooding that has occurred in the Boulder, Longmont, Lyons, and Estes Park areas has been devastating to so many.  The number of homes lost is over 1,500 and counting, over 16,000 homes damaged, the numbers yet unaccounted for is still over 600, more than 200 have been air lifted to Boulder from mountain areas, and 7 deaths.

Our home is in the northeast corner of Boulder County. Fortunately, we have not had any real water damage to our home and the only "issue" we're facing is needing to boil all our water until further notice.  It's hard to believe as we look out our window with the sun finally shining, we can see the mountains once again, and what had been so brown due to the drought is now green, that just 10 minutes in any direction there is flooding, roads destroyed, bridges no longer in place, and so much more devastation.

I think back to all I've written over the past few weeks about a positive attitude, moving forward, yes, maybe some luck, and helping others is now playing out here in Colorado with the floods and even earlier in the summer with all the fires around Colorado Springs.  The people who are being interviewed reflect first about the fact they're alive, their family is together, and the things lost can be replaced. I'm  uplifted hearing the stories and the first response of resiliency.  Already it's coming up on Facebook and other social media outlets of ways people can help:  donate clothes and shoes to a second hand clothing store where victims can come and get what they need for FREE, T shirts showing a new emblem representing this time where all the proceeds go to a relief effort, people opening their homes, and that's only the beginning.

This is a disaster beyond what most of us can understand.  There hasn't been an air evacuation this large since Katrina so we know this is only the beginning.  A long journey of recovery.  The roads, bridges, once again power and safe water will take time and a lot of patience.  In addition, the emotional challenges will come and go for a very long time.  So how will each of us react to our personal experiences?  There will be that emotional roller coaster sometimes even from hour to hour.  I think we will need to be sensitive to our own emotions and those around us, listening is key, we need to be present with our emotions whatever they may be, it's ok to laugh and cry all in the same breath, and it will be important for us to be patient and fluid with how we are dealing with and how others are dealing with this tragedy.

My blessings to all Coloradoans!  We are a proud, strong group of people.