Our Family Cabin

Our worst fears came to fruition yesterday. We received the devastating news that our small, rustic family cabin was lost in the Cameron Peak Fire.

For weeks, we have been holding our breath, watching the updates, and worrying. Deep down, we knew the odds were against us, but a part of me desperately held onto the hope that she would somehow still be standing when the smoke cleared.

Yesterday, we finally got answers. A friend of Ryan’s who also has a cabin in the area went up to check on the aftermath. While he was incredibly lucky—losing only a small shed while his main cabin was miraculously saved—he was kind enough to hike over and check on ours.

The news wasn’t what we had prayed for. The cabin is gone.

A Legacy Built from the Ground Up

My husband’s parents built this cabin back in the 1980s, pouring their hearts, time, and hard work into creating a sanctuary for our family. More than just wood and nails, it was a repository for decades of traditions.

My heart aches deeply for my father-in-law. This was the place of his hard work, decades of hunting camps, and countless quiet drives up just to sit and enjoy the day. Seeing a lifetime of physical labor and memories vanish into ash is a heavy weight to bear.

Passing the Torch to the Next Generation

What makes it hard is how much our own children loved it there. We have so many incredible, fun memories of taking the kids up to the cabin. It was the backdrop to their childhood summers, a place where they could unplug, explore, and just be kids. Watching them run around the same woods my husband grew up in was a gift I’ll always treasure.

Gratitude Amidst the Ash

Looking back, I had no idea that our trip this past July would be our very last time staying in the cabin. If I had known, I would have held onto the moments just a little tighter, stayed up a little later, and taken a few more pictures.

But today, through the sadness, I am choosing to lean heavily into gratitude. I am so profoundly thankful for every single laugh, every shared meal, and all the beautiful memories we were fortunate enough to make there as a family. The fire may have taken the structure, but it can never touch the legacy or the love that was built inside those walls.