The morning of November 8, 2018, felt like any other day. I let my dog out and noticed the sky was an eerie gray, covered in thick smoke. It smelled like every fireplace in Paradise was burning at once. Curious, I checked the news and saw reports of a small fire across the canyon, about 45 minutes away. No warnings for our town, so I tried to go about my day.

Within minutes, the urgency of it all hit. Embers began to fall like ash rain, and the terrifying sound of propane tanks exploding filled the air. My mom and I quickly packed what little we could, got the dogs into the car, and joined the chaotic lines of cars evacuating, unsure of what was next.

What should have been a short 30-minute drive turned into three and a half hours of navigating dark, smoke-filled roads, not knowing if flames would cross our path. When we finally got through the smoke, we saw Skyway road. Skyway was the main way out of town. It was lined with towering orange flames that looked impossible for anyone to escape. The feeling I felt in that moment shattered me. I feared I was losing all my friends and community members who evacuated using the main road.

Reading the headline “Paradise Lost” brought reality crashing down: our home, and our whole town, was gone. Everything familiar—photos, keepsakes, the life we built—had turned to ash. But even in those moments of disbelief, there were glimmers of hope. Just a week later, God opened a door, and I started a new graphic design job. Life had thrown an unimaginable challenge at me, and I realized that situations like this can either make you or break you. Life isn’t easy, but there’s always something to learn in every season.

The fire taught me that material things don’t define us. What matters most to me is my faith, those I love, and living gratefully each day for everything we have.

That day, I found a strength I didn’t know I had. I wasn’t just strong—I was Paradise strong. If I could get through that with the help of God, what couldn’t I face?

My apparel and Paradise Strong stickers in my Etsy shop are reminders of hope and resilience. For those who’ve faced life’s toughest moments, use code PARADISESTRONG for 10% off. It’s a little piece of our shared journey—proof that even in the hardest times, we rise.