**Ok blogger ticking me off again..won't post pictures**
So - here has been what has been going on here. I come home from work, earlier than usual thank goodness, to answer the phone and hear my sister's weak voice say, "My house is on fire"
She came home from lunch to find her sofa on fire. Tried to put it out, started to get over come with the smoke and thank God had the frame of mind to give up and call 911. Within the five minutes it took the fire company to get there, the entire living room was engulfed. The fireman, who many are friends of the family, fought like hell to save the rest of the house. Physically, they did. (God bless those volunteers. They did not hesitate to throw on their masks and run back into the house when one of the family dogs in all the confusion ran back into the house) Unfortunately, smoke and heat causes a lot of damage. The entire first floor is declared a loss, and all but the hard furniture on the second floor is a loss. It seems to have been some sort of electrical short in some wires behind the couch. Right now, they are all here with us. Nathan is still away, which makes things much easier. God bless bunk beds and futons, everyone has a place to lay thier heads. But it has certainly been an emotional week for everyone. We are doing are best to make the days as normal as possible for the kids and I have insisted the last two days that we sit down at the table and all eat together like the family we are.
There are also TONS of blessings to be seen here. The old brick and plaster construction, kept the fire from spreading too quickly. Makes me rethink my 2x4 and dry wall house. My sister came home earlier than she normally would have, and had she not the entire house would be ashes. Her smoke detectors were not going off when she was home, so had this happened in the middle of the night the night before I shudder to think what may have happened. The Red Cross was there within the hour, and offered counseling as well as food and clothing vouchers which we took to WalMart that night to buy pajamas, undies etc. We live in a small community that has stepped up and overwhelmed all of us with offers of help and presents, and support. As well as our scrapping friends overwhelming us with generous offers. We are so much more used to be on the giving end rather than recieving end. What made me snap out of it was the other night when my niece mentioned that all she wanted to do was listen to her own CD's. She just wanted something familiar and comfortable. We adults were running around thinking of clothes, and shoes and beds, and all she really wanted was a bit of music. So I pushed aside the martyr who wanted to say "No, really, we are fine" and just ask if someone wanted to donate to please make it for the girls. The insurance money will come in time, and in the meantime now they can have some of the things they love.
So , even in the midst of the ashes, there is plenty to be thankful and grateful to God about. God has blessed us with a home warm enough and *just* big enough that they can stay here. The house will feel empty when they do find their temporary home. We live close enough that the girls can still go to school from here, and God bless them as well - they wanted to go the very next day.
I ask too, if you are blessed with the means and opportunity, give to the Red Cross. They were a god send and a tremendous blessing. I am not sure what we would have done about immediate clothing and coat needs any other way. We give religiously to the Salvation Army, but never the Red Cross. I will now, believe me.
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