Our April 27th House Fire Gave More Than it Took

Quick notes:

• Get a fireproof safe for your papers
• Replace your smoke detectors if they are old?
• Check your insurance policy thresholds and benefits and buy the extras?
• Take pictures of meaningful things before you wish you had them
• Count your blessings every day
• Kindness matters. Be kind to people you don’t know as often as you can, they could be going through anything
• Do not live in fear, but do be prepared?

I have so much to share and am writing a memo about what we have learned and seen in the last two weeks since we lost our pets and our house became a total loss in a tragic fire.?

It’s with our deepest gratitude that we thank each person for your prayer and provision over our family during this time. You have shined your light on us and our children and our spirits have been lifted daily by your thoughtfulness and kindness.?

We’ve secured a place to live and are most thankful for what we have seen God do in others and in us during this tragedy.

He gets the glory and our biggest hope is that blessing is poured into your life because of this too.?

Jillian’s horse trainer said to me two days after our fire that,”The devil doesn’t get to steal from the daughter of a King and get away with it.”

Isn’t that the truth? That’s truth for you too in whatever’s been stolen from you, so claim it my brothers and sisters in Christ. We serve a big God and he loves us.?

Logistically?

God forbid this happen to you, you do not have time for anything. Please get out. Fire comes like a thief. If you are like me in the past you’ve thought of things you’d try to grab if your home was on fire (but your family was safe) and “you had a few minutes to grab things.” You don’t. Look at the photo at 6:14pm and then one minute later. It’s not like a campfire you are begging to get big, it literally consumes. It took one minute to go from one room to the whole house.

We were not home. My son and husband were throwing ball at a school and my daughter was at the horse barn. When I pulled up to my house from a meeting I saw that just my son’s room was on fire.?

I knew the house was empty except for my pets. I called 911. I pulled into the grass in front of my house but accidently left my car in drive when I jumped out talking to the operator. Halfway around the garage I saw my car rolling towards my house so I ran back to it and threw it in reverse. Except when I jumped out again I left it in reverse and we did the same dance until I finally slammed that thing into park to race to my back porch, open the door and call for my dogs. The room was filled with thick dark smoke. I couldn’t see past the door frame and none of my animals came. The picture I took was when I went back around front of the house at 6:14. The video was at 6:15.

I praise God for the safety of my family. Thank God we weren’t home. Thank God it wasn’t the middle of the night.?

Fireman are incredible. I’m married to one and have always admired him. My awe of firefighters went next level as I watched seeing what they did to try to save my own pets and put out the roaring fire. Please take time to thank and support your local fire department and service men and women any time you see them. They deserve credit as heroes.?

It’s not just the fireman that showed up, the fire leadership too and the chaplain was there who reached out to our church and he also prayed with us.?

There was a squad of volunteers with tables and bright lights. They had Jersey Mikes subs and coolers full of Gatorade and water. The fireman would work and then they would tag others in and come rest in our front yard. The volunteers helped make sure they were replenished as they rested and they gave us white blankets to wrap up in.?

Men who worked with Colin for 15 years were there that night, and they were so very concerned and kind.?

Our pastors (Matt and his wife) showed up and asked how to help. I had high heels in the yard, and I wasn’t wearing shoes anymore. Our solar panels had exploded so it was unsafe to walk around. My daughter had been wearing horse boots and my son cleats. They said “pajamas”?

They showed back up with colored mesh bags full of items for each of us….shoes, socks and undergarments, pajamas and a couple changes of clothes, toothbrushes and thoughtful things.?

We left the site about 10:45 with the team still working. They were huddled under the lights in the front yard and we thanked them all for their hard work.

It poured rain the next day and soaked the inches of installation and ash in our house along with anything still intact. It’s amazing walking through it. Our cabinets melted off the walls. Everything in our attic fell into our garage. Someone asked me if it was hard to look at our house each time we drove up the driveway and my heartfelt response was that it continuously reminds me of how thankful I am for my precious family. As much as I loved my pets and my sentiments, none of it really matters when we have each other.

I woke up to many messages from friends. Word had spread quickly so I composed a post of what I felt in that moment. It was gratitude.

Spiritually?

I was just so thankful we were together and thankful to God for his goodness in providing for that. Every night for years we have said a prayer and have always asked God to use us to be a light for Him. This is His moment.

I knew it would be hard but we would be ok, and I prayed God’s glory shine thru, that good things would pour out for us and for others. That is exactly what’s happened. I know God has a strategy, and I couldn’t have guessed this for our family but I also know He will make good come from bad.

• Many friends told me they were taking inventory of their lives and experiencing gratitude?
• ?A friend told me they had delayed putting up and checking on smoke detectors, but they immediately did it
• ?A friend told me she had all her sockets checked
• People are also getting safes for their important documents and they have a renewed focus on fire safety in their homes. You need a plan.?
• A friend said she stopped mid-zoom meeting and prayed with her client for us that Friday after the fire
• My step dad came to church that Sunday and listened to an amazing sermon on forgiveness.
• People who had been slacking on getting things done made the move. It’s caused action.?

Act now. Our pets and house disappeared in a minute. Everything could change in an instant is true. I love this excerpt from Og Mandino’s book.

• Our extended family has had an opportunity to show love in new ways and overcome lingering family tensions.
• I had just started a ladies Bible study early April and had prayed specifically for a strengthened relationship with my husband. It’s been an incredible two weeks. I took this screenshot 2 days before.

• I’ve had many people suggest that this tragedy has had them check their priorities?

Emotionally

When everything you have disappears, you have a chance to focus on the value in your family and friends more. Gratitude, gratitude.?

My daughter’s very first horse show was scheduled about 30 hours after our fire.?

I watched my friend and the barn families come together to provide/lend my daughter clothing and supplies for her show. She was incredible, and I’m just so inspired by her attitude and ability to overcome. You can chose joy. She did it. We can too.

A close friend went into my office with me with gloves and a mask we found a journal from my grandparents, my wedding video and a few keepsake items.?

We wiped down my kid’s and my own baby books. My office doors were shut, so items were damaged by smoke and water only not by fire. The kindness of that act of service is just so powerful to me. It made me want to be intentional to find pockets to serve others in more deeply meaningful ways even when they don’t have tragedy. I’m capable of showing God’s love more often by serving others.

In all, there’s a light in the darkness and we’ve seen it shine. Thank you again for continued prayer coverage over our family as we build back with expectation of abundance and with renewed focus on what matters.

Blessings,?

Casey