House Fire Update 2

I found this short clip in the local news paper from my brother and sister in law's town:

"On Monday morning, a fire also destroyed a home on Sinking Fork Road in Gracey.
The resident, Kirsten Roberts, told firefighters her daughter noticed ashes falling from the ceiling. Roberts hurried her children outside and called 911. She believed the fire started in the chimney.
The house was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived, said Joshua Gydesen, assistant chief of the Gracey Volunteer Fire Department. They moved the vehicles from the driveway and let the house burn.
The Herndon and Square Deal departments also sent volunteers.
Roberts’ husband is a soldier deployed overseas, Gydesen said."

We spoke with Bryan and Kirstin and they said they are doing very well. They have been so impressed by all of the love, concern and support that people continue to show. They are looking for a place to live temporarily but have decided to rebuild. Bryan asked Kirstin (jokingly - but STILL!) if she wanted to add a wood burning stove to their new home - it was the first fire related injury they had to report. :)

There are sad things too - children who miss their blankets and beds, lost Christmas presents that weren't even opened, the pictures that will never be recovered - but a lot of what is replaceable has already been given to them - and what isn't seems small compared to the miracle of everyone being safe.

There was smoke blowing into their house the night before and Kirstin had wondered what was going on. Bryan happened to call and told her to do a couple of things. The smoke stopped but she was still worried. Before she went to sleep she prayed that her family would be kept safe and that nothing would happen to them in the night. The next morning she fed the calfs and came in - all of the kids were up, which was a bit unusual. There house is a 2 story and all of the bedrooms were on the top floor. With all of her children awake, they were downstairs together when Kate noticed the sparks. Kirstin went in and saw them too - and they got out quick! She said she got her children into her Expedition but it wouldn't start because it was so cold, so they sat in it and watched the wood fall and the siding melt right before their eyes. After a couple of minutes the car started and she backed down the driveway just a bit and by then most of the house was gone. She said that the firefighters believed that the attic had probably caught fire and been smoldering most of the night. So glad... so glad they were spared. I am sure this will be a Christmas that they will never forget - and that, at least eventually, the good memories will completely dwarf the bad. The memories of the fire will be buried under the memories of the people who cared enough to share their homes, food, money, bedding, clothing, and love. Who can doubt when seeing a miracle such as this, that Jesus really does live? And I'm sure that as we celebrate His birth, that these acts of kindness are the greatest gifts He receives.