The Terrible-Awful of 2013

Mom called me late one night, in February, and said, "My house is on fire, but it isn't that bad."
The next day Jay, Claira, and I drove out to see the damage...

it was bad, actually, a lot worse than Mom and let on. I quickly realized that Mom was in shock and couldn't see the damage for what it really was. As the days went on it looked worse and worse. One of the negatives of fire is that it is damaging in multiple ways: Smoke, Soot, Fire, Heat, and Water.

Kitchen: It was determined that the electrical plug on the stove caused the fire.

Our family always tries to  find humor through tough times. This is Sr. Lansolot,  Nonna's favorite
rooster that she had stuffed when he died. We cracked up when we saw how toasted he was!

Living Room looking toward Kitchen.

Pantry

It has now been three months since the fire. I think we have all learned a lot from the experiance.

• Praise the Lord Nonna and Poppa weren't hurt
• Having insurance on a house pays off. They are covering all damageages 
• Stuff isn't important, but we have memories because of things. Nonna lost her grandmother's rolling pins and it was very sad because she thought of her grandmother teaching her to bake every time she looked at them. 
• Less is more. After 41 years of marriage they had collected a lot of stuff. It was all beautiful and orgnaized/ decroated well, but there was a lot of it. As they have taken inventory they have realized they don't want to collect as much in their future. 

Jesus will refine us is ways we least expect, because he loves us. Mom and Dad's house will not look the same when it is put back together. Most of their earthly posseions are damaged, gone forever. But, the love, hospitality and fun that we always have experianced in their home will be there because they will be there.

Thank you Jesus for keeping my parents safe!