Ok- looks gruesome-- was terrifying really. A tough way to save a few bucks, by splitting my own wood and then having a drying light that obviously somehow started the wood on fire. God somehow let it happen despite my being in the basement. GET A HEAT DETECTOR in your GARAGE !!!

What a lot of emotions I have gone through. Fear that Heidi was still upstairs, fear of admitting how stupid it was to let a light stay near the wood so long, fear of telling Ter, fear of her reaction. Then the profound effect of people's kindness. Realizing how often we forget to be very personable to all the people we bump into at Target, Jewel, KMart. Realizing how often fire is mentioned in the bible. Grateful that the book of Tobit is now known to me (how Tobit after a time of troubles including blindness finds happy times again in God's favor)..

No problem really with missing things. I felt a little like "Hans in Luck:" http://www.authorama.com/grimms-fairy-tales-2.html Rather I am missing the sense of being "home." Kicking off my shoes and chilling... sleeping in. Having nothing to do. The timeline of 60 days to recall all of one's lost belongings strikes me as pleasant as rummaging thru a dead man's body for 60 days. Praise be to God, that is now behind us.

Grateful I am to God that I had saved alot of music on the laptop! Familiar music is a salve for my soul. Grateful we are that Cathy and Cindi next door were still in Florida and were generous enough to allow us to stay in their "castle" till we had a place to stay (2 1/2 months!!!). Grateful I am that Heidi's Eric was ready to step up to the plate and "rescue" her after this loss. Doubly grateful that Eric also loves Blossom enough to let her in on the package deal (for good!).

Grateful I am that God saved Roy Bertacchi's home for us all these 3 years it sat empty as a model home. Grateful that he put more time and attention to finishing details than I ever would have had the time for including an awesome interior designer's touch with even furniture ready to use! Grateful I am that Ter's folks could float us some green to make the transition simpler while insurance matters get hammered out. Grateful I am that George (Gancayco) knew I would need a Laphroaig friend to get me thru all this. Grateful for all the love and all the prayers of friends, family, staff... it will be an impossible debt to repay.

It resonates with the unpayable debt extended to us from our Lord Jesus. How He washes us free of our sins. In Him we are new creatures. He wants us to give EVERYTHING of ourselves. I pray we put back into our lives only that which is pleasing to Him. I pray we let others help us more, including hired help. I pray we allow ourselves a little more socializing and a little more relaxing.

God's plans for us are more incredible than we would have imagined!