January 20, 2002

• We had our second fire in less then a month last night.  A chimney fire.  Rob was mandatoried last night and came home late.  We were tired loaded the fire and went to bed.  He had to get up at 2:30 am to go back to work.  At 12:30 I woke up smelling smoke.  I thought it was Rob restocking the fire, but decided to go investigate anyhow.  Put my glasses on and headed out.  The second I got in their I was greatful I had.  The bottom of the chimney was full of ash & had caught on fire.  The fire had burned through the fire grate & the mortarboard.  5 more minutes & it would have hit the wood on the outside of the chimney. 

  
  

  I hollered to Rob who came out and immediately grabbed the fire extinguisher to put the fire out.  We couldn't tell how high up the fire was going, so I went & got the kids.  Zeria heard me and was crying.  I told her to come downstairs NOW!  She did smart girl.  Samuel heard me as I was headed up and also started crying I told him to go downstairs NOW!  He did (smart boy)  I grabbed Kaylin and her blankey and went back downstairs.  Rob by this time had discovered the fire hadn't gone up as high as originally thought.  So I sat the kids on the couch handing Kaylin to Zeria to hold.  I then joined Rob in putting the fire out.  In 5 minutes it was 90% out.  And I was sent to the couch to comfort 3 very scared kids.  Jamari was asleep in the entryway and pretty much oblivious to everything.    This is what it looked like right then.  When I took the picture their were still red coals  Which do NOT show up.  Their WAS wood on the top of the hole it was burnt.  You can see the hole burned through the mortar board. 

  
  

                

  
  

  Twice in one month God has kept my house and family safe.  I'm still shaking this morning, and in awe that God is IN control. 

  
  

  I'm thankful for the safety of my children, and that my house with all its idiosyncresies is still standing. 

  
  

  Called my parents this morning, and they had a piece of fireboard to put over the hole.  The grate that was their broke in half due to age/heat last night.  Rob called in and told them he wasn't going to work.  As he had to haul ash out of the chimney for over an hour.  And stayed up to make sure we hadn't missed any fire anywhere.   So he gets to go to church this morning.  I had a severe contraction during all of this.  If I'd had another one the midwife would have gotten a call passing a test or not.  It was the kind of pain you feel just before transition.  Running up stairs was NOT on my list of allowed things to do.  But it had to be done.  Fortunately I only had mild ones after that one, and none this morning. 

  
  

  CLEAN YOUR CHIMNEYS OUT!  KNOW WHERE YOUR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ARE!  And hug your kids LOTS.  You never know how long your gonna have them. 

  
  

  Father God, thank you for the house that is still standing.  Thank you for the kids that are healthy.  And for the husband that was home when this went down.  I ask for wisdom today in how to repair the hole right.  And for the continued safety of my family.  I pray that as I go to church today I would find somebody to take over my nursery cleaning duties for the next couple months.  And that you would allow both of us to enjoy the service.  In your sons name, Amen

  • 12:04 pm
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