Devastation

So this is what we woke to at 2 am on Monday morning. The hissing and popping of exploding glass and kitchenware. the Crashing and tumbling of the dresser falling and the floor collapsing under the stove. i cried. the next one - 10 minutes later. i think it was one of the most depressing scenes i have ever witnessed. the popping glass, the crashing roof.... it was awful. then stepping back and thinking about this sweet neighbor of mine, loosing all of her things, the class rings, the photo albums, her wedding dress, the craddle the grandkids played with that her kids slept in, are now just a pile of ash and soot. the family bible and the book of poems her mom gave her- just gone.

the next morning i couldnt find my camera, but i ran out and took a picture with my phone. the chimmneys are still standing.... while i watch it finish burning, i think that my house was close, the fire department had to hose it down because it was smoldering with the heat from the fire. i was tired. i didnt sleep. what person could sleep wondering how their children would react if this was their house, they wouldnt know what to do! could i get to them all in time? it was a long night, and i could see Ms Carpenters fire dimish as she found out and saw the house for the first time, she left in the night with her dog and her house stood, and came home to nothing. it was almost as the fire department had hosed her spunck down too.

clean up has progressed, but she is homeless, and without anything. she has a place to stay, but nothing is hers. she has borrowed clothes, but only the pajamas that she left with to her name. a week later she has some of that fire back, but its not as bright, not as strong. i pray for her. as her family came to clean up and search, they found 2 rings and her cast-iron cookware. she now has 12 of her own things. and the only think i could help with is make some lunch for the clean up crew. next week she will get a basket with bathroom things. i hope they are 'her'.

i just hope Ms Carpenter gets a new house next door again, i miss her desperately already. i am just glad everyone is ok though. but i will still pray.

Valentines Day

So Valentines Day is coming up. i LOVE this holiday- absolutely LOVE it! i love love- the idea, the feeling, being loved, i love reading love stories, watching love stories, hearing love stories, telling people i love them, showing people i love them- all of it! it could just be one of my favorite holidays!
there is just one problem, i can never figure out what to do for joe! why are guys so hard to buy for or surpise? i would love to surprise him and finish the mud room, but i dont know how. i would love to do part of it- but the tools required, i dont know where they are and even if i did, half of them needed- again, no clue how they work, or they are too heavy for me to work! sad day. a nice dinner, but that means he would have to take care of the kids while i made it, and then by the time we were able to eat it- when the angels are sleeping, we are so exhausted, that its hard to really enjoy (we have tried this one before), and then i would have to kinda hurry to eat so i could clean it before i had to feed max again... sad day. or Happy valentines day! you can go to the movies alone! ummm- no. he likes movies, but alone on valentines- how sad!
i am at a big ZERO for ideas? what are your ideas? what has been nice for yall in the past? what are you doing this year?
i know for the kids i am going to make pancakes into hearts and the batter will be pink/red. and then their sandwiches will be cut into hearts, and we are going to make valentine cookies to deliver to those we love! :) and joseph will get some, but he is not a big "sweets" person. i dont know what we can do for dinner..... maybe spagehetti, so lady and the tramp-ish though. hmmmm.
*sigh* why is my favorite holiday one that gives me such a hard time? but that is ok, i love it all the same! :) i am sappy and cheesy and love love! :) and i am not ashamed of it! :)