Angels and baking soda

I am finally to the point this evening where I am able to write about last night.  I debated writing about it at all but I decided it could be a huge reminder and learning moment for all of my family and friends. 

Eric has always told me I have a very intense gut instinct.  We haven't always followed it but we have learned to follow it.  For the last couple of months I have been having fire moments.  I don't know what else to call them.  Ayden and I worked with his window and fire escape ladder a couple of months ago.  I had checked smoke alarms in September.  Ayden has been busy watching Mythbusters which prompted me to place a very large opened box of baking soda under the sink. And I've been having funny candle moments where I just decided to blow them out in the house, including the one we have kept lit for Eric and Brady in a very safe location.  Christmas morning Ayden had lit a candle for mood lighting, I guess, and Logan had set something too close which really frightened me.  But still all was well.

Brenden and Sarah came for Christmas day and stayed over to Sunday.  After they left in the late afternoon we all relaxed and I fell promptly asleep.  Logan went to work and Laramy went to a white elephant party.  I woke up and watched a movie.  When Logan came home around 10:15, he was hungry so he lit the oven for bacon.  And at 10:30ish Ayden headed to bed but a short time later came down for a drink and stopped in my room.  He asked me if I smelled 'that'.  And within just a minute he was yelling fire.  I ran downstairs to the kitchen to find Logan with the fire extinguisher and flames shooting out of the stove to the ceiling and thick choking smoke filling the room.  I can only tell you that what happened in the next few seconds was guided by God.

I flew around the island and grabbed the box of baking soda from the already open cupboard and proceeded to fling it with apparent perfect aim at the fire.  It dropped down immediately and I aimed twice more and then blew with all my might at the remaining small fire.  Laramy and Ayden had gathered the dogs and were on the deck and Logan shot it with one last shot with the fire extinguisher.  I grabbed my land line and called 911.  We had gotten the fire out but the house was full of toxic smoke.  And within a few minutes three of our local firemen were standing in my kitchen and taking charge.  I had also called Melody out of complete fear and panic and she came running over too. 

We are fine.  No one was injured.  I only lost my range.  The front melted right in front of my eyes.  There was no structural damage to the kitchen just a lot of soot clean up to do.  Had I not had the baking soda or my land line things would have been completely different. 

So here are some things to think about.  Everyone is getting rid of their land lines and I have considered it. But when I took off running I left my cell on my bed.  If I hadn't had the soda and no land line, I would have had no way to call.  And as fast as it went up and if I had to run to my neighbors or back upstairs I would have lost the kitchen if not more. 

Many of you keep soda by your stove.  If my soda would have been there, I wouldn't have been able to get to it.  And this was a grease fire.  By the grace of God, the firemen said I couldn't have done a more perfect job...I did not plan for this in anyway..it all just happened this way.  God has perfect timing and, apparently, aim.

So I ask all of you to please check your fire extinguisher location.  Go out and buy one or two boxes of large baking soda for under the sink or at least away from your stove.  Double check your smoke detectors.  The one I have by the kitchen did not go off and should have.  It had a new battery.  It just didn't work anymore.  Your test button tests the battery function..not the function of your smoke detector.  If you teach your children to cook, teach them how to put out a fire.  I was very proud of Logan getting the fire extinguisher to work. Then sit down with your family and make sure they know a plan and where the extinguisher and soda are located. Reconsider a land line.  When I called, she knew my location. 

I am so thankful for God's protection and his angels around me and the boys.  He guided Ayden to the kitchen at just the right moment.  I am also so thankful to the firemen who arrived, checked us all out, and cleared out our house of smoke.  And also to my two neighbors who have been helping me out so much, Rich and Myron, by unhooking my burned up stove and replacing my smoke detector.  They have been so helpful and kind to our family in many ways since Eric left.

Psalm 91:11 For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

God Bless,
Love,
Monica

1)Praise for our safety and no real damage.
2)Praise and thanks for homeowners insurance even with a deductible.
3)Pray I find the right stove in my price range.
4)Praise for Eric and Brady's Christmas time together and safe travels for Eric.

One of those movie moments

I went  Christmas shopping today.  I had one of those moments that I thought only happened in the movies..yes, I'm still chuckling about it.  Actually, just trying to type this, I am laughing out loud.  Unfortunately, I was by myself.  I dropped Ayden off at Toys R Us and went to JoAnn's fabrics.  I found what I wanted and headed towards the back of the store to the cutting table.  No one was there.  In fact, no customers were even around.  I plopped my fabric down and walked around and looked.  I spied a public bathroom and decided I should use it.  I came back to the cutting table and alas! there was a worker there.  So I said, "I need some fleece cut".  And she looked at me and said, "Do you have a number"?  I thought she was joking.  She was not.  I said, "No, but I think I can get one".  So I reached over and pulled a number and handed it to her and glanced around.  Okay..I need to remind you all right now...  THERE IS NO ONE AROUND EXCEPT FOR THE TWO OF US!!  She took the number and moved around a little bit and then she picked up the store intercom and said, "Now serving customer number 42".  And right then and there I was incredibly happy I used the potty or we would all be laughing about more than just this silly incident.  I intended to look around a little bit more but that just did me in...so I headed to the checkout.  And while I was standing in line, because apparently there were  two other customers in the store, I realized the lady in front of me was staring at me.  And then she said, "You have some fleece there?"  Yep...yep I do.  ?*!*x+?*  I couldn't wipe the huge grin off my face.  Considering how my 15 minutes had gone in the store I stood there thinking the poor checkout guy had been there all day and my grin was probably nothing in the scheme of all he had seen.

That's all I've got..nothing inspirational and nothing to report..just a good laugh as we gear up for these next two holidays.

God Bless and thanks so much for your continued prayers,
Love,
Monica

Hugs and Kisses or Kisses and Hugs?

Where did November go?  I'm not sure.  But I know I spent two weeks of it sick.  In fact, I am still not 100%.  I have not been this sick for this long for a very long, long time.  I am incredibly thankful for time to rest and recover, kids taking care of me ( although I did have a commerical mom moment where I emerged from my bed in horror at the shape of the house), and antibiotics. 

While sick, I did manage to instant message with Eric quite a bit.  He kept checking in on me.  And I seemed to receive lots of extra kisses and hugs or x's and o's as we know them through cyberspace....or are they o's and x's? 

I'm not sure how the conversation started but it was asked, "Are the x's kisses and o's hugs or the other way around?"  I hadn't really given it much thought.  But I stated that I thought the x's were hugs because they were arms crossing and the o's were kisses because they are shaped like a kissing mouth.  And Eric replied, "No, the x's  are kisses..two people kissing in profile, and the o's are endless arms wrapped around each other."  Yes, sometimes it's too hard to discuss deep subjects so we spend a lot of our time chatting about simple matters. 

And so the chuckles continued over the next few days as we signed off xoxoxoxox or oxoxoxoxo.  And then on the way to church I posed the question to Logan, Laramy, and Ayden; "So what do the x's and o's stand for"?  Ayden quickly responded that he thought the x's were hugs and Logan and Laramy thought the x's were kisses and the o's hugs.  But I think we have all determined that we don't care..we just like lots of both preferably in person and not through instant messaging.

I have decided this year has been quite a gift so far.  Eric and I have had time for all of these silly little discussions but also lots of big discussions and even goal-setting at times.  We will most certainly have to learn how to communicate in person again.  But I am looking forward to it.

Thank you everyone for sending colored pencils. 

Luke 1:68-73 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.  He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant, even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old; salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that, rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

Prayer Requests:

1) Continued healing for myself and protection for the guys, too, from illness..here and abroad.

2) Praise for continued safety for Eric and Brady.

3) Praise for exciting holiday news for Eric and Brady

4)Please pray for continued peace and no anxiety for all of us as we journey through the winter.

5) Praise for still no snow!!  Woohoo!!  Please continue to pray for manageable snow in Winterset for us this winter...possibly all of Iowa for those who desire it.

God Bless,

Love,

Monica