Lamentations Turned JOY!

I have been feeling guilty about not updating this blog.  But I just couldn't come up with ANYTHING to say!  How weird, huh?  So this morning I was praying, "God, I don't know what to write.  I want to continue to glorify your Name, but You're gonna have to give me something to write about.  If You bring me a story, I will write it."  So He brought me a story!!  As always, it was the not the way I expected!

Today, we had a fire.  A small fire, but a fire nonetheless.  And in just a few short hours, I went from taking everything He's given me for granted, to weeping each time I think of the LOSS that He spared me. He was so merciful to me who so often forgets to even give Him the time I should.

I am finally getting mostly caught up on unpacking and decided today that I would clean all the bathrooms.  I started in the master.  Scrubbed the bath and shower, scrubbed the sink, scrubbed the toilet.  Then I went to grab my handy dandy Dyson vacuum so that I could sweep the floor before I scrubbed it!  I plugged it in, in the bedroom, and started vacuuming.  Sniff, sniff......something almost smells hot.  I put my hand on the motor, but it felt cool so I shrugged and kept vacuuming ....behind the door now.  So the bathroom door was mostly shut.  Sniff, sniff....something STILL smells hot.  (Joel always mocks my sensitive nose because I often think I smell something when really there is nothing!!)  Sniff, sniff.....nope something is DEFINITELY not right!!  I turn off the vacuum and open the bathroom door.....

HORROR!!  The bedroom is FILLED with smoke, the outlet is FLAMING, and there is a deep black creeping up the wall!!  I run towards it, then stop.  I grab the cord and yank it from the wall.  (Not sure why, but this may have helped things to end the positive way that they did.)  I go screaming out of the bedroom.  "There's a fire, there's a fire....Get out of the house, get out of the house NOW."  The kids are eating lunch, but they can tell it's serious.  Josie grabs Julia and they all quickly head outside.  I grab a phone and dial 911.  I'm shaking and trying to think clearly.  I run outside and Josie is comforting everyone and telling everybody to "stay together."  After giving our address and being told to disconnect, I do the ONE thing Joel has always pounded into my head to NOT do.  I go back inside.

My prayers during this time went something like this, "Oh God, oh God, oh Jesus, oh Jesus!!  PLEASE spare my new house. PLEASE!!"

I frantically look for his boss's wife's number and call her.  She lets her husband and Joel know.  Then I head for the bedroom to see what's happening.  There is smoke everywhere.  But I don't see active flames. So I quickly dart in and grab our wedding picture (hanging right above the outlet) and our wedding album.  Heading back outside, I throw them in the van and load up the kids to back down the driveway (just in case.)

The sheriff arrives and I'm a blubbering mess.  I keep apologizing.  (Why do women always apologize?) Joel and his boss arrive.  The fire department arrives.  Thermal imaging and investigating is done.  The outlet DID NOT cause the fire.  The wiring is GOOD.  Whew....I was already fearful of every outlet in our house.  But no need!  It was the Dyson.  My very good SUCKING (literally) Dyson vacuum cleaner!  A report has been issued to Dyson and they are going to investigate the issue.

 

So once again I am blessed.  Once again I am rejoicing.  Once again He's shown His mercies and His Love.  Once again I tremble at His might.  He holds our life in His hands.  And He cares.  Today was not the day I expected.  No, today was much more.  Instead of normal where I forget Him in my everyday cares, it was instead far from it.  It caused me to REMEMBER, to WORSHIP, to PRAISE, and to LOVE my Lord as I should each day.  For EACH day is a GIFT.  I'm humbled by His mercy.  Thank you Jesus!

Because of the Lord's faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.  They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness!  I say:  The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.
                                                                                                             --Lamentations 3:22-24  HCSB