Today marks seven years since the deadly fire that changed our lives forever. They say time heals all wounds, but really it doesn’t… especially when so many questions remain.
I still remember so many of the details like they are currently happening in the faded background of my life. I remember I had given Lucas and Christopher haircuts earlier that night. I remember Grace’s Hello Kitty clock blinking the time across the ceiling excessively as if power had gone out and came right back on. I remember Nicholas waking up and being eerily calm as if he sensed something horrible was in the process of happening. I remember everyone being outside and the police banging on the door and helping us out.
Then everything becomes a blur. So many memories dance around in my head. There order all mixed up. I know that day changed everything. I know on that day the states attorney lost their witness. The witness we needed to testify to keep us safe for another year. I know that day the house was deemed unsafe as it was and without being on the insurance I could not get it fixed.
As always though, I will not focus on the negatives. I know that day also brought our village together. I know that there were ten days between the fire and Lucas’s sixth birthday. I know in that time Mrs. Kathy managed to throw together a pretty awesome birthday party in a town 45 minutes from our home where we had only known her. I know that mommy #2 and her husband allowed us to go to her house even with our two pups (Rosco and Bailey). I know so many came together to pray for us and offer us love and support.
I know that day brought our community a lot of heartbreak and our family a lot of changes. The pain and the fear may always be there, but I try to look back and remember the love that came from it as well. I pray you all do too.
