Two years ago today we had a house fire.

I am so very thankful that I had started blogging a few weeks before (that old blog that I deleted, but kept copies of). I think that if I had not documented the events of that night, and the miracles that happened, that the memories would fade like memories are prone to do.

I can not read the posts written by myself and Matthew without crying. I can get so caught up in the day to day chaos that I forget to be thankful. Thankful that we are alive and well. Thankful that we could have lost so much, and yet gained even more. Thankful for the amazing friends we have and the wonderful community we live in.

Following are the posts that we wrote about the fire.

Angella’s Post

I will begin this post by thanking God the Father, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit. Without you we would not be here today.

Sunday was a normal day: church, naps, dinner, playtime, bath time. During bath time, the power went out. We lit a number of candles, and put tea lights in the boys’ rooms to use as night lights.

Matthew and I headed to bed around 9:30. A few minutes later we heard a weird crashing sound, but thought it was the cat. Matthew got up to see what she could be up to. We heard an even louder crash and we both bolted up the stairs; Matthew first then me right behind. As we got to the top floor, he yelled that the house was on fire and ran into Nathan’s room. The entire area around the window was engulfed in flames and the room was blurry with stinging smoke. Nathan was sitting in his crib just watching the fire.

Matthew grabbed Nathan and thrust him into my arms. I ran out and opened the door to our upstairs bedroom, because the big gaping hole from our renovation meant there would be fresh air. Matthew followed with Graham on his hip and we went out onto the deck. Matthew grabbed the fire extinguisher from the truck and raced back to Nathan’s room. I brought the kids out to the 4runner and sat them in their car seats so that I could help Matthew. At this point he had gotten the garden hose and was spraying the outside of the house.

The ladder had fallen down. I put the ladder back up and he took the hose back to the back of our house and up into our open room. He needed to get into the attic because the fire was up there. As we had been wiring in the lights, the attic hatch was open, insulation was removed, and the ladder was already there. He was able to run right up and start spraying.

In the meantime I had called his Dad and told him our house was on fire. He got there in no time, as did the Boehms. I had tried to call them to no avail, but Matthew’s Mom got hold of them and they were over in no time.

We got the fire out which is amazing in itself. It was fought with a garden hose. The insurance adjuster and restoration guy are pretty much in awe that our house is still standing.

Yes, Nathan’s room is burnt. There is water damage to a couple of rooms, but by all accounts the roof should have caught on fire and burned to the ground. Any of the following factors would have made it a charred ruin: if it had burned though the last 1/2 inch before the roof, if our hose had been any smaller, if we had been 1 or 2 minutes later in starting the fight.

Mom called the fire department but they don’t come out to the sticks. I guess ten minutes is too much of a drive. Our insurance premiums are crazily high but I thought it was because it would take longer for fire fighters to get there. Nope. It’s because they don’t even bother. The dispatch man was great to mom though; he called back to check and make sure we were all OK, and he even sent an officer out. He didn’t fight the fire (it was out by then), but he went back into town and got us some boxes.

We are all in perfect health; we even went to the ER to get checked out (well, Nathan & Matthew). When Nathan was checked, his oxygen count was 100%, and nothing at all was wrong with him. He was his normal self; smiling, walking and getting into EVERYTHING in the ER.

The story gets even more amazing. Our friend pointed out that Nathan didn’t even smell like smoke, whereas we all did. Then yesterday I smelled his jammies that he had been wearing - no smoke smell. When we went back to the house yesterday, ALL YOU COULD SMELL was smoke. We have left everything there to be cleaned. Matthew’s Dad picked up the bumper pad from his crib and sniffed it.

IT DOESN’T SMELL LIKE SMOKE. He was TWO FEET from the fire.

Coincidence?

No. God put my baby in a bubble, because though He loves Him more than I ever could, he knows that we still need a little Heen in our lives. I want to thank everyone who has helped us. Where to begin? How about in order of appearance in this chapter of our lives?

Jesus - you saved me once; and you saved our boys. I will never stop serving you.

Matthew - for putting yourself at risk to save your family and to do all you could to save our house.

Dad and Mom - Dad for getting there in a heartbeat and working so hard to fight the fire. Mom - for calling everyone and getting the prayer chain started. Both of you for taking us in that night.

The Boehms: Dave, Cindy, Amanda, Dan, Steve & Tim, and Cindy’s dad who came with. For giving no thought to yourselves and jumping in.

The Hancocks: John and Doris, our next door neighbours. For taking care of my boys while I helped with the fire and recovery effort.

Andy and Lisa Burt, more neighbours & friends. They heard us yelling and came to make sure we were OK. She held Nathan and Graham while I packed up some things to leave.

Dustin and Christy Heigh. I called when the fire was out and asked Dustin to grab our friends to come and help. They then took the boys all day yesterday while we dealt with insurance, etc. Plus, they show love to us daily.

Luke and Tianna Riemer and Steve and Amanda Brown (and some guests they had). They came with Dustin to help with the aftermath. I was gone, but Dad tells me that our organized Tianna took charge and started packing up stuff with Amanda. You two have no idea how great it was to wake up yesterday and wash our hair, brush our teeth, etc. They even packed some of the kids movies as well as the booster seat. The guys helped make sure the fire was completely out and moved stuff so that we could minimize water damage. Amanda for looking for a place for us to stay. We love you guys beyond all measure.

The Selles. Jason for coming out yesterday as soon as we heard, and for offering to live with your parents and give us your trailer. Angie (his mom) for offering up your house.

Nico & Joanne Altena. Our house needs to be repaired. They have offered us their house to live in for the next month while they are away. And they are prayer warriors!

Travis and Karen Bond. They were not back from holidays until Monday, but are feeding us tonight and Karen watched the kids this morning while I got some necessities. They are family and I thank God for them always.

For everyone else who has offered to help, who has helped, who will help. You are Jesus’ hands here on earth.

Matthew’s Post

I have invaded the blog, with my wife’s permission of course, to put my account of recent happenings in our family.

I’m sure most of you have read Angella’s blog entry (if not you might want to before you read this) and the more I think about the fire and all that happened, the more amazing it is that we are all OK and our house is standing! God is good! Actually He is Great!

During the fire I didn’t really comprehend all that was happening. I think our body and mind goes into an action-reaction state when faced with an issue such as the fire. First it was to save our kids. Next the house. At no time did I ever think to myself, “Matt you are putting yourself in a precarious situation. I would advise you might want to use caution at this moment”.

I remember charging into Nathan’s room and grabbing him. Flames, smoke, whatever! I was getting my son. Next it was Graham. Once everyone was outside and safe, I didn’t even hesitate, I was going back in. Were does that desire come from? To save, to rescue, to protect at all costs. Obviously it is from our Lord. And it is awesome to think that it is with those same desires He comes for us.

On my way to the hospital (Dave Boehm was driving me) it really came clear to me what is important in life. Relationships. Family, friends, neighbours that is what matters. I know I can get so caught up in my own life and desires that I can forget those relationships. It was so amazing how everyone reached out to us that night and continue to pray and help us. I want to thank you all so much for your love and support. You have all shown me God’s only desire for us is to love and serve Him and to love and serve others.

Angella- Thank you so much for being my wife! What a woman you are. It is only after the fire can I truly appreciate all that you did that night. Protecting our kids and making sure they were safe. Going back into the house and getting stuff. Calling everyone for help. I am so glad I get spend my life with you - side by side - hand in hand together facing life with all it joys and trials.

The house. Well, with the restoration crew hard at work (pictures to come soon) can we truly see how close we came to losing the house and how much damage there is. I was there today and the crew was going to town, ripping out insulation, drywall, carpet. Over the next couple of days the crew will be ripping out 8 trusses and replacing them, tearing out more insulation and drywall, cleaning clothes washing walls…… our house is going to be even better than it was before the fire! Wow!

Again thank you all for your support and thank you God for your love, mercy and grace. Our family looks forward to the plan You have for our lives while we are still here on earth.

Pictures

Here is Nathan’s room Monday morning. You can see how close his crib is to the window:

Here’s the outside of his room on Monday morning:

Here is a picture to show HOW CLOSE OUR HOUSE CAME TO BECOMING ASHES. The fire had burned through right to the shingles. Had they caught, the roof would have went up, and our garden hose would have been no match for it.

There was one thing that struck me that night. I stood outside with one boy on each hip as Matthew fought the fire. As I knew Honey was fine, and my babies were in my arms, I didn’t care if the house burned down. Honestly. And I still feel that way. Possessions are temporary. My family is forever.

Though I truly was not worried about possessions, we didn’t lose any of those either, apart from one chair and a quilt. Yes, there was water damage, and yes, we were out of our house for 2 months, but we were so very well taken care of.

Things could have been so very much worse, but there was not a scratch on any of us.  I am so thankful that we are all perfectly healthy.

Thankful doesn’t seem to cover how I feel, but it is the best word that I can find.  I am so very, very thankful.

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