a p.s. on the whole fire ordeal...

I have been updating on facebook all day but I wanted to kinda wrap this thing up a little better.

God gave me a voice and a gift for writing and a compulsion to live life "out loud" and this format here... where people actually come and read and even care a little bit about what happens in the life of me and Austin and Stubby the 3 Legged Wondercat.

And I guess... there are times that the news from the nest seems to be a constant whine of ailments and illness and shortcomings... I've always been a whiner and I think that too was by divine design. God made me this way.

If I came to you every day with ruffles and lace and rainbows and glitter and told you how awesome God is and how He takes such good care of us... you might think, "well, of course you feel blessed... " so instead, I come to you with high blood pressure and back pain and teenagers who don't always do what they should - but sometimes do - and I come to you with real problems and real moments of despair and discouragement so that you see that HE is real, He is real to me.

And maybe... the arms that reach out to hold me when days are dark... maybe those are mortal, flesh and blood arms... but in my heart of hearts... I believe that they come from a God who is infinitely concerned about what concerns me. I believe the compassion I receive, the kindness that is extended to me, is not because I deserve it but more because I don't... but He knows that just as loudly as I whine, I will also stretch my "lungs" to praise Him.

Yep. I think God makes an example of me. And what He does for me, He will do for you.

I can't say enough about the following things:

1. smoke detectors - ours was disabled and it could have cost me my beloved youngest child... make sure yours is working

2. renters insurance. i don't have a lot of "stuff" but what I have is being packed up, cleaned off, inventoried and replaced, if necessary. my renters insurance costs about what it would cost me and Austin to go to McDonalds.

3. nosy neighbors - it was an observant neighbor who noticed the lightning bolt hit our house and the smoke that came out afterwards. Austin was sleeping and our neighbor on the other side of the duplex was also sleeping. That could have been two fatalities. And our landlord... who has endured broken windows and late rent payments and one extra cat and my less than perfect housekeeping... Our landlord was more concerned about us than his building yesterday. Maybe that happens in big cities too but I'm inclined to think it's more about living in a small town.

4. hugs, prayers and people who care. I couldn't even tell you how many messages of support and encouragement I have received. I have cried over ever single one. I would have never chosen this path but I am so glad that God has - once again - reminded me just how many wonderful people there are in my life who genuinely care what happens to me. And my kid. And my three legged cat.

Thank you. We're gonna be ok... the stuff in the house will be cleaned and ready to be moved back into whatever living space we find - or a storage place if necessary - in about a week. How awesome would it be if they could just move it right on into our new space and I never had to lift a thing? Pray for our place to live... that I would have the wisdom and discernment to know what is right for us.

Love and hugs, y'all...