On October 12, 2016, our house caught on fire. It was Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year in Judaism.

The kids had an “unassigned” day from school so everyone was home. Gary and I were fasting, doing some errands around the house, kids had some homework to catch upon nothing out of the ordinary. My mom called and told us to come to her house to end our fast around 5pm. We got dressed and left just before 5. The kids had school the next day and it was a Wednesday, so we couldn’t stay too late. My sister left before us, she has a 2 year old she needed to get to bed. My daughter asked my mom to tailor her Halloween costume, so she needed to try it on to make adjustments. About 7:30-7:45, My brother in law calls my cell, he says “Marina your house is on fire!”. I think he joking, he’s yelling ‘I’m not kidding’. I grab my purse and Gary and I run to the car. On the way I call my neighbor to get details. My kids are at my folks house, we have an indoor cat, Chloe, and my beloved German Shepherd, Jack is outside. Im freaking out! I need to get to my animals! We get to my street and it is blocked by lots of fire trucks, I had to leave my car and run up to my house. When we get there Gary is allowed into the backyard to get the dog, a little later a big strong fireman brings out our kitty cat. My parents came with my 14 year old son, and he’s very upset. On the way over my mom was running and fell not noticing the fire hoses everywhere. It was a surreal night to say the least.

Im sharing this because I want to say “Thank You”. Thank you to my neighbors and to the neighbors who called 911. To all the neighbors that have come by since to ask if we need anything. Thank you to the Firemen that responded so quickly, and have come by again to ask how we are doing.

I am “Grateful” that it ended the way that it did. No one was hurt! The fire started in the garage, we are not sure what the cause is, but the boy’s bedrooms are above the garage, and are the most affected. Im grateful we weren’t sleeping or even at home at that time. I am grateful no one was hurt!

Some of you may know that we have been planning to remodel for sometime now. Yet there’s always one thing or another that’s been holding us back. A couple of days later my 6 year old says to me , “I think God wanted this so that we can remodel our house.” Brayden is an old soul, his intuition is beyond his years, I think he may be right. Sometimes things happen and at first we question it, but then we figure it out as this is the way it was supposed to be. MAYBE? It’s been a stressful 2 months, with no end in close sight eventually there will be a light at the end of the tunnel, but first we have to get through all the charred.

This has been a trying year and I’m ready to see what 2017 has in store for us. I am GRATEFUL & THANKFUL for our family and friends for the time we have spent together and for the future that awaits us.

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year

Marina

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