“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”
(Psalms 46:1 NKJV)
(Video and pictures)
The past several days have been challenging and hard, yet full of incredible blessings. Yesterday we began going through some of the girls' "special bins." These were small plastic sliding bins (~9x13x5) where they kept their special treasures. As a dad, it was hard to see the pain as one of our daughters started worked through hers and all the sadness it brought her. Everything was destroyed. None of the items had monetary value, they were worth far more than what money could buy-- special memories with loved ones, letters from grandparents, drawings, and meaningful little items that were chocked full of adventures, explorations, and fun times. These things can't be replaced. Alissa was so kind in helping her slowly peel through layer by layer, taking it slow, and comforting her through her time of grief. We're going to take photos of each of the items and make a special "Treasures scrap book" for each one to still be able to remember the special memories and moments.
I poked my head up into the attic for the first time today. Wow, it was incredible. Everything melted! To think how hot it must have gotten is staggering. We are truly thankful for the Lord's hand of protection and allowing us to escape unharmed.
News 9 came by for an interview yesterday. I was touched by the newsman's care and concern for our family. (see the link below if you're interested in watching 😃 ).
We have been blessed by so many of our friends stopping by to pick up a couple loads of laundry at a time and wash them for us. Using baking soda, vinegar, and a swirl of Dawn dish soap, the majority of clothes are able to be salvaged... which is such a huge blessing!! 🙏 🙏 (it sometimes takes a couple of washes, but most of them are coming back smoke free 😃 )
Today was a day full of more incredible blessings... and answers to your prayers!
We had an army of helpers hauling items out of the house, methodically and meticulously wiping down and cleaning every inch of items we are salvaging, and painstakingly documenting the items that had to be thrown. Yet despite the cooler weather everyone had such upbeat and encouraging attitudes.
By the afternoon we had a good-sized pile of garbage out at the curb. Unfortunately, our large trash pickup had been the prior day. Yet, the Lord and His sovereignty allowed a special trash truck to come back to our neighborhood to pick up a pile of brush that had been missed. My sister-in-law went over and visited with the driver, and through God's favor he agreed to pick up our pile of garbage!! (At first he wasn't going to do it).
Then to top off the day with the most remarkable blessing (that still has our heads spinning and is still hard to grasp), the team from Phoenix Restoration Company stopped by to drop off the items they had rushed for us to get professionally cleaned (courtesy of their company). Lisa, the director of this division, came up to me with a surprised look on her face at all of the friends and family who were helping (and probably seeing that our whole driveway was covered with items being cleaned and
catalogued 😅 ), but she also had a very pleased look as well. What she said blew us completely away.
Unbeknownst to us, she felt a pulling that she was supposed to help us. So she went to bat for us and talked with her General Manager who then went and talked with the owners of the company. She teared up as she told us they had agreed to have all their teams to do our entire pack out and cleaning at their cost, if we would set up our own storage once the items are returned to us. I can't disclose the price, but I didn't have to think twice about their offer!! This was a crazy amazing miracle!! 🙏 🙏 Jesus had pulled in Lisa's heart and gave her abundant favor with her superiors.
A little while later I shared this miracle with the insurance adjuster (who is a Christian) and his mouth dropped open. He said, "Chad, do you know how much this kind of a project normally costs?" I guessed at around $25,000. I was shocked when he told me, "It normally is around $50,000." Only God could do this. Praise His name!!
In that moment, we literally got back weeks of time! I asked Lisa, "So what should we do now." Her reply, "Just move everything back into the house and we will take care of everything on Monday." Wow!! God is so good. 🙏 🙏
The weight lifted from our shoulders at this news; it is so hard to describe, but both Alissa and I felt it. It was like three heavy backpacks, full of bricks, was just lifted from our shoulders. What an indescribable relief and blessing 🙏 🙏
We have been SO BLESSED and deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support. So many have generously given funds, dropped off meals, supplied us with sweatshirts, socks, shoes, and toys, helped with laundry, helped clean out the house, leads on housing, offered to help get replacement mattresses, and have called or messaged us words of encouragement. Words fail over how to describe the deep sense of gratitude we have for each one of you and your acts of kindness. From the bottoms of our hearts, thank you.
Please join us in praising the Lord for His great goodness and the favor and kindness He has extended to us through so many caring and generous people.
Please continue praying with us about our temporary housing... short and long-term. Jesus has taken care of us incredibly well this far and we know He has a plan for us with this next step and
need. He is so good. 🙏 🙏
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