These words came from Matt’s mouth yesterday morning after we were let back into our house around 8am. Let me take you back a few hours so you can understand why he said those words…

At 6:15am a strange alarm fuzzed it’s way into Matt and my sleepiness. Matt got up to check it, I rolled over deciding that it was nothing. When Matt opened the door I changed my mind as I heard the fire alarm clearly for the first time. And then I heard Dakota’s howling. Matt, being his brave self, went to investigate. I checked the baby.

Next thing I know Matt, being dragged by Dakota, announced as he came through some campfire-looking smoke, “Get up babe, we need to get out.” I grabbed something I wasn’t going to stand on the curb in the cold without(modesty runs deep friends), a sweatshirt, socks, boots, the baby and her hat. And I covered Rachael’s head from the noise as I passed by the fire alarm and walked through the smoke that was beginning to “fill the house” from the furnace and water heater closet. Knowing the gas was still on as I walked by the smoke source was a bit nerve wracking, but my adrenalin was going.

After grabbing a coat, car keys (so baby could stay warm and we could have a getaway vehicle should we never return to the house), the car seat, and a few bottles on a flyby the kitchen table – we left via the garage. While I was bundling the baby for the cold, Matt was on the phone with the fire department. Four minutes after he hung up we were standing on the lawn outside of our house and the fire department arrived (talk about a quick response).

Turns out that after an hour or so later, a firefighter going into the crawlspace under our house, and a smoke sucking vacuum thing, we received the news. The source of the small, controlled fire in the back of our utilities closet was unknown. Apparently that little fire that originated behind the furnace had caught some of the sub flooring on fire for 5 feet under our house. The firefighter said we did a good job calling early and it was a good things because they were able to completely control the fire for the entire time and that the house was safe to return to. The gas, on the other hand, had been turned off to the house (a good thing so as not to produce an atomic bomb) and, therefore, we would have enough hot water for 2 quick showers and enough heat for potentially the afternoon. We suffered no real property damage (other than some charred floor boards) and the church has already arranged to have the guy who installed the furnace come inspect it. Sad thing? The furnace is only a 3 year old baby so we have no idea what could have gone wrong.

Sunday after church the heat had not survived long in our house – something about winter and leaving the windows open to ventilate smoke from the house at 6 in the morning led me to believe that the heat would not be staying long. Being as how we have a one month old baby, we sought warmth and fellowship at a nearby friend and church member’s house after Matt was done preaching at the nursing home. Then last night we stayed at another friend’s house – they were highly hospitable in clearing out their basement for the night so Rachael wouldn’t bother anyone other than us with her morning/nighttime “feed me” announcements. I’m headed over to Ellen’s for the day to keep warm and help out with a giant cooking day that Ellen has planned. And poor Dakota is spending the afternoon in her cage due to the circumstances. [That’s why I’m here in the house petting and typing because I feel bad that she has had to be locked up so much. – and really I could tell that it means a lot to Matt.]

No smoke damage ensued despite the constant scent of campfire that lingers in our house and on our clothes. Matt joked yesterday morning as he sniffed his suit, “Smells like we picked up a bad habit.” And once the heat is able to be turned back on, Matt and I will begin the laundering of all our clothes, febreezing of the furniture and vacuuming of the carpets in an attempt to return to normal.

Are we blessed? I cannot tell you how blessed we are. And even though this could be seen as an inconvenience to our regular schedule, seriously let’s look at the big picture here with utter gratefulness and thanksgiving to God. That small fire could have become much worse and could have been much more devastating. Sweet Rachael slept through the whole affair – I don’t even think she knows what happened. And we have wonderful friends and family who are helping us stay warm. And even thought Dakota has to stay in a cold house – she’s a snow dog and is doing just fine.

So yes, Matt’s wit is right…

Now I have something to write about in my blog.

Okay, time for Rachael and I to load up and defrost our noses at Ellen’s home.

On the sidebar there’s a few musical selections from an old friend, Phil Wing’s newly released CD in an effort to raise funds for the Wing family’s adoption of an Ethiopian child. I’ve posted this for two reasons: I am thrilled at the family’s obedicence to Jesus in the adoption and my all-time favorite Phil Wing song “You Do Great Things” is on the CD. Listen if you’d like and you will hear what I remember to be the sound of Apex Community Church (which is now Apex – “a Network of House Churches”-). It’s funny how a few songs bring back a flood of memories. Also, should you want more information on the adoption and the family you can go to http://wingadoption.blogspot.com/ and the CD can be bought at http://philwing.com/ – should you be more curious. Anyway… hope you enjoy the music.

Hours in a day.
Hours without good sleep – oh wait, what’s sleep?

Yesterday I turned 24. Yes, world I’m one step closer to the grave.
Matt mentioned over a crableg dinner (heck yes), “For a few months you will be two years older than me.” He let the silence of that statement fill the air. “Cradle robber.”
That’s right friends, I have robbed the cradle TWICE. And I’m not giving either back.

Yesterday was a fairly uneventful ‘birthday’ despite a wonderful evening out alone with my husband. But the day was filled with wonderful things. Matt and I enjoyed stealing his Dad away from work for a while. We found a pair of glasses that Matt and I both like to replace Matt’s 6 year old pair. Due to circumstances I attempted breastfeeding in the car (awkward, but successful). We had Rachael’s 2 week weight check (9 lbs, 3 ounces of sweetness). And then came a wonderful trip to Red Lobster while my mom and dad watched our little one. I enjoyed the uneventfulness, I’m not going to lie.

I guess birthdays get like that when you get older. It’s not always going to be the five year old hype of balloons and party hats. Matt asked me what I wanted for my birthday after the poor thing couldn’t find what he wanted to get me within the realms of a realistic budget. It’s kinda sad but I couldn’t come up with a single thing I wanted all day long. I’m not really sure why that is. But Matt’s ideas of presents that he revealed to me that failed to work out sounded wonderful. And I honestly couldn’t think of anything else that would be a fun birthday spoiler. I mean we could have gone for the practical of replacing my seriously dying hairdryer (for the whopping twice a year that I use it to keep from getting hypothermia on a “running late” day) or replacing my running shoes that I stretched out with my swollen prego feet. But there’s something about replacing items that we would have otherwise replaced that makes it not really feel like a birthday present. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m just psycho.

Thanks for the “Happy Birthday” Jes and Aunt Yvonne. It was quite nice not to have to prompt you both or have a tag-on ‘happy birthday’ after someone close to you spilled the beans in a crowd of people.

Anyway, twenty-four doesn’t feel any different than twenty-three did. But it does mean one thing, while having a baby and a husband and a wonderful home I am one step closer to being responsible enough to rent a car. Oh the pride!

Alrighty, it’s 4:15a and Rachael has finally decided to stop screaming. Time for a few hours of sleep before the 6am feeding. That’s right friends, Rachael is learning self-soothing and not getting what she wants after she’s already gotten what she needs. And I am learning to finally cave into napping during the day – despite wanting Rachael to cave into napping at night. =)

G’morning/night everyone.

Yesterday was great! Matt was off and we got to spend most of the day with my Aunt Yvonne and Mom. We enjoyed some unusual “usual routine” of showering, diapering, and other getting readying in the morning. I woke up with a headache that I chose to ignore for most of the day, but eventually got the best of me in late afternoon. Matt was his wonderful self, entertaining in my absences of feeding and pumping. We all enjoyed a trip to Walgreens to print off some pictures for my Grandma that Aunt Yvonne will get to take out to California when she boards her second plane trip on Sunday. Then we headed over to Babies R Us to grab a couple of helpfuls. Then Starbucks called the depths of my Aunt, which much to Matt and my enjoyment resulted in a couple of hot coffees, my cold banana chocolate milkshake thingy, and a happy ride home in a warm car. Dakota had some good bonding with Aunt Yvonne and then we parted our ways.

After my nap, the headache backed off just in time for dressing up and going out on the town. That’s right friends, we’re rebels. No, we didn’t go clubbin‘ (surprised) but we did go out for a nice, NICE dinner at the Melting Pot with Ron, Ellen and John. We decided to dress up for the affair – afterall when you spend more than $100 in a night’s meal it’s cause for some more-formal wear. So with the joy of “fitting” into two non-pregnant shirts that I haven’t worn in FOREVER, we prepped to leave. Matt put Rachael in a cream sleeper and the cream spring 6/9 month sized dress that Ellen and Ron got her. She looked adorable and I look forward to getting a copy of the pic of her and John (in sweater vest, dress shirt, slacks, and black dress shoes) that Ellen took at the dinner table. It was adorable, absolutely adorable, to see the two newborns all dolled up for the sheer enjoyment of their torturous parents.

Dinner was an amazing fondue pot experience that lasted a speedy 2.5 hours. It was so wonderful to just sit and chat with Ron and Ellen about life. I just love spending non-stressful, lookout for the kids time with them. They’re such wonderful people. And non-distracted time is hard to come by with them so it was so wonderful. Rachael was a bit fussy, but she was bearable. John was knocked out the whole time. And the cheese … and the steak… oh and the chocolate… heaven, friends….. whew!

And then the night ended in my all-time favorite way – just talking with Matt for a while in the dark in our bedroom. He’s so nice to fall asleep with. And I just love it when he pours out his heart right before bed. And then Rachael slept for 6 hours again last night. So lovely, friends, so lovely.

“And I think to myself… what a wonderful day (and night).”