Someone suggested to me tonight that that might be an appropriate title for my book. Her recommendation came as we were standing outside my house, shivering in the freezing cold, bathed in the glow of the flashing lights from the firetruck and ambulance that were parked out front of the house from which my family had just been evacuated. We sure continue to keep things interesting for the neighbors! (And you, my loyal readers. I aim to please.)
First off, everyone is fine. The house was never in danger of burning down, I assure you. Our carbon monoxide detector went off tonight and we had to locate the source and make sure it was safe for us to be back in the house. Thanks to some very helpful firemen, we know we don’t have a gas leak, we’ve once again returned to safe levels of carbon monoxide, and we were able to identify the problem as being connected to a specific tool that the workmen had used to cut through our foundation today. But it sure added some excitement to our night!
In a conversation with a good friend just this morning, I ironically was lamenting a bit how unstable and unpredictable life has been for our family the past year and a half (little did I know!), how things have continued to feel threatening. I was also frustrated with myself that I simply can’t be and do all the things I wish I could, or used to be able to do, particularly concerning my children. She suggested that in addition to recording things each day I am grateful for, I should specifically look for and acknowledge all of the ways the Lord orchestrated things to happen during the day that I was unable to do myself. Reframing things in my mind that way has been such a help, especially tonight.
Can I say again how very good people are? Tonight was certainly evidence of that. My sister-in-law was already at my house and helped talk with dispatch, purchase and install an additional carbon monoxide detector, picked up groceries…so grateful for her. A friend showed up with dinner for our family (and even had made it gluten and dairy free), saw the emergency vehicles, and immediately took my kids (and the dog!) back to her house to feed and entertain. Another neighbor rushed down to see if we needed help, and then brought me a serving of her family’s dinner. My ministering sister happened to be driving past, and despite being in the middle of some things with her own family, stopped to make sure I was OK. Other neighbors and family members texted to see if we needed anything. Yet another friend helped me with some research on different options I needed to consider, assuring our family would be safe moving forward.
The truly amazing thing is, these are people who just showed up, at just the right moments, to lend a needed hand. I only made one call in all of that. Someone even volunteered to spend the night here if that would help, or there was an offer from another to have our family stay at their house if needed. Everything was simply taken care of, in a timely manner, without my needing to do it all myself.
And really, I can’t help but find the humor in the extreme ridiculousness that has become my life. I’ve moved past the expectation of thinking that it will “finally calm down.” I certainly haven’t had any evidence of that yet. But amidst the chaos there are always the helpers, new options to consider, the ways to move forward. With the Lord’s help, we get through every time.