grateful \ grate·ful  \ ˈgrāt-fəl

Definition of grateful:

1: appreciative of benefits received

2: expressing gratitude

3: affording pleasure or contentment

4: pleasing by reason of comfort supplied or discomfort alleviated

Two years ago yesterday, we woke up to a 3 alarm fire at 4am (or 4:08 for the detail minded). In many ways, our lives changed and we are forever grateful for…

John Thomas at Custom Security who called both of our cell phones to tell us to get out of the house and the fire department was on the way.

Firemen who showed up and when I say showed up –

Engine 6, Engine, 1, Ladder 1, Battalion 1, Engine 8, Engine 2, Rescue 10 and Battalion 3 and more that I don’t even know.

Neighbors who took us in – John, Nancy and Connell who took 8 of us (yes Grace had 5 girls sleeping over the night of the fire, three dogs and a cat and did I mention they already have two dogs).

Other neighbors Burch and Arrington who literally gave us the clothes on their backs and coffee and coffee and coffee.

To Rob (our insurance agent) who answered his phone in the middle of the night on vacation.

Vicky who answered the phone at 6am to begin the search for a rental house.

To Jim answering his phone and happening to have a rental unit available within walking distance for us to move into that day.

Other neighbor Melissa who happened to have needed our local Servepro and connected me with Craig and team (Leigh, Cathy, Pia, Elaine plus plus) to help recover and repair anything that could be saved.

To more friends coming to the house Anna Lindsay and Ben to ward off fire chasing crazy’s and yes there are plenty of them!

To more friends Kristy and Bill helping us save any and everything we could. And Kristy, wow she put together a list of folks to stock our new house with bed linens, pillows, sheets, towels and all of the friends who signed up and filled my car with everything we needed.

To more friends stopping by just to make sure we were ok – Pat and Debbie, Jim and Ginger, Amy and please forgive me if I left you off.

To the parents of all of the kids sleeping over not getting upset with us when we realized that when I told them to contact their parents most of them just said the fire alarm sounded. Oops!

To Cathy for cancelling plans and bringing us food night one.

To Cyndee for going to target and buying underwear and pajamas.

To Folicle Salon for realizing the girls in the family needed our shampoo or it was going to be ugly.

To Kathy for hosting our crazy and large Thanksgiving feast at a moment’s notice.

To already mentioned neighbors starting a sign up sheet to bring Grace food during our busy time (the entire month of December).

The Council for Children’s Rights Board and Employees to literally move us into and unpack our rental house so we could work.

To learning how to navigate the insurance system.

To creating a spreadsheet of any and everything we had in our house. (thank you- Pat without you making me read/understand/make so many spreadsheets over the years) it would have never happened.

To Guthmann Construction already on the hook for a new patio and took on the whole new (old) house.

To moving to a street and being there for new friends the Brasser’s (smoking hot mama 2) (who’s house burned down on our rental street).

To my mother who was there every step of the way to do any and everything we needed.

To my sister who sent me flowers weekly, just because.

To all of the friends who sent us gift cards to replace things we didn’t even remember we didn’t have.

To everyone else who I haven’t mentioned, thank you.

To our kids whose resiliency matters.

And to the fireman, family, and friends who helped us remember the “grace” of receiving and to that we are forever grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Ladder 1 pictured.