The day our lives changed

When we went to bed on this night 3 years ago we had no idea or dream what laid in stored  for us the following day. The life and memories of a family of 18 years hung on the wall and through out rooms in the house. A family who had been through many ups and downs a marriage made strong through the trials of life. Saturday morning we went about our day expecting things to be the same that afternoon, little did we know that things would be dramatically different! 
  God was with us this day no doubt! It was no surprise to Him what was about to happen, Him in our lives gave us strength to make it through the great trial that awaited us.
I had went to a leadership conference that day it was suppose to have lasted to about 4pm, but we finished early. Lisa was with Alyssa at a friend's birthday party at Crawford's Bounce house in Pryor. Taylor and Brittany where at home doing what ever teenage girls do. I had stopped by the birthday party to see Lisa and Alyssa, before I went on home. I told Lisa I was heading home and I would see her when she got home. She wondered why I was in such a hurry? I told her I didn't know, just a feeling that I needed to go home and check on the girls. She said okay told me to be careful as we kissed each other goodbye.
   When I arrived home it was about 3:15 pm the girls where getting dressed had their straighteners plugged and doing their hair. After a few minutes I smelt something burning I asked them if they had left a skillet on or something. They told me no I probably was smelling their straighteners. Unsatisfied with that I begin to look around the house. When I opened up the utility room door, Terror and fright overwhelmed me all at once as I witnessed flames shooting out of our dryer engolfing our utility room. I hollered at the girls to bring me the bucket of water from outside as I shut the door back shattering the glass in the door. By the time they got back in the fire had spread. I left the bucket of water sitting in the kitchen as I told them get out of house, that the house was on fire!  I'm trying to remain calm as the girls are crying profusely! I called 9-1-1, explaining to them what was going on. Then over the next hour and half I tried to get a hold of my wife. On her way home, seesaw all the emergency vehicles, following them to our house.  Alyssa when she realizes what is going on becomes extremely upset. I took her into my arms attempting to comfort her. Taylor and Brittany visibly upset, with the lose of their pets and other things.  Our lives have just been turned upside down and inside out. Being the Father the husband the leader of this family, I was left with questioning on what was we to do. I hit my knees with tears in my eyes wanting to say why God? Why did you allow this to happen? But instead the words that came out was, This is not about us, this is about your kingdom and the enlargement of it. Thank you Lord for keeping my family safe and watching over us! I walked away not knowing what was ahead but we were trusting in God.  I had all that mattered God and my family, this was all we needed to start over again. 
  Following the fire the love of Christ was poured out on us by the church, the community, friends and total strangers. Through their generous giving and sacrifice, we were able to start again.  The road ahead still is tough, still have mountains to climb and valleys to cross, we are not quite to where we want to be, but we know for sure the love we share with each other and the God that provides our every need through Christ Jesus we will get to the place He wishes us to be.