Busy days

The last few days have been crazy busy...I am starting to replace some items that we need to have right away like school books, wallets, keys and birth certificates. I have been very thankful for the computers at the local library.
I do have a stable computer up and running at home now-yea!!!

We have a contractor!

Ron came home last night with great news! He found a contractor! He is ready to begin work on the house as soon as we have a dollar figure from the insurance company.
We are now having lots of fun designing the 'new part' of the 'old house'. There are some things, like a sliding glass door that we are not going to put in the new house...we are going to use a single door and big windows in the dining room instead. This will make a big difference in heating costs in the winter and will also ease our minds somewhat as the winters were a little worrisome with ice coming off the roof sometimes just inches from the plate glass slider!
We will use the weekend to sketch in the floor plan for the contractor.

Today's challenge

Today's challenge, should you choose to accept it is this...go through your home and count the number of toothbrushes you have, then count the pairs of socks...don't forget laundry baskets, under the couch, under the bed etc!
The purpose of this little exercise it twofold...
#1) we live in a society that values 'stuff' and as we have begun the long arduous task of inventorying the contents of our home, we were stunned by the fact that we owned 34 toothbrushes (many of them brand new) and 240 pairs of socks!
#2) we as a family are re-thinking the value of 'stuff'- how many pairs of those socks that I was just too busy, tired, lazy (you choose your own word if you'd like) to fold and put away could have been warming the toes of children in Yugoslavia this winter? How many of those 'extra, just in case' toothbrushes could have been sent to Brazil to aid in humanitarian efforts there?

I have been in an introspective mood today as I have mulled these questions...so, how about it? Go count those toothbrushes and socks!

Mondays sometimes bring treasures

Monday...I am home from Tanalian Bible camp, a nicely rested, refreshed and blessed wife and mom.
I arrived home yesterday to a living room stacked in boxes and overflowing with things that our friends and acquaintances have generously given us. Ron said it seemed like every time he got a box or two unloaded, someone knocked at the door with more blessings!
We are getting settled in the mobile home and Suzanna, Thomas and Dillon slept in their new rooms in their new bunk beds last night! They slept all night! Yippee!!
We are facing new challenges each day, and God is proving over and over the promise that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. What our enemy meant for evil God is quickly and incredibly turning around for good and for glory to His name! I am humbled that our Father chose me to shine His glory through to a world that is SO very dark and hurting.
Today I received a package from Ron's sister Peggy...I had asked for a few cookbooks, so I eagerly opened the box. She had sent cookbooks and also a recipe file that she had copied some Roy family recipes into for me. In the bottom of the box lay a Bible with a cover that I vaguely recalled. "How sweet, Peggy sent me her Bible because she knew I didn't have mine anymore!" I flipped open the cover and began to sob as I realized the magnitude of the gift I held in my hands. The Bible didn't belong to my dear sil, it belonged to Ron's mom who went to her forever home nearly 11 years ago! What a priceless gift, with all of mom Roy's notes in it...I am very excited to take time and start reading!

BTW and FYI

You know, for those of you who are reading our blog and keeping up with God's amazing works in our lives these posts may sound a little surreal sometimes. I mean really...this woman has just lost everything that is supposed to fulfill us and make it possible for us to be happy, and she talks about angels of light, a home that was partially saved against all odds, joy and praise pouring forth from the depths of her soul etc. Either she is crazy or there is something going on here that I just don't get! Maybe she is in denial! Oh, and don't forget, she has five kids!
I wanted to add a BTW (by the way) and let you in on a little secret...I am neither crazy nor in denial AND my family is not perfect! I choose to share the encouraging, amazing, miraculous things our God is doing for us and in us day by day because He alone is worthy of the praise and credit that attests to our walking through this extrememly trying time.
That said here is the FYI (for your information) of my title. My boys are playing well together at this moment, however 30 minutes ago they came in from outside carrying the pieces of their new swords that they had shattered over each others heads in a new game they had invented. Both were hurt and angry, and got over it quickly :) Last night Ron and I had to physically separate them because they were fist fighting. Several times a day we fear for Snoopy's ( the orphan puppy) safety, because the kids are tussling over whose turn it is to hold him!
My daughters by turn love and annoy each other and are not afraid to say so. They are also wonderfully helpful (most of the time) and are tkaing care of each other. Just like normal kids!
I will continue to use this blog to write about miracles like a friend hearing that I am leaving for a retreat tomorrow and I needed a coat. She took off her coat and said, "This one is warm enough, take it!" So, off I go to Tanalian Bible camp in Port Alsworth in a coat that is perfect for the weather and is red...I love red! Thank you Father for meeting my needs is such unexpected ways!

7 days of blessing

Is today Thursday? Yep! Wow! One week ago today our home burned. At that time, I could not have imagined how many blessings and how much joy could be packed into seven short days! We as a family are experiencing the truth of the Psalm that says that God's mercies are new EVERY morning. Each day we wake up, praise him for the breath of life that remains in us and get our lives back together a little bit more.
Our days have a new order that is blackened with soot and smells like smoke. We are learning how to take one day at a time, and lots of times one hour at a time. Ron and Kendra hope to finish the inventory of the bedrooms and bathroom tomorrow morning. It has been such a massive job! I have learned lots about how cluttered and overflowing our lives here in the US are. The verse that contiunes to run through my mind is, 'we have food, clothing and shelter and with this we shall be content'. I never knew what that meant until one week ago...I stand in testimony to the grace of God, that He will clothe, feed and provide shelter for us-AND bless us with the contentment that allows us to be thankful in circumstances that I could not have imagined prior to January 15.
My heart overflows with thanksgiving and my lips pour forth praise to my Abba.

Happy Birthday!

January 20 marked Ron's 46 th birthday. I wore myself out making sure that I could bake his "traditional "cake...my grandmother's carrot cake. By 5 pm I was laying down with hives...no idea why...stress maybe? Anyway, Suzanna offered to bake the cake and soon the house was filled with the aroma of carrot cake.
We were all too tired to eat it, but we lit candles and sang and ate cake on January 21 for breakfast!
Ron is thankful that we are all here to celebrate his birthday...we are thankful for God's protection and for his provision in the days past.
Stay tuned for pictures of the house later today!

Armor of God Bear

Little 7 year old Thomas Roy had received a bear called the "Armor of God Bear" for Christmas. The bear is designed to teach children about the armor of God spoken of in Ephesians. It is a stuffed bear, with a shield, sword, etc--full armor.
When Thomas' dad went into the house the day after the fire, searching for anything salvageable, he found the bear and took it to Thomas, who was very happy to see his beloved bear, scorched and sooty, but with armor undamaged and intact.
Thomas looked it over and said to Shelly, "Mom, I know that it will take a lot of cleaning, and Armor of God Bear will always smell bad, but could we build a glass case to keep him in to remind us of what God did for us?".
Well, you can imagine this grammy's reaction when I heard that. I cried, of course. To think that such a little boy, who KNOWS that it was God who woke him up in the night, recognizes God's hand so clearly is indeed a blessing beyond what I can express.
While these children are traumatized by the fire, they are nevertheless learning lessons about God's protection and faithfulness that will impact them for life.
Amazing Grace, indeed!
Love you all, Jan

four days after

It is a clear Monday morning here in SW Alaska.
A friend is grocery shopping for me, so we will have all the basics we need to move into our new home.
The adrenaline is wearing off and we all are pretty exhausted today. We are excited about being able to give Johnny and Bonnie back their peaceful home :), and about getting ready to establish some sort of "new normal".
I am so thankful that God has been transforming that part of me that was too strong to ever admit that I needed help! It is such a freeing feeling to be able to say, "I just can't do that, will you please find someone who can?" It is also pretty cool to watch people in action and to be able to bless them by allowing them to help us!
I have been missing my cookbooks today...even though Alyssa and I had looked at the shelf a few weeks ago and said, "we have SO many cookbooks, we need to condense!"
Ron and Kendra and the team are capping off the water right now at the house, so that the rest of our neighborhood will have water. We are part of a shared well and if our pipes freeze the rest of the subdivision that is beyond us on the main line will not have water!
Our dog Licorice is ready to get to a new home too...she has gotten along amazingly well with Johnny and Bonnie's dogs, but they are all ready for their own space. The puppy is starting to toddle around the floor and play; he will have his first solid food today!
Today, I am thankful for sunshine, friends and family and fresh air.

Praising the Lord on a Beautiful Sunday

This morning we had a chance to share with our church family some of the things that God has done in the past few days. It was an absolute joy to stand in testimony to the faithfulness of our God! We cried together as we praised Him for life. I reminded them how much this God of ours loves us, and that faith that may seem shaky from the other side of tragedy, quickly becomes firm as it is tried and tested and proven.
Our family here in Dillingham, across Alaska, in Washington, in Oregon, in California, in North Carolina, in Florida, in Spain, in France and in Colorado and across the world united to be Jesus' hands and feet to us. As they and you have prayed for us, fed us, clothed us, housed us, touched us, loved us, cried with and for us, told others about our story...you have brought smiles to our Abba's face, and there is great rejoicing in heaven as those who have not acknowledged His name have heard our testimony and found it impossible to remain in unbelief!
Kendra shared Scripture and song that the Lord gave her for this day...and rejoiced in the joy that has and is overflowing from our hearts.

Of Ambulances and ER's

The EMT's ran from our house to the neighbors, as they couldn't get the ambulance past our house right away. They came in the door doing assessments as they came. I was told by one crew member that the house was a total loss. They were not going to be able to save anything.
After assessing our condition, the crew moved us over the ice and into the ambulance. We rode with oxygen masks to Kanakanak hospital.
My oldest daughter and I suffer from pretty severe asthma, Alyssa's oxygen levels climbed steadily in the ER, but then she began to wheeze. The doctor started a nebulizer and she was fine in a few minutes. The ER of the hospital was buzzing as nurses and emt's and docs checked out five very shocky patients. They opened all the curtains between cubicles, so we could all see each other. Dillon's o2 levels dropped to about 80% in the ER and caused a bit of a stir, but in a few minutes of concentrated oxygen and close and loving care, his levels rose to 100%.My boys were being well cared for by the emt's Johnny Green and Susan Dunson ( Thanks!) Amazingly, they never cried for me! Susanna was with me and Alyssa was in the next cubicle. I began singing, "Amazing Grace" and looked over at Alyssa who was singing with me. Our pastor Max Merrill was there and he noticed Alyssa quietly crying. He went to her and prayed for her then gently wiped hr tears telling her that it was okay and good to cry. She replied, "Oh Max! No! I am not crying because I am sad, these are tears of joy. God rescued us and saved us and we are all okay!"
She expressed the thoughts in my mind perfectly.
John and Bonnie Green graciously offered their home to us and we arrived bedraggled and in shock at 5:30 am. Coffee was made and breakfast cooked as we all rejoiced together over the goodness of our Father who loves us so very much and is so faithful to walk us through anything!

The sharing of more miracles is yet to come, please come back soon and let us share our hearts with you and the incredible stories of God's provision.

Our Story

At 2:45 am the morning of January 15th, 2009 our lives changed forever. Our 7 year old son Thomas came into our room asking, "Daddy, why is the house so smoky?" Ron jumped out of bed, and hit the floor running while shouting to me to get the kids and get out. He went towrd the front of our home crawling under the smoke that was rapdly filling the hallway.
I put Thomas on my bed and yelled for our two girls who were upstairs in the bedrroms that had been painted and moved into the previous Sunday. Shouting for them to get down and get out, get down and get out I turned to the bed to see a pool of light spotlighting the two boys. The girls burst into the doorway, coughing and I told them to get on the floor and crawl to the bedroom window.
Our 17 year old Alyssa yelled out,"what should I do?" I told her to get shoes for herself and me. I ran to the window, yanked on the frame that had been frozen shut a mere three days before and slid the window open. Instantly realizing that I had just unintenionally created an avenue of backdraft for the fire I quickly asked God to protect my husband who was in the path of the flames. At the same time, I was putting on shoes that my daughter had miraculously found in a bright closet and punching out the window screen. Alyssa (17) dove through the window and was followed closely by Susanna (10). I threw the boys to Alyssa and climbed through the window. The window slammed shut as I was climbing through, catching my leg. Alyssa and I together freed my leg and we each picked up a boy. We ran toward the front of the house up the steps of the deck and to the car. Ron came out the front door, went back in to get the keys and asked if there was anything else. "The puppy, get the puppy,"I screamed! H dashed back into the living room and grabbed the basket of the three week old puppy that we are providing foster care for jumped into the car and told me we'd have to drive to a neighbors house to call 911-the kitchen, where the phone was was in flames. We drove to a neighbors and I burst through their door screaming that our house was on fire-wihtin seconds Sam was on the phone, and Ron was on his way back to the house with Tom to see what was happening.
Sam made hot chocolate as we waited for the ambulance crew...Thomas asked, "Mommy, do you think God woke me up?" "Yes honey, absolutely, God woke you up to save us." "Mommy, that is really special."
Yes, Thomas that is very special...God used a seven year old boy to save the lives of his family. We were all safe, with no serious injuries and from the overflow of joy in our hearts came spontaneos songs of praise to our God who loves us so much, that he woke us and carried us through the flames away from certain destruction.

Many of you have asked if we were insured. Yes, we were. The adjuster will arrive on Tuesday to try to determine the cause of the fire.

Thank you for reading our story. I hope to add to it very soon!