I don't really want to blog...

about my trip.

There were highlights. There were low points too. Mostly low points.

One night I put 10 children to bed by myself. That was fun. Talia and her cousin Haylie got along so well. They haven't seen each other in two or THREE years. I was glad to see her so happy, and holding hands with her new friend. Ofcourse Wyatt was in heaven to be around his favorite cousins. They have a great relationship! All the kids slept in the basement of Lincoln's Mom's house. Two nights later while the house was empty, the water heater started on fire. The heat caused the water heaters (two) to explode. Then the basement filled with ash, smoke, and water. A horrible combination!!! We are so lucky those children weren't down there sleeping! We were at the dunes, but most of our stuff was still in the basement.



Did you know that smoke is a terrible thing? It creeps. Like an animal. It climbed into my suitcases that were closed but unzipped. It crept into my camera bag that was on the floor, even though it was zipped...my camera still smells of smoke. My camera and FIVE of my lenses! It covered Talia's American baby doll, and paid special attention to cling to the white satin on the doll's dress. It crawled into my cute purse/diaper bag. It was able to slide right in to the drawer that held my hair dryer, flat iron, and brushes. When I lifted these things out of the drawer there was a white shape in the soot at the bottom of the drawer where these things lay. It completely covered the shopping bag and the items inside I had purchased the DAY BEFORE for our family pictures. You think something is safe....safe from the soot, and then after touching it you notice your hands are now black. Lincoln had a laptop on the ground too.

See the soot?

These are just my little things. My Mother in law's home is covered in soot! The vents made sure that the smoke was carried to every inch of the house. So many things were ruined. Her insurance is doing a fantastic job make sure everything is replaced. Mine....hummm, I am not so sure. (Her insurance wouldn't cover our things because we were visiting.) I have to make a list of everything. The trouble is that I am torn about weather something was RUINED or not. Our clothes have been washed but they still smell bad. I don't know if this smell will ever come out, but they are my FAVORTIE clothes. I don't want to get rid of them. =(



Talia grabbed a baby wipe, and started to clean her baby doll. After she was finshed she said, "I don't care if this baby stinks. I don't care if this baby is dirty. I am KEEPING her." Our insurance will get her a new one. I will ask the company to send her new doll in a hospital gown (they do that) so she believes it is the same doll that has just been repaired.

More later. I will be sure to post about the happy stuff next time.