Happy New Year!

Isn't it strange how fast 2011 flew by? I just got used to writing "2011" on checks and now we have 2012 ..... My kids got a year older (one in November, one in December and the first Birthday of the year is in January) my oldest daughter is 17 years old! Incredible! I moved into my first apartment when I was 17 1/2 - to imagine that she would move out now - scary! I remember my mom telling me often "just wait until you have children" - well, I now understand what she was talking about. All that to say that for our family, the celebrations are winding down and life should - God willing - go back to normal once again.

I hope that you all had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Years celebration! We didn't end our "old year" with a bang but started the new year with sort of a bang. Our family spend the afternoon of New Year's day with my in-laws. When we came back to our apartment in the evening, we saw fire trucks and sheriff cars, many people walking around, firemen coming in and out of our apartment building. We drove slowly closer to our parking lot but saw quickly that we could not get in that way. So we thought, maybe the other way around, but again we couldn't go on. My husband stopped the car and went over to talk to the sheriff. While they were talking we saw that all the attention was centered on our apartment building. We didn't see any smoke or fire but were now very concerned about Amber (the dog). A little later we found out that a military guy, who was visiting his grandma, heard Amber bark and kicked the door in. She was in a corner and very scared and tried to bite, but the guy took Nina's bathrobe, threw it over the dog and carried her to his truck, where he had rescued another dog already. We got her back and we were very, very happy to be together again. A little later we were allowed to go into the apartment, with a fireman as escort and collect a few things. Everyone had to find a place to stay. Some people didn't have a place to stay, so they were put up in a hotel for the night. When we were in the apartment, I was very much relieved to find out that we have very, very minimal damage. I haven't been able to really check everything but as far as I can tell, we have only a very little smoke smell in the house. There is no water damage or sud or anything. It just smells like someone has been to a bondfire and left the smelly clothes out. So not bad at all! We are so blessed that the Lord saved our pets and belongings! All things considered, I think we are off to a great start in the new year. God showed us His grace on the very first day :)