38 days after Jonathan and I were married... I went to bed at the normal time. The house was clean. The checks were written up and ready to be mailed and I had been working on a wedding photography book. Jonathan was staying up late to study and I went to bed.
At midnight I was sleeping peacefully and Jonathan had finished up and was just falling asleep. We heard someone bang on the door and Jonathan got up to check it out. He opened our apartment door and smoke started to flood into our place.
I threw on a robe, hot pink pajama pants, and black and white rain boots. I did not grab my glasses, purse, or cell phone. So I was standing outside in the cold... blind. The news said that by the time the fire trucks came the flames were shooting out the windows of the apartment beneath ours.
It has been 5 weeks since that night. We lived at Jon's parents for awhile, had every single thing we own washed by strangers, moved to a completely different apartment, and had to replace a ton of our brand new wedding gifts. We finally feel like we are back home again. Everything is back in its place and we are ALMOST done with the paperwork.
Not many newlyweds have to deal with a major crisis within the first months of their wedding. I feel like this situation has really helped Jonathan and I learn how to deal with stress. I am just so thankful for a man who is calm and patient and a leader. Everyday when I wake up in our little apartment (that still smells just a little bit like smoke :)) I am so thankful for the way God provided for our family. An insurance policy that provided a restoration company that saved all our photos and mementos and sentimental stuff. Parents that took us in and washed our clothes and fed us or called everyday because they couldn't be there. A husband that held my hand through the whole situation and made me feel safe even when everything was upside down.
