THANK YOU ALL

I LOVE ALL OF YOU MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW! I pray that God pours HIS blessings out on all of you 100 times over what you have and are doing for Torey, Allison and I. Your posts, replies, emails, snail mail and phone calls have blessed us so much. I know God's love and I have seen HIS miracles in my life many times as HE has brought me through every trial in my life. ONLY HIM! But you all have shown my children that there IS love in this world and that GOD can and WILL use WONDERFUL people to SHOW HIS LOVE!! You all have blessed my children over the last year SO MUCH LOVE and you all have also shown them that there IS good in this world. Ya'll have let them see how TRUE LOVE and TRUE SUPPORT should be. They do see how people should show love. I LOVE AND RESPECT EVERYONE OF YOU for what YOU have shown and done to my children. My life is all about them and their needs. Yes, mine are important too, but they have seen more tragedy in their lives than most ADULTS ever see. I have so much to share with you all about this fire. I know this will and is long, but I want it to touch SOMEONE! You see, we left our home at approximately 7:35 a.m. on Tuesday. As we were going out the door, I realized I had left my jacket. It was cold and as we were late, I said to myself, "Oh well, they can't be late again so I will just come back and get it". Torey was the last out the door and I said don't forget to lock the door and HURRY! He came out and we headed for school. I dropped them off and as I did, Torey asked me to go get his W2 form. I ran to pick it up. As I got to the red light I turned the corner and had to sit for the fire truck to come out. It drove down through town and I saw it turn up our road but it never entered my mind it was "our" home it was headed to. I went and got Torey's W2 and headed home to get my jacket. As I went over the hill I SAW the most aweful sight. There were the fire trucks, ambulance, and so many people around our home. I was trying so desperately to figure out what in the world was going on. Then I saw my home going up in smoke. I lost it. I got off the hwy and a man from town asked me wasn't this my home. I remember saying yes and what was happening. I walked toward the trailer and they made me move back. I do remember calling Beth Merchant and my Pastor's wife. After that, the next few minutes are a blurr as I just totally began to cry out to God. I couldn't see why this was happening. HOW MUCH MORE WAS HE GOING TO ALLOW TO HAPPEN??!?! I kept on asking Him. Then He spoke to my spirit and told me I was going to be fine. He said to remember after Joie's death that HE had made ME a promise that my babies and I would be ok. That HE WOULD take care of US! I was still upset. My mind was still trying to figure out how my BABIES could stand yet another tragedy in their lives. The rest of the day was a total blurr. I went to bed Tuesday night and took 2 ambien to be able to sleep. All I could do before then was pray. I gave it all to God. The next morning I woke up with the most peace. I still had a "racing" mind trying to figure things out, but I had a peace from God. I REMEBERED HIS promise. That moring, Torey, Allison, and I went by the trailer. Allison just began to cry and said she couldn't go in to see it. Torey and I did. We both began to cry. Then, this lady pulls up in the yard. I knew her because I had preached at their church several times. She began to tell me how she passed by and saw the place on fire and pulled in the drive to call 911. She then said Randall, I KNOW EVERYONE around here. She said that these 2 men in a white truck pulled over to the side of the road. One busted in the door and went inside with the place up in flames. He began to yell was anyone inside. She said they never spoke a word to her. The other guy ran around the home and had to hook up my water hose. He then drug it underneath the home and come out the other side. He busted out a window and the other man came out to help him. They began to fight the fire with the water hose. The fire dept. came and took over. She said these 2 men told them a statement and left. She told me she didn't know who they were. I said I DO! They were angels sent by God to save what they could. Because of those to angels, whether human or heavenly, I was able to save my 2 pictures of Joie that we cherish so much! I was in tears as she told me this. Torey and Allison heard her and they were so blessed and in tears as well. God is good ya'll. IN EVERYTHING, He CAN turn tragedy and adversity into BLESSINGS! We see this in YOU GUYS! I THANK YOU ALL! Sorry to ramble, but I wanted this to bless someone today! Randall Thank you all for LOVING my babies. I LOVE YOU GUYS for that! Randall

Randall, it would be imposible to not love you and your babies. What a blessing and incredible example you all are for us to follow. I only pray we all have eased you pain and loss in some small way to return to you what you have so freely given us. You are a rock and we love you. Thank you for sharing the beautiful story. Hugs, Sandyd

Oh Randall - God is so good. Thank you so much for blessing us with this post!!! - What an amazing God!!! I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!! Thank you so much. I was in a bit of a stinky mood this AM about something that I now see as so insignificant, but yet, the enemy had found a foot hold. Praise You Jesus that You are greater than he that is in the world!!! Thank You Jesus for sending Your angels to get those pictures of Joie!!! That was my first thought, Randall, oh - the pictures of Joie! Lord, please save those pictures somehow! Praise God!!! Randall - I haven't checked, but I hope that you post this on the main board. So many out there need to hear this story! Thank you for praising Him in the storm! Take care dear Randall! I will continue to pray for you, Allison & Torey! May the Lord bless you abundantly! Love, your sister in Christ, Carolyn

Hi Randall, I don't understand God's ways at all, but I have learned to trust Him, and believe that His ways are for good, even when they make absolutely no sense to me at the time. You are a shining example to us, and I praise the Lord that your testimony is so honest. Hugs to you and the babies. Trish

Hi there, You don't know me I'm fairly new (not to the boards but to posting) Anyway I have just read your story and my heart goes out to you all. Sometimes I feel that when something like this happens how can you not get mad at God, but then I have to think to myself that god does what he does for a reason. Your Courage and strength are amazing. And my prayers go out to you that you find your new home. Go on that cruise and have a fantastic time, you deserve it. God Bless Donna