you're not going to believe this, but our house burnt down last night. i thought we were going to die - F came in at 2 in the morning, got us out of bed. he started yelling out the window, and with the help of a neighbor who ran for a ladder behind our house, we escaped w/ our lives. the house burnt up rather quickly... the middle and top floor are completely gone. we were able to salvage some things downstairs, but the house is shot shot shot. we have to rebuild from scratch. we didn't even have shoes on our feet.

but it's a blessing, really. i mean, Jehovah spared our lives. i guess that means there are things for us to do yet, on this earth!! hope the new system comes soon.

it's been a tough two days. feels like two years. we're still kind of in a state of shock, and everytime F smells smoke, he thinks of the moment he woke up and thought we were dead... sleeping in another room, because of E's coughing. once he realized we were alive, he was confident he could get us out somehow. i prayed the whole time, out loud. never been so scared in my entire life.

hope all is well with you two, and that you will think of us and count all your blessings tonight... let's all thank Jah for everything.

that would be cool if you made a thread on the org - just to let friends know what happened, and that i'm OK. i don't have much time for that stuff now, but will be back soon enuff.

it's a real mess here. the house is darn dangerous, but we got stuff out. today F my hero found the jewelry that belonged to my grandmother, and enough clothes for us to get by OK. he had to venture upstairs, which is mostly burnt up... our dresser was in a corner of room that came out kind of OK.

this evening i have to wash all our dishes and glasses, and pack them up in boxes. tomorrow, have to go to the university and pick up my courses, write a bunch of people (esp those whose stuff i lost in the fire, so that they can get reimbursed), buy a bunch of books, etc etc. it being x-mas season and all, folks are feeling especially generous. E has more clothes than she had before the fire.

we're staying w/ F's parents, which is really nice for E... gives her a measure of stability. found some of her toys floating around in the muck as well... Shomina, namely, her favorite dolly, who once washed up, is in perfect shape.

ok, just a little update... will write ya more later.