There's No Place Like Home

The evacuation was lifted late Wednesday afternoon and it feels really great to be home! Other than a lot of dirt and dust, our house is fine. As I reflect on this past week, I thought I would share a few things I learned...

• No matter how tired you are, don't leave the dinner dishes until morning. Otherwise, during a disaster, not only will you be scrambling to pack up all that is dear to you, but you will not feel like you can leave until you get the leftover food thrown away and dishes cleared off.
• Rather than sending your 5-year old into a panic of worry that your house could possibly burn down, you should explain to her, first, that we are going on an adventure and everything will be okay.
  
• Even when you have packed up everything that is "important" to you, you will still worry about all of the other things that weren't as "important" and wished you had grabbed them.
• Thank goodness for Costco! Buying in bulk is so worth it! We could have lived off of our snacks and water for at least a week.
  
• If the phone rings, at 6am, and the husband answers, he will not remember a word that was just spoken to him. Disaster or not, he is still, somewhat, delirious after the first 5 minutes of waking up (oh, wait, I actually already knew that).
• When visiting the Inland Empire, you will be approached numerous times by homeless people and strangers for extra cash and change. Normally, you don't oblige to giving handouts, but feel a little bit more generous given the circumstances.
  
• You feel bad that you don't have more change to give. However, had you not been so worried that your house was going to blow up into flames, you would have grabbed more change on your way out.
• When 3-year old boys play together 24/7, they begin display certain parts of their personality that you never knew existed.
• On the second day, they will label themselves "Bad Boys" and continue to parade around the house doing "bad" things.
• These so-called "Bad Boys" will attempt to slide down the stairs (which are very steep) on a Boogie Board, jump on the mini trampoline while on top of the bed, empty the tub of water onto the floor, dump out all toys and books in every playroom, and tease the sister until she is in tears.
• Surprisingly, Taylor and Luke will sleep well in a bed together. Blake, who, on the other hand, has always been a great sleeper, will cry profusely while trying to put him to bed and not go to bed until 11pm every night.
• This will explain the dark circles and feelings of agitation you express toward your loving husband and children.
  
• You will greatly anticipate the day that you can jog again. You miss it so much more when you CAN'T do it!
• There really is no place like home...even if it is filled with dust, dirt, and soot and will take days to clean up. It is great to be home. Yet, even better to have a home to come home to. We are so blessed!