Monday, March 4, 2013

The Day After...

 
 
I write this with the heaviest heart possible...but as I sat at my parents farm Saturday morning, I couldn't help get so angry at the random strangers driving by taking photos of my family in despair, I knew I had to give them and their gorgeous home the tribute and respect that it deserves. If you want to share photos please let these be the ones that you share....
 
 
First and foremost we want to thank the what seemed like hundreds of fire fighters that worked for hours and hours risking their own lives to save my parents home, it was really unbelievable. It was the most amazing thing I personally have ever witnessed in my life. At one point we watched a firefighter fall to his knees upset after 6 hours of fighting the fire....They wanted so bad just to save it, but what they might not realize is they saved so much more... they saved so many photos, they saved my family's farm, they saved our beautiful Red Barn Experience, they saved my family....They couldn't of been better, late that night after the bulldoze two of the firefighters ran in and saved my dads pride and joy, part of the staircase he was so proud of hand building...and the next morning, one of the firefighters helped my dad get our large now burned family photo off the mantle....We just cant even begin to thank them enough, along with the Disaster Relief from the Red Cross, who brought us and rescue workers food and water. My family has already discussed the many ways we are planning to give back to them, as much as we needed them that night, there are so many people out there, that need it so much more.
 
Friday was bad, but nothing could of prepared us for the day after.... pulling up to a pile of our memories, was HORRIBLE, just horrible....I don't want this next part to sound bad but I can't help but think it.... First off, I thank god every second that my family and pets were ok, every second....but as I looked at this pile, remembering everything in there, it was HARD really really hard....I know "things are just things"...but try telling yourself that as you lose your wedding rings, or all your photos of your entire life, or all your children's awards and trophy's... all of a sudden those 'things' become your life...that pile out there was our life, our entire life's memories. So although they are just things, they were our things and they were our memories.
 
Next is by far the most important... as my family arrived at the house early that morning, within 5 minutes we were surrounded by 20 friends, within an hour we were surrounded by 50 friends, and it just kept going...its was a beautiful site....we have the most AMAZING people in our life...people were bringing food, and drinks, and most importantly jokes...we needed those smiles and jokes more than we ever had before...a day that started out so horrible, ended with such warm hearts. As our house continued to smoke, all of these people were literally knee deep in water, mud, and ashes searching desperately for our things as if they were theirs, we will never be able to even begin to let them know what it means to us. My family had no idea what we needed that day, but I will tell you that was EXACTLY it.
 
We also want to thank all of the friends and family that can't be here, but have offered their lives to do anything for us! I never imagined my family needing this magnitude of support, but the truth is we do!
 
I thought I couldn't be prouder of my parents as I watched them spend the past 15 years blood sweat and tears, hand building this home to make it their own...but boy was I wrong...NOW I have never been more proud of them. The strength I have seen from them in past couple days is off the charts...its amazing!! How they have been holding it together, I will never know...
 
Now onto some pictures...This is what I want people to see, not the sight they see as their driving by, it's this that matters. The strength of my family thanks to the people around us, that's what I want people to see.... There was one piece of furniture that you could actually tell was still furniture, and it was this old antique couch that just happen to be sitting in front of the pile of rubble...and before we left for the day, I had this idea to get everyone there to sit on it, and crowd around for a picture....I wasn't sure what I was thinking about when I asked everyone to do it, but surprisingly everyone including my parents thought we should do it...This WILL be the new photo hanging on their new mantle and we WILL look back at the day just being so thankful...
 

 

 
We found so many photos, and some really awesome little memorabilia...
 


 
The staircase pieces they saved for my dad... he custom made them himself, I was so happy, although something so little, I know it made my dad feel good.
So many people brought food and drinks, and my husbands work even donated so much food!
 
This photo cracks me up...at one point I talked a family friend in to doing a photo shoot, I told her she looked like a Ralph Lauren model...it was this type of thing that got us through the day...
 

I wanted to end with some photos of my favorite best day ever at that house...my wedding day...I lost my wedding dress in the fire, so I will cherish these photos more than I ever imagined now.. I sat and looked through the photos the day after, and cried and cried at how beautiful my parents home was, so I picked some that showed that... Holly Russell from Lady and the Lens who took these photos showed up at the house yesterday, pregnant and ready to dig through rubble... the amount of support that everyone has showed, is un-imaginable...





 There's nothing I'll miss more this summer then this house being in the background of our weddings.


Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thankyou SO MUCH for your continued support. xox

23 comments:

  1. What a beautiful post Ashley! You ARE A VERY STONG family and I am so very sorry for all that you are going through. I can't even begin to imagine! Your positive atitude, your strong will, and God will give you the strength you need and obviously have had. PLEASE let us know if there is anything at all that you need. We would be more than happy to help! ANYTHING! (we are a family filled with hard workers:)) Sending big hugs to you and your family and continued prayers! XOXO Amanda Jones Penziol

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  2. wow. simply amazing wishes w you, trev, and the family.

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  3. I am so sorry to hear about the fire Ash, but after reading this I know you and your family will become an even stronger group... if that is even possible! My thoughts and prayers are with you:)

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  4. Every time I rode or drove by your house I had to admire all the work that had been done to it. It was a beautiful house. My husband and I drove by there Saturday morning and my heart broke seeing all of you looking for belongings that may have made it through the fire. No pictures were taken. I know no one in your family but my thoughts and prayers are with you!!!!!!

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  5. Strong parents yield equally strong children. What an amazing outlook you have! I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers. I'm sure that your parents are amazed at what a wonderful daughter they have raised.

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  6. Ashley I am SOOO SORRY I cant even begin to imagine how you feel :/ prayers your way!!!

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  7. I admit, after my husband came home at 3 am Saturday morning and recounted the nights events, I had to see for myself the devastation. Even though I knew what to expect, it was definitely not what I had imagined. I am so very sorry for the loss of your families home and all their belongings. My husband told me that he pulled the newel posts out and found some other beams and huge pieces of wood that hopefully your dad can use in the new home. And they were all amazed that the mantel photo was just singed on the edges. Its amazing what is left, even though so much is gone. Thank you for sharing this with us.

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    1. Obviously, I forgot to mention he is with Center Township Fire Dept! After a call, the firemen rarely hear anything else about the situation, and we appreciate you sharing your story with everyone.

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    2. Heather, I'm so happy that this post is reaching the fire fighters...I can't even begin to thank them enough! We have big plans to give back to them!

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  8. Ashley, Ben & Family...
    My heart pours out and I type this through tears after reading the post. You are all in our hearts and thoughts in Texas!
    Love,
    Kelly & Matt Rusin

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  9. I'm so sorry..my heart aches for ur whole family!!

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  10. Being born and raised in LaPorte and living in Michigan City for over 37 years, your family home was a landmark to our family since Johnson Road is the route to take! You have our heartfelt sympathy on the loss of the home but joy in the fact that no one was hurt. Memories can be held in your heart a lifetime. God bless your whole family with the strength to re-build and continue on.

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  11. When I realized Friday evening that Johnson road was closed due to this fire my heart broke....I recall driving past your parents home every morning and evening on my way to work in Michigan City back in 2000 through 2004....and admiring the extraordinary work taking place taking with the wonderful old farm home transforming it into a marvelous grand home. The attention to every detail was obvious from the outside. But from your post, I now realize that it was much more than a beautiful home...it was a labor of love. May god grant you all a peace to move forward from this tragic event knowing that so many people, including me, share in your loss.

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  12. so happy to be apart of this family love you

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  13. Well put, babe. Love you.

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  14. Thank you for sharing! What an inspirational family! I pray good things come out of this...sounds like many already have with the rallying of all your friends and family.

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  15. Love you guys so much! You are all such inspiration and strength.

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  16. Great post Ashley! You couldn't have said it better! I'm so glad everyone is ok as well as the animals. You have a very strong family & you will be back before you know it! It is a horrible thought to even think about everything that was lost, I'm glad some of it was saved! Let me know if I can help in any way! xoxo

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  17. I don't think people mean to be rude when they pass by your house. I think people, like myself, are recollecting how the house was always beautifully decorated at Christmas time. How your family added on the wonderful additions, making the house even more awesome than it was in it's hayday. I think people want to remember the weddings and special occasions that brought loved ones together in your backyard. I recall the garden walk that your parents hosted back in 2005. These are my fond memories.....and I don't mean to be rude when I drive by and what is there now brings me to tears. I am so very, very sorry for your loss. I will never know how you feel, but I do know tht you and your family are in the community's thoughts and prayers. God bless you and help you through this difficult time.

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  18. Prayers and strength to you and your family. Thank god u and your family and animals are all ok and that u guys were able to salvage a few memories. God bless you all and keep the love and faith.

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  19. I am a friend of Emily Hawkins, she told me many times about your beautiful family farm, so sorry to hear about this!

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  20. sorry to hear... Your mom was the only person I trusted to cut my hair when we were very young and your mom & dad entrusted me to work on some of their projects when I was getting my business started...Ill never forget...thoughts and prayers

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