Pages

Monday, July 21, 2008

Braveheart

Well, the Boys are back in town and now back to reality. They had a great time and God definitely showed up in Colorado City ! A few times over the weekend I received a call from Gene because he wanted me to hear the worship music. He said it was just awesome! Aaron told me last night that it was a time that made him want to draw near to God and he also said he felt he did get closer to Him this weekend.
PRAISE YOU LORD!!!!





Last Monday on the 14th my little girl turned the big 7. We went to my parents house for dinner and celebration. After eating the delicious dinner my Mom prepared, it was cake and ice cream time. Then she opened her presents and we watched her squeal in excitement over each one.
Then came the real excitement.



One of our use your common sense rules in our home is don't play with anything that could cause one's home to go up in flames. Because my son must have been absent every day the school taught about fire safety he decided to open Alivia's new jar of fingernail polish remover with a lighter.

Nope, that's not a typo. A lighter.



At 14 years old when asked by his little sister to get the plastic cover off of the jar he did not:

A.) tear it open with his finger
B.) get a knife and poke a hole in the plastic
C.) tell her to go away like he normally does



NO instead my sweet. innocent, smart, very tall, size 14 shoe wearin', lip shavin' man-child grabbed the same lighter he used to light the candles that caused us all to start singing Happy Birthday to now get us to screaming FIRE!





Since my Grandparents get lost in my parent's neighborhood my Mom had left to lead them to a main road. My sister and I stayed behind and started cleaning up the kitchen. This was when we both told Aaron to stop doing what he was doing.
Too late. POOF! All of a sudden the jar with the warning FLAMMABLE was on fire.
Aaron quickly grabbed the jar and turned around to throw it into the sink behind him. When he did this though the fingernail polish remover splashed on the other counter which then started a stack of paper plates on fire which then started a roll of paper towels on fire.


All of this in my parents new home.

The reason my grandparents get lost is because for the last 32 years my parents lived in this very cozy, cute, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, less than 800 square foot home that my sister and I grew up in.

This past March on my Dad's birthday, God blessed them with this spacious, beautiful, over 2,000 sq foot, 5 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home. Or "castle" as the kids call it.


And here I was watching flames overtake every counter top in the castle's kitchen.


The next few moments there was as much adrenaline as there was fire in the kitchen.

My sister Michelle and I started yelling for my Dad to get out of the house who was upstairs with 7 kids putting them to bed .





Aaron the arsonist ran for the hills.

Alyssa sat unfazed in the living room while texting her friends.

And I.





Me, Myself and I.
My parents' firstborn, Gene's wife and mother of his 3 children, Grandma of 1, risked it all to stay and fight to save my parents new home.



My parents are remodeling their old house and getting ready to put it on the market. I had visions of them having to move back into the small home and I became determined to not leave (unlike my sister and son did) until the last flame was put out.




Ready to stop, drop and roll at any given moment I quickly started hitting the flames with a towel and throwing things into the sink filled with water.

Within moments I had saved the house people!
After I realized all was safe, I began to survey the damage. I stood amazed that the counter tops were fine.



All at once I was surrounded by family not asking if I was okay, but instead asking Aaron who briefly returned, what the heck he was thinking. My Dad never did see the fire as he was busy singing to their foster baby upstairs as I fought for my life. To make matters worse, when we tried explaining the out of control fire to him he said it was just a "fume fire" from the fingernail polish remover.
Whatever. If I had run outside with my sister and my son their home would've been gone. I refuse to let him minimize my heroic efforts!





Due to my quick actions though, the only thing lost in the fire was Amiyah's favorite bottle, a roll of paper towels, a stack of paper plates, Alivia's fingernail polish remover and Aaron's freedom.
Thank You Jesus!!!



Of course my Mom walked in as everything was calming down and we had to explain what had just happened. Aaron the arsonist was still in hiding and so without him we did our best to replay the events. That is when my sister shared with me that while she was outside Alivia was the only child that followed her and she began sobbing.


I was so touched. How sweet that she was scared for her brave mom.





Instead of letting me think that for too long though, my sister just had to pop the hero bubble I was in with these words: "Alivia was crying saying, what about my presents???"


So, in a nutshell...

My sister and son took off

My Dad & 6 of the 7 kids in his supervision do not respond properly to the word 'FIRE' being yelled

The only thing that moved on my oldest daughter was her texting thumbs





and

The fire was proof to me that Hannah Montana is more important to Alivia than I am.






Gene had gone home right after the last present was opened so he is still on my good list, but the rest of these people better not expect a thing from me at Christmas.








Well, except for my sister Michelle who will get the best Christmas gift ever from me because she grabbed this...


This afternoon Aaron, Alivia, Amiyah and I heading to Kansas City to spend the night at Kelley from Aroma of Joy's house. Rest assured Kelley that if Aaron gets crazy on us I will not jump ship! Aaron is leaving out of KC early Tuesday morning to spend 2 weeks in Florida with Gene's family and Kelley lives only 45 minutes from the airport instead of the 3 hours away that I live. What a blessing to see her again, meet her family and not have to get up and drive at 3 in the morning!
I have no spiritual application for this story to share with you, but I am convinced based on my heroic, laying down my life for others actions that the first words out of Jesus' mouth when He sees me face to face will surely be "Well done good and faithful servant!"
Not "it was just a fume fire!" Unlike my Dad, Jesus appreciates my heart of sacrifice!



~Many Blessings~


P.S. The beautiful bib Amiyah is wearing in the picture above was sent to Alyssa from my sweet friend Susan from Forever His after she was born. What a blessing and precious surprise that was! She also sent these darling little panties with her name monogrammed on the bottom. I'll have to post a picture of those too. Also, Amiyah rolled the other day! She's done it before, but I this time she really surprised herself by the sudden change of view. It was so sweet. Thank you again Susan!!




Don't forget to read chapters 4 & 5 for Yes to God Tuesday!

20 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh Lelia,

Surely you have to use this story somewhere. I just *know* there is a biblical application in there somewhere. On a more serious note, I am glad everyone is okay. Thank you for being brave. As far as the Hannah Montana thing, good luck with that :D Blessings to you. Enjoy hanging ou at Kelley! Blessings!

In Christ,
Mari

HisPrincess said...

Well done brave Lelia!

I love your new name for Aaron. "Aaron the arsonist" has a great ring to it!

Anonymous said...

Never a dull moment! I'm glad all was well in the end, but that was a hilarious story you told! I can just hear your Dad - "fume fire"...

Anonymous said...

Coming from a house full of men, I feel your pain.

1)what is with the lighter being on hand at ALL times, anyhow?? They always have access to one at any given time!!

2)i bet if your Dad had been there and he had "fought the fire" it would not have been just a fume fire!!

Praise God that you were there to save your family, house and especially Miss Alivia's gifts!!

Have a fun visit with Kelly!

Yolanda said...

I think you could be a very strong contestant on SURVIVOR!


Love ya & give Kelley a hug from me!

Yolanda

Unknown said...

You are a HOOT, Lelia the VERY BRAVEHEART!!! Aaron the arsonist??? hahahahahaha Have a great time at Kelley's! Be safe!

Prayers and blessings,
Rebecca

Paula V said...

You are an absolute HOOT...oh, and hero also! Let me not forget that.

I love when you listed the things lost in the fire and one being Aaron's freedom.

Your family is so comical from Alyssa oblivious to the fire to your Dad description of the "fume fire" to precious Alivia being concerned not with the bravery of her dear mom and her life at stake but oh those precious presents.

Though no spiritual application directly, it was a true joy to read. I wish I'd been there. This sure would win the American's Funniest Videos based on your written description.

May I also take the time to say, can a baby be any more GORGEOUS than that sweet Amiyah? HOW can she be so huggable and lovable. Man, those kissable cheeks. She is just an absolute doll baby.

Hope you have a grand time at Kelley's. What a blessing. Does she have a tent or dog house for Aaron...I'm just saying is all...for his protection as well as Kelley's house. :-) Smiles.
Love ya,
P

Pamela (His maidservant) said...

Oh my gosh! There is never a dull moment in your life is there? I am back from camp and I have missed you. I wish I could see you while you are here in KC but my schedule is so crazy this week. I have a couple of prayer needs which I have posted on my blog last night. If you have time...please, please pray for our two situations.
I'll try to e-mail you more specifics. Have a blast with Kelley!!

In His Graces~Pamela

Laurie Ann said...

Praise God ya'll are alright! You are one brave soul, Leila. I hope you enjoy your time at Kelley's.

When you get a chance, stop by my blog. I have a happy for you...

Anonymous said...

Oh Lelia, your post had it all suspense, drama, and laughter. You tell a great story.
Sounds like there is never a dull day in the Chealey family.

Enjoy your visit with Kelley.

Luanne

Amy L Brooke said...

Oh, my! Sometime things just don't click. I'm glad everything turned out okay!

I hope you have a great time on your trip!!!

It was so good talking to you the other night. We'll have to do that more. Thanks for the help.

Runner Mom said...

Bless your sweet little heart, you brave thing!! I am so proud of your efforts!! But, you really are a hoot and a half as the other girls said!! Your story would have been a great YOU TUBE video! But you told it so well, we all could visualize the big event:). A b'day party to remember.

Y'all have fun with Kelley! Looking forward to the Bible study tomorrow.
Love ya,
Susan

StitchinByTheLake said...

Well I for one think you should hear it before you get to heaven! Well done, good and faithful servant! You have single handedly saved your entire family. What a hero you are. And you did a great job of telling the story, too. :) Blessings, marlene

Anonymous said...

Love the story... it provided a needed laugh this morning...

How about "Lelia the Lionness" and "Aaron the Arsonist?"

you make me giggle...
:)
Love you,
Heather

MrsProverbs31 said...

Praise the Lord, you all are okay and the house is safe. God bless you for being brave. Thank God, they did not praise or thank you, for great is your reward from God. You'll see.

God bless!

Leaon Mary said...

I held my breath ALL THE WAY through this story.... Ohmigosh... -- just a lil ole fume fire huh? "YOUGOTTABEKIDDINGME!" ~
The sweet pictures of the "Home sweet Homes," .... could have been oh so very different! I truly felt your frustration that they downplayed the Truth of the matter. Egads!
So you and Kelley are getting some galpal time! Iron sharpens iron ya know, -- SISTERCHICK time!
YA YAAAAA!
Lea
<*)))><

Jerralea said...

What a great story! I think you were very heroic!

I especially got a kick out of the one daughter only moving her texting thumbs. Exactly what my daughters would do!

Tracy said...

Holy Cow, girl! Is there anything you can't do!?! After that post, I respect and admire you in a whole new way.

So happy you got to visit with Kelley. Alivia is such a little doll and that Amiyah! Melt my heart! = )

Blessings,
Tracy

Susan said...

Ahhh, she looks precious in that bib!!

Look like she needs some more spoiling!! I'll see what I can do!!

Love you♥

Missy said...

Oh my gosh, this is the funniest post I have read in a long time!!

You are a HERO Lelia!!!!