We are so thankful for your prayers, each and every one. We have sure needed them!
The contents of our home are a total loss, although there are a few things we are going to try to have ‘restored’. Like a little dresser that Dw’s grandpa built for his grandma when she was pregnant with Dw’s dad. It is over 96 years old, as Dw’s dad would have been 96 this past December.
We have gathered a few other things, special bowls from the cottage that Dw’s parents used to own. The cottage was our most favorite place in all the world (until they sold it a few years ago) and our older kids have many special memories there. No promises the bowls will be okay, but we are going to see.
I didn’t understand how horrible smoke damage can be. The smell is atrocious. It reeks with smoke/chemical smell. It permeates an item. But regardless of the reek, we are going to keep a few things. Although we were told that everytime we smell that item we will remember. I’m not sure how that will be.
I took alot of pictures yesterday, through many tears. I have to go find a thingy to try to upload them to my computer to post. The USB cord was lost in the fire.
A fire expert came two days ago. Here is what he said:
1. It was the worst fire he had seen in many years.
2. The fire was over 800 degrees.
3. He guessed that if we had waited FIVE minutes more to leave we would have all perished.
Five minutes? Just five minutes? I cannot wrap my arms around it. Since the fire my mind keeps replaying everything; reliving it over and over. It won’t shut off.
Friends have come and they walk with mouth gaping through it. I will upload pictures as soon as I can. We are overwhelmed with your love for us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You bloggy friends are the best!!
Linny, we’re still praying…that’s not going to stop anytime soon! I, too, lost a home to fire. I remember the smell, the total devastation. I remember my mouth gaping with the magnitude of it all. And that was 38 years ago!
Looking forward to seeing how God unfolds this story. It will be a long time, I think, before you feel like you are finally on “the other side.” But it will come…eventually, it will come. And the lessons you will have learned, hard as they may be, will be so huge. Remember, “Joy cometh in the morning!” It’s dark right now, but keep your eyes pealed for that special moment when the sun first appears.
Love, hugs, and prayers…Nancy (blessed mama to ShaoXi from Shaoyang China)
My heart breaks for all of you. Will keep praying. One thing that should lift your spirits is to just look at how your followers are growing. Each and every time I check your blog, you have gained more friend. And just know that I am sure that the others feel the same as I do in the fact that since I have been reading your blog that you,Dw, and the kids have become my friends weather you know it or not. You are all loved by many.
Linn, when I think of 5 mins it makes my jaw drop. You are indeed blessed to have gotten out of there. A host of angels were certainly surrounding you all that night. Continued prayers from Manitoba.
Oh my goodness—my mind just cannot comprehend that! JUST five minutes???? Goodness. Rescued by the hand of God!!!!!! I can understand how you must be replaying it over and over and over in your mind. You must be raw, Linny. It is all still so fresh, so recent. But, I am standing on God’s promises for you and your family this day! That He would be your comfort and your strength when everything seems just a little too overwhelming. That He would wrap His Daddy arms around you and whisper to you that all will be well!
Sending you a huge hug today—I know you are thinking about ALL that happened just one week ago.
Adeye
My husband was in a plane crash that caught on fire. I received some of his personal effects that were on the plane,one of which was a small New Testament bible. It was pretty much the only thing to survive. The smell, of course is terrible. So I keep the items in ziploc bags. I can still see them, and take them out if I want to, but they are still preserved. God bless you all!
Linn, I love you guys so much and am praising the Lord for His goodness and provision through this time in your lives. If there is anything we can do for you (other than prayers which happen daily already) please let us know. I will grieve with you over the next little while as you realize your loss, but then I look forward to the day that we can truly rejoice for I know that these days of trial have been given to you all so that in the end many, many, many can rejoice and praise His name. Who knows just how God is preparing to use these events in your lives to touch others and bring them to Him. I can’t wait to learn of the impact you all will have on LOTS of lives … and we may not be able to fully rejoice about it all until that day we come before Jesus, but know that He’ll make all things new and even change lives because of it. Love you very much, Jen Ragonese
Me and my Mom have been praying for you guys since we heard of the fire last week.
~love and prayers from Canada~
~Anna~
Five minutes, oh my goodness. I know God is always on time thats why he had you get out when you did. I cant imagine what you are going through. But you all are continually in my prayers.
Melissa
Dear Linn and family, I love you guys so much and am continually praising God for His goodness (at getting you all out in time) and provision (all of the love and needs taken care of so far) for your family. I want you to know that we are daily praying for you as you continue to face this trial but I also feel confident that this is something that our mighty Jesus will turn around for His glory and praise. Just think of the testimony and witness you all will be and the impact it could have on tons of lives as you have this story unfold. I believe that, not only will fellow brothers and sisters in Christ be praising His name with you, but that you will help draw many more to Him in His timing because of this whole trial. I will grieve with you all now as you continue to heal from your losses and hurt, but I can’t wait for the day we can all dance and rejoice in His presence when we find out the full impact of your story and how it brought others closer to Him or even as they found Him for the first time. Love you very much, Jen Ragonese
Continuing to pray for your family.
I will pray today for our Daddy of Peace to overwhelm you, to wrap you in HIS arms and comfort the thoughts that keep replaying. To quiet your mind, and your soul. For you to be able to rest. We love you so much – Katrina prays daily for Isaiah’s heart to not hurt because of the fire. You ALL are a treasure – we are so grateful for that 5 minutes!
You have no idea who I am, but I do sympathize with you as when I was in middle school our home too caught on fire and I lost several treasurers (a quilt my deceased grandmother handmade for me). All I can say is trust in the Lord and he doesn’t bring you to it if he isn’t going to bring you thru it. Also when it comes to trying to salvage things 409 works miracles not only with the smoke itself but the smell. God Bless and know that many, many people around the world are holding all of you up in prayer!!!
Dear sweet family,
I am new to your site. I was passed your link from someone who received it from someone else. I have spent the past couple of days reading your blog. I am so blessed just reading and learning from your family. You will be placed on our church prayer list tonight in our service. Thank you for being so open in your life that others can learn the Love of God through you.
Prayers from Missouri.
No, YOU are the best…
STILL praying for you every time I think about it! (WHICH is often!!!)
Five minutes…hmmm…God gave you a few more grains of sand in your hourglass once again, Liinny!
Praise be to HIM!
Lifting you up in the midst of your grief and praying God’s sweet peace and love over your hearts.
Sweet Saunders Family,
We’re getting caught up reading the last few days of your blog; our hearts burst with faith as we read your declaration about orphans! There is a “spirit of pharaoh” over the fatherless, and we agree with you- GOD’S hands will rescue them! HE will deliver them into families, and they will live the destiny HE has ordained!
As our family prepares to move to Kenya and live among the orphans and widows there, we have encountered terrible attacks that simply strengthen our resolve to pursue GOD’s heart for the orphan. it’s not been easy, but it’s not easy for the orphan either.
I think about the vulnerable places you’re walking through right now… I see our FATHER holding you, whispering promises in your ear that HE will manifest. HE does that with vulnerable children everywhere, and HE’s chosen your family to be part of the promises HE’s making to them. GOD can share HIS victory in you to rescue many. Our prayers for you abound.
Lisa from CARE families
Well, God surely had His hand over you and your little ones. We are praying for strength for you &DW to keep going, and for your little ones to understand the new "normal".
Chris
Praying for you and praising God that you didn’t stay behind another minute than you needed to get out!
Love and blessings!
Jill
Praising God for time standing still for FIVE minutes! Praising him that you were all spared and are safe. Praying for complete restoration. Praying for compassionate living for those who surround you.
Love and blessings,
Julie
Dear Linn,
I don’t know you but many of my friends attend your church (my husband and I were college students in Durango about 6 years ago). I follow their blogs regularly and have started following yours since the fire. I’ve been praying for you as I’m sure this is a difficult (that word doesn’t seem to actually encompass it) time. I was struck reading this post that God’s timing is perfect! That five minutes just shows it again. He has some greater purpose for this and I’m confident that He’ll use this to show His glory! You have already reminded me thorugh your posts to keep my focus in the right place (not on things! but on Jesus). I’ll continue praying and please know that I’m thankful to you for being a part of my friend’s lives. It’s very comforting to know that they are part of the same body as you 🙂
Jessica
Oh, friend, I’m so glad God was not Jehovaho of the Last Second this time! I prefer Jehovah of Five Minutes – so that I know you are here! So that these kiddos are here.
Loving you!
Dearest Family, My heart breaks for you and tears flow easily. What devistation, what heart ache this is bringing to all of you. I have so loved your insight and simplisity and while the greiving will take time and rebuilding and regrouping your life is painstaking you are still awsome. All the love and prayers for those sweet children is a gift from God nothing on earth can take away. We are human so greiving and earthly things must be delt with but I just want you to know you still have strength. Let all of us be your strenght as god wispers words of recovery to you each step of the way. We are all there for you. Hug those babies we all love them lots. Have a wonderful day. Lynne
I’m still praying for you all. I’m praising God that you got out when you did and asking God to bring to mind other things in your life that he has restored and made whole. He will restore you and your family! He makes all things new!
Love and prayers for West Texas!
We continue to pray for you daily. Though I have not dealt with a fire personally, I work for an insurance company and work with fire claims. We have had several total fire losses this year alone. My heart just breaks for each family has they deal with the loss. It is very hard to explain how you feel as you are asked to go room by room and write down every item that was in it. Know that God is with you through this whole process. It will be awesome to see what the future is for your family. I know he has big plans.
The Saunders only do things in BIG ways.
Love you guys,
Lisa Freeman
Newark, Ohio
Dear Linn,
Praise God for the extra minutes. You are His treasures!
Love,
Barbara Lyman
Marysville, WA
Oh Linny, God’s timing is perfect. I’m still praying.
~Lynn
The Lord was watching over you even more then you knew. Wow! That is amazing and scary at the same time. Still praying for you.
Samantha
FIVE MINUTES? God is good.
We love you.
One thing God brought to mind while I was praying for you yesterday… I was struck by the thought that without these familiar things that make you feel like you’re “home”… you have truly experienced what your littlest ones have… the life of an orphan who depends on mercy and who clings to little of worldly value. I just couldn’t get over the thought. We are still praying, friends.
You and your family are such an inspiration. I am so sorry you are having to go through this. We will continue to pray for you.
Tracey and family
Oh dear Saunders Family, I am at a loss for words. May it be a comfort to know that so many around the country and around the world are praying for you daily. Love & hugs to each of you.
Oh Linn,
I am not sure I can wrap my mind around that five minute time either! Praise God that you and all the kids got out okay. I am still so sorry for all that you have lost. We continue to pray. May God meet you just where you are.
Blessings, Lisa C.
There continues to be things to be thankful for. You had the five minutes you needed to get out, Praise the Lord!! Hang in there, God is yet going to show you His great Love and Grace more and more. Stay faithful.
God Bless and keep you ALL!
I came from other blogsand I am sorry to hear about your loss. I wanted to tell you that as I am putting these words down that I am praying Psalm34:7 over you all-
“The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.”
I put my adoption story on my blog. Thank for gathering children to your heart to love.
I know I am thankful for my parents!
i don’t know you but i’ve been following you since your fire. i am a kindred spirit. i love jesus and i have a fondness for adoption. and for ch*na. (i’ve led two m-trips to ch•na, and gone on an additional one just before 9/11. i have nothing to offer you other than i am thinking of you, praying for you and holding your precious new ones up as it must be very hard for them to bond completely as they are again uprooted. my prayers are with you as the enemy is attacking. standing in the gap for you!
Thanking God that He got you all out with 5 minutes to spare…oh, how precious your lives are to Him.
Praying for your family, that your minds would be at peace, that no fear would rise against you, that Praise would lead you to victory in this valley.
Bless you, my family is praying for you. We are so glad that God had us ‘find’ you. We are blessed because of it.
Kimmie
mama to 7
one homemade and 6 adopted