this post is a little late, but better late than never right? and it is a good story. one mixed with suspense, drama, fear, and laughter. a tale of friendship...
last thursday night was only like -26 around here. it was a cold day. so cold in fact that a
good friend decided to stay in with her little one instead of joining a few of us crazies for craft night. so i came home from craft night and shortly after hubby and i headed to bed. i must have been tired, because i was zonked!
about 12:45 am little oscar dog jumped out of bed. my first thought, "surely you do not want to go potty in this?" but when he started barking while running down the stairs i became a little more aware. it was about then that i heard someone pounding on our door. my next thought, "oh no...the (the family in our rental right behind us) had a pipe burst!" but when i peer out princess's window and see a car i realize this is not them.
we come running down the stairs and see above friend running back across the road! do you remember me saying it was -26??? so we open the door and yell at her. she turns around and frantically asks if her and her peanut can come inside because they have a gas leak! goodness gracious "yes! get in here," we call!!
we get her and peanut in the house and she begins to tell us her story. she gave me permission to blog first as she might be a bit preoccupied, but i confess i may not have all details fully accurate. it was the middle of the night you know!
so, their laundry pipes had frozen. when they turned off the water to that room they started smelling gas. so of course, like any good mama, panic set in. it was a dash to shut off the gas fireplace and get peanut out of the house. friend is pregnant too, so goodness she needs out soon too. well, i guess her hubby should get out too! so they grap peanut and throw on coats. then they remember car seat is now frozen in the trunk. being a good mamma they decided to get the car seat out. the load up and take off. i'm not exactly sure at what point they decided to come here, we live about 3 blocks away, but i'm thankful they thought of us. they also are friends with our rental, so hey - surely one of us would here the knock!
let's see - the story gets fun here. hubby heads to bed and i hang out with friend and peanut. we snuggle under blankets and answer phone calls from her husband. we watched the fire and ems go by and waited. they blocked off the entire road, but only in our great town, would our finest go in and check out the wrong house. her poor neighbor probably had her own heart attack with the midnight knocking.
after finally going into the correct house, they agree there is a gas leak. gee, thanks! so they call in nipsco. the nipsco guy decides he should go get his partner. in the meantime her hubby goes in and turns on all the faucets because, well, they now have no heat and already a few frozen pipes, who needs more? when nipsco duo returns they determine there are several leaks. outside and inside. my question, "how do you just spring a gas leak?"
in the meantime, friend decides she's ready to sleep - well atleast she convinces me she is. i leave her with my phone, several blankets, and a heavy heart. i went to bed and tossed and turned, praying for God to keep things under control.
so they shut off the gas, actually they did that when the fire came, but i forgot that detail above. the hubby heads to wal-mart i would guess since there aren't too many 24 hour places in our town, to purchase 4 space heaters. he gets them all set up and then comes here to crash. he said it was about 4 am!!
and now, their real fun begins. replacing pipes all over! thankfully, they have parents right here to live with while this is all being done.
so - tell me if this isn't a weird sort of "coincidence?" just that week, i'd been asking God to grown me in the gift of hospitality. then, when i crawled into bed, i told hubby, "i'm so thankful for a warm house!" and as i drifted off to sleep, i prayed that God would protect my friends and family in the cold. i also asked God to let me know how i could be a blessing to someone. weird???
no.....all God! i also am thankful for their frozen pipes. i think that is what alerted them to the gas leak. while, there is a lot of frustration in the event, i'm so thankful they are all safe and warm - and i hope they know they are always welcome at our house! anytime!!!
last thursday night was only like -26 around here. it was a cold day. so cold in fact that a
good friend decided to stay in with her little one instead of joining a few of us crazies for craft night. so i came home from craft night and shortly after hubby and i headed to bed. i must have been tired, because i was zonked!
about 12:45 am little oscar dog jumped out of bed. my first thought, "surely you do not want to go potty in this?" but when he started barking while running down the stairs i became a little more aware. it was about then that i heard someone pounding on our door. my next thought, "oh no...the (the family in our rental right behind us) had a pipe burst!" but when i peer out princess's window and see a car i realize this is not them.
we come running down the stairs and see above friend running back across the road! do you remember me saying it was -26??? so we open the door and yell at her. she turns around and frantically asks if her and her peanut can come inside because they have a gas leak! goodness gracious "yes! get in here," we call!!
we get her and peanut in the house and she begins to tell us her story. she gave me permission to blog first as she might be a bit preoccupied, but i confess i may not have all details fully accurate. it was the middle of the night you know!
so, their laundry pipes had frozen. when they turned off the water to that room they started smelling gas. so of course, like any good mama, panic set in. it was a dash to shut off the gas fireplace and get peanut out of the house. friend is pregnant too, so goodness she needs out soon too. well, i guess her hubby should get out too! so they grap peanut and throw on coats. then they remember car seat is now frozen in the trunk. being a good mamma they decided to get the car seat out. the load up and take off. i'm not exactly sure at what point they decided to come here, we live about 3 blocks away, but i'm thankful they thought of us. they also are friends with our rental, so hey - surely one of us would here the knock!
let's see - the story gets fun here. hubby heads to bed and i hang out with friend and peanut. we snuggle under blankets and answer phone calls from her husband. we watched the fire and ems go by and waited. they blocked off the entire road, but only in our great town, would our finest go in and check out the wrong house. her poor neighbor probably had her own heart attack with the midnight knocking.
after finally going into the correct house, they agree there is a gas leak. gee, thanks! so they call in nipsco. the nipsco guy decides he should go get his partner. in the meantime her hubby goes in and turns on all the faucets because, well, they now have no heat and already a few frozen pipes, who needs more? when nipsco duo returns they determine there are several leaks. outside and inside. my question, "how do you just spring a gas leak?"
in the meantime, friend decides she's ready to sleep - well atleast she convinces me she is. i leave her with my phone, several blankets, and a heavy heart. i went to bed and tossed and turned, praying for God to keep things under control.
so they shut off the gas, actually they did that when the fire came, but i forgot that detail above. the hubby heads to wal-mart i would guess since there aren't too many 24 hour places in our town, to purchase 4 space heaters. he gets them all set up and then comes here to crash. he said it was about 4 am!!
and now, their real fun begins. replacing pipes all over! thankfully, they have parents right here to live with while this is all being done.
so - tell me if this isn't a weird sort of "coincidence?" just that week, i'd been asking God to grown me in the gift of hospitality. then, when i crawled into bed, i told hubby, "i'm so thankful for a warm house!" and as i drifted off to sleep, i prayed that God would protect my friends and family in the cold. i also asked God to let me know how i could be a blessing to someone. weird???
no.....all God! i also am thankful for their frozen pipes. i think that is what alerted them to the gas leak. while, there is a lot of frustration in the event, i'm so thankful they are all safe and warm - and i hope they know they are always welcome at our house! anytime!!!
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