July 1 – “Burgled”

Okay.  Okay.  We give.  All these emergency calls are about to drive us more crazy than we already are.  Yesterday we received a FaceTime request from Josiah, Kel and Christina’s youngest boy (well, their youngest boy so far.  Still don’t know about the one cooking).  That, of course, was not unusual.  We get those calls and thoroughly enjoy talking with those youngsters.  But when he led with, “Our house got broken into,” we weren’t sure if he was kidding or not.  And then in the background we heard Micah confirming the diagnosis.  Sure enough, someone had violated their dwelling.

Seems Christina and the kids (as well as a young baby she was caring for at the time) left the house around noon to make a quick WalMart run.  They weren’t gone very long, but when they returned, she noticed doors that were closed that should be opened, and then the one door opened that should be closed – the back door to the house.  She immediately gathered up the little ones and sent them back to the car.  Then she called the police to come check out the house before she would allow them back inside.  (Perfect move, by the way,  Just as she should have done).  After the police officers made a walk-through of the house and determined it was indeed empty, Christina began a search of her own to see what had just happened.  The double-paned window to the back door had been broken to allow access.  She said one of her bags had been emptied and was gone.  The thieves apparently forgot to bring something to carry their loot.  They had some cash that was missing as well – some money they had been saving to get some attic stairs for their garage, the money they had set aside for the boys’ allowances, and some of the boys’ savings.   That’s what Josiah was calling to tell us.  “Someone stole my wallet.”  They also took some of Christina’s jewelry. 

Nathan and I went up later that afternoon in the truck so we could pick up the new back door Kel found at Lowe’s.  He actually only needed the window, but to order just that unit would have cost $200 and taken three weeks to deliver.  The salesman found a door in stock with some very minor dents that he was able to sell as damaged for … $200.  So for the price of a window, they got an entire door.  He chose to remove the new window and put it in the old door, saving the new door for future installation as needed.  Micah was the junior handyman as usual.  He really helped in unscrewing the old window structure and especially in the cleanup.  His personal tool kit was invaluable as well. 

We got the installation all complete in plenty of time for me to make it back to Galveston for home group.  Kel’s church gave them a little bit of emergency money – just enough to cover the cost of the door.  Garage stairs are on hold again.  And it’s back to the drawing board for the young guys and their savings.  But thankfully no one was at home at the time.  All the kids fell asleep last night with no residual effects of fear (Not sure about Kel and Christina, though).  With the way the rest of their week had gone, I think that family has had just about enough trauma.

James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Father, would you ease the trials and tribulations a bit for Kel and Christina so they can enjoy baby preparations?  Amen.