Donate to Cefalo's full loss of home & belongings

It started as a typical Saturday evening together. Fun, laughs and companionship of our loving little family.

I’ve lit a hundred or more fires in our fireplace over the last 10 years. Never ever have had a problem. Last night went different. After reading books and just enjoying each other and the warmth of a good fire, things changed in a instant. Out of nowhere smoke started filling our living room. We grabbed a extinguisher in hopes there was a small fire that could be easily put out. We realized in a instant that was not the case. We scrambled as best we could and got everyone out of the house through the garage. Even the dogs. We watched the next 2 hrs as our last 10 years and all our worldly possessions went up in flames. we had escaped with the clothes on our back and that’s it. The rest has been lost.

This morning, as you are waking up in your warm beds. Surrounded by the ones you love realize how fragile things are and can be. Hold your loved ones close and cherish every moment. For even though we are waking up and we have lost so much, I can’t help but feel the warmth of gratitude and love. Everything that We lost and watched burn truly were possessions. Everything that matters is safe. Everything that had actual value to us is out of the house.

No one is hurt. No one was lost. We saved the animals.

I have never felt so rich as I do this morning. In old sweats and a hoodie with neighbors shoes on.

Thank you to the Edmond FD for doing all they could to get the blaze under control. Thank you neighbors and friends who sprung into action to try to help. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your kindness and loving messages.

Our possessions are gone. But our family is strong. This will only solidify our bond. This will not define us, but rather bring us to a new place in life. Together, that is all that matters. We will do this all together.

From the outside looking in you may think we lost everything. But in fact we still have everything. Our family.

God bless to all of you. May it never take something like this to show you how rich you are to have your family.

Although it sounds odd, I wake up this morning grateful. Grateful I get another morning to hold my wife and kids. Grateful for all the memories that house gave us for 10 years.

Today we start making new memories. Together. How fortuanate we are.

Picture 1 is 5 min before it all happened.