We Lost Everything After Our Dream Home Burned to the Ground

A dream we never knew was possible went up in flames early this morning. It was 2013 when we said to each other, "I think we can buy a house!" Then in 2014, we gathered our savings and bought a house. Of course, we didn't have enough money for the down payment, but we had a couple of amazingly generous people in our life who loaned us the money to get through escrow, and then we paid them back over time. The house was our dream home for 10 years. The sweetest little 1924 Altadena cottage in what people always called, "the hidden gem in Los Angeles."

Owning this home was one of our greatest joys in life. It wasn't a big home. It wasn't fancy. Our furniture was mostly hand-me-downs, save for my husband's fabulous standing desk and the most comfortable guest bed on the planet. Any person who stayed with us LOVED that bed.

Our home just turned 100 last year. It was built in 1924 from what we believe was a kit.

It made it through so much, and it was our infinite pleasure to get to take care of it these past 10 years. And, love it. Boy, did we love this house!!!

We knew the winds were coming, but we had no idea how the story would end. Last night, as we packed a bag to leave our house, we figured we’d be back today. We grabbed a handful of things - some clothes, some water, our computers, the contents of our safe - leaving behind artwork and photo albums and a fridge filled with food and closets filled with clothes and shoes. A home filled with a life! We left behind so much, including all the tools and materials for my small business. We were sure we were going back this morning when the winds died down and the fire danger was over.

(the view in front of us as we pulled away from our home)

Instead, early this morning, we got a notification from our alarm system that a smoke detector detected fire. Then, one by one, all of the window monitors went off, letting us know the windows were open. That was when we knew our house was gone. It was later confirmed by two neighbors.

We have tried three times today. Early this morning, we were turned back by black smoke and embers as we drove through an inferno. We turned back two blocks from our corner. The second time we tried, we were turned back by the sheriff. The third time, we were turned away by the Highway Patrol.

This is a photo another neighbor was able to capture of our block. (We bumped into him while we were looking for the FEMA people at the Convention Center. He too lost everything, and there were no FEMA people in sight.) The pile of rubble belonged to our lovely neighbors; our house is just past that... rather, that empty space with a white handrail is where our home once stood.

I know it's a gift to allow people to contribute to you. I have never been good at asking for money or for help. When I would babysit as a kid (I have worked since I was 11 to "make my own way"), I hated when they would ask, "How much do we owe you?" I always wanted to say, "You know how much, just pay me, don't make me ask." Here I am asking for help. Not my strong suit. But I'm doing my best. We appreciate anything you can do. I also have to say, please don't do anything you can't do.

I don't know what's next for us. I don't know how and if we will rebuild. I don't know at all what this will look like. I don't know where we will live. What I do know is I am infinitely grateful for the friends and people I have in my life. Thank you! I am grateful for you!!