Public Service Announcement....Never leave candles unattended !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many years ago I was a nanny for a family. That is when I was introduced to matches in the bathroom and the role that they played....but not that anyone should play with matches in the bathroom. After all... I came from a family with just girls. I had no clue until I had sons. Many years ago I would have been horrified to even share this! But as a lesson learned it is very much needed.

 We have become one of those families who keep matches in the bathroom. However, my mistake is having left a candle next to those matches. The candle had been burned before but was no longer safe to burn unattended. Just a tall square candle on a metal plate. Along with a ribbon tied around it. It just served as a decoration on the cute little table. I guess you get the point. I never liked those smelly sprays but maybe it's time to find an alternative!?

Well, while we were gone our son arrived home from a long weekend trip, with a few friends. A suggestion was made to please light a match as a kid entered the hall bathroom...I guess this kid didn't come from" A keep matches in your bathroom kind of family." Instead this candle was lit...and forgotten. That was until over an hour later when the phone rang....not the kid to say he had forgotten to blow out the candle. Our son's room is in the basement and he had to come upstairs to answer the phone. That's when he discovered the smoke alarm...he hadn't even heard it. I'll just let my pictures tell the rest of the story. But first did you see the miracle in this? The phone that rang alerted our son to the fire in the bathroom! My God is good and so worthy to be praised even in the worst of situations. My heart is so thankful! What a beautiful thing to be able to find gratitude even during a trying moment. I had been wanting to redo this bathroom. I just wasn't quite ready! But oh well...Every girl needs a little motivation! Hmm....maybe I should have put that candle in my kitchen!
Now.... to count my blessings as I get the black soot off the walls and door. Goodbye Americana....Hello... I"ll just have to do an after bathroom redo post!