"Fire got my house?"

As I process all of this in my 30-something year old mind, a regular question asked is "How is Elijah dealing with everything?"

For this just-turned-three-year-old, he's certainly a trooper! I'm so thankful he wasn't there and didn't have to see it or be pulled out of a burning house. I feel that could have had devastating affects. For the most part, he's always been a fairly well-adjusted kid. This included. But for his little comprehension, our conversation usually goes like this:

"Where E going?"
(The normal answer is to his babysitter's or preschool or Nana's.)
"E go home?"
(No, E, we can't go home.)
"Fire got my house?"
(Yes, E, fire got your house...but we're all safe.)
"I get a new house?"
(Yes, E, you're going to get a new house.)
"I want green room!"
(Okay! Mommy wants a purple room!)
"Fix my house right now!"

Sometimes he's asked to put a band-aid on his house.

Sometimes he's asked about a specific toy and if we can't find it he'll ask if the fire got it. In some cases, that's true.

He's aware of the fire. He knows it ruined the house. He knows it destroyed his toys. He's okay with most of his new toys - but we've definitely had to replace some other favorites that he lost.

He understands he can't go "home" even though he continues to ask. He is comfortable and happy at Nana & Papa's but I know he misses his own space. As we all do. Poor mom and dad. I'm so thankful to them and their loving hearts and generosity. We could be piled into a hotel but instead they've graciously allowed us to invade their entire house.

Continue to pray for wisdom as Elijah asks questions and processes.