I never imagined I would be writing something like this about my family.

Our family in Washington was devastated by the recent floods. In a matter of hours, a family of 7 parents and 5 children ranging in age from 10 years old down to just 2 lost everything they owned. Their home was destroyed, and with it went their sense of safety, stability, and normalcy. They walked away with almost nothing.

Every memory they had built as a family was taken. All of the children’s clothes, their beds, toys, school keepsakes, and the precious items saved from when they first started school gone forever. These are moments and memories that can never be replaced. Years of love, milestones, and everyday life were washed away.

The heartbreak doesn’t stop there. My in-laws were also deeply impacted by the flooding. They lost irreplaceable family history baby items from when their children were infants, memories from when my husband and sister-in-law were babies, and even belongings and photographs from when my mother-in-law and father-in-law were children themselves. Generations of memories, family photos, tools, and keepsakes that had been saved for decades were destroyed. These were pieces of their family story that can never be recreated.

Now, all eight of them plus a large family dog are together and trying to hold themselves together. The adults are doing everything they can to stay strong, but the emotional toll is overwhelming. Their biggest focus right now is trying to keep some sense of normalcy for the children while helping them process a loss that no child should ever have to understand.

With the holidays approaching, the pain feels even heavier. Just the weight of loss and uncertainty. What should be a season of joy has turned into a reminder of everything they no longer have.

This family is starting over from absolute ground zero. They need help replacing the basics clothing, appliances, household items and finding a way forward after losing not just their home, but generations of memories and family history.

If you are able to help in any way, whether through a donation, sharing this fundraiser, or simply keeping them in your thoughts, it would mean more than words can express. Your kindness will help this family rebuild their lives, restore some comfort for their children, and remind them that they are not alone during the darkest time they have ever faced.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for supporting my family when they need it most❤️