Yesterday, our family experienced something we never thought we would.

My 21 year old son Mason and his girlfriend Emily lost their apartment in a fire, and everything they owned is gone.

They were both at work when it happened (thank God!), but their home was completely destroyed. When we walked through what was left, it was absolutely heartbreaking—furniture melted, everything covered in insulation, water, foam and debris. There is very little, if anything, that can be saved. It was overwhelming to say the least.

Mason and Emily are two of the hardest working young adults I know. They both work full time at GE, and have for the last 2 years. They have worked so hard at building a life together over the past couple of years, and have been completely independent. They were doing everything right—and overnight, they lost everything.

Unfortunately, they did not have renters insurance (tough lesson learned!), so they are truly starting over from scratch.

Right now, they need:

A new place to live (deposits + rent)

Beds and mattresses

Basic furniture

Kitchen items

Clothing and shoes

Toiletries and everyday essentials

Even the small things most of us don’t think about—towels, cleaning supplies, pantry food, toiletries, - all of it's gone.

Some of the hardest losses are the things that cannot be replaced. Emily lost some sentimental items from her nanny, including some photos and personal belongings that meant so much to her. Those are the things that hurt the most.

We are incredibly grateful for what was spared. By the grace of God, Mason’s guitars, musical equipment, and the amp Jeff gave him before he passed made it through. That alone feels like a gift in the middle of so much loss.

Most importantly—they are safe. That is what matters most. As I held onto them both while they cried, I reminded them that we can replace "stuff," but we cannot replace an Emily or a Mason. They know this is true, and we are truly grateful, but the loss is enormous.

They have family to stay with for now, and we are checking with the Red Cross and looking into community resources for additional support. But they still have a long road ahead as they try to rebuild their lives.

If you feel led to give, every single dollar will go directly toward helping them create a home again and get back on their feet.

If you’re not able to give, sharing this means just as much, as well as your continued prayers.

Thank you for showing up for them during this incredibly difficult time. ❤️