A Fire Safety Lesson They Won't Soon Forget

Last weekend we were extremely busy. I knew that we were going to be busy--but it was a good busy so that was okay. Friday morning we got up, threw the last few clothes into a suit case, set up the living room for Bible Study and turned on the coffee pot. We welcomed the ladies to the study and had a wonderful time in the Lord. God really blessed the time, because I was sure that we had talked way over our time, but instead we had finished 20 minutes early! And nothing got left out! And rabbit trails were followed.

Being done early meant the girls and I could breathe a few minutes before heading off to catch the train. We were going up to where German works (1 1/2 hours away by train) to stay the night and go out to dinner with one of his co-workers and her family. The trip up was beautiful! The changing colors of fall were gloriously displayed in the trees across the Dales. We arrived at the hotel, went swimming and got ready for dinner. The entire evening was wonderful. At 1130 we crashed into bed. One of us made the mistake to say, now for a restful night's sleep because Saturday had a late night birthday party/ceidhl to attend. Famous last words.

At 230 a.m. we awoke to the klaxon of the the fire alarm going off in the hotel. We slipped shoes on, grabbed coats, slipped them on sleeping children, grabbed a security blanket and stuffed doll Flower sleeps with and scurried out the door. We made our way down the three flights of stairs with all the other sleepy guests. I especially felt sorry for the dad trying to keep the sleeping 6 month old baby still asleep! Seven minutes from hearing the alarm to being downstairs. We gathered around the front desk--because it was soooo cold outside. The night manager was calmly yet frenetically working the switchboard to get answers. He soon announced that he apologized for the rude awakening. The problem had been located and resolved and it was safe to return to our rooms. (The next morning there was a letter of apology stating the problem was in the main kitchen and quickly dealt with, whatever that meant). We were the first to the lift so we took our sleepy girls up that way instead of walking up three flights. German explained to Jewel what had happened and why we did what we did. Honestly at 300 a.m. I doubted she was really understanding. The girls immediately went back to sleep. It took my heart a good 40 minutes to stop pounding so loud the people in the next room could hear it. But we did manage to get some sleep. The next morning, the fire alarm was all the girls could talk about. We reiterated what you do in case of fire alarm.

(The rest of the weekend went smoothly--visit to an old mill, drive home, ceidhl until 1100 p.m., wonderful church service Sunday morning, NASCAR Sunday night.)

And all week, the favorite game around our house? Fire alarm in the hotel! They have practiced and practiced and practiced. They have found the smoke alarms in our house and talked about how to get out quickly. What's a few hours sleep lost for a (safe) lesson learned forever? I'll take it.

When was the last time you talked about an escape route in your house with your kids? As much as we hate to think about the possibility, it could save their lives. If you make it a game, they will learn the lesson quickly and thoroughly. Have a blessed weekend!