Routine at Stake

 We were waiting for building permits to be approved and for our contractor to wrap up another job before we could get to work on our addition. March 2, 2005 was a Wednesday. As per Routine, we spent Wednesday evenings at church for dinner and family activities. Routine dictated that I took the kids and that my husband met us there directly after work. He hadn’t yet arrived that evening at about 6:30 pm when I got the call.

My next door neighbor and friend, Laura, knew our Routine, so I thought it strange to see her name pop up on the caller ID of my mobile phone. I answered her with a friendly chirp, although it was hard to hear because of all the activity going on around me. She sounded a bit strained and asked if we were at church. Yes. She asked if the kids and my husband were there with me. I explained. Then with very calm and deliberate words, Laura delivered this:

Come home now. Your house is on fire.

Routine was being burned alive.