On June 19 we all retired for the night with no thought of the tragedy that was only a few hours away.

Sometime early Wednesday morning, June 20, after 1 a.m., a fire destroyed much of what we hold dear in our lives.

Our greatest loss was my grandchildren, Caleb Carter of Bridgewater, who was only four days from his seventh birthday, and Brooke Carter, his 5-year-old sister.

Our lives will never be the same because of the events of that one night. We will never forget those fireman from Bridgewater, Mars Hill and Monticello who worked through the night in an effort to bring that fire under control.

The outpouring of support from friends, neighbors, the community and people many miles away has been overwhelming. The events of that week seem to be more of a dream than reality even now.

However, there are some things to remember and learn from our loss.

1. Make sure the smoke alarm in your house is in working order. Don’t just assume it is, but be certain. Test it. Do it today.

2, Make sure you hug your child and tell him or her that you love them. (That includes anyone you love whether it is a child or an adult.) It may be your last opportunity. We would love to have Caleb and Brooke back to hug and tell them how much we love them one more time. Don’t just assume they know it. Tell them.

3. Make sure you are right with God and ready to die. Don’t just assume this could never happen to you. It can happen at any time. Be prepared. Know God. Do it today.

In the midst of this tragedy, people have been so kind with their expressions of affection, sympathy and material needs. We will never forget what you have done. May the Lord bless you all for your kindness to us.

Pastor H. Mark Carter

Blaine