Life can change in an instant. For our family, that moment came the night of the fire. As we navigate this devastation day by day, hour by hour, I remind myself of how truly blessed we are. We are alive, our children are safe, and we’re not planning funerals. Things are replaceable; lives are not. God has been merciful, and His angels were watching over us that night and always.

What Happened

We still don’t know why the fire started, but it began in the garage and quickly spread. Despite the incredible efforts of the fire crews, the flames reached the roof, burning through the trusses and destroying the very peak of the house. To stop the fire from spreading further, the firefighters had to break through our ceiling and fight it from the inside.

The damage was catastrophic. Black smoke and soot from the garage were pulled into the house through the furnace, leaving everything coated in soot. While the outside of our home still looks intact, the inside tells a different story—everything is damaged by fire, smoke, soot, and water. Our beloved home is unlivable.

Yet even in the midst of this chaos, there were moments of profound kindness. While battling the fire, a few firefighters took the time to remove our family portraits and photo albums from the walls and brought them out to safety. I can’t stop thinking about their thoughtfulness. In the middle of devastation, these incredible people thought about saving our precious memories—our baby photos, our family history. That act of kindness is something I’ll never forget.

The Days After

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions—shock, heartbreak, and immense gratitude. One moment, we had everything, and the next, we were holding our children in the family van with nothing but the clothes on our backs.

But we were not alone. So many of you reached out with kind words, messages, and prayers. Friends and neighbors brought clothes, warm meals, and comfort in those first difficult days. Please forgive me for not responding promptly—your love and support meant more than I can say and carried us through these moments.

We’ve also experienced so many miracles. One of the biggest blessings was the county issuing us a temporary dwelling permit for a mobile home on our property. Thanks to the tireless efforts of friends, family, and contractors who went above and beyond, we were able to move in right before Christmas. Having this space to stay together as a family while we rebuild means the world to us.

A Community Like No Other

The outpouring of love and kindness from this community—both here in Arlington, on Instagram and around the country—has been nothing short of incredible. I always knew this community was special, but I never realized the full extent of its generosity until now.

From messages of encouragement to the practical help of meals and clothing, and the coziest blankets, hats and shoes donated from @UGG for the entire family, every gesture has been a reminder that we’re not alone in this journey.

Thank you for being there for us during this life-changing event. I hope one day we can pay it forward and be that same light for someone else in their time of need.

Moving Forward

Our lives have been drastically changed, and it will take time to rebuild both our home and our sense of normalcy. But we’re holding on to the miracles we’ve seen and the love that surrounds us.

This is just the beginning of our rebuilding journey, and I’ll continue to share updates here. Thank you for standing by us, for lifting us up, and for showing us the incredible power of community.

With love and gratitude,
Zhanna