| Updated: 8/08/2012 9:22 am |
Published: 8/07/2012 8:33 pm
|
A family that has suffered through a summer of heartache is sorting through the ashes outside of Mannford.
Debbie and David Phillips talked to FOX23 last month as police across the state searched for their granddaughter Chasity, who was kidnapped by her father. This weekend they lost their home to raging wildfires in Creek County.
“The sky was orange,” Debbie recalled to FOX23.
“If you’ve ever sat around a campfire and seen I snap crackle and pop, think of that to the gazillionth factor,” David said.
When the couple got back to their home, there was nothing left.
“I was completely speechless, for once words actually failed me,” Debbie said.
The Mannford couple is no stranger to tragedy. Five weeks ago, their granddaughter was at the center of a statewide Amber Alert.
“(Losing) Chasity was the worst. That was the absolute worst thing David and I have ever been through,” Debbie told FOX23.
While police were searching for Chasity, FOX23 interviewed Debbie about the search for her granddaughter. The couple believes this fire and the aftermath is nothing in comparison.
“This we can rebuild from, losing Chasity is something that we couldn’t, so thank god we didn’t lose her ,” Debbie said.
Her husband agrees.
“I could have lost everything. Material things (are) one thing but children, grandchildren, family, that’s a whole different story.”
Debbie will not let any circumstance get the best of her or her husband.
“I can say that David and I have been through one heck of a summer, but I also know that God’s not going to give us anything that we can’t handle.”
The couple’s home was insured, but David lost his job two weeks ago. While they ponder their next move, they’re staying with family.
“What we’ve been through is enough to break anybody, but right now we’re just not breakable,” Debbie said.
The couple plans to stay that way no matter what life brings their way.
“It’s going to be o.k. I know it is. It’s going to be alright,” Debbie said.
The Phillips say they registered with the Red Cross, but have turned down donations because members of their family are helping them, and they believe there are others with a greater need for the help.
They say the only thing they need right is someone to help them dispose of all this ashes and rubble where their house once stood.
