Sisters family starts anew after fire

On the afternoon of December 28, Karen Relei received the news that would turn her world upside down: The house she'd been renting at 246 W. Jefferson in Sisters had just gone up in flames, destroying virtually all of her family's earthly possessions.

"I'd spent most of that day at the Redmond airport, waiting for my two daughters to arrive," said Karen. "Fog had forced their plane to land in Portland and they were being shuttled to Redmond."

Sixteen-year-old Amber and her seven-year-old sister, Dominique were returning from a visit with relatives in California. Since this was Dominique's first flight, Karen was already slightly unnerved by the delays.

After spending several frustrating hours at the airport, she drove to her mother's home in Redmond to try to relax.

"My pastor and his wife were waiting for me at my mom's house when I drove up. They told me that our house had burned down and I just couldn't stop crying," Karen said.

"The funny thing was that I wasn't crying for myself; I was crying for how the girls would feel when I told them about the fire."

By the time the girls arrived several hours later, Karen's sense of humor had replaced her tears.

"When the girls told me they were really tired and just wanted to go home, I told them 'well, girls, we have a little problem-- our house just burned down!' "

How did Karen's daughters respond to the sobering news?

"They were just incredible," said Karen. "Amber just hugged me and said, 'It's only stuff, Mom,' and Dominique reminded me that God has always provided for us. And He has."

Karen continues to count her blessings, knowing the disaster could have been worse.

"First of all" she said, "for some unexplained reason, I took Dominique's new puppy to Redmond with me that day, when I would have normally have left him in the laundry room.

"Then, one of the few things that wasn't destroyed in the fire was a Christmas present from Winfield Durham to Dominique. He's been like a father to her and his gift -- a Big Dog sweatshirt -- was so special to her. Dominique said that angels must have been holding it during the fire."

Amber especially regretted losing the stuffed dog she'd slept with since she was a baby, but was mostly positive about the fire's effect on her life.

"It's like we get to start all over again," said Amber. "And we get to do it with all new things."

Even though word of the fire hadn't permeated the community yet, Karen said that the outpourings of generosity have been amazing.

"We've been given large cash gifts, which have enabled us to find a temporary residence. And we've received gift certificates, make-up, clothes, toiletries -- we really have everything we need.

"Most of all, we have an awesome core of people who love us. Like Dominique said, God has always provided."

When pressed for specifics on what donations her family could use, Karen simply replied:

"We need prayers for an awesome 2001. And I think if you asked my children, they'd say that we've received so much, we'd like the chance to be the givers this coming year."

If you would like to contact Karen, she can be reached through her pastor, Larry Forbis, at: 280-1351.