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One night in January 2018, author Young awoke to the strong smell of propane, growing more intense second by second. She woke her husband, Adam, and their ten-year-old daughter, Gabi. Outside, Adam discovered that a recently filled propane bottle had come loose, rolled down, and collided with the house. Five minutes later, as they stood outside their lovely two-story country home, it exploded. Almost everything they possessed, including family heirlooms and beloved pets, was consumed in a monstrous blaze. Friends and family stepped in almost immediately, finding them lodging and providing immediate necessities. Traumatic months passed awaiting action from insurance companies. Whatever they found by picking in the hazardous rubble was all they had of their old life. Good advice from friends and helpful strangers, the surprise discovery of a mysterious white box, and a firm religious grounding ultimately brought the family to their new circumstances, grateful for what they survived together.
Young writes her harrowing memoir with the hope of helping and motivating others. She gratefully recalls the simple kindness of friends and co-workers and grimly recounts how some people feel a need to mock and insult those experiencing a tragedy. She learned that she and Adam would need to list every single item they owned, a work that filled many pages, and would still have to prod insurers to do their job fairly and correctly. Meanwhile others, like firefighters on the scene, would go above and beyond to assist. She provides helpful resources not only for someone experiencing a major loss but also for those wishing to prepare diligently to prevent such an occurrence. Throughout her dramatic narrative is a sense of her faith in God. Her honest, vivid recollections can provide both information and consolation to others facing and recovering from personal disaster.