Day Is Done

THURSDAY was what I'd call a very busy day.  Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew.  

Thursday morning the floor layer put the underlayment down in the Dining room.  Will return next week to lay the actual wood floor.  Finished underlayment work by noon.   

Hubby picked up one of our chiming wall clocks that was worked on so it could return HOME.  She has a beautiful chime.  She has returned to the wall in our HOME where I hear her ticking and chiming every 15 minutes.  This was the day we found out that we don't have until the 28th to turn in our fire recovery receipts.  The 25th is the deadline.  

We had until midnight to make our final replacement purchases.  WE WENT GULP.  THIS IS A HUGE HICCUP in finishing up our claim.  Not sure we can finish up what needs finished.  BUT WE'D TRY.

A mad dash to KANSAS CITY to look at area rugs.  Wild. 
Fire Recovery Deadline on the horizon.  A hiccup to say the least.  We thought we had until the 28th.  Welp...away we went to the big city to make huge purchases.

Deep breath.  DEEP DEEP BREATH.

I am lousy at ELEVENTH HOUR adrenaline power plays.  AWFUL.  HORRIBLE.  UPTIGHT and curannkey.  SNAP.  SNAP.  DON'T TALK BACK.

We looked at rugs in Nebraska Furniture MART.  It's hard for me to believe that we had looked at area rugs close to 10 months ago and hadn't made it back on UNTIL the last day of our fire recovery claim.  Completed.  CLOSED.  Life gets too busy at times.  My Father In Law's death, closing his estate, Gall Bladder surgery, recovery, life, life, life, recliner shopping, paint samplings, ceiling replacement, painting, floor laying... all came first before shopping for area rugs.

When replacing home items for insurance purposes you have to pay out of pocket the expenditures you make before the insurance company reimburses the insurance money to you.  There were some hurdles to replacing items that we wanted to include in the claim.  

Last night as the clock chimed 12 o'clock midnight, I finally let out a cry.  OUR TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY was over.  We were shopping for the area rugs on our two year anniversary of the house fire.  Remembering that FALL day two years ago as I stood outside our HOME watching Fire Fighters at work putting out the fire.  The drama of seeing chocolate brown smoke pour out of the structure wondering what was going on in the inside of our HOME.  Not knowing the extent of the damage.  Not knowing the cause.  Praying for God's mercy that no one be injured.  It was a nightmare in the day light.  Becoming a survivor of this still doesn't register.  

Two long years of working on recovering from the house fire was completed at midnight.  During that time I hadn't bawled my eyes out.  Some tears.  Some aching heart.  Still in disbelief that this happened.  I went into a mode that had the things we needed to do on the back burner sort to speak.  My dear HUBBY worked so hard on every detail to take care of this recovery.  He knows the ends and outs of recovery.  I know what I went through.  Tis different than doing so much footwork and paperwork as he did.  I did what I could.  We both have.  

We looked at area rugs and purchased three large ones that will be delivered later in the month.  Possibly in November.  We're not ready for them as the main floor of the house is still under construction if you can call it that.  Juggling the timing of when they can be delivered after we have painted, had floors laid.  There are a few hairline cracks that appeared in the NEW CEILING that will have to be repaired.  More juggling.

HOPING BY THANKSGIVING that this HUGE PROJECT will be completed.  Always something and they don't always coordinate conveniently.  Maturity comes at a price.

After we paid for the rugs, we dashed to eat, locate the closest Wal-mart and Target.  Needed to purchase two dress coats, Yankee Candles, sewing machine and Longaberger laundry basket.  That just about was all we could do.  We went to TARGET and noticed a JC PENNEY next door.  Went there first to look for Ladies Dress Coats and found only casual jacket coats.  Started thinking I will have to look on-line for a dressier coat.  That meant getting home before the bewitching hour as the clock struck midnight.

Purchased some Yankee candles in last year's containers, a casual coat for me anyways because I needed one.  The sewing machines they had were not expensive enough.  Believe that we needed to buy a more expensive model to use all the insurance money available concerning sewing machine.  Yippee...Starbuck's coffee while shopping.  

Left Target to continue shopping over at Wal-mart.  Beside Wal-mart was a KOHLs.  They just might have dressier Ladies coats.  Nope.  By this time I'm thinking, yes...will have to order online when returning home.  Wal-mart had a more stylish Yankee Candle container and more scents than Target.  It was too late to actually go to a Yankee Candle Store across the state line so Wal-mart it was.  

Gathered up the rest of the candles.  Checked out the sewing machines.  These were still under priced, but went ahead and got a simple machine which was very close to the one I lost in the fire.  It rang up even cheaper than what was priced.

Made a judgment call to go ahead and get this as it was a hundred dollars less than what priced.  We told the clerk it was $197 not $97.  We tried and she kept checking it to tell us no it is priced at $97.  Usually you have to have a major discussion that the price is lower than what rang up, but in this case we were discussing that it should be higher!!!  We bought it at a discounted price.  I decided that we would pay for this out of our own pocket and not turn into insurance, but go ahead and order a more expensive machine online BEFORE MIDNIGHT to get the insurance reimbursement.

The sales clerk that helped us had gone through a fire two years ago as well but she did not have insurance.  She said she went to the Salvation Army and other charities to help her.  This dear soul was just now getting furniture.  

Exiting the store around 8:30, we figured we'd be home by 10.  Time enough to order on line two dress coats, a sewing machine and a Longaberger laundry basket.  As I drove, HUBBY checked out these items on his lil 'ole phone.  That's using our heads.  

We figured out what to buy before reaching HOME and ordering online.  Once we got HOME, the computers came out to play and away we shopped.  This could be habit forming.  So very easy to spend $$$$$$ mula.

First came the dress coat for me.  Then a dress coat for Hubby.  It's a gamble not trying articles on, but am hopeful they will work and we'll be very happy with our purchases.  Then a sewing machine to foot the bill.  Last but not least a Longaberger laundry basket to replace the antique basket that cooked in the home fire.  We were finished by 11:30 PM.

Like I said the midnight clock chimes made me cry.  WE MADE IT.  In some way I thought reaching that 2 year mark to where the fire claim was closed would be a type of closure.  It is.  
PAUSE.  SIGH OF RELIEF.  BIG SIGH.  Pinch me.  It really happened.

Now do what is the next thing needed.
Finish up our main floor projects before THANKSGIVING and hopefully go ahhhhhhh.  Sigh of relief.

As the pieces fell into place we watched it happen.  We lived it.  We went through it.  We have watched, participated, prayed, panicked, pursued, planned, shopped, waited, grieved, grown......

Proverbs 24:3-4

By wisdom a house is built,

and through understanding it is established;

through knowledge its rooms are filled

with rare and beautiful treasures.

In two years we experienced the devastating house fire.  
Went into auto pilot due to the shock.  
Threw away so much personal property into dumpsters.  
What took years to accumulate was damaged or destroyed within minutes.  
The aftermath of this unfolds.  
Not sure how to feel.  
My salvation is in Jesus and I cannot put my trust in these things that can be destroyed in seconds.  I still know that we are to fill our homes with what we treasure, but after such destruction I have to say I feel differently about so much.  
I'm human and can grow weary in need of refreshment and restoration.  We all go through things that wear us down.  All. 
As the house was emptied we pulled aside what we thought we wanted for sentimental reasons.
Would be sleeping in a tiny cottage.
Had damaged household items, furniture, dishes and clothing taken to restoration and clean-up places to try to rescue and restore.
Shopped for a new fridge, washer and dryer, vacuum cleaner, micro-wave, coffee pot, cookware, dishes, utensils, some clothing, shoes, dish washer, skillet, crock pot, toaster, television.
My Dad suffered a devastating stroke and would die 11 days later.  Grieving continued.
2 months later my Mother in law died.  The grieving continued.
A 5 month wait before the textiles and boxes of material, teddy bears, clothing returned.  Most items were ruined.  A loss.  Some of the returning clothing smelled of smoke and chemicals.  Most of what was returned was trashed.  
After a 6 month wait the 675 boxes of our belongings were returned from a different company and put into a storage unit.
Sold the shell of the stone house to a contractor.
Bought a different house.
Relocated to a different community.
We loaded the 675 boxes out of the storage unit onto a moving truck then unloaded boxes into the different house.
Went through the boxes seeing what was saved and what wasn't.
Like opening Christmas presents not knowing what was inside.
The dishes, glassware, crystal were all beautifully cleaned.  Little damage.  Nic nacs and books, frames, dolls, keepsakes, etc.  Little by little all was viewed and more judgment calls made.  Even though some of the items had been cleaned they still smelled of smoke.  Some things were chipped or broken.
Furniture that was restored was returned.  We cried happy tears.
What was restored looked better than it did before the fire.  I couldn't believe it.  In awe.
Shopped for new sofas, chairs and new mattresses.  Waited for their arrival.
Slowly decided where to place things.  Still shuffling.  
Moving slowly.
Much paperwork was done with itemizing damaged or destroyed things.
Father in law died.  More grieving.  
Dealings with his estate.
Diseased gangrenous gall bladder got the best of me and surgery took place.  Recovering required.
A son had skin cancer surgery.
Another son started a different job.
The juggling of medical bills began.  Is very taxing even with health insurance.  Little by little it is being taken care of.  I'd rather pay the bills off quickly, but this isn't always the way it goes.
Life continues.
Update present house project messes are doable.  Takes more energy and adjusting.  Not wanting to complain, but rejoice that it's getting taken care of.
Finishing up last minute purchases and hoping to make the right choices.

It has been like trying to recreate what took 44 years of marriage to build and squeeze it into a two year period.  It can be done.  Just in a very different way.

I figure that the downsizing and stream lining continues.  Getting better organized takes time and muscle.  Good fruit from this.  Having compassion for those who have gone through trauma becomes part of the maturing process.

I would like to sit in the quiet of our HOME praising God for HIS GOODNESS.  Getting us through this tough time.  Wrap my arms around my HUSBAND and love on him.  

Whew.  

Two years summed up.  

Oh my.

Day is done,

d

GOD IS IN THE DETAILS

Finally got the carrots peeled, but they sat in the sink until after I took a nap.  Was so tired I forgot about them.  They slow cooked in the crockpot.  

Started by adding olive oil and carrots into the crockpot, cooking an hour then adding water to cover them.  Slow cooked til tender to the fork.  Letting them cool off before putting them in the fridge.

CARROTS ARE SO GOOOOOOD FOR YOU!

Loaded with goodness.

Low on calories.

Nutrition Facts

Carrot juiceCarrotsCarrots, babyCarrots, boiledCarrots

Amount Per 1 slice (3 g)1 strip medium (4 g)1 strip large (3" long) (7 g)1 small (5-1/2" long) (50 g)1 medium (61 g)1 large (7-1/4" to 8-/1/2" long) (72 g)100 grams1 cup grated (110 g)1 cup strips or slices (122 g)1 cup chopped (128 g)1 medium (61 g)

Calories 25

% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.1 g	0%
Saturated fat 0 g	0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.1 g
Monounsaturated fat 0 g
Trans fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg	0%
Sodium 42 mg	1%
Potassium 195 mg	5%
Total Carbohydrate 6 g	2%
Dietary fiber 1.7 g	6%
Sugar 2.9 g
Protein 0.6 g	1%

Vitamin A	203%	Vitamin C	6%
Calcium	2%	Iron	1%
Vitamin D	0%	Vitamin B-6	5%
Vitamin B-12	0%	Magnesium	1%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

When I saw beautifully printed packages of vegetable seeds in the Grocery store, I decided that next year I want to plant some.  Veggies I have never tried to grow like eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli, beets.  

I've grown radishes before and will try again.  I may have to have a container garden as the ground around our house for a veggie garden is slight.

A simple salad that's nutritious and inexpensive.  

Good for you.

There's an area by the carriage house that will hold a small patch of lavender.  I want to try to grow some next growing season.  First I've got to get caught up around here and get better settled from our move and replacing items needed as we go.  STILL SHUFFLING.  Takes a bit of time, energy and thought.

ON THE HOME FRONT:
This past week was a good one for fire recovery.  
We purchased an antique bedroom suite!
Two Buffet Lamps,
and 
a sitting Shirley Temple Doll (Danbury Mint Porcelain Collector Doll).  

FIRE RECOVERY 101: As we get our HOME things replaced, it will be a top priority to document the items with pictures and descriptions.  Copies at HOME, IN THE CLOUD and safety deposit box.  At least three places.  Maybe 4.    

Keeping accurate records of purchases is a smart thing to do for recall and estate planning.

BIBLE STUDY:
God kept recorded accounts of spoils of war, animals and souls.  There is something to this thing about KNOWING what you own.  

PROVERBS 24:4
King James Bible
And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

God is in the details,
d

It's One Thing......

It's easier to move when being a fit younger person than to be an out of shape  o l d e r  person.  
Duh.  DOUBLE DUH.......

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure this one out.  I believe this move of ours is a REAL toughie.  It's taking me longer to move about.  The lifting of even smaller, light weight boxes gets to my 'ole back.  Every day we're making 

HUGE HEADWAY.

 

THANKFULLY we have time to  s t r e t c h  this move out.  The entire SUMMER will do.  I have to stay focused and determined to get this all done.  THANKSGIVING is on the horizon.  BUT first the FOURTH of JULY must come with independence, Labor Day with more work, Harvest TIME will be high lighted being we're settled.
  

HUBBY REMINDED ME THAT BOOKS ARE HEAVY AS PAPER IS AS WELL.
I COMPLETELY AGREE....paper is heaveeeee.
PACK BOXES THAT HOLD BOOKS WITH FEWER BOOKS.  THIS MAKES LIFTING AND CARRYING MORE MANAGEABLE.

Today, I gathered up boxes and more boxes...then grouped them into the COTTAGE Parlor.  Ready for us to carry them out of the house to the car so we can transport them across the county line.  Trying like heck to be better organized when it comes to this event.  Husband and I loaded up both of our cars and drove across the county line to HOME*SWEET*HOME.  I had to sit down and rest this back of mine.

When my Dear Husband finishes unloading his car, he'll rest and we'll watch PBS's GRANTCHESTER with snacking on TRAIL MIX.  

Tomorrow, we will clear a path through the house for the delivery workers to carry inside some of our wood furniture that has been refinished in Kansas City.  Our Bedroom is ready for what will be delivered.  The other Bedroom has to be cleared out for the Bedroom Suite.   I'm squealing....the excitement tis mounting. 

SOON we will have to order a new mattress and boxsprings so the Guest bed can be used for real people.

The Dining room is near ready for what they will be delivering.  THEN, Lord willing, I will begin to fill the curio cabinets with Blue Willow dishes and crystal.  By the week-end, I think our Dining room will look more like a Dining room instead of a warehouse full of boxes.  I will begin my hunt for some Dining room chairs that we will use.  

JULY will be here soon.  I will still be waiting for a few more pieces of furniture that will be refinished.  Two of the Bedrooms will hopefully be functional.  WAITING for Living room furniture.  The Grey Bedroom will morph into an OFFICE and Doll room.  Curtains up.  BOXED things will migrate into the room that they shall be in.  

AND the Kitchen should have pots 'n pans, our everyday dishes, drinking glasses, silverware, food, etc. should be in place.  THIS SUMMER will be one of getting settled.


We still have a storage unit and another garage to clear out this SUMMER.  Slowly we will tackle this.  

S L O W L Y.

This evening the birds are singing loud with clear distinct notes.  Beautiful melody for a cool evening.  I have slowed down to listen.  


It's one thing to be settled,
d

    

Pajamas All Day Whaaaaaah

THESE WORD ROCKS were amongst our damaged goods.  Perhaps they are for such a time as this.

OUR BELONGINGS HAVE RETURNED TO US 6 months to the day of our home fire.  One suitcase I had was full of pictures.  I spent the day working on laundry, bundling old Martha Stewart magazines and going through a huge suitcase full of pictures.  I wallowed on memory lane going through hundreds of pictures from the past.

I laughed, I cried, I smiled, I frowned, I stared, I wallowed.  THANKFUL.

BABY PICTURES, my dating pictures, kids graduation pics, celebrations, proms, birthdays, wedding pics, anniversaries, moving pics, and the list goes on.  I've started putting individual pics in yellow envelopes for my children so they have their own childhood pictures.  Way over due, but I was concerned they'd throw the pictures away.  Sometimes there isn't a sentimental bone in their body.  Momma here hoards the emotions. 

Perhaps I should make books for them in which the image is in a book.  Hum.  Just might have to give this some thought.  This would be a nice way to share pictures with them and have a back-up as well in a nice hardback book.  

It was a huge relief to get the pictures back as they have been in a Topeka Warehouse for 6 months.  SO many memories.  SO many pictures.  

NOTE TO SELF:  Keep copies of important papers and pictures in the cloud and in safety deposit boxes also share pics with family so they can enjoy having some of the memories in their photo albums, their clouds and in their file boxes.  A book with images in it would be a space saver.

WEDDING DRESS UPDATE: I got the nerve to take my wedding dress out of the KEEPSAKE BOX and look her over.  She was fine.  She didn't Shrink.  She didn't stink.  She survived.  Kind of like my marriage.

Between pictures being saved and my princess for a day wedding gown being saved, I am so thankful.  We lost so much in the fire, but are not empty handed.  THANKFUL.



43 years ago this SUMMER I was a princess for a day.  The Queen would manifest later.


Disappointed when the grass stains on my wedding shoes were cleaned off of the heels of my princess for a day wedding pumps.  When ever I looked at the stains, I knew that these came from the grass that we stood on when saying "I DO."  Still have the shoes though and that's a benefit.  

In my house coat ALL DAY.  Occasionally I have one of these days.  Do you???

Taking a deep breath.  
Tomorrow will come and perhaps it will be a great one,
d

Jibber Jabber and LIFE Goes On

Too many irons in the fire sort of speak with recovering from a house fire, squeezing into cottage, documenting damaged items, cleaning out a fully stacked garage, shopping for replacement furniture.  We're doing our best to get all that needs done finished.  WRAPPING IT UP.

Knowing to take time to just REST, sit, sip coffee, THINK WHAT MUST BE DONE, pray, get outside instead of being inside so much, relax.  BEING BALANCED requires being.

WE MADE AN EVENING OUT shopping for coffee pods.  grins.  Settled for Dunkin' Donut Coffee.  Decided to live a little by using our Keurig instead of coffee perculator while we gain our ground during recovering from home fire.  Having a quick cup of coffee without going through filling the coffee perculator and waiting is what we are doing for the time being.  LATER we may return to perking.  It's economical to perk.  Easier on the budget, but we decided we needed some pampering as we recover.  It's our medicine.

Still looking at furniture.  Huge decision to make concerning what type of sofa to get...a regular size or love seat size.  Still out to lunch on this one.  I know I want two comfortable matching chairs and a sofa.  Now to find the style and sizes.  REJOICE.  THIS SHOULD BE FUN.

Wardrobe downsized.  Adding to it as we go.  This is ongoing and should be enjoyable.  I hope to do some sewing after I get a new sewing machine.  I'd like to sew a quilt, some women's blouses and maybe matching shorts.  I may try to stitch a blue jean skirt as the one I had melted in the fire.  MELTED.  

The shoes that were saved that the cleaning company took have come back with curled labels inside the shoes.  Sigh.  I have to sniff them to see if they stink, try them on and go from there.  I have replaced two pairs of SHOES as I needed black pumps for my Dad's funeral service back in December.  I have also purchased black clogs.  With the weather warming up it's sandal time.  Inside I go barefooted, but not in public.

THIS WEEK, I'll continue clearing out the garage.  I found storage boxes needing wiped before placed in auto to transfer.  They'll go to our cottage cellar and placed on monster racks that HUBBY already took apart, transported to cellar and reassembled.  

A little here and a little there, we are making headway with completely relocating to the cottage.  I'm praying that God will bless me with more energy as I have so little.  Once again my thyroid meds were tweaked as I was on too high a dose having heart palps.  Very uncomfortable.  Feeling better after reducing dose.  Better.

I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY!!! I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY that it's April!  

We took a load of goodies to Topeka's Goodwill, ate supper at SAMs,  treated with a White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks then slowly returned HOME by route of a scenic drive.

Gorgeous scenery to see as the sun was setting.  Misty and colorful sky.  Scenery looked like we were elsewhere in the world as the part of Kansas I grew up in is not as scenic as the Flint Hills.  No camera.  Mistake to not bring camera when we are out and about.  If I could just sit and absorb the surroundings in the country I WOULD.

BREATH TAKING.  I cannot describe the beauty of the sun setting on the misty horizon of the Flint Hills.

MARCH has passed.  Tis raining and flowers blooming.  After working on the garage this past week-end, we made huge progress, but have a long ways to go in order to say she's completely cleaned out.  The backyard has items that need removed as well.

LAST WEEK, we walked through the rock house and said good-bye.  This is a ritual I have done when selling a house and leaving it for the last time.  I SAY GOOD-BYE HOUSE.    

We are able to say we no longer live at the corner of 4th Street and ILLINOIS.  The property belongs to another.  LAST FRIDAY we sold the shelled house to another.  Sold.  It is soaking in, but very slowly.  We sold our house that we loved so much.  

Husband and I went out to dinner at HARRY's as this is our favorite of favorites Restaurant to celebrate at.  

HARRY's

It was a very tamed celebration as we ate the best and sat for an hour and a half before we took a evening drive.  We keep telling each other that we sold the house.  We sold the house.  

House sold to another.

http://harrysmanhattan.com/

We will focus on our cottage and make it comfortable for two older people who want to retire and go at a different pace doing other things.  

I have mixed feelings as I loved our rock house and did a lot of living in this location.  Saddened, but relieved at the same time.  We will not have to rebuild or tear down the house.  She remains in this community waiting to be rebuilt by the hands of another.

For three months we waited to hear back from the Insurance company as they were figuring dollar amounts on the damage etc.

  I knew in my heart that I did not want to rebuild. 

To rebuild her would cost us twice as much as we received from the insurance company.  OUCH.  We are thinking with logical reasoning verses with the heart.  Not easy, but doable.



 I knew that I didn't have it in me to go through this as we have been working on the house close to ten years already.  I knew that we are too old to get another house loan that would take years to pay off if ever.  I know we need to retire.  

It is bitter sweet to say we sold the house.  

Bitter sweet.

The rock house has been emptied.
She's ready for her next phase to happen.  
We have moved into a tiny cottage that we affectionately named RETIREMENT COTTAGE.  
This is where we are living to recover from our house fire that damaged or destroyed everything in the house including the interior that we worked on for nearly ten years.  
It was devastating.

LIFE GOES ON AS I AM THE MAID.  I continue to launder the things that were returned to us.  Most of it has a strong chemical smell, so I have to wash items to see if the smell comes out.  A few pieces still smell of smoke and this doesn't wash out.  BYEBYE THESE GO TO THE TRASH after I write the item description and number down with a picture for insurance purposes.  I WILL REJOICE when this task is completed.  It's going to take a full year to document each item that I can and deal with insurance.

BLESSED to not get injured or killed from fire.  BLESSED.  We are piecing together our belongings that were taken for clean-up or repairs.  Pitching so much that was seriously damaged.  With time and healing, I believe it will be a different time of LIFE to enjoy and explore what God has for us as a couple in their 60s.

MONDAY is here.  APRIL will bring celebrations as our daughter turns 37, celebrates first year wedding anniversary, Mom turns 85 and Father-in-law turns 87.  SPRING will cause flowers to bloom and we will be closer to being settled into our cottage.  Kitchen designs are drawn and I will find ways to make our closet work for us for clothing, shoes and bedding.  In many ways I feel like a newlywed. 

THIS SPRING has to be a NEW BEGINNING in a NEW CHAPTER OF LIFE.  Has to be.

Pacing myself.  Taking time.  When I begin working on it, I am challenged with fatigue and emotional issues.  Taken by surprise that dealing with this destruction emotional strings are attached that get in the way of functioning.

I smiled when a storage tub was opened filled with EASTER DECORATIONS.  They are not damaged and I can use them in my new HOME.  Actually genuinely HAPPY that there are still nice things to decorate with.  HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

So thankful.

The two large metal racks on wheels in the dining room are nearly empty.  Took two weeks to empty.  SO HAPPY that this part is finished.  When the weather warms up, I have boxes to go through of items that were non-restorable.  More documenting and picture taking.  A deep sigh of relief will take place as this is concluded.

AS FOR FIXING UP RETIREMENT COTTAGE.....I continue to go back and forth on carpeting or laying hard wood floor.  It would work better for us if we laid wood flooring in one room at a time as to allow furniture to be moved out of one room at a time, laying floor then returning furniture onto a wood floor.  I thought I could always get nice area rugs to cover the brunt of the floors after the new floor were laid.  hum.

Get hard wood flooring, lay it and then get nice area rugs to use.  It is a big decision for me to know what to do.  Sigh.

'JUST DO IT'  comes to mind.  

Just do it,

d  

FLOYD's GRACE

Very relaxing week-end I endured.  As this week progresses I hope to as well.  Made headway on inspecting the textiles that were returned from fire recovery.  The metal racks on wheels have been a godsend.  VERY HELPFUL.  

Almost finished with the inspection of textiles returned to us.  Today I have been washing items that I plan to keep that have that chemical smell to them.  So my helpful utility appliances are working over time as I do laundry.  I am so very thankful for working appliances.  THANKFUL.  THANKFUL.  THANKFUL.  

If I can muster up the courage to unbox my wedding dress, I will take the gown out to see if it shrunk from the chemicals that are used to clean clothing after a fire.  I wish I had just taken my gown with me when I showed the people that were picking textiles up for fire recovery.  I wish.  It was returned to me in a beautiful wedding dress box.  Very nice for a KEEPSAKE.  Hope she is in good shape.  If she has shrunk I will still have the garment.  Will be saddened in a way, but thankful in another.  

~A BEAR NAMED GRACE~

Today I will continue to go through some of the boxes that were returned.  There are a few plush toys that survived.  I have them sitting on the table beside me giving them a glance from time to time.  A bear named GRACE was saved.  

~FLOYD~

How appropriate... a bear named GRACE.  She survived.  No smoke stains on her.  Floyd sits beside her.  They're a couple now.  Floyd's Grace is beautiful.  THANKFUL these characters don't smell of SMOKE or CHEMICALS.

MY TEDDY BEAR GRACE WAS SAVED FROM THE FIRE.  I'M GLAD TO HAVE HER.  THIS GRACE CANNOT SAVE ANYONES SOUL, BUT I LOVE HER NAME.  WE CAN BE SAVED BY GOD's GRACE THROUGH GOD's ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, JESUS, WHEN WE RECEIVE HIM AS OUR PERSONAL SAVIOR.  I LOVE THE LORD AND AS IT SOAKS INTO MY SOUL THAT GOD LOVES ME AND SAVED ME THROUGH HIS GRACE, I AM DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE.  FOR IT IS BY NO OTHER THAT WE ARE SAVED THAN BY THE LORD JESUS.  A BLESSING TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH THIS SPIRITUAL REBIRTH.  LET THE WIND BLOW INTO YOUR LIFE.


It's going to be a long haul recovering from so much loss.  I am very BLESSED to be able to rest through-out the day at HOME.  My dear Husband had to return to work right after our fire and it has taken a toll on him.  PRAYING for strength.  My Father's illness and death along with his Mother's death are difficult enough. 

A QUILT SQUARE that my Mother had pieced together was not saved.  We still received it as this is the practice the company does.  They'll clean it if possible and return it to us cleaned.  If it cannot be cleaned, they return it to us as well and it is up to us to pitch it or keep it.

The square was not cleaned and we threw it away, but after I thought about trying to clean it myself, it had to be found in the trash bag we had thrown it away in.

Now my DEAR HUSBAND went searching for the quilt square after I said I wish I had tried to SAVE the square first.  HE FOUND IT.  HUGS to him.  HUGS.  I believe it will wash up alright and then I can still have something my Mother had given me.  So much of what Mom gave me was destroyed in the fire.

When sentimental things are destroyed it's harder to rejoice.  More difficult.

I think recovering from our fire will take a full year with emotional residue to deal with as time passes.

My dear friend Sherry told me that after one of her Uncles went through a fire that he went insane.  The dear man went insane.  Another cousin told me that after her Father-in-law went through a tornado, he never got over it and died.

I am in hopes that we will recover as best we can and continue on in this journey called LIFE.  Things fall apart and age right along with people.  This fire has been devastating.  I am working at willing a attitude that doesn't defeat me, but makes me see LIFE through different eyes.  Get involved with making NEW things to fill the void made by loss.  It won't be the same, but it might be even better.  PRAISE GOD we are not burn victims, there were no deaths.  PRAISE GOD we have an opportunity to LIVE awhile longer on earth. 

WHAT WILL I DO WITH THIS TIME?  I continue to age as we all do.  There are issues with fatigue and strength.  Health challenges, etc.  LIFE goes on and I must as well.

BLESSINGS,
d