July 19, 2008 - Being Used by God...

Our pastor had an interesting sermon today. And considering his past week, I imagine he has been dwelling on the good and bad parts of life and how do we take all of that and live. While we often say we trust God, are we willing to be uncomfortable if in the end we understand the plan? He talked about betrayal and how Judas betrayed Jesus, yet the plan wasn't to take Jesus and murder Him, it was God's plan that Jesus GIVE it up and save us. He also talked about how we have the choice to make each day... each hour, each minute to live for God. Are those always easy decisions? Are we willing to give up self daily... hourly, each moment to live for God?

Much to ponder on when in the midst of cleaning up a house fire I see ultimately many things happening... of one big thing is my tiredness of the situation. Yesterday we heard back from the owner of the cleaning company and he wishes to come out on Monday with the crew leader who led out on the job to see what was done and what improvements can be done. The insurance adjuster will not be there... he told Dh he had made it perfectly clear what he expects done and he will not pay until the work is done. The owner does not want this on his reputation, considering he has an insurance company that recommends him and this adjuster works for 3 companies and he would lose a lot of business.

The owner told Dh that he will see what needs to be done and they will clean as long as it takes to get the house clean, even if that means starting over. My heart just sank... another week of cleaners??? I just want to get on with my life! The peas will be ready to can or freeze just about the time we get our replacement stove...maybe some sooner, but we can eat those. Tuesday is the day the stove arrives.

Dh and I have talked over our hopes and expectations for the summer and GONE... they are all gone. My garden is a mess, even though it is producing items, it is far less than expected due to rain, flooding and lack of time to keep on top of weeds. I can replant another crop for fall if I get it done in the next two weeks... I could replant beans, peas, lettuce, summer squash, etc. But will that happen?... likely not. Mulberries went by with no canning (no stove/oven). Raspberries are almost gone. Strawberries... no stove. My jelly canning is way behind and my only hope is... using juice from the store, which is a mite bit cheaper than regular jelly, but still... not a huge savings and not fresh fruit.

My time to get caught up on school is gone! The girls were to finish up one month's work of school over the 3 months of summer. That didn't and won't happen. In some ways, I can see here where that is OK. I just had to give up on my plan for the summer. My one daughter got a volunteer job in the kitchen at camp and is doing ok, but the work is hard and she is not used to the long hours, she got sick for a couple days, but has seemed to bounce back. Work is good, it builds character and I've never been upset to lay aside studies for good honest work. Perhaps God allowed this opportunity to come at just a time so that it might ease my own discomfort with giving up my plan for school for the summer.

Here, I come back to the current situation. I consider why are we going through this uncomfortable situation. Why the fire? Why the clean up? Why the problems with the cleaners. Am I willing to trust God’s plans? Oh how I do not want to see the cleaners come again on Monday. It seems my life has been on hold the last two weeks and another day is ultimately gone for any sort of plans of our own. Is that selfishness? Perhaps. I wonder why as does Steve as to why we have to be the ones to point out the problems to the boss? The insurance adjuster says he doesn’t want it to happen again, as does the cleaner company boss. Why did it have to happen to us? Why not someone else? The insurance adjuster says we are such honest people, and yet I hardly feel worthy of being called that. What makes us more honest than others? I guess I don’t completely understand.

I know that I hate confrontation. It just makes me physically ill. Headaches, back aches, etc. My ailment this time…. Bad breath! UGH! Nothing is helping to get it to go away. Is that so I don’t talk??? LOL. Let my husband do the talking, eh? Fine with me!!! After hearing the sermon, I was confronted with the fact that often times our lives are simply a seed planted to others. God is asking at this moment for our lives to be an open book to others. Are we willing? Yes, Lord, we are willing to be used by you. I found when confronted by the sermon that thoughts of wanting to duck out of the meeting on Monday are quite high. They don’t really need me there. I could just go shopping at … 8 AM in the morning! Ha! Not likely to happen, either. I realized I was dragging my feet. This is uncomfortable! Dh also realized he likely will miss overtime on Monday because of the meeting, but he didn’t want me to be alone. So sweet. I’ve got a husband willing to hold my hand through all of this and he is not enjoying it either. He says we have nothing to be ashamed of, we did not lie. The house is not soot free as it should have been left. The insurance adjuster verified that the job was done poorly as we did not know what to expect and the fact that he refused to pay for paint because cleaning was not done well… surely testifies to the poor job.

Anyways, I am seeing things and learning things in this situation. I am learning so much about myself, about our family and about how Satan wants so much to make our lives miserable often convincing our thoughts in selfish and vain ways. I also am increasing in awareness of God’s mercy, his wisdom and unending resources to pull from upsetting situations and circumstances and being able to create so much opportunity for growth out of them. Amazing!

Warmly, ~Melissa

• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

July 18, 2008 - Fire Cleaning update...Cleaners day 3, evaluation by adjuster

Sorry, I have not been on as of lately.  Just so busy cleaning! 

Day 3 of the cleaners went OK.  Just two of them came to clean carpets.  And they did it quite quickly.   We volunteered to move items, requested that we be asked to move the piano so they could wash the rug under it... but they didn't, they just cleaned around it.  *sigh*  How many times can you say... we want the piano moved!!!  When they left, I was relieved.  I just wasn't very happy with their service.

Today, the insurance adjuster came to see what they did and to give us the plan for the next step in getting back to normal after the fire.  We were basically approved to replace the kitchen ceiling (but not the dining room, yet... they currently both match... one was more damaged than the other and we are waiting to see if the cleaners will remove what was left on the ceiling).  We can replace the countertop (it was burnt in one corner and if Dh does the work, the adjuster will ok the replacement.  We will fix the cupboards... ourselves, and by doing that, I think the adjuster was happier to pay me for cleaning above the hours the cleaners had bid.  We turned in our receipt for the new stove.  My job is to email an estimate of cleaning left to be done in hours and itemized, email an estimate of kitchen repairs if we do the work with materials and time listed, and email a listing of items lost in fire (burnt items and food that was ruined from soot).  He said we would be reimbursed shortly for those items so we can begin repairs. 

We currently have about 10 areas that are pending needing a paint job.  But the majority of these areas aren't clean.  We took the insurance adjuster around and wiped with a chemical sponge in the kitchen and easily removed soot from the ceiling.  We also washed the living room ceiling with the cleaning solution and it wiped a nice white circle in the middle of a currently gray sooted ceiling (which they cleaned with a chemical sponge, but not with the solution).  The adjuster said... I've seen enough... I am calling this company and letting them know... because he had suggested them as well as our insurance company (different guy).  So, now, they will set up a date they can both be there and discuss the work done and what to do to remedy it.  The insurance adjuster does not want to pay out to this company if the house isn't "clean".  So, that is one more day to set aside for inspections.  Once inspected another plan will come about to decide who will finish the cleaning.  When he left today, I had a headache... I just want this to go away!  My mind wants things settled and it is getting to be a long process. 

Having no oven or stove adds a bit to the frustration... we are all a bit tired of sandwiches.  I thought having more raw items in our diet would be better for us, but apparently we are needing a bit of a change of heart... we are grumbling like the Israelites over eating the same style of food over and over and over.  I need a head break... just alot of stress going on!  

The stress isn't only the fire... We have VBS this week at church and my daughter was helping... that put me as a side helper... one that was used as needed.  I cleaned the church tonight as well since my older daughters are not here to do their jobs... they are working at summer camp.  I am being asked to lead out the children's program for a 2+ week evangelism program... with no breaks... it is every night (in September).  That is overwhelming for me to fathom at current, especially with all the driving.  VBS is hard enough on our family, especially with a 3yo!  Meals are never on time, bedtime isn't on time... I just don't know if I should commit to that big of a commitment.  The gal in charge of asking me (she's asked me 3 times now and the committee keeps coming back with new offers, LOL).  Anyways, they now know about the fire and asked if they could help "clean" the fire... I'm guessing so that I might help do the children's program!  I know their sneaky ways!  LOL.  With everything in limbo, though, I've had to decline their offer for this weekend, since I have to wait for another inspection of what was cleaned, so the BOSS can see what was and wasn't done.  

Other misc. items are popping up as well, though, I am not at liberty to say what they are.  These are more stresses that are happening to others, yet you feel you need to help, reach out in some way to help ease their pain.  I've been doing alot of praying. 

My most recent biggest stress was finding a louse crawling on my chest this morning.  Having helped with VBS and bending over so many kids' heads helping in crafts... just made me crawl... because the louse was not found right after VBS, but rather the next morning... that means enough time for nits to be in my hair... needless to say, I am now pulling at each thread of hair on it's own trying to find nits... It's more of a compulsive act.  I had lice with my daycare on two different occasions and it is so hard to get rid of when you have girls with long hair.  I told Dh this would be one occasion where I would consider cutting my hair as it took me nearly a month to rid it from our home... with the daycare.  Dh didn't say much.  He had actually asked me to cut it several months ago and it was his hope as well as his parents that it would remove the frizz from my curly hair...NOPE.  So he knows if I cut it, I'll just have a short frizz hairdo.  He'll let me do whatever... he knows how I hated the lice before... I just cried and cried over it.  I likely would cut more off this time, but I said I had to find another louse before I did.  I haven't and I haven't found any nits yet, either.   Creepies... just NOT what I needed at the moment!

On the lighter side, the adjuster said he found us some of the most honest folk he has found in a long time.  I found that odd.  Here we were complaining about the cleaners, but I guess he felt the complaints were justified.  We tried to think about what he meant exactly and we think it likely was that we said we were going to do the work ourselves and how we planned to do it... they will pay for that, but they WOULD have paid for a contractor to place a bid and pay us that and then we could have still done the work ourselves... meaning a contractor may have asked for $2500 to match our cupboards and replace them and we are asking for about $100 in materials and our time (at $10 / hour).   I guess you could call that honest... perhaps it was that we said upfront we plan to make other repairs/changes since we have to take everything down anyways...

We are still trying to figure out the total plan, but we've already figured out with what was approved, we will get our kitchen fixed... cupboards repaired, ceiling replaced, panelling replaced, wallpaper replaced, countertop replaced.  New oven and hood.  With all the cleaning we had done and will do, we will be able to pay our deductible ($1000) and have enough to upgrade our countertop to one that is formed rather than just a laminate on wood (which they are willing to pay for what we have, but nothing more)... but the cleaning affords us a couple hundred extra for a formed countertop, which means no more leaky water by the sink/window which seems to have found it's way to the cupboard underneath.  It also will afford us a new fridge.  Our current one is a used one and has been clunking and groaning for a few months, now.  So these are true blessings.  However, it is overwhelming my husband a bit.  He had summer plans to work on outbuildings and now he is being pulled inside.   I found it interesting, he asked me not to drag out the cleaning over the next couple months, but rather to get it done in the next couple weeks... I just looked at him in disbelief... one because I have 145 hours to clean and I wondered what expectation was to be met to have it cleaned in a couple weeks.  Then he sighed and said... I don't want to do the kitchen within a month, I'm sorry for asking you to turn the house inside out in two weeks as well.  Again I looked at him in disbelief... he doesn't say sorry very often.  *grin* 

Megan is home from camp and we are redoing her room as we put it back together.  Walmart had some cheap sales to add some different color to her room.  Her room is a mustard yellow color (it was our old bedroom and I love that color).  She however doesn't love the color alone, so we added jewel toned purple and jade to her room with the yellow it looks quite nice.  I spent about $100 on her room to update it, but Dh had overtime and wanted me to spend some money on her since BOTH her sisters left her for the summer.  Her older two sisters are working at summer camp... one is a counselor/horse barn help and the other one is volunteering as kitchen help and CIT (counselor in training).  Little Paige saw the curtains and said... Oooooo, Megan your room is beautiful!  It made Megan smile. 

Well, I need to get to bed... my sleep schedule is messed up again.  Back to working on it tomorrow! 

Warmly, ~Melissa

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

July 10, 2008 - Fire Cleaning Day 2

Yesterday was day two of having the cleaners come.  Only 4 came today.  The crew leader and the 3  ladies.  When the crew leader came in, he asked me if we saw anything and I asked about the cleaning of the screens upstairs and he looks at me absurdly and says... we dont do screens.  I mean, I'm not even mechanically minded enough to take apart a window... we just don't do that.  I should have called him on it and said... (one of the ladies did it yesterday in the living room), but I didn't.  He said he really didn't know what to do about it... I mean they never clean screens.  I said, well, I checked my daughter's bedroom because she kept getting soot on her face and I just wiped my hand on the screen and it comes back black.  He replied that if it would make me feel better, he would wipe it with a cloth but that is all he knew how to do.  I am not good at confronting people, but I didn't get angry... I am easily pushed down by others, so I just said OK, that would help so she didn't get black soot on her again.  So he returned to her room and did ONLY her room.  He says... I wonder why your daughter does that, that just isn't normal to put your face so close to a window that you hit the screen... I could tell he wasn't happy about it.

Secondly, then he comes downstairs and asks anything else?  And I showed him the ceiling in the laundry room, he says... yes it is streaked.  I said, well there is still loose soot up there, I took a sponge last night and it comes off... they just used a poor technique... willy nilly swipes (I didn't say that, though... I'd never be so bold to say something like that).  I said the reason I am pointing it out is that you say I should paint over it and he says yes.  And I said that we were told all loose soot has to come off the ceiling before painting.  Streaks will cover if they've been treated, but if it is loose, it will cause problems with the paint job.  He says... I will see what I can do.  You know you see all this stuff at night, that is why we couldn't get it.  I didn't reply to that, but in actuality at night it looked better than during the day with sunlight. 

Since I was asked to be out of the way, I finished the morning dishes and dried and put them away and went upstairs to write my girls a letter since they are away at camp.  Our house has wonderful sound carrying capabilities, which I normally hate because you can't get away from the noise anywhere.  But the cleaners apparently did not figure that out yet.  The crew leader started getting um... testy I would say.  He asked the girls cleaning the living room if they would follow up with polish today and they said sure.  Not unhappy in the least and he says... are you sure that's ok... and they give a questioning yes back to him... and he says... OK, I just didn't want it to be an imposition.  Very snooty almost like he was trying to make a point that they were going to go all out for me today.  The way he talked, I realized he did not follow with polish on any of the wood upstairs... probably the reason it looked very dull to me... even worse than normal... because the cleaner solution sucks the moisture out of the wood. 

Later, he was asked to pick up the tv so one of the gals could wipe under it.  And he just grumbled that there was not enough room... she says laughingly, there is plenty of room.  He disputed a while longer but finally does pick up the tv and she wipes under it.  Lots of dust bunnies under there... as I would expect cuz I NEVER pick up the tv... it is too large and bulky, so I dust around it.  She says thank you and doesn't make a comment... but he looks at it and says... OH my... that was so dirty under there.  I can't believe how dirty it is here.  (the tone inferred the entire house, not just under the tv).   He made a few other comments and the girls never added to his fussing... just tended to ignore him.  The one gal kept coming upstairs to ask me questions... as she was beginning to see she wasn't going to get the answer from her crew leader.  (she was one of the new gals). Another gal she kept asking questions about what is to be done... cuz he has the sheet and he yesterday kept saying... don't do that, don't do that... when they were supposed to do it.  But today he finally snapped at her and says... S****, you just don't give up... you nag on us all... we're not fast enough for you, we're not doing enough... she replied, no that isn't it... I just see another job to be done and since we have two newbies, I thought I'd keep them going if they were done.  And he says... NO, you do this all the time.  She got a little upset, but showed it by being quiet.  Poor gal and she's the one that WASHED our screens... loved her!  The other gals got quiet and they all tended to avoid the guy... I mean they were polite, but kept their distance.  They had 4 rooms to work on, so they had space to put between each other. 

One gal going into the bedroom, he says... do a real good job, because they don't want to repaint the ceiling.  So don't leave any streaking.  (UM... OK.... now if they can do it without leaving any streaking???  WHy not do it right the first time???  )  He said it like we were too lazy to paint the house.  And kept saying my dad should come paint it all... and I'm like... my dad is 64yo and he lives 3 hours away and is too busy... I don't care if you found out he is a professional painter... we're not going to do that to him. He asks me later if the guy outside is my Dad and I finally was able to let him know that my Dad doesn't live near us at all.  He quit the fussing over the painting.  OK, so now I am feeling this guy is a little crooked.  Doesn't do a good job just cuz he figures most people want to repaint their house.  He redid the ceiling in the laundry room and I can only find a couple streaks from when you'd roll cobwebs under the sponge (and that doesn't come out... only solution is to remove cobwebs first then sponge... which he doesn't do... I saw cobwebs in every corner, some still with soot on them.) 

I was very disappointed that the dining room ceiling wasn't saved.  I really like the ceiling tile... love it... very old fashioned with gold fleck in it.  So pretty.  I could handle redoing the kitchen, but wanted to keep the living room.  HUGE cobweb streak in one corner... ruined about 3 tiles... irreplacable!  The rest of the room came clean.  I was really disappointed, because they say to paint, which ruins the softening of the sound... which our house needs all the help it can get!   They missed a few other spots on purpose... to which I grabbed their chemical sponge and it came right off... I suppose once they streaked it... they realized it didn't really matter from that point on.  But if I PAINT it... it will really matter.  But I'm going to push for replacing the tile for sound reasons. 

I decided to leave at around 11 am... the tension was a bit too high for me.  I knew that they didn't know I could hear what was going on... but still, I felt they were unhappy with me there... so I left with Paige and got some shopping done.  We were out of dog food... so it gave me an excuse to leave.  I needed to go to the post office as well. 

I came home and other than the ceilings, it looks really nice in most of the rooms.  The kitchen area... the panelling is ruined.  The paint on the walls is ruined, and some wood boards didn't come exactly clean.  The burn areas still show on the cupboards... so now we will have to wait to see what has to be replaced.  We figure if we redo the ceiling and have to redo the paneling, it might be time for an overhaul.  The countertop is questionable... the cleaner they used left a sticky residue that I haven't been able to remove.  And it discolored the top... so I have two shades of green now.  Dh is going to ask the guy if we can settle up... meaning so much needs to be replaced, if we get quotes, can we just get the money and then redo the kitchen completely... if we saved on labor, we should be able to purchase the wood for Dh to make the cupboards... afterall he made these in the first place.  Not that we wanted to do this... but the kitchen doesn't look nice and trying to fix the pain and the wood, is going to cause alot of mess and it still won't look nice because of how the wood work is around the cupboards and such... and by removing it all (to do a good job), we likely will cause more damage to it yet. 

So that is our update.  I will post more, but I need to get dressed and move some furniture out of the way so they can wash carpets!

Warmly, ~Melissa

• 2 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

July 8, 2008 - Fire Cleaning has begun...

Today the cleaners arrived.  And Oh, my!  They set out their plan and we either agreed or didn't agree. And for the most part, I think we got on the same page. 

We did agree to wash the kitchen items inside the cupboards, which we had originally asked them... they said they figured 12 hours to clean the contents and today Dh and I spent nearly 15 hours (our hours together) cleaning and only got the upper cupboards done inside.  I have twice as many lower cupboards, so I am like... 12 HOURS??? what were they thinking??? 

Today they got the upstairs walls and ceilings done and they cleaned a few things that was nice to see... they cleaned off the girls' bathroom sink and the toilet and really the entire bathroom... it just sparkles.  The girls' rooms don't really look all that different... they basically cleaned walls and worked around the mess that the girls had left... I don't think they did the upstairs screens however... and I will maybe ask them to do that... as I got soot on the back of my hand checking...(Will I be brave enough to ask???  LOL).  They did wash the downstairs screens which was SOOO nice!  The big deal about the  screens is that for several days, my daughter Chelsea, 16yo, would come up with soot smeared on her face and we couldn't figure out where she got it... well she loves to look out windows and see as much as she can see and often she hits her nose on the screen... and so the nose smudge began and continued until just the day before she left for camp.  We figured it out that she was too "nosey" about what was going on outside.

Anyways, upstairs I wasn't super impressed... There are two rooms done real nice and two rooms done OK.  The one gal was very particular about her cleaning and she did the two nice rooms.  One was just learning and was working with the man who was the boss of the project, I guess you call him??  He says he likes cleaning walls and ceilings, but isn't interested in the details... and it kinda showed.  Not that it was horrible, it just didn't sparkle like the other two rooms.  And the one room my girls bunk bed in... that room just didn't shine... I offered to move stuff, but they just cleaned around it... so as soon as I pick up the stuff off the dresser, I'll have to clean it again... that kinda clean.  Why clean???   Oh well.  At least the ceiling is done... I hate doing ceilings!  

Downstairs they had a guy working solo in our front room... absolutely love that guy!  And he's not coming back!!!  He has other work to do the rest of the week... but he was so thorough and that room really shines as well.  I still have to clean inside the cupboards and clean the stuff ON the cupboards, but the doors and walls and everything shines!  He knows his stuff!  One thing we learned is this cleaner just sucks the life out of the wood and he says you have to follow it with murphy's soap to add some oil back into the wood to give it shine.  I would have to say that wasn't done upstairs on our railing as it is rather dull... but downstairs, our pantry doors just glow... love it!  

Here's the plan for the rest of the week as far as the cleaners go... Wednesday, they will finish the kitchen (walls, ceilings), dining room (walls, ceilings) and the master bedroom (walls and ceilings).  Thursday they will clean the carpets and the floors... which he said they'd clean the wood floors, but I'm guessing they are going to leave that to me, because we have so many items that need to be inside because of the outside dog... that he suggested moving those items to our dining room and kitchen area... well, we are moving the stuff and moving it back... so they aren't going to be able to clean under them... so that's another thing added to my to-do list.  

Thursday when they clean the carpet, they do not want us in the house at all... especially with Paige... as she will run on the wet carpet, get it dirty and it would just be best if we weren't in the house... he even suggested we sleep in the camper on Thursday night... too bad that is plum packed FULL of blankets and laundry that I have been doing for the last week!   Maybe I can find one of the beds... what an ordeal!  So after 3 days they will be gone!  GONE.  

That will leave me with alot of work!  I figured the kitchen will take me two more days, even with some help!  The entry room is like the kitchen as far as cupboard cleaning... so say 2-3 days in there.  The dining room... not so bad, maybe a day, the bathroom... likely a day, the living room... a day (want to polish that wood so it isn't dried out... and I think the piano is my job... they won't touch it... not sure how you clean soot out of a piano!).  My bedroom... likely two days.  Upstairs... 1-2 days in bedroom 1, 1 day in bedroom 2, 1day in bedroom 3.  Bathroom2 - 1/2 day.  And the storage areas they are not touching at all... and that will take me at least a week.  That's nearly 3 weeks of straight cleaning YET to be done!  I think we will make the deductible!  I will not be able to do much cleaning the next two days the cleaners are here... being banned from the house one day... and banned from downstairs tomorrow.   My girls also thought they might miss out on cleaning being at camp... well they didn't miss out on much!  LOL.  Perhaps with their help it can go a bit faster... I hope so!   

I am beginning to wonder about how the fire is helping me to get my house cleaned in one big swoop... because it isn't going to be one big swoop!  I will be cleaning the house until we are ready to start back up with school... no summer break for this MOM!  I am still plodding on... the house is getting decluttered.  I have one van full of items ready to go to the church garage sale.   I'm sure I will have more as I enter more rooms;  I've only gone through just the laundry room and part of the kitchen!   And the big storage area upstairs... which is the area I NEED to declutter... they aren't going to even try to clean... they even suggested I move everything into that area... now wouldn't that just make the area worse again???  CRAZY! 

Well, I better go work for another hour or so.  I hope to clean off the kitchen counters and the dining room furniture so that they can move items around and clean.  Tomorrow morning I will be emptying bookshelves to my bed so they can clean our bedroom.  I then will head upstairs to likely Paige's room to "finish the cleaning", doing the detail work.  I'm so tired and so very sore! 

Now... you know your house is big when the cleaners joke about hating to break into our house because it is so big and there are so many rooms... even a burglar would get lost!  One said that after a lady got lost trying to figure out where to go and she says... there's too many rooms in here!   Dh liked the comment... he loves his big house.

Warmly, ~Melissa

• 3 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

July 7, 2008 - Busy...

I likely won't be on here much for the next week as cleaning officially begins tomorrow.  I have been busy however filling boxes and taking clean wash out to the camper.  Boxes are going into the outside mudroom.  I am exhausted just for yesterday's filling of boxes.  I have no idea where they are going to start, so that is a bit frustrating as well.  I may be packing up boxes that I don't need to mess with for a few days.  OH well! 

I quick checked my measurements from my increased activity...although I wouldn't say I am getting an aerobic workout... climbing the steps and lifting boxes and moving boxes has given me quite a bit of undeliberate strength training.  And what happened was just as I suspected... many of my sizes went UP... but I know I had little muscle underneath, so this is beefing up the muscle and for that I am glad.  It is noticable.  My lower thigh... those muscles above your knee... I can see them now... Woo Hoo and that size went up nearly 1.5 inches.  I laughed.  My calves went up, my upper chest and my hips went up... which I have big butt muscles when they are toned!  I did have two losers... the more important ones... slight loss on my upper arm, which is flabby!  And a loss of over a 1/2 inch on my waist.   This wasn't an official check, I just wanted to see what was going on... 

Anyways, I need to get back to packing.  I think I might head out and get our groceries while it is raining this morning and then come back and pack the rest of the day and evening.  I was going to stop at Menards and get a few laundry baskets... they are on sale for $2.48 and that would help with moving so many books back and forth.  I hope to find some more free boxes as well.  I see Menards has throw rugs for a buck... those rag woven rugs... we use them for camping and some are nice colored...browns and my daughter picked out a few pink ones... my other daughter some harvest colored ones... Fun!  I likely will use these in the bathrooms as my b-room rugs are disgusting and likely ruined.... My yellow rug is gray from the soot and everyone walking on it.  Also on sale are canning jars for $3.48 with a rebate... so I will pick up two of those cases as well.  

I need to get going as things won't get done if I am on the computer.

Warmly, ~Melissa

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

July 4, 2008 - Today... Happy 4th!

I took the girls to the parade.  They decided at the last minute to help with the church's float, so I took them.  It's about 30-35 miles from our house, so we got up early and got some chores done then left.  The Parade theme this year was REMEMBER WHEN... and our church's float was small (just a pick-up truck with several walkers walking by it).  They had signs that said "Wise Men still seek Him"  and 3 wise men in the back of the truck with a wooden camel.  They got lots of cheers, I guess, through out the parade, so they knew people appreciated the thought.  My kids handed out flyers with the rest of the walkers... they has small children's booklets and magazines to hand out and a few adult flyers as well.  I just watched from a friend's house which is the very corner the parade starts and while we saw all the floats, many weren't in sync until after the first block. 

After the parade, I quickly ran into town with a friend's keys to her store and picked up as many empty boxes as I could fill in our mini van for the BIG FIRE CLEAN UP!  I so appreciated the boxes, that means I can start right away (and we did this afternoon), just removing dirty items from the immediate house and have them out of the way for the cleaners.  I packed up my cookbooks and then boxed up all the food they told me to throw and I also inventoried it all.  My girls packed a few boxes of items they did not want to have messed with when they are away at camp.  

We are to record our time cleaning and boxing items and we can work off our deductible.  The insurance adjuster told us to keep track of times.  He does not have the exact rate we will be paid at, but it will be between $8-10.  I figured if we got the rate of $8, we need to work off 132.5 hours.  So far, we've logged 16.25 hours.  Not much, but it's hard to do much when they say you can't clean until the cleaners come.  But some things like laundry and boxing up items we can do (now that we have approval).  I have four pages of inventoried items from my spice cupboards.  The adjuster said I'd likely have to take a price shop and get some prices on the items and then figure the cost... by how much was left in the packages.  Full, half, 1/4, etc.  I am really hoping that turning in sheet with prices will be adequate.  Rebuying everything right now seems just over my head.  First, there is no where to put it, and second, I just want the house clean before I think about restocking the cupboards.   I will say however that fried potates with no seasonings aren't as grand as one might think... LOL.  I really should buy a little salt and some garlic or a couple seasonings... but then again... maybe I just shouldn't fry anything!!!  That's bad for my health anyways!  

I am feeling a bit better today.  I was thinking about how overwhelming this process is really turning out to be.  And yet... I recall that recently I was stunned by the doctor's diagnosis of depression.  As I was thinking of the garden... if you are gone 1 week, it takes nearly 3 weeks to catch up with weeding... things just don't stop growing!    As I looked at the house and noted my past couple years worth of keeping house (little was done when I was dealing with my daughters illnesses, our hard sheep year, and my depression)... I realized I kept the family areas clean... as clean as say... there wasn't food stuck to the furniture, but dusting was done every couple of months rather than once a week... I had lots to catch up on... and if it worked out like the garden... even though I am getting my energy back, trying to keep up and catch up at the same time was still going to be a lengthy process.   Now I am offered help.  I was at first mortified that they are cleaning EVERY little piece of my home, but I am beginning to be grateful for this opportunity... I mean how often does one get a full cleaning and professional cleaning help when one does spring cleaning?   I simply have to humble myself and just admit that I need help to get back on my feet... and Wow, God already provided that help!  Even before I asked.  How great is that?  God is sooooo good to me sometimes that I know I hardly deserve any of this (I don't deserve any of it!), but oh how grateful I am to be His child!    

Warmly, ~Melissa

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

July 1, 2008 - Fire Update: Cleaners came today to look around...

The cleaners came today to look around and WOW is all I can say.  They told me that I need to throw out any food in the kitchen that was in a box or in a jar... that the soot gets into the food and it is junk... he said if you want a head start ... start making a list of all the spices and foods in your cupboards here by the stove and in the cupboards in the kitchen.  UGH! 

They also took their special cleaning sponges and wiped in every room and found soot around the entire house.  They said this is worse than moving.  You have to take everything out and clean it and replace it back again.  Electronics... especially in the kitchen are likely junk and hopefully the insurance will cover.  Apparently the soot gets into the workings of the machines and will ultimately burn them out in a short time... that's my stove, my microwave (which I don't use alot, but DH does), two bread machines, my grain mill, my kitchen aid mixer and my bosch mixer, my fryer (which we were going to give up anyways), my smoothie maker, all that kind of stuff...   I'm wondering if the fridge qualifies as well. 

I seriously was thinking this is nuts... this was a small fire.  And you're telling me that cleaning up my house alone (just wiping things down) is going to cost between $5,000 and $10,000!!!  And replacing all this other stuff...   Not to mention the cupboard damage, the counter top damage and the hood vent damage.  The ceilings in the kitchen and dining room can be cleaned, but not completely... both cleaning companies suggested cleaning, then sealing, then painting over.... OR replacing completely.  I absolutely LOVED that tile!  It was unique with gold flecks in it... nothing on the market like it now.  GONE!  We'd rather see it replaced than painted however.  But what a mess that will make. 

I asked the guy after hearing all that they wanted done... every thing cleaned out of every box, every cloth item washed... every hard item wiped down (down to every single book ... everything (does he realize how many books we have????  I own a small library in my house!) .  I'm like... is this really reasonable for a small fire???  And he said... small fire big fire... it's still a fire and still smoke damage to the home.  He said realistically the  damage is the same except our structural support is still there.  He said it is like being pregnant... either you are or you aren't... there are no little pregnancies.   That made total sense to me and helped it sink in.  Cuz when I am sickest with my pregnancy is in the beginning.  (when I'm a little pregnant... ain't no one going to tell me I'm just a little pregnant!  LOL)

So, now I am befuddled over this.  I am trying to figure out what this little fire has caused in our life... a total upheaval!  My girls are leaving for summer camp on Sunday.  The one cleaning company said they can likely start on Monday after they leave.  That leaves me alone to work with them with Paige by my side and keeping her out of their hair as well.  If I clean, I can make between $8-10 an hour to decrease what we owe on our deductible...  great.  Perhaps we can work off our deductible considering the expected expenses...  But why this trial?  Why if we can make this work without too much added expense... what is the sense of this trial happening.  That is what I am pondering.  I am considering if it is God giving me an honest look at how much stuff we have and how if we didn't have this much stuff (which most of it is other peoples giftings to us)... how much easier it would be to clean...  Is it building character... Is it me taking an honest look at myself and my own abilities.  I just took on SS teacher at church and it starts this Week... now I have this mounting over me?  Wow is all I can say.  I'm sure God will show me what the true reason is in time. 

I'm still not mad with my daughter.  Her room actually the guy cleaning was going to be the worst of them to clean... they said 2 days alone in her room.  UGH!   And she will be gone at camp when they come to clean... so she will have little say on what stays or goes.  She is a bit worried. 

Well, tomorrow the adjuster comes and We will find out (hopefully) what the situation is with the appliances and damage to the cupboards and such.  The cleaners just eluded by past experience with other fires of what to expect. 

Until then,  ~Melissa

• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

June 28, 2008 - A few flood pictures from our view...

I thought I would share a few pictures taken from our yard.  Most of them focus on the creek that runs through about a 1/2 - 3/4 mile from us.  This creek is normally not overly visible from our place.  The tall grass usually covers it and it is normally about 5-8 feet across and ankle to about 3 foot deep in the small pooling curves. 

As for the flood measurements... I am unsure of how deep it got.  I do know that it covered about 1/4 mile across at least.  A bit more in some areas.  This is one of the creeks that eventually leads to a river that runs to the town south of us.  The town that I mentioned had lost water because the flooding flooded the water treatment station and put out the generators.  At the end, I will post a link to our local newspaper and you can see pictures of the flooding in north Iowa.  My aunt sent me some pictures of flooding damage in her area as well (she is in eastern Iowa... broken roads from the dirt underneat being swept away)... Crazy... water can do such amazing things! 

This is our back pasture.  The ground was saturated like this for days.  The standing water in the field behind the fence belongs to our neighbor.  You can see water in another field near the top of the photo.

This is a small leak in the basement.  Just fun to catch the drip coming out of the wall.  It was less than a half inch deep around this and it ran towards the drain, so no real big mess. 

This was off our porch.  This is the day before we left on vacation. You can see the water up around our chicken barn.  The feed bin on it's side was like that... so it wasn't damaged.  Dh just hasn't gotten it set up yet. There is no creek in this photo... this is all field and yard that is filled with water. 

The road we live on is about half way down in the picture.  You can barely see the gravel road through the grass.  The water you can see rushing about 1/3rd the way down the picture is in a field.  This is a field that we actually used to cut hay in a couple years ago, until dh decided to start buying hay.  The fence in the bottom of the picture is our paddocks for the sheep.

This is the same position, just down a bit.  I tried to take them in succession.  This is just to the right of the above picture. 

Here the gravel road is about 2/3 down in the picture.  Cows graze where this flooding is normally.  The farm pictured is a mile away and they raise cattle. 

This was taken near our apple trees from our yard.  Poor picture, but a wider view to see how extensive the flooding was.

This one shows how wet and soggy our garden was for days and days.  Sometimes more water than this was in it.  I couldn't walk in it at all.  It was just sinking mud.  My garden looks nothing like this, now.  It is nearly all green with 6 inches of grass in it... looks like the pasture.  The rain sure helped the grass to grow and it is keeping me busy trying to find the plants of veggies.  Our land ends about half way down in the middle of the picture.

Hail pictures from the day before we left on vacation. Some as large as golf balls... this was about 20 minutes after the hail... so some melting had occured. 

I think this was in my flower garden.  UGH! 

This is paige collecting hail in a canning jar.  Yes she has a piece in her mouth!  She thought this was great and collected about 4 jars full of hail.  She loves ice! 

Hail brought the leaves down. 

Hail hit the rhubarb.  Only 3 bunches were ok, being sheltered from the hail.  I have about 5 bunches that look like this.  Now the holes are all crusted up and brown... looks pretty bad. 

I'm out of space.  I'll likely pare down some pictures in a few days.  But enjoy for a short time!  Look at the Globe Gazette site for more flood pictures of north iowa. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

June 27, 2008 - FIRE! in the Kitchen!

Oh My!  God was watching over us today!  My husband isn't so sure, LOL... he'd of rather had the entire house burn down!  *grin*

I was upstairs on the telephone ordering some SS supplies for church.  My daughter was making lunch.  She had put a pan of oil on the stove and had a question so came up to ask me.  She waited patiently for me to get off the phone... in the meantime, black smoke comes billowing upstairs and we are wondering what is happening. 

(here the cupboard you can see is a bit black.  We even wiped this... it doesn't come clean.  It melted the paint off the hood and the buttons of the hood are melted as well... the only melted items on my spice rack was a bottle of Vit. C tablets!)

We go downstairs (me still on the phone trying to politely finish up my order without saying... goodbye and hanging up).  The house is so dark with smoke you couldn't see across it downstairs.  Sparks were coming from below the pan.  My daughter shuts off the heat and we open windows to clear the air.  Once the air is cleared, we come back in to see what happened. 

Apparently, the pan of oil caught fire.  The front panel of the stove is melted... so that my push button controls no longer work.  My pan, my teapot, and some tupperware near the stove are melted and cracked.  A bottle of oil that was near the stove is melted and oddly shaped.  The stove hood is black and charred... the light cover melted out of it and on the top of the stove.  The cupboards are slightly burnt/charred (the one above the hood and the one to the right of the stove.  But BLACK soot is all over the entire house!  The tile in the kitchen and dining room is questionable as to whether that will clean up... we can't wipe it, it is a soft tile.    The tile in the kitchen appears discolored under the soot as well, as if the heat had discolored it as well. 

(hood light cover pieces) 

We wait for insurance adjusters and a cleaning service to tell us what will clean and what won't.  My daughter just feels sick about the situation, but is realizing how she will never do that again.  She is so sorry! ... she even learned in home ec what NOT to do, and yet she didn't realize how just slipping away for a short time would cause a fire so quickly.  Mom and Dad are just happy no one is hurt.  I have much cleaning to do, now... on top of my garden troubles, but we are all fine. 

(In this photo, you can see that dh took the ceiling duster and tried to swipe the ceiling... that became black instantly and the part that looks white from his sweep... isn't.  It is still fairly gray and sootish looking, despite what the picture is showing.  So the gray parts are actually pretty dark black in the house.)

I praised God that we were all safe.  I chuckled and said Chelsea... this is a sign from God that we aren't supposed to eat fried foods!  She couldn't help but laugh.  That was one of my diet changes we plan to make.  (less fried foods).   I also told her that it is uncommon for a grease fire to put itself out, usually it catches something else on fire and the house starts on fire.  I told her that I think God put it out.  After all, she was obeying by making lunch.  She came and waited patiently and respectfully while I was on the phone... ordering church supplies of all things.  She just forgot about what oil could do if left on the stove unattended.  God knew that.  Even though we have an entire mess of a house to clean up, and we lost our stove and the stove hood... and oven, I guess, too... none of the controls work.  God is good to keep us safe. 

( these containers both had oil in them.  Imagine had they caught fire as well... the tupperware mini pitcher is melted by the handle.  The canola oil container is smooth and extended from the heat... instead of molded like the rest of the bottle). 

Back to clean up...

(soot.  You can  tell where we wiped.  What you can't tell from most of the photos is even though we wiped, it is still gray on the panelling, not yellow toned like in the photos... because of the flash.  The swirly lines in the soot are from Dh vacuuming... the cobwebs were horrendous... really black and he had to clean them up before the adjuster came... I'm like... we've been gone on vacation for 2 weeks... who cares!  The soot is on much in the downstairs, the upstairs is less of a mess, so I am thankful for that.  For some reason the smoke congregated in the bathroom off the dining room... that room is about as bad as the kitchen.  And the smell... well, it isn't going away.  I'm sure it will take professional cleaning for that.) 

Warmly, ~Melissa

• 6 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

June 25, 2008 - I am back.../campmeeting

I just thought I'd mention quickly that I have gotten back from our vacation.  Campmeeting was wonderful.  I spent my mornings with my little one in cradle roll.  My afternoons were spent at two classes by Hans Diehl on health while Dh watched Paige.  And the evenings we three spent at the evening meetings.  The older girls had their own classes that they attended.  All enjoyed campmeeting. 

Megan was in earliteen and most of her meetings were on health.  She LOVED it... I thought it was quite interesting that she enjoyed it so much.  I think their theme was Shine for Jesus.  Some parts were on witnessing, but most on how to give your life to Jesus and how to shine for Jesus.  She learned what cigarettes do to your lungs.  She learned about dandelions and some on food choices.  She loved her teachers and enjoyed the singing and all the activities.  The activities were changed a bit from past years, but that didn't bother the kids much.  Megan didn't miss the ball game, she never wanted to go anyways.  And while they still went to V. Fair, Megan opted not to go.  She gets sick on long car rides and was hesitant to once again climb into a bus full of stinky kids.  *grin* 

Chelsea was in Youth and enjoyed her classes.  She said they were very real.  Not way out there as past meetings have been.  They talked in the mornings in small groups and had specific discussions on dating and friendships and witnessing and things like that.  She said they had good discussions and everyone in her group really was honest and the leaders were well appreciated.  She said she even commented on a few things and her thoughts about waiting for the right one... giving your husband something special... not your boyfriend.  And the Pastor appreciated that she was able to voice it without being vulgar, but with being able to make it sound like a "special" way to keep your relationships clean.  The pastors had good thoughts on getting the kids to think when it came to relationships and dating.  We're kinda ... well really close to courtship... I don't like to get in a box and say this is what we are about because simply we aren't so strict to follow all the "rules" some have put on courtship.  We basically follow the courtship principles in dating and really work with the girls to know who they are dating before they are dating.  So far, just my 18yo has been "dating", my other girls are not even ready... my 16yo even said... I am waiting longer... I mean if I found a boyfriend at 16yo... what is that nearly 4 years to wait until marriage... that's WAY TOO LONG (too much temptation).  Amazing.  On the Mom side it has been so neat to talk with my girls and prepare their hearts for relationships... hearing their concerns and their honest thoughts... At times I wondered if I bordered on insanity because of how I was leading them (so different than I was raised), but after their upset outbursts (my friends are dating... there's nothing wrong with dating, I'm GONNA date, etc.), they calm down and rationally think it through and come to the same conclusion and often are more convicted on the thoughts of courtship and I see them sharing them with their friends... they've seen close friends make poor dating choices and they all are seeing how following a pre-thought out course is much better than just jumping in and winging it.  ANYWAYS, the pastors gave each of the kids a fake pearl to represent how they are a pearl of God's.  You've only got one pearl to give away... wouldn't it be neat to give this to your husband and say... it's all yours!  Chelsea thought it was neat.  The pearl sits in a little box on her dresser, now.  Maybe I will consider getting her a nicer pearl... than a plastic one with a bead hole in it!  LOL.  But overall, she enjoyed it.  They did prayer walking this year... on campus and out in town.  She really enjoyed that.  I was so shocked, she is the loud one, but usually more shy when it comes to praying or doing anything in public and she did it.  These Pastors really worked with the kids and helped them learn how to reach out to others and gave them practical things to try and mentored them along the way... terrific.  her class also didn't go to the ball game... Chelsea didn't mind... she only went to be with her friends... she never enjoyed the games.  She did go to v. fair... that was about the only outside activity other than one day of swimming that was off campus and she thought it would be boring that way, but she loved it... really enjoyed her week.  Still is talking about her Pastor's thoughts and now applying them to how they will work for her.  God was there this year! 

My classes with Hans Diehl went over the CHIP program... Coronary Health Improvement program.  I attended some of his the year before, but this year tried to hit everyone, but I did miss one.  Somehow I got out of the aspect that it was meant to improve heart health and just saw the overall picture of improving one's health overall.  As a nurse I had always divided health into categories and even though I thought I understood preventive medicine, I don't think I totally grasped how to relate that to others.  And yet maybe it is because I've had issues with my overall health as of lately that I'm trying to figure out what is wrong and how to fix it and that ISN'T the issue!  DUH!  I shouldn't only choose one thing to get better... but rather make choices to be healthier regardless of what is wrong with me.  I was treating good health like a pill.  Only do part of it as long as I can stay healthy enough and enjoy the rest of my offences until they show up in health disorders down the road.  God created us and gave us the perfect diet... fruits vegetables and grains to keep us healthy.  When meat and dairy were introduced our life expectancy dropped dramatically.  Health problems became an issue and continue to this day.  Good health means good heart health, good lung health, good muscle health, good mental health, etc.  It means I make healthy choices because God told me this was what my body needed.  God didn't create cheetos for a reason... they aren't good for our bodies.  Why do we insist on tantalizing our tastes and feel cheated if we eat the way God created us to eat?  Somehow that sunk in to me and for the first time, going vegan (no meat or dairy or eggs) doesn't sound scary or way out there or even fanatical... it sounds reasonable. (Sounds funny coming from a small farm that raises their own lamb and chickens, eh?)  I understand I will have major challenges in our home as we adapt to eating better, but overall my entire family is receptive of making better food choices... We will take it in steps and our first step is to increase fruits and vegetables and whole grains.  I make whole grain bread, but our french bread and rolls and such have been with white flour... and they are all willing to experiment with recipes to find a whole grain alternative to these items.   Willing by having an open mind about it... before when I've tried, they baulked right from the start.  Give up our white flour cinnamon rolls???  I like what Dr. Diehl said that you are working towards the optimal diet.  The diet that your body runs the best on.  Changes made fast or small, but changes made to eating better.  I saw that not only that, but we also need to have the optimal lifestyle (which he didn't touch on, but due to alot of reading I've been doing lately... I've applied it to the total picture... good food, good lifestyle habits means a healthy person).  I don't want to fix problems one by one as they show up by taking pills and being dependent on surgeries or other fixes that the doctors decide I need to accept and treat my condition... but ultimately never cure it.  What I found out is that health is reversible.  Meaning I can obtain better health and be healthier at 50yo than I am at 39yo by making some better choices and by doing that, I can reverse damage on my heart, my mental health (depression), my physical condition... Wow!  Feel younger, less pain, less foggy brain, less whatevers...  I learned that it isn't about doing it on my own power, but by God empowering me to be more than I am right now.  And why?  Because it will bring Him glory.  If I am healthier, I can do His work much better.  I can reach out, I won't be tired.  I can  also keep my family healthier and raise my kids up with tools that will help their families as well.  Not to my glory, but God alone.   I will share some of the items I am looking at for obtaining better health in another post.  I hope share my journey with you all.  From start to finish in accomplishing better health.  Can you tell I am psyched to get started?  (My family isn't as Xcited as I am, but they are anxious for me to get to feeling better and if it means doing it together... they are OK with it.) 

On arriving home... I found lots for me to do.  I have been busy since arriving back last Sunday.  I still am not caught up.  But overall, I think we will be fine.  The flooding didn't hit us exactly, but it did cause some sifting of the soil and my entire garden has a hard crust on it... not too healthy for growing veggies and fruits.  The hail also did more damage to it than I first thought... we likely lost 50-75% of the plants.   I will likely be busy adding compost to soften things up again.  I am also replanting.  I will give a garden update in another post.  Just wanted to touch.  Several of you have asked how we were doing... and we are doing well.  The town to the south of us has water once again and is functioning again.  I saw yesterday (while going to a dentist appointment) the park hauling away truckload after truckload of dirt.  The city park was completely flooded and it looks more like a sand quarry than a park.  Very dirty, ruined the grass and flowers... and like I said, just piles and piles of mud and dirt and sand.  I see road repairs have been mostly completed while we were away.  Ruts in the roads are filled in and again usable.  Still a few roads closed, but overall, life has returned to normal for most in our area... short of the neighborhoods that were underwater... their homes show piles and piles of garbage out on the front lawns.  My sister got a foot of water in her basement (not as bad as some, but still not good) and it ruined her furniture in the basement (it was a finished basement... the sewer actually backed up in her house, it sounds like).  I will be making a visit out to her in the coming week.  Things are stable as far as her damage goes, clean up is done... she's just got to now replace the lost items.   

Well, thanks for the thoughts and prayers.  I appreciated them.  God is good.  Short of a problem garden, we are doing fine.  

Warmly, ~Melissa

• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link