January 11 - Update

Hello everyone,

Yesterday we met with the contractor we expect to go with. We are scheduling a walk through with the adjuster for later this week and when we reach a preliminary agreement as to what we think this will cost, then work will begin. My expectation is to be back in our home by July or August.

The crew is here cleaning out the house now. I was kind of dreading it, thinking it would be so final and I wouldn't like that. It does feel final as the contents are put in the dumpster and it also feels like the next step to restoring the home. So when I walked in there yesterday and saw everything out of the Great room, the room where we met, it actually felt lighter. There are still decisions to be made as they reveal more things buried under the rubble. They are putting the furniture out where we can see it better and we are considering what might actually be saved. Does anyone know any furniture refinishers?

There are four guys working in that cold cold house. Some debris can't be moved yet because it is frozen to the floor. We are really anxious to see what condition the floors are actually in. I don't think we can save all of them, but I do hope some of them can be saved.

There are more opportunities to clean things up if anyone is interested. I keep wondering if there are more things out there that people have cleaned up. There is some paper work I am looking for. I did order all the books we need for Roots and Treatment and Meditation, they will be here on Monday.

If you were not able to join us last Sunday, the Rainbow Center was a good experience. I am looking forward to checking out the Snelling Chiropractic building next Sunday.

One more memory from the story - On the Monday one week after the fire, Sharon called and said she was bringing dinner. She brought a picnic for five from Mark's Feedstore, (barbecue). When Bob and I go, we order one meal and split it. So it was a lot of food. We called Sue, she came over and, of course, Sharon stayed and we laughed and talked and just had a great time. Just in case you don't know, Mark's has the best buttermilk pie I have ever eaten. that was such a lovely way to spend the first anniversary.

Bob is up, we are going over to meet with the guys and mark what we want to keep.

Have a blessed day!

Rev. Carolyn