January 22 Update

Good morning Everyone,

Vicky mentioned to me that she had posted a comment. I went to look for it and couldn't find it. I did not know I needed to look for comments under each post. I thought the comments would show up like the posts so I thought no one was commenting. If you have seen "Julie and Julia" I was having one of those moments of, "Is anybody out there?" Yes they are, I just didn't know how to find comments.

I know now and hope this will encourage all of you to make more comments.

The contractor and the adjuster have agreed on a number. As things come up the number may change, but now we can get started. They begin demolition on Monday. First they will remove what we are able to save such as the doors, the fireplace fronts, (I'm very pleased about that.), the stain glass windows, and possibly the vanity in the upstairs bathroom. Then starting on the second floor they will begin to remove all wall board and everthing else and take it to the studs. In the contract it calls for replacing all floors. So it truly will be gutted. The goal will be to get it cleaned out as quickly as possible and the roof on. We don't really know how long they expect that to take. One day at a time.

Two construction engineers came out to look at the foundation. Some work will need to be done by the Insurance company, and there is some that we just need to go ahead and have done while the house is being redone. So we have a clearer idea of what needs to be done and can move forward on this. I was really glad to know that the foundation was basically good.

Any of you who have talked to me have noted a sense of 'whelm' when I talked about the contents inventory. This week I was talking to Tracy about the sadness of seeing some things go. She asked which ones specifically and I mentioned the French armoire and (don't laugh) the little bowl I keep butter in. The next morning when I opened my email, I had two emails from Tracy. One was showing several French armoires that are very comparable to what we had. The second was a list of butter bowls, both were items listed on EBay. Well we have ordered two of the butter bowls, one of them is a Louisville Stoneware bowl, how cool it that? And my attitude is I am going on the shopping spree of my life. It is still a lot of work, but my attitude has shifted.

Perspective, I think I may have mentioned that a few times on Sundays. Just see something from a little different angle and the whole situation changes. Thank you Tracy.

Classes started last night. We have eight in the Roots class and this will be an awesome class.

Now I am off to Dallas for about twenty hours for Lee Wolock's ordination. I get to be with lots of ministers at a very precious and sacred time. Then on Sunday, I get to be with my LCSL community. Life truly is Good.

Blessings and much joy,

Rev. Carolyn