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| Going to the house makes me sad, however it makes me realize how much stuff I had and how much I need to survive. Tom and I have both decided that the fire has in many ways freed us from the stuff. Papers from college and past jobs and old letters written to me in college. Things that when faced with it didn't mean that much and we can find ourselves living without. That doesn't mean it isn't hard. It's difficult to see your treasures lying in frozen heaps on the floor blown from their home by the firemen's hoses or tossed by the firemen themselves.
The most important things are safe. I keep telling myself that. Tom, Bella and I are unscathed. Some of the items that were Tom's mom survived and many of our pictures had already been scanned into the computer. Tom and I are so thankful to my parents who have been invaluable help and support to us.
Got to run cleaning what we are able to keep, which is keeping us busy.
So tired. Pray for strength and endurance to get through this.
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| It's been a while since I've written, but I have been trying to keep up with what has been going on in your lives. I wanted to share what's been going on here. Last weekend Tom and I left for Portland, Ore. for our first real big out of town overnighter without Bella. We had a great time hanging out, reconnecting with old friends and spending time together. We had considered making it just one night, but when we checked into our hotel we decided we should just go ahead and plan for a second night.
At 3:15 a.m. Sunday morning we received a phone call from one of our neighbors at home who was frantic asking if we were in our house. When we told her 'no' she replied that our house was on fire. Tom and I grabbed everything, jumped in the car and started the 3-1/2 hour drive home. We called some family to go to the house and a few friends to begin the praying and we spent the next three hours talking, singing praises, and crying as we traveled home. With family at the house we received regular updates on what was happening.
Arriving home was difficult. Our carport and back patio were almost gone. The front windows had been broken out, water dripped from everything and ice was forming everywhere. It was a difficult scene. It was 24 hours before we could really go in and assess the damage and removing items was even longer.
The house has been looked at by an insurance adjuster and he has determined that it is a total loss and that it should be torn down are rebuilt and most of the contents trashed. The only items we really should save are those that really can't be replaced.
We are so thankful that we were not home at the time of the fire. God has truly had His hands guiding us. Tom and I had only decided to leave for Portland a couple of days before, and the day we left I was anxious and didn't really want to go. I was cleaning like mad trying to get ready to go. That night when Tom and I were eating dinner he commented on my behavior that day and he said, "You thought we were going to die this weekend didn't you." The honest answer is yes. I did. I really thought something was going to happen. I just didn't know what it was.
God has been so good to us. We have great family, church family and friends who have really come around and supported us. We are so blessed. We are thankful that our family is safe and that we have a warm place to stay (my parents house). Everything else is just stuff. The important thing is that we are all ok.
Here are some photos of the house. It's a disaster. I know I didn't leave it in this condition! 
living room
carport
hallway looking into Bella's bedroom.
upstairs bath looking into Bella's room
our bedroom
our closet
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| Today was the first day of preschool for Bella. She has been so excited about going since we first mentioned it. Yesterday, I think she started getting a little nervous because she wasn't really excited about going, but that changed this morning.
She has been practicing introducing herself to people. She will say "Hi, mynameisBella. What'syourname." quickly. We're working slowing her down a little so people can better understand it. Today, she walked in the front door of the preschool and one of her teachers was walking down the hall toward us and she said, "Hi, mynameisBella. What'syourname." It was adorable.
There are two teachers and only 8 kids in her class, which Tom and I are really excited about. She has programs and special days scheduled throughout the year, so it will be fun seeing how she does in that. The preschool program she is in is very musical and last year they did a "Three Little Pigs" opera at the end of the school year. This year, they are going through curriculum that is based on "The Music Machine" Ahhh, the memories....
Here are some pictures from her first day. They aren't the greatest. She kept shutting her eyes and saying "Cheese!"
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| Please pray for me. I am headed off for Lasik surgery. Ihaavne't been on line in a while because I can't see the computer sscreen to type. Sorry if this is chalk full of mistakes. My vision is about -500 so I have problems seeing much of anything lately.
I lost my glasses in the Snake river a few weeks ago and Tom and I decided it was time to bite the bullet and have the surgery done. (I wasn't swimming) We were boating and the boat stalled in the middle of the river and I jumped in to help push it to shore. I wasn't even thinking about my glasses when I jumped in.
I'm nervoius, but I have talked to several people who have done it and they have said it was the best decision they have ever made/ AAAHHHHH!!!!
Anytway, I hope this is understandable I can't see it to proof read it.
Have agreat day!!!!
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| Well life goes on. I haven't been around a computer long enough to compose my thoughts and write them down lately. We've been busy with the office (a big blessing) and Bella has kept us on our toes (also a blessing.) I can't believe she's almost three. We went to see a friend's baby this week. It's hard to believe Bella was once that small. She loved the baby. She walked up to her and said. "The baby is beautiful." Ahhh...it melts my heart.
We are having her birthday at our house again. It should be fun. We'll put the kiddie pool out and let them swim. I am learning to work with fondant. So she will be having a 3-D, fondant covered Rocket cake (Little Einsteins.) It should be fun.
I need to have a yard sale. I know this is random. But I've got so much crap. I need to simplify. I also need a massive room cleaning in my craft/sewing/spare bedroom. It's been piled with stuff since we moved it. I haven't been able to sew or really do much of anything in there since I moved in. Up side. . .the carpet is clean. I need storage solutions. Big time!!!
Tom's starting the groundwork to build Bella a playhouse. He's cut out a portion of this "decorative" fencing in our backyard and is figuring out how to make it level since there is a strange concrete pathway behind it where the house will be partially located. This should be a play mansion by the time he's done. It should be interesting. Oooh, reminder to Tom. Go get the roofing.
We received the newspaper today and found out that one of our old Young Life kids, who happened to be the Co-valedictorian for his class, was banned from graduation last weekend. I will see if I can attach the article to this post. The basis was he was overlooked for a very large leadership scholarship so he and his mom went to talk to the principal (who's had it out for him since he was a sophomore) and he flung his Eagle Scout card onto the principal's desk and it bounced off the desk and hit the principal in the arm, so the principal called it assault keeping the kid from graduation and giving his speech at graduation. The principal is about two or three years older that Tom and I and graduated from the town we live in. http://www.dailysunnews.com/DSNNews2.shtml
I hope that works as a link. Anyway, Tom's pretty upset about it. He's had a lot to be upset about lately.
We left our old office almost a year ago because of the way we were being treated and because being out on our own is in our best interest. A year later, our former broker is still sticking it to us and now our clients. Yeah, it's great fun. She belittles Tom and treats him like he's three, not a peer. It's very insulting.
Anyway, that's picture of what's been going on.
Have a great day all!!!!
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