The Day Our House Burned Down and What Happened After: The End!

So. Our house burned down. Well, not down, they just basically had to gut the house and start again. In some ways, they said, it would have been easier to knock it down and re-build the house from scratch than to try to match what was already in the house.

You see, my Grandpa built this house more than 50 years ago. Our farm has been here for over 100 years; started by my great-grandfather and now run by my father. Up until 2005, it was a dairy farm. Yes, people, I've milked cows. I will fully admit to being the princess; with two older brothers to do the heavy work, I did get out of a lot. I did, however, have to get up early before school and help when I was old enough! My jobs were to help get the milking started and feed the babies. No, I wasn't terribly excited about it, but my parents told me that my job came with my birth certificate.

But I digress.

When Grandpa built this house, he used the trees that grew behind where the house stands. When the restorers looked at the inside of the roof from the attic, they were flummoxed. They had never seen a roof built like it was, with rough cut lumber in planks. They left as much as they could alone, but they had to use plywood in the places that couldn't be saved.

The roof being torn off



 

Once they tore down the walls and ceiling, they began spraying everything with what is basically a sealant.

 

Before the sealant

After the sealant



There was a lot of work to do. All in all, it took four and a half months. During that time, people from our community, friends and family and church family showed up. They brought food, clothes (oh my, so many clothes!!), money; you name it. We were blessed by so much that summer.

 

We made decision after decision; from flooring to counter tops, lighting to appliances, Mom and I were busy those months. We did have fun going to the stores and spending someone else's (insurance company) money, though!

 

We bought everything AND the kitchen sink!

 

 

We were able to find furniture on Craig's List for good prices, and thanks to so many wonderful donations that we just put in the bank until we could use them, we had enough to get all the furniture we needed. We finally were able to get back into our house at the beginning of October.

 

Our first night, on our new (to us) sofa in our NEW house

 

 I learned a lot of things that summer. One thing is, stuff is just that: stuff. We call it "kindling" now, actually. I know, it's a terrible joke. To us, though, it really is. We think twice about the things we buy now. Do we really need it, or do we just want it? (Sometimes, it's just fine to buy something you want, I'm not saying that you should never treat yourself!)

 

Another thing that I learned is who my real friends really are. I was quite surprised by some that "showed up", and let down by some that didn't bother. That made me stronger, though. I am comfortable in my own skin, and the only One I need to answer to is God. Don't get me wrong, I have my moments (or days, weeks or..er..um..well, you get the idea!) where I feel less than, unworthy and all that. In the grand scheme of things, though

 

 "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day."

2 Timothy 1:12

 

Basically, God's got this. I've learned that sometimes the best thing to do is just sit back and watch.