It's A Whole New Start...

So today we finished packing up and we checked out of the hotel...when I saw the bill I couldn't believe how costly it is staying there but hey it was "home" for awhile and did us good. I was just thankful it wasn't coming out of our pocket lol!!

It's very strange not to have a place to go everyday that has all our things and where it can just be us. Living with my mom will be ok though, 7 people in a house will be interresting to say the least but hey it will give us alot of "family time" opportunities which we all enjoy. I'm working on getting my bow business back up and going. It's depressing to go in the house and see all my supplies and wonder if they can be saved....I am going to try though. So we'll see...I have a few things on order to get me by and keep me afloat which makes me feel good. I miss it alot!

So as of now, we are battling the insurance company. The quote they gave us for the structure replacement/cleaning is so far under it's not funny. We haven't even seen the quote for our contents yet which scares the heck out of us to actually see it..we know it's going to be bad. We have to replace our refrigerator, stove, dryer, washer, and our brand new furniture and lamps we just purchased back in June...not to mention all the smaller things that were damaged either by fire or by smoke/soot damage. So if you are a person who prays, please keep us in your prayers as far as strength to keep going daily and accept what God has instore for us. Eventhough we may not understand why all of this happened, it did and we have to move on. I keep telling myself that and I know sometime I'll actually believe it...

Tonight will be our first night at my moms. We have to stop by the storage locker and get enough stuff to last us the weekend and not to mention grab all our dirty laundry so I can do about 40 loads of it lol. I miss my washer...never thought I'd say that but I washed every other day in order to keep up with 6 peoples laundry and I must say it was a good system. Now it's a struggle having clean clothes daily. So I better go for now, it's about time for me to go get Peyt. I am going to enjoy this weekend with the kids and mom....I hope to be outside as my kiddos miss it so much. Talk to everyone soon! Have a fabulous evening and hug your loved ones and take a moment to thank God for all your possessions...large and small. PEACE OUT!

Lifes Many Changes.....

It sure seems as though we have had alot of changes this past year sometimes it's hard to even believe we're where we are. First finding out we were pregnant with baby number 4, then losing my job, James having to switch jobs, all the extras that go with a future mom who's body hates being pregnant *wink*, moving, worrying about James' temporary job and where on earth he was going to find a permanent job before the baby came....but then the good came....a permanent and I must say AWESOME job for my hubby and then within that week we had our beautiful son. Finally getting to where we were back into a routine with the older kids, school, job, baby etc...my mom and I come home on February 12th to a haunting site...our home was on fire. In total disbelief (eventhough my mom was screaming the house was on fire) I rushed to my daughters door, used my key and opened the door only to be greeted by a huge rush of black smoke. It hit me finally and I don't think I had ever been so scared. Not only was this my grandparents home that they had built in 1946, this was where my mom grew up, where I had the best summers of my childhood, and thanks to my mom.....I was able to share this home with my family and make our own memories and get to call it "home".....My stomach began to feel queesy and I went straight to my phone to call 911 and then I remembered we had left Lily and Gynger inside that day. I had lost my little maltese, Daisye on 11/11/09 and I wasn't ready to lose anymore pets. I told the fire dept to please hurry. I was hugging my mom and calming her down when they showed up, so many emotions and thoughts ran through my mind while watching them with their hoses and exhaust fans..I wondered if my home would be saved. I was screaming for our pets and by the grace of God the firemen saved all three of them! That's me on the front page of our local newspaper holding my husbands cat after they rescued him. He was making the worst bellowing noise, and all I could say was "mommy's here"...(we treat them like their our kids too ya know lol).

I tell you once you have a fire, it wakes you up to how important everything you own really is....don't take ANYTHING for granted. Even something as petty as a book. After the fire nothing had really hit me I don't think, and we were making a trip somewhere the following day and I told the kids to grab a book to look at in the car.....I saw 3 little faces staring at me like I was crazy. Just then it hit me....my children have no books. I had to leave the room. I never thought something as simple as my kids' books would be gone but they were. Thanks to the kindness of others though, my kids have been given books, toys, clothes and even some fun things. The baby was given a baby bed, bottles, clothes, blankets, a swing, playmat, diapers....the list goes on and on. James and I look at everything we have now and think of how wonderful our friends and family are. Through all this tragedy comes all these blessings. God is amazing and it's true how He lifts you up when you're at your lowest point. I have always had a strong faith, but this really assures me that God IS with us always no matter what the situation.

So now, we are living at the hotel and this week will be our last here. The kids have sure enjoyed this "vacation" as they call it....thank heavens for the swimming pool, it's been a source of fun for our whole family. The baby had his first pool experience and he loves it. I think we smiled and laughed for the first time when we swam the first time here. It was nice to feel like a family again and just cut loose without thinking of the fire. We will be moving in with my mom and staying there until they get our home done. Hopefully construction will begin next week sometime. We will be taking pictures along the way to keep everyone updated!! So I guess I should say "stay tuned" lol. Thanks so much to everyone for your prayers, thoughts, and many kind acts! Most of all thank you God for keeping James and I strong and helping us be the good parents you've made us! Hugs everyone!