Just went down to the house

Just went down to the house. I looked at the bucket of our blue paint and it is not the color we had chosen. We had chosen the color 2 years ago so I really didn't remember how it looked. Of course a little sample is a bit different than a whole house. We had chosen resolute blue and they used regal blue. Can you tell the difference? I just had a feeling I needed to check it out. I guess it will be repainted.

coming along

Our house is coming along

Christmas felt different this year...

Christmas felt different last year for obvious reasons. It was 10 days after the fire and we were happy to be spending it together no matter what the location and with or without gifts. God's protection during the fire had been gift enough. 

Christmas felt different this year because we have been forever impacted and realize that people matter more than gifts. The house is not built yet so we celebrated at my grandma's house where my parents are living. Christmas felt different because the location didn't matter. We still did our traditional late night present opening and even later night pigs in a blanket breakfast! The location was different but the Love and appreciation for each other and the gift of life was even greater than before. Our appreciation for the giver of life and for the gift of His Son...for all His blessings and comfort over this past year... which has been a roller coaster. 2012 ended with the fire and 2013 held many struggles and heartaches as we dealt with family issues and the passing of my Uncle Dale. 2013 has also been full of happiness and joy as we welcomed new babies and the news of one to come in 2014! 

Christmas felt different this year...in a good way... last year we didn't care about the presents that got lost in the fire... because our parents were ok.  This year we were able to do gifts but we all knew that the only gift that mattered are the ones from God.  Gifts like our family and each minute together and of course Jesus. 

May we never forget what Christmas felt like last year...10 days after the fire. 

It felt different last year... and it felt different this year...and I pray it never feels the same again. 

-Stacy

It has been one year today

It has been one year today since the fire. A year ago right now Dwight and I were rushing over to my parent's house praying they were ok. Thank God they were. That was all we wanted... and yet He continued to poor blessings on us. All the things we found in the ashes that we thought were lost forever. And all of the Love, prayers, and support of friends/family/strangers! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! There are not enough words to thank you enough. 

Praise be to God and Merry Christmas! 
- Stacy

What a true blessing!

David and I are living with my Mom until our house is built. We are in the process of making one of the rooms we have usable as an office and my sewing room. We have been looking for furniture to help us do that. Stacy and Kelly have been keeping their eyes open for what we need. Stacy found a roll top desk on Craigs list and we went to look at it. David loved it and we bought it. The couple were so nice. In our visiting we found out that we all are Methodist. That was fun.

When we walked into the room where the desk was there were a bunch of items that caught my eye. I asked about a quilt top and she said she was going to take it all to good will but if I saw one that I'd like I could have it. Wow! I found one I wanted and then Stacy said something about our Made With Love Prayer shawl Ministry at UUMC. The lady said she had wanted to start one at her church but didn't know how. All of a sudden she was getting bags to put all of the quilt tops in. She and her husband were moving to Atlanta so they were cleaning out. she said she would rather give them to me than anyone else.  She loved that I found value in them. Some of the quilts her Mother had put together. I asked her if she were sure she was OK letting them go. Then she opened the closet and it was full of finished quilts that her Mom had made. Some of the ones on the bed were pinned together with batting and a backing material. They could be finished with a little time.
I was so excited about all of the stuff I almost cried. What a blessing it all is to me. Her neighbor had been visiting when we got there and she handed me a big bag. She had gone to her house and gotten two quilts that she had started awhile back. She said she would never finish them and wanted me to have them! How fun is that! The husband came into the room and we started talking about the neat miniature Coke case with Cokes in it that was on the dresser. He said it had been his Fathers. I told him about my Coke collection. He handed it to me and said for me to have it. Cool!

When David, Stacy and I left that day we knew that it was not just chance that Stacy saw the listing for the desk. They said no one else had called about it.
All I know is no one would have ever appreciated their generosity more than I did.

so many decisions to make

David and I are busy trying to decide on light fixtures, sinks, etc so our contractor will be able to order them for our house. I have also found some great second hand stuff that is really going to add that special touch that we are looking for. That has been fun and we are ready to have a place to put all of it. Never did I think all of this was coming our way. Just so many decisions to make. Life is good and we are excited to get the house started. When it does I will be posting pictures of the progress.

We put what we could save in a storage unit today...

We put things in storage unit today. Found this and we are looking forward to hanging this up again!