Day by Day

What could be more fun than shopping?! I couldn't handle another day at the house. We needed a break. So we went shopping. I love shopping. I hate not getting things on sale. I'm a bargain shopper, so not having coupons, BOGO's, or other 'deals' makes it hard to shop knowing I'm paying full price.

Sometimes I'd look through a rack and think "Oh yeah, I forgot I had that..." That's a weird feeling.

As this process still continues to unfold, the "status" right now is to find a temporary place to live - 6 mos at least - and wait to hear the estimate of what it will cost to rebuild. The adjuster will decide if it's too expensive to gut the inside, keeping the first floor, or if it's better to start over. That's still to be determined.

As the rain started to pour tonight, it made me sad, mindful that every raindrop is sinking right into the ash and soot where the roof is missing.

And then I read this: God is a God of the second chance. God is a redeeming God. Sometimes He redeems the mess and brings “beauty from ashes, the oil of joy for mourning; the garment of praise for the spirit of despair,” and sometimes He even “restores the years the locusts have eaten.” – Jill Briscoe

Just like those pounding raindrops, thousands upon thousands of drops, the blessings keep pouring and pouring in. Family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, strangers... Daily we receive cards and donations and we simply cannot say thanks enough.

This road continues to wind and twist and turn. And it's rocky and bumpy and tough to pass. Every part of me is reminded that Satan wants a victory. He seeks to steal and destroy. But I am determined to keep my joy. How can I not, when little E pulls up his "new" shirt and says, "Mommy, I got a happy heart in there!" I see baby, I see!