Before and After

Kerry and I had a good winter. We spent 2 months back in Dulzura CA, working for MDS and continuing the project of rebuilding homes that had been destroyed by wildfires back in 2007. As we were driving home we got the report that house #9 had passed final inspection and the homeowners could move back in. That was exciting news, and a good finish to our winter. We moved from Dulzura to Palm Springs where we spent a month relaxing and enjoying a holiday. We had friends and family out to visit and it was a good time. But it was soon time to go back home and so March 31st we packed up the car, said goodbye to Palm Springs and turned the car northwards. We were looking forward to getting back home, and settling in and picking up the routine again. It would soon be seeding time, there was new equipment coming, we would have the kids and grandkids over for Easter, it would be good. That was before................

We had driven for 2 days and were on our last leg home, so to speak. It was Good Friday morning and we were somewhere between Sioux City and Sioux Falls when we got the call. Our house was on fire. We sat there in stunned silence for awhile, before it started to sink in. The rest of the drive home, the next 8 hours or so, we were in shock. We got calls from home periodically, giving progress reports. We cried, we laughed, we talked or we sat in silence, each with our own thoughts. We willed the miles to fly by, but it gave us time to start coming to terms with the reality. We were now homeless! We finally got home at about 7:30 that night, and drove on the yard to see for ourselves. All that was left was a burned out shell of our home, surrounded by yellow tape. It was really true! We met with our kids that night, and spent a lot of time talking. The trauma was very real for them, they were ethe ones who had to watch their childhood home go up in flames. Life was different now. This is the after.................

In the midst of the rubble and destruction that was our house, we saw that the crocuses were starting to bloom. Life goes on ! God is faithful! It has been a busy and difficult, yet wonderful week. We are homeless, but still we are at home. Friends took us in and we have a place to lay our heads. No one was hurt in the fire. Family, friends, the church family and the community, as well as friends and aquaintances from near and far, have been there for us, praying for us and supporting us, bringing food, and inviting us for meals, giving us hugs and words of encouragement. We feel humbled , yet blessed at this outpouring of love that is coming our way. Now a week has passed, and the house is no more. We spent one day picking through the rubble and salvaging some stuff. We have found many of our photo albums, and could save many pictures, including our wedding pictures. We found some coins and cash, we found some rings, we found calendars that I had used for my diaries, and I found some of my recipes, and we found some letters that Kerry and I had written to each other before we got married. Treasures, and blessings from God. We have said good-bye to our stuff, and the task of starting over is consuming our thoughts and time. There is much to think of and many decisions to make, but in all of this we still feel blessed. Not to say that we don't still grieve, or feel overwhelmed, or sad, but we feel the love and strength that is coming because of the prayers of others. In my devotions early on in the week, the verses that I read really spoke and gave me comfort. From Isaiah 61:3----"to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mournig, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." and also Psalm 66:12-----"we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance." These verses brought much comfort in the first couple of days after the fire, and I am trusting that God will again bring us to a place of abundance and beauty. God is good, and He IS providing! It is our desire in all of this to be faithful and give Him the glory!


And so, we are entering a new phase. Life is now divided into before the fire, and after the fire. Stay tuned for updates as to where we go from here. Thank you to all who are praying!