Rebuilding

This is the third night we have spent in our little condo. Gary, Tati, Bea, and Caleb are all settled at camp for the week, and Isaac and I are working to "unpack." Really, we're unpacking things from brand new boxes much more than anything else.

Everywhere we look are gifts from people who care what is happening, purchases made with more gifts, clothing in 24 different sizes - some bagged and ready to pass on, others waiting in piles or on shelves for putting away, and even more that still need to be sorted for keep or pass on.

The night before last, the girls and I came home from a long day of errands (to get everybody ready for camp) to the boys sitting on the living room floor eating hot dogs and beans. The hot dogs were understandable, but I wasn't too sure how they had cooked those beans, since pots and pans are not here yet. Gary smiled, saying, "I just cooked the can on the grill." I did notice the next morning, however, that the last 1/4 of the beans were in a bowl on the counter - no seran wrap. Sometimes we have to decide if it's worth it to go to the store again.

Today, Isaac and I will make our first trip to the grocery for food that we will eat and also put on our shelves. We are anxious to have some home-cooked meals that don't include hot dogs or cereal. We will continue to tidy this home, go to the post office, work on the endless list for the insurance, go and look at some options for more permanent housing, and maybe even look at a car to replace the blown up one.

The kitty is still missing, but we believe we may have spotted him, so trips to the old neighborhood continue. Bea, Caleb, Gary, Debora, and I stayed up until 3:00 a.m. the other night attempting to draw him out several times.

Wednesday is the scheduled day for demolition of the old house. This was tough news. Not sure why. It isn't as if anyone could live in the barbeque pit left by the fire, but maybe the finality. This is good as well. We need finality, and the journey ahead promises to be full of new beginnings, so this is just the catalyst into the new.

We do have a new "permanent" phone number: 805-263-6975. Oh, and we have telephones now too!