A month ago today

Well, it's a month ago today.  It's hard to believe it has been that long.  Feels more like two weeks, maybe.  We are working through the various processes.  Still waiting for a check from Progressive for the trailer, so we can go buy the van.  Also waiting for the truck to be picked up by the salvage company.  We still have lots of unpacking (and cleaning of items) to do.  There are a few key kitchen items missing, such as waffle irons, so we can have our favorite Friday night supper, hoping to find those on Sunday.  We are still jumping through hoops at the SBA/FEMA.  I also still need to get connected with some counselors at United Way, so the kids can talk through some stuff - the storm earlier this week made that pretty CLEAR.  We are working through all the fun details with Lon's new job, such as getting auto-deposit set up, so that his check arrives a tad sooner every week, since we still seem to run the account right down there, even though so many people have been SO generous (have never over-drawn though - always have just what we need!)  People are helping us work on getting new digs built for the chickens and the rabbit.  Some new friends from church have been FAITHFULLY coming every day to work on the coop for the chickens, Lon and I got most of the fencing up today.  Both the coop and the fence will probably get completed on Sunday.  Emma and I will likely tackle the bunny hutch next week some time.  We are also going to need to get the guinea pigs' cage set back up too, since they were in a large cage in the school room before.   All of those critters have been (are) living in much more cramped quarters than they are used to until we get those projects done. Various kids are still sleeping on mattresses on the floor, they either don't like the options offered (the big girls seem to feel that they have 'outgrown' the girl bunk beds we have - they are beautiful wrought iron white things, with hearts in the head-board - too little girlish for their taste, I guess) or their beds were destroyed (the boys, and Sarah).  I need to start listing some items for sale on Craig's list, such as the cover for the trailer, which we won't need any more, since the trailer is gone, apparently (have not been back up to the house since last Friday afternoon, it was supposed to have been picked up on Monday).  We also need to get in touch with the land-lord to see what the status is on the house, I'm VERY curious whether it shifted on it's foundation or not, and if it IS going to be demolished, the boys want to watch (ok - I'll admit it, so do I)  At some point SOON, we need to follow through on the pot-luck that we promised all the old neighbors that we would have soon.  AND, we need to meet the NEW neighbors!!  And, last, but not least, we still need to get the storm shelter installed.  (we are on their work-order list, but our turn has not come up yet)

Wow - that is quite a to-do list!!  It's a good thing GOD is giving me strength for all this!!

 It's definitely feeling a bit like a marathon at this point, not a sprint.  But we have to stop and count the blessings too.  Here are several that I have not mentioned here yet:

There was an opportunity to apply for food-stamp money, based on income and family size.  We could potentially qualify for as much as $1200!  Another family at church gave us great directions as to what to bring, and when to go.  I had the added advantage of having a handicap parking permit, and crutches.  So I got let into a MUCH closer parking lot, and I got escorted to the FRONT of a 200-300 person line!!  I was there all of 30-35 mintues!!  We qualified!  The funny thing is, had Adtran (Lon's last job) done his last paycheck correctly, I don't think we would have.  They were supposed to with-hold a certain percentage out of this last pay-check to start re-paying the signing bonus that he got - since he wasn't there for at least a year, he had to pay that back - but they were only supposed to keep PART of the paycheck, and still pay him SOME.  Well, they with-held ALL of his paycheck, and while coming up several hundred dollars short at that point was not particularly fun God still saw to our needs, and that smaller number to report for income at the food stamp office caused us to stay within the 'income limit' for the month of May (the only one they looked at) and helped us qualify for $1200!!  The extra amount that Adtran with-held is not lost, either, it will mean that we have less to pay back later.  So, in the end, it was a double bonus.


also;

Back when I was still using crutches (I was allowed to start leaving them behind some, just over a week ago, at my two-week-follow-up appointment - and of course that is JUST what I have done!) but anyway, when I was still needing crutches all the time, I was having a hard time carrying all the stuff I might need to carry, since my hands were busy crutching.  I tried using my purse, but it was not staying on my shoulder.  One night, just after we moved into the new house, I was thinking how nice it would be if I could find my old 'Norm Thompson' style tear-drop purse.  But having not even known for sure where it was for sure, even BEFORE the storm, I didn't even mention that I was wanting it.  It wouldn't have done any good to mention it, since most people who were packing us up were just putting all the items that looked salvageable into whatever box, and very little labeling of boxes went on. One evening, just after we were getting all our stuff to the new house, as I was walking into the house from the garage and I saw it laying there, on TOP of some boxes!  I was able to use that as my purse for the several weeks that I've been in the boot still and still needing to use the crutches now and then, particularly when I go 'out.  It's been a helpful thing, and every time I open it, or pick it up, I'm reminded of God 'helping' me find it.  (ok - finding it FOR me!)

OK - WOW - I'm SUPER tired all the sudden.  I'll try to write more tomorrow afternoon/evening.   Sorry for the typos I'm sure are all through this, as I kept dozing off while I wrote.  I wanted to write something profound about the one month anniversary.  But I guess "there is still alot of work to do" will have to be as profound as it gets.  goodnight.