BLESSINGS & MUCH MORE

A start of a new month (July) and six weeks since the tragic fire happened.
Canada Day (July 1st) consisted of an assortment of things, but not really a relaxed day.  I took some pictures of the fire damaged apartment from the outside. The fire/smoke smell still lingered in the area where the fire started. It was a smell that I would probably never forget. In fact cigarette smoke probably irritated me more now then it did before the fire.
I made time to go through the remainder of totes & boxes that I had stored in a friend's garage. One tote had blankets and I was glad that they were not damaged. As I'm going through the blankets I realized they were the ones my mom had made for my children many years ago.  The blankets had their names on it.... WHAT A BLESSING. A wonderful reminder of my mom for the children and something she had made with her own hands. I did take the blankets to the laundry mat to give them a good washing and dry. Other things we went through were some more photos and movies. I had quite a few VHS movies from Feature Films for Families, so I gave them to Neufelds since they had a VCR player and could test them for quality. Photo albums were thrown into the garbage after the photos were removed. I also salvaged some fabric from the totes.

The restoration/construction crew was very busy disposing of many items into the dumpsters located close to the apartment. Several windows & patio doors were boarded up as they were in the clean up stage.
As progress was made at the apartment,  walls were being stripped and then the building started looking bare. We drove past the damaged apartment several times a week since it was on our way to Church or other down town shopping. Several times I had some sad feelings as I drove past thinking my belongings were still in the apartment when really I knew they weren't. Even though we had only been living in the apartment for 1 year & 3 weeks there were memories for us in that suite.

We were adjusting quite well with most things in our new apartment. Ruby was always able to lock her bike up at the other apartment, but at our new location there was no bike rack. I asked the landlord about it and he immediately looked into getting one, but had to order it in.  A change in one appliance was something to get used to and that was the oven. I really missed my own oven that I had in the previous apartment. One of the donated items we received was a toaster oven and it was put into good use even to this day.

The month of July was filled with many things such as continuous days of shopping especially on my days off, so I was never bored. Every day consisted of googling items on the internet and filling out my ever increasing worksheets. Sometimes commercials on TV would jog my memory about an item or similar item that I lost in the fire or conversations about things with others would remind me of something. In those cases I would try to write the item down on paper when possible. When it came to books, cookbooks or movies it was hard to estimate how much I had. Like I said we would google things on the internet. Ruby found  the Feature Films for Families website and went through the list and checked off the ones we lost plus checked the price as well. The first cookbook I replaced (which was a must) was the "Mennonite Treasury Of Recipes" and was able to buy it locally. I did add more cookbooks as I came across them at a consignment store or if they were on a good sale. I knew I wouldn't replace all of my books or cookbooks, it would only be my favorite ones if they were available.
There was also the matter of replacing my orthotics which I had in my work shoes. I had an appointment with the foot doctor on July 7th and was able to order the orthotics, plus my car needed a service job as well. So here was another day off consisting of appointments, shopping and pricing. Sometimes I wondered if it would ever end.
Then the day (July 9th) finally came when the furniture store delivered my reclining sofa and Ruby's bed. The first evening of having the reclining sofa I relaxed by watching a rented movie. At last I could put my feet up again after a long day of work. The following week was another week of appointments along with some FUN. I needed to get my eyes tested again at Focal Point to see how I was adjusting to my glasses.
July 15th was my birthday as well as my younger sister's birthday ( 3 years difference),  so that was a day set aside to spend lunch with my sisters in Wpg. After lunch it was shopping time with my daughters & granddaughter. It was a fun & full day.
The next day TV cable was hooked up.
Then the following Sunday we had a special lunch fellowship at Church for a newlywed couple. This was Ruby's first opportunity of making a special cake. We were finally getting into a routine with meals & such in our own home. Another event on this day was a staff function at Meadows Minature Golf consisting of a BBQ and taking part of the rides & golf. Another fun & full day.

The following week continued on with pricing, but I also started making photo copies of receipts. The insurance company would require them along with my insurance sheets of all the listed items. Some things I wasn't able to price through the internet so it meant physically having my list with clipboard and do my pricing in the store. Even when I wasn't in my uniform shirt and doing the pricing on my own time customers would still ask me for help. The only place that I wasn't bothered by customers was when I was pricing out my grocery items at Superstore.
 Besides being in the middle of summer I also had to think of winter wear and not leave it for the last minute. So on another shopping day I came across some nice winter jackets plus Ruby was with me at the time so was able to buy her a jacket as well. I'm sure  the temps were quite high the day I bought the jackets, but at that price I couldn't past it by.  Buying used items at the Thrift Store was an option as well, which I did for some toys & stuffed animals that would be available for the grandchildren to play with when they came over to visit.
I took 1 week of holidays at the end of July (26th-31st) so I could make better progress on my insurance worksheets. I had done so much on my worksheets already, so I was seeing light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. We also had special services at Church in the beginning of the week and wanted to take part of it. I was determined to get as much done on my worksheets during the day and then go to the special service in the evening. I knew I would get overwhelmed if I did too many hours of pricing in one day.
July 26th ... received a chq in the mail from the insurance company, which was a nice surprise. I didn't think I would get another chq until I had all my insurance worksheets submitted. The timing of the chq sure relieved the stress on me in wanting to get my worksheets submitted as soon as possible.  As soon as I got the chq I called and emailed the insurance adjudicator. He got back to me in a quick manner. It was good to touch base with him and give him a progress report. A few things that he appreciated from my progress was that I wasn't on his frequent caller list. He knew about my situation.... I was on my own and that I needed to work in order to support myself & Ruby, so taking time off from work for pricing etc was limited. Several times he suggested that my children help in the pricing. I knew my children were all very busy with their own work so I only asked  for prices on certain items. During our conversation the adjudicator also said what the clean up bill would be which would be noted as a moving expense.... it was at a reasonable cost.  As I said in my earlier posts that I felt the adjudicator was keeping me informed about things and he was looking out for me. I never felt that he wasn't taking care of matters. He proved himself many a time. The LORD had people in place for me... for which I was very thankful.

After 2 days of  making very good progress I took a break to take a trip into Wpg. Ruby had been at her sister's place for a few days. Since I was in Wpg I also took a bit of time for some more shopping. Clothes shopping was an endless task, but was glad I was able to get dryer balls from Quilts Etc.  We also needed to be back home for our first supper guests. It was the final service at Church for the special services and the speaker, his wife & brother-in-law were our supper guests. The services were a real blessing.

July 29th spent part of the day at home pricing my worksheet again. Now it was time for a break away from home, so we took a trip to Steinbach. Before going to Steinbach I drove to my country home by Grunthal to show Ruby where I grew up. The state of the house & property sure had changed and not for the better, it was worse. I took some pictures of the yard. I almost felt like going inside the house since it looked very abandoned, but didn't have enough courage to check the doors. If the inside wasn't kept up it would have been disheartening.
(Just recently we heard that someone else bought the place and are redoing the house. We (us sisters) were glad to hear such news. Hope to take pics this summer again).
Then off we were to Steinbach and stayed at my sister & brother-in-law's place for the night.
Friday (30th) morning we took in the parade in Steinbach. After the parade we did some shopping. Ruby also had a short visit with a friend that she hadn't seen in quite awhile. We were home by supper for a quick meal since I was going to an outside play. I enjoyed a relaxed evening at the outside play "MOSES" with Church friends.
The last day of the month was a saturday so it was a mix of things like shopping, pricing,  laundry & cleaning.
Plus my holidays were extended a few more days into August which would help me a lot so I could work on my insurance worksheets some more. At this point I had not tallied up the insurance worksheets, which was probably a good thing.
Another month come & gone. It definitely was a month of challenges, blessings & much more.
So grateful that GOD is GOOD and supplied all our needs in such a timely matter.
"I can always count on God, my heavenly Father,
For He changes not; He always is the same.
Yesterday, today, forever, He is faithful,
And I know He loves me, praise His holy name!---Felten"

MONTH OF JUNE (Full & Busy)

The beginning of another week of work along with continuing with  pricing on insurance worksheets. I didn't know if I had a time limit for submitting my worksheets so I was really trying to finish it as soon as possible. In fact the one morning as I'm getting up for the day I didn't feel rested since it felt like my mind had been going all night. So needless to say I felt tired even before my shift at work had begun.
The one evening shift that I was working a couple that I knew came into the store that had experienced a house fire in the winter. They didn't know that I had experienced the apartment fire until I told them. They were still replacing their items. I was able to get some good advice from them and they were quite willing to help me,  They've been a source of encouragement to me during this time of  loss & stress. Another person that was a source of encouragement to me was Merlin from Friesen Agency. Due to work and his work schedule it took a few attempts before we were finally able to talk. So when I went into the office to talk to him I also brought my worksheets along so that I could show him how I was listing things. He said I was on the right track and told me not to rush things. Merlin had also experienced a house fire, but many years ago when he was a a young adult living at home. He could relate to fire victims and gave some good advice. He even suggested taking note of what other family members would have in their house and compare it to what I may have had. It definitely would jog ones memory. I was also glad I had taken some pictures of the apartment even though it was after the fire, but sure wish I had taken more pictures.
 Pricing older items like the rocking chair & stereo was difficult. Eventually what I did for the rocking chair I googled Amish furniture and found something similar and used that price as my replacement cost. Other items I would search on the internet like Canadian Tire, Sears, Home Hardware, Future Shop etc. When I wasn't able to find it on the website I would physically go into different stores to find something similar and price it that way. I also borrowed old CT catalogues from work (general manager had them in his office) to check for items and price accordingly. My computer desk wasn't that old, but wasn't available at CT any more. (I had bought it at CT).  Some weeks I did more pricing then other weeks. It all depended on my schedule and other events. So pricing was a challenge and frustrating at times. Along with that trying to get into a regular routine of cooking a meal at home was a challenge.
Shopping for furniture was another challenge.
On June 7th I ordered a reclining sofa but would have to wait several weeks before I got it since the warehouse was out of stock. (I was missing my recliner A LOT).
June 11th. I did some more clothes shopping (an endless challenge). Here too I was missing a lot of my favorite outfits.
June 12th. A BIG shopping spree in Wpg. Shopping on this day consisted of a computer, printer, clothes, beanie bag chair (for Ruby), other miscellaneous items, replaced Ruby's grad shoes and my outfit & shoes for her grad as well. The back seat of my car was FULL(no room for passenger) and the trunk was almost full. I spent a lot of money that day.
June 14th. We went to the seamstress for a fitting on Ruby's grad dress. The seamstress waited till we had shoes before she did the final alterations. After that we did some more shopping. I believe I bought a Samsung TV that day. (I lost a Samsung TV in the fire and wanted the same thing since I liked it). Anything that needed assembling Ruby did and enjoyed it. Never ask me to assemble something cause I suck at it. (Just ask my children, they'd agree).  I was also looking forward to my new tupperware that I had ordered from my daughter-in-law's party.
June 17th. Day off so another day of shopping which consisted of larger items like furniture. I had applied for a retail card at Home Furniture the previous week and was approved within minutes. Plus it allowed me time to pay it off since I was waiting for some more insurance money. The furniture that I purchased at Home Furniture consisted of my bed & frame, dresser with mirror/hutch, night table, Ruby's bed & frame, small freezer and desk (for computer). They were able to deliver most of it the next day which was very nice. Ruby had to wait for her bed (not in stock when I ordered). It felt so good to sleep in a normal bed again. Besides furniture shopping I also got a haircut so I was ready for Ruby's graduation.
June 19th. Ruby's dress was ready to be picked up, We were quite pleased with the alterations.
June 22nd. Internet hook-up and glad to have that convenience at home again. It sure was going to help speed up my pricing. I also had to change my email address, which I was hoping wouldn't be necessary.
This was the week of Ruby's graduation from grade 12, so I limited myself with pricing. I wanted to make sure nothing would spoil the preparation for grad.
June 24th. RUBY'S GRAD. What an emotional day. Ruby's friend came to do her make-up and then we went to the hair stylist. I sat in and watched the hair stylist do Ruby's hair. We got into a conversation of different things and ended up telling our experience with the apartment fire. When Ruby's hair was done I was ready to pay, but she didn't take anything for it. The hair stylist said that we should do some FUN  thing together. Then I lost it.... the tears flowed out of pure happiness that she would do that for someone that she didn't even know (it was the first time that I met her). (I didn't tell my story for pity sake.) Like I said I had some emotional moments that day, but in all it was a wonderful day. It was a day that I wasn't sure I would ever see since Ruby wasn't under my care for almost 4 years. (That is another story in itself, which I won't go into). After the graduation supper Ruby went along with her sister & brother back to Wpg  for the weekend. Now I had time to reflect on many things (good & bad). God knew I needed to see this day. It was an answer to prayer.
June 25th. I went furniture shopping again since I still needed a dining room set. So I went to Eldon's Furniture again and was able to purchase a dining room set which was the last floor model at a good price. They delivered it the same day.
The major furniture purchases were from only 2 stores which was quite adequate. I was pleased with my choice of furniture.
Several people have asked if I had fun shopping for new things. My view on that was mixed.... in some ways it was fun and in other ways it was frustrating. I guess some of the furniture had sentimental values or just very new.
As I was checking mail at the main post office and my new mail box I was pleased with the 1 package that I got from my Aunt. My Aunt from B.C. sent an envelope of pictures as a source of encouragement to me since she didn't know which pictures I may have lost in the fire.
Amongst all of  these events during the month of June I was always glad for a day of rest (Sunday).
The Lord was continuing to provide and bless. "BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING; BUT IN EVERY THING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD. AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, SHALL KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS." Philippians 4: 6 & 7.