We’re starting our 3rd week back in our own home. Back in the same RV park, different site. The RV is identical to the one we lost, with some 2025 upgrades. Lighter walls, floors and cabinets. Better stove and oven. Separate cabinet for the washer/dryer so it’s not in the closet anymore. Bigger bed (King RV size) but otherwise, it’s identical. Everything fit and was able to go right back into its original home.
We had to buy a new mattress (the ones they give you with the RV are meh) and because it’s bigger, new linens. But overall, our possessions were simply moved back into place. The new closet is larger so we purged enough to get almost all of our clothing in it. No more seasonal swapping or storage.
Our first ‘sleep in it’ night, was St Patrick’s Day. The campground held a corned beef and cabbage dinner and wished most of the snowbirds safe travels, as they began to leave the park. Many of my quilters were first to go. I miss them, they are amazing women.
Next year!
We still have several things to catch up on while we’re here. Medical appointments and work items for Bruce. But detroit is calling our name! We had a wonderful call with the Hope House team out there, and are excited about living in the neighborhood and spending time volunteering in the ministry.
April 30th here we come!
Now that we’re back in our own home and I’ve had a chance to recover some normalcy, it’s a bit easier to view the fire from a wider perspective. We were gifted with an opportunity to improve our home, and shrink our loan by a significant amount. One of our goals for this life, was eliminating debt and this event helped with that.
We also learned about generosity. It comes from some of the most humble people. Ones you wouldn’t feel comfortable accepting money from, unless you truly needed to. Our daughter began a Gofund me account and people all over the world donated, even people we didn’t know. It’s humbling to receive, much easier to give.
I’ve also learned that God is big enough to handle all my emotions. When I was frustrated and fed up with the situation, he heard me. Nothing changed, but I was able to sit with that feeling, without guilt or shame for having it. The same was true for anger, fear and all of the weariness from the upheaval. Bruce is still experiencing nightmares, the ‘What if’s’ are plaguing him. God is big enough for that too.
Thank you Jesus!
The spring weather here is a constant reminder that the Gulf is hurricane country. Violent storms and wild swings in temps and humidity are in action. Heater in the morning and AC in the afternoon is normal. Not entirely unlike the Midwest just earlier in the year. And windy????
It’ll blow you across the park.
It’s a windy, windy, windy place. So much so, that it’s difficult to be outdoors even when the weather is nice. But then, the wind keeps the bugs from sticking to you…
It’s all about the trade offs.
We have a reservation to come back next fall/winter, but at a different campground. Our hope is for wind abatement…we shall see!
We managed to take a trip to Fort Morgan out on the tip of the shore. Amazing site and historically significant. If you’re ever here it’s worth a visit. It was used in the war of 1812 up through WWII.
I also attended a quilt show in Pensacola FL that inspired me in my own quilting endeavors.
It was the last hurrah for the 4 quilters left here. We made a day of it and had a ball. One of our raffle tickets paid off and Karen even won an embroidery sewing machine! We had to hide it from her husband because she already has too many.
Quilting can become a very expensive hobby…
Thank you everyone for keeping tabs on us. We feel incredibly cared for and loved. Phone calls, cards, notes, private donations, Gofundme, text messages and SM inquiries have all been a blessing, and we are beyond grateful. Most of the upheaval is over, (including the collection calls for payment on the RV we no longer own) and we’re relieved to be back in gear. We can’t wait to be back in the community we’ve begun to know in Detroit. Our wheely house will be the talk of the neighborhood this year.
We’re thinking about maybe, maybe getting a puppy…