Gains And Losses

Wednesday started out being a slower day. We had received a little scattered rain showers although the fields were mostly dry. Gains in planting progress allowed for a slower pace.

At noon everyone got together for lunch in the office that Jan had made to help celebrate Kurt, Karl, and our helper, Jim's birthday. After lunch Alex went to plant soybeans. BJ went to work on some cattle chores. Several of us stayed around the shop and treated soybean seed. 

Neighbors Marty and his son, Austin, had noticed smoke and called the fire department. Just before 3 pm BJ received a call from the 911 center that his home was on fire. Cassia had gone to watch the kids participate in the District 5 Track meet.

BJ called Alex as he hurried home and asked him to call the rest of us. We were all at the fire in just a couple of minutes. While waiting for the fire department we hurried in the house a number of times to get out some valuables. 

When we first arrived it looked like the fire had started behind a freezer in the garage. Although we saved and moved meat from two freezers we are not sure if it is savable. 

The most burnt part of the house had been built in 2010. BJ and Cassia had added a large garage on the lower part and 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a laundry room above. We are thankful the fire didn't happen at night just under all those bedrooms. The smoke alarms were working when we arrived at the fire. 

The kitchen in the downstairs of the old part of the house did not burn however as you can see it was flooded with water. The kitchen ceiling was also black from heat upstairs and everything even inside the cupboards is totally covered in soot and water.

Rachael and Gideon's two rooms were unrecognizable. Gideon went in later because he wanted to find his favorite Bible. He found it however it was destroyed. Staff and friends at PCHS where Gideon is a 9th grader offered to get him a new founders Bible. Gideon loves history.

Ati and Natalie's room was not destroyed yet heavily burnt. BJ went in and found their favorite blankets. Jan cleaned them in a recipe of cleaners she had gotten from her cousin Lois who also lost their home to a fire a number of years ago. The blankets show the effects of the fire however are serving their purpose to their little owners.

One of the volunteer fire fighters was Josh. Josh had actually lived with BJ and Cassia and family for a while and even helped build the addition to this home. In all the excitement these little guys were forgotten about. They were in the basement. When BJ mentioned to Josh about his girl's bunnies, Josh put on his fire gear and went downstairs and rescued them. 

Needless to say the bunny's owners were happy they were safe and sound. 

In spite of all the loss there were and continue to be some touching moments. It was hard for the kids to come home from school and watch their home burn. Yet it was heartwarming to see cousins come up and hug each other knowing and feeling what they were going through. Jan had just prayed that morning that we would continue to be a close family and grow even closer. Sometimes God answers our prayers unexpectedly. 

We have amazing help. Some fulltime. Many part time. Several of our part time help told their day employers they needed to leave to come help us. My goal has always been to treat all our help like family. On this past Wednesday afternoon they turned it around and treated us like family. 

As the fire was extinguished and activities were winding down I mentioned to everyone that I wanted to eat supper together and pray together. Dana went and bought ten pizzas and we got together here in the shop to eat, pray, make a plan, and catch our breath.

All the girls in our family were amazing. They all immediately got together in the office and made a plan. Becky went to town for necessities. Becky is also thinking of a way to help list lost contents for the insurance company. Jan's sister Donna went to town to buy pajamas for the coming night. Within hours of the fire, calls, offers, and clothing were already coming. Emily and Kristin, wives of the birthday boys that day, were put in charge of all the help offers, food, and clothes, coming in. BJ and Cassia's family were able to stay in the cabin for their first three nights without a home.

The cabin was not a long term solution. It's graduation season and many good folks had asked to borrow the cabin over a year in advance. So BJ and Cassia needed a home. There were options. Our family has a home on a rented farm northwest of Pella we use when we are farming over there. Other options were offered. In the end friends Dave and Linda seemed to have the best solution. An unused rental about 7 miles from our home base and BJ's livestock.  

 Well, life goes on. Friday evening was Osky Christian's spring music program. Jan and I have 10 grandchildren attending there. At the program I was visiting with Mike, our friendly undertaker here in town, and telling him I was so glad we hadn't needed his services. He reminded me it's still a huge loss to deal with. BJ and his family prepared for this event by looking in their tote and dressing in clothes given and loaned by others. During a time like this loss is punctuated and can be intense. However because of a loss gains are also punctuated and intense because of the generosity of so many others.

 For Jan and I our family is changing from a bunch of little grandkids to some of them starting to become young men and women. God has been faithful in each and every one of their lives. Last evening was Ethan and Cody's (cousins) 8th grade banquet. Many of you and myself are so blessed by giving. Yet there are times when God puts us in situations when we are to gratefully receive so others can give. It's much easier when we remember everything we have lost and everything we are gaining from others is all on loan to us from God in the first place. Thanks for the visit. See you all next week.