I don't even know where to begin...
This week has been like no other and it's not one I think I'd ever care to repeat. That said, the outpouring of love and support is unlike any I have experienced in my 40-some years. I wish everyone could experience this - without having to experience the pain.
As many of you know, last Sunday morning around 1:30, I woke up because of the wind and found smoke in the house. I quickly woke everyone up and we got out of the house with my phone and our pajamas. The girls and I made it to the car where I called 911 and Kurt stayed to try and put it out with our two fire extinguishers. He quickly realized that the fire was too big for us to fight on our own and he joined us where we waited for the rural volunteer fire department. We watched from the safety of the car on the road, while they worked hard to put the fire out. After they were convinced it was out, one of the firefighters brought Kurt his boots and he walked through the house picking up a few precious items. We then headed to Kurt's parents house to regroup and see what the morning brought. At 6:30, Kurt and I decided to go back and walk through to survey the damage - and it was bad. Most of the upstairs had heat and smoke damage - the blades on the ceiling fan in the living room had melted off and half the basement door had burned, the keys on the piano had melted together. The kitchen, utility room and master bathroom were gutted. The basement was full of water. We grabbed just a few items - Kurt's pliers, my school bag - the rest we figured would be there at daylight when we might have help sorting and cleaning up. At that point, I thought "I have no idea even where to begin." We headed back to the farm to regroup yet again. Shortly after we arrived, I saw facebook posts that the fire whistle had gone off in town again and Kurt's dad looked out their front window and saw the glow. The house was burning again. We were so very fortunate that we chose not to try and save anything - we would have been in the house when the roof started up again. Kurt watched the roof burn while they worked hard to contain it. I came down shortly after and with the wind, they were working very hard to keep it from spreading to outbuildings and trees. Kurt and I huddled in the pickup while they continued to work. At one point, the fire chief came to ask permission to bulldoze the walls to contain the fire in the basement - it smoldered for days.
And yet...
We are all ok - we could be sitting in a burn unit somewhere or even worse. There have been many tears this past week as we remember those items that are gone forever and there have also been many laughs as we remember the stories around those items - dark humor has also had it's place. I'd share the jokes but you might not find them as funny. AND, we have been blessed beyond compare by the kind words and actions from people here in the county and beyond - they have anticipated what we have needed and stepped in ways that are humbling. I can't tell you how many times I have said thank you this week - and yet, thank you doesn't even begin to describe what we feel. I've told a few people that I have flowery, eloquent words in my head and when I get ready to say something, they get stuck in my throat and all that comes out is "thank you."
The Future
Right now, we're in temporary housing (a hunters' house) and next week, we'll move into a rental house in town. In a week or two, we'll proceed with the farm store and it will be a base camp for Dale Family Farms and a place to eat and hang out this summer while we're working out there. We're also in conversation with our contractor about rebuilding in the same place. By this time next year, we should be settled back on the farm. (Side note - Customer appreciation party is still on the calendar for September 27, 2014). With a few hiccups, we should be fully operational by the end of next week.
Inventory
We did lose two freezers that were about 3/4 full of meat that were in the basement. Currently, I'm working on recreating our inventory. If you place an order, go ahead and ask for it and I'll see if we have it. The website price list should be updated in a week or so.
I need your help!
Several of you had reserved quarters/halves/whole beeves and hogs for May/June - that sticky note was on the fridge. From here on out, it will be on the computer which is backed up daily. That said, I need your help recreating that list. I know about how many beeves and hogs were reserved but I'm having some trouble recreating the list. Thank you.
Delivery dates
We're working on delivery dates. My calendar is also gone and I'm trying to recreate it. I do know the following though:
*March 28th - Dodge City
*Early April - Wichita
*I'm also trying to connect with someone in Salina if anyone can help there.
Hug your loved ones, check your smoke detectors, back-up your computer data (including pictures) and know that God IS good.
Andi
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